By Brian Liskai

(Attica, OH) When the World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series come to a track, the “local” drivers always want to defend their turf… it’s a matter of pride. But, when the likes of Joey Saldana, Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Kraig Kinser, Craig Dollansky, Cody Darrah, Chad Kemenah, Lucas Wolfe and the rest of the touring stars come to Attica Raceway Park for the Kistler Engines Classic, on Friday, June 1st, the “locals” will have plenty of monetary incentive as well.

Not only will the teams be battling for the $10,000 payday for the 40-lap event, but there’s plenty of bonus funds up for grabs. Any driver in the Top-25 of Attica Raceway Park’s weekly point standings after May 18th who defeats the Outlaws for the feature victory will get an additional $2,500 from Attica Raceway Park. Should that driver also be in the Top-10 of the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champion’s National point standings through May 27th, there is another $1,000 bonus from that series.

Also, engine manufacturers Kistler Engines, Gressman Powersports and Level Performance are offering a $2,000 gift certificate if one of the Top-25 in Attica’s weekly point standings is running an engine built by one of those companies and wins the race. Also, All Pro Aluminum Heads is giving a $250 gift certificate if the race winner is using their engine heads.

Attica Raceway Park will also give the highest finisher in the A-Main that is in the track’s Top-25 in points a $500 bonus. If a driver in the Top-25 in points wins the race, then the second highest feature finisher in the Top-25 in points will get the $500 bonus.

For more information contact Rex LeJeune at 419-680-5606 or go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
 

Check out last week's racing action through the lens of our local area photographers...

A collection of photos from Jim & Elaine Collum of Action Photos from Sutton Bank/ Scouts Night have been posted in the photo gallery.

Several shots from local photographer Rick Sherer have been added to the photo gallery.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PHOTOS

Mintz Out Duels Blaney For Attica FAST Win; Henry And Foos Continue Winning Ways

By Brian Liskai

(Attica, OH) Craig Mintz got revenge on Dale Blaney Friday at Attica Raceway Park.

Last month, Blaney passed Mintz on the last lap for an All Star win at Attica, but this time, it was Mintz who got around Blaney with three laps remaining to take his second win of the season on Sutton Bank Night at Ohio ’s Finest Racing speed plant.

Mintz and Blaney battled each other throughout the 30-lap feature which was part of the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series and its season-ending $10,000 championship. Mintz led the opening lap, but Blaney grabbed the lead from laps 2-13. Mintz drove by for the top spot on lap 14 and led until lap 24 when Blaney drove under him in heavy lapped traffic exiting turn four. Blaney, who has two wins at Attica in 2012, would lead from laps 24-27 when Mintz used lapped traffic to grab the lead and went on to his 7th career victory at ARP.

Ironically, Blaney has often said he would rather be running second late in a race in lapped traffic as the leader has to pick the line and the second place car can then capitalize. Mintz did just that!

“It was kind of reversed roles on the All Star show. I can’t take anything away from Dale…he had a very good car, but when you’re racing like we were and I was in second, I could see where the lapped cars go and he moved up a little bit. I saw he was a little faster on the bottom so I figured we’d put our car down there and see if its any better and it was,” said Mintz beside his Reel Geese Decoys, R2C Filters, Erie Shore Propane, Design Graphics Group, Keller Chevrolet, Walby Construction, KS Sales and Service backed machine.

“One of our goals this year was to win another FAST championship (he won the first series title in 2009). We struggled the past couple of years but I’ll tell you what, these GF1 Race Cars (designed by Blaney’s car owner George Fisher)…you can’t take anything away from them,” added Mintz in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.

“I have to thank my Dad, Kevin, Brad, Hoagie, my uncle Earl, my fiancée…she’s not here tonight so she will probably shoot me later but she will get over it,” joked Mintz.

In the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models, Ada , Ohio ’s Jon Henry is proving his 14-win season in 2011 was no fluke. The Steel Driver passed Cody Scott on lap five and survived a late race caution to take his second win of the season at Attica and second straight, as he posted a victory at Fremont last Saturday. It was Henry’s 11th career Attica super late model win.

“This car is awesome. I can basically put it any where I want to. We tried some stuff tonight…we were just experimenting a little bit. I have to get the slick program a little bit better and I think we did pretty good tonight. My Dad, Randy, John and Casey…these guys help me put this car together…it helps me a lot having them and all these Dirty Dozen members and Fultz Fabrications. I really appreciate everything they do for me. All these fans out here…it’s good to be back in victory lane. We have three wins now and a second…that’s pretty good. We parked that other car (last year’s) in the corner and got this one out…I think we’re going to stick with this one awhile,” said Henry adding thanks to sponsors JLH General Contractor, William H. Bass Trucking, Reproductive Assistance, Truman Quarter Horses, Re-Deck of Northwest Ohio, Home Savings and Loan, Mike and Sheila Keller, Ron Spencer Real Estate, Automated Transport, Lehman & Lehman, Norada Lanes and APC – the Dirty Dozen.

When Fremont, Ohio ’s D.J. Foos took Attica ’s Fremont Fence 305 Sprint championship in 2010, he was nearly untouchable, at one point winning four features in a row and five overall at the track that year. Well, don’t look now, but he’s doing it again. Foos led all 25 laps – it wasn’t easy, as Paul Weaver applied heavy pressure as they raced into heavy lapped traffic the final seven laps – to score his fourth win of the season at Attica . If you are keeping score, that’s four out of six races Foos has won. It was his fifth overall in 2012 as he scored a win at Fremont, and his 14th career win at Attica to move him into sixth all-time for the division.

Foos would use the extreme high line to pull away at times, but when he hit traffic and was forced to try other lines…well, he wasn’t nearly as fast.

“I was horrible off the top. I just like to run the top around here because all it is is a big go-kart race. You just keep it nice and straight. When I can’t run the top I’m horrible,” said Foos beside his Buckshot Farms, Pit Stop Carryout, JLH General Contractor, Automatic Fire Protection, Tender Turn Car Wash, Crown Battery, Level Performance backed #11F.

“I never saw Paul (Weaver) but if I would have I don’t know what would have happened…I probably would have gassed her up a little more. This is really great to be where we are right now…but in racing, tomorrow or next week we could come out and do absolutely horrible. So we’re just going to feed off of this right now and hopefully maintain.”