An emotional victory for Demyan-Rudzik Racing crew chief, Cody Jacobs, the ‘Steel City Outlaw’ Tim Shaffer picked up right where he left two days prior and earned his second Arctic Cat Al Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory in three starts, this time earning the annual Pete Jacobs Memorial title at NAPA Jani Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway worth $10,000 on Spherion Mid Ohio and NAPA Jani Auto Parts night.
Dominating the feature field once taking command for the first time on lap 18 of 35, the Aliquippa, Pa. native earned his 64th-career All Star Circuit of Champions victory from the outside of row four battling his way into the top three as early as lap eight, eventually crossing under the final checkers ahead of the ‘Kunkletown Kid’ Ryan Smith and rising star, Gio Scelzi. The win was Shaffer’s third of the 2018 season and second of the year at WCS during All Star competition.
“Man, what an awesome race,” an excited Tim Shaffer said in Wayne County Speedway victory lane. “This place has always been kinda tough for me, but today being Cody’s (Jacobs) birthday, and this race honoring his great-grandfather, I really wanted to win it. This car was just awesome and I really drove the wheels off of it.”
“We were really close last year and ran second,” Cody Jacobs added, crew chief for the Demyan-Rudzik entry. “Like I said earlier tonight, this race isn’t about the $10,000. I’m really happy to get it for my family. We’re having a great year and we have some great people behind us. Everyone seems to be really working together and they are giving us great equipment. I believe I’m working with one of the best in the world and as long as I am able to do my job, I think we’ll always be OK.
Tim Shaffer’s path to victory lane was impressive. Although the first five laps were relatively quiet for the former All Star champion, Shaffer’s first big move of the evening occurred just after a lap six restart, actually picking up a pair of positions on lap eight that propelled Shaffer from fifth to third around Aaron Reutzel and Cap Henry.
Race leader and pole-sitter Ryan Smith, who survived an early duel with Reutzel for the top spot on lap three, escaped to a near three second lead after the lap six caution. Although he seemed invincible out front, lapped traffic, which came into play for the first time with 12 laps in the books, proved to be Smith’s demise, allowing Gio Scelzi, who forced his way into second after the lap six caution, and Shaffer to close the gap in a hurry.
By lap 16, Scelzi, aboard the Indy Race Parts #71, was right on the tail tank of Smith with Shaffer in tow. Before the caution flags could appear for the second time on lap 17, Shaffer had already worked his way around Scelzi to clinch the runner-up spot, thus setting up a restart with the “Steel City Outlaw” in Smith’s rearview mirror.
When green flag action returned, Shaffer was able to keep pace with Smith for the entire circuit, eventually setting up his winning move on lap 18. Using the turn two cushion, Shaffer got a great run down the backstretch and forced his way underneath Smith at the entrance of turn three. The move stuck, soon beating Smith in a drag race back to the flagstand to complete the 18th circuit.
Although the main event was halted on three more occasions for cautions on laps 20,21, and 25, two of which for stoppages and ultimately an open red, Shaffer remained untouchable at the front of the field, extending his advantage to well over two seconds, twice. The main event’s final caution on lap 25 gave Shaffer a clear track and clean air to work with for the final 11 circuits. Although the leaders reached traffic again on lap 31, Shaffer proved to be too strong, never faltering and crossing under the final checkers by a comfortable margin of victory.
ARCTIC CAT ALL STAR CIRCUIT OF CHAMPIONS SPRINTS
Fast Qualifier Tim Shaffer 15.043 seconds
Heat 1 Lee Jacobs, Cap Henry, Parker Price-Miller, Jac Haudenschild, Brandon Wimmer, Jordan Ryan, Broc Martin, Brandon Spithaler, Dean Jacobs
Heat 2 Ryan Smith, Travis Philo, Andrew Palker, Cole Duncan, Cale Conley, Trey Jacobs, Jack Sodeman Jr., Clay Riney, Tyler Esh
Heat 3 Aaron Reutzel, Gio Scelzi, Dave Blaney, Paul McMahan, Brock Zearfoos, George Hobaugh, Henry Malcuit, Steve Butler
Heat 4 Hunter Schuerenberg, Chad Kemenah, Tim Shaffer, Carson Macedo, Max Stambaugh, Danny Mumaw, T J Michael, Nick Patterson
Dash #1 Ryan Smith, Cap Henry, Hunter Schuerenburg, Travis Philo, Cole Duncan
Dash #2 Aaron Reutzel, Gio Scelzi, Chad Kemenah, Tim Shaffer, Lee Jacobs
B- Main George Hobaugh, Broc Martin, T J Michael, Brandon Spithaler, Danny Mumaw, Dean Jacobs, Clay Riney, Nick Patterson, Jordan Ryan, Trey Jacobs, Steve Butler, Jack Sodeman Jr., Henry Malcuit, Tyler Esh, Kris Davis
PETE JACOBS MEMORIAL FEATURE Tim Shaffer, Ryan Smith, Gio Scelzi, Cap Henry, Aaron Reutzel, Chad Kemenah, Hunter Schuerenburg, Carson Macedo, Cole Duncan, Paul McMahan, Cale Conley, Brandon Spithaler, T J Michael, Max Stambaugh, Dave Blaney, Parker Price-Miller, Jordan Ryan, Lee Jacobs, Brock Zearfoos, Andrew Palker, Broc Martin, Travis Philo, Brandon Wimmer, George Hobaugh, Jac Haudenschild,
- administrator on Dec 08, 2018
- Article Date: 9/2/2018