Mintz Gets Exciting Last Corner, Last Lap Pass For Attica All Star Win; Krummert Wins Second Late Model Feature, Foos Scores 305 Sprint Win
By Brian Liskai
(Attica, OH) In one of the most exciting finishes in the history of Attica Raceway Park, Craig Mintz passed Stevie Smith coming down to the checkered to record his first ever University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions victory Saturday for the second night of the HD Supply Spring Nationals.
Mintz, who was passed on the last lap the previous night by Dale Blaney for the victory, took the checkered flag .146 seconds ahead of Smith much to the delight of the capacity crowd.
“Stevie took one away from me about eight years ago and it was great racing with him…he raced me clean. I just tried to save my tires as much as I could and try to run through the middle. He was really good on the bottom and I was waiting for just one minor mistake and he really didn’t make any. I just got a really good run coming out of four and it was wreckers or checkers…I wasn’t lifting on that one,” said Mintz beside his Ti22 Performance, Real Geese Decoys, R2C Filters, Erie Shore Propane, Kistler Engines backed machine.
For Mintz, from Gibsonburg , Ohio , it was his sixth career win at Attica and he became the 176th different driver to win an All Star event.
“My dad (Les), Brad, Kevin , Kent …these guys behind me put a heck of a race car together. I have to thank my fiancée for doing everything she can for me. We worked well together this week,” added Mintz.
For Smith, a former Spring Nationals winner, a lot of progress was made over the weekend with the new CL Motorsports Black Bandit #19.
“I kept hearing and seeing him…I knew he was good. I was trying to use the whole race track up…he just got beside me and it was over. He did a great job,” said Smith beside his DDNI, GLR Investments backed #19. “I felt like we really gained here tonight. Last night we kind of went the wrong way. I’m proud of my guys…they are doing a great job and this is a great organization and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Two-time All Star champion Greg Wilson was also excited by the improvement for his All Star Plumbing & Heating, Hercules Tires, Ohio Logistics, DNC Hydraulics backed car.
“I was patient…Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) about being easy on the tires. I road around there for awhile creeping on the bottom and jumped up there pretty good but I really wasn’t hustling. When I saw the five to go I got after it a little bit. I don’t know if the best car won tonight but it was a hell of a race ahead of me,” said Wilson beside his Veryl Warnimont owned machine. “I want to thank all the fans for coming out on Easter weekend…it was a little chilly. Whether you’re a Greg Wilson fan or not, we need all you fans and we damn well appreciate it.”
Mintz and Smith raced side-by-side from lap 10-15 before Smith shot around for the lead, with Mintz glued to his rear bumper. Lap 17 was nearly catastrophic for Smith, as he bounced hard into the cushion in turns three and four, but he gathered his Black Bandit car back up and continued to lead over Mintz, a closing Wilson, Shaffer, Blaney, Chad Kemenah and Randy Hanagan up from his 13th starting spot. Smith and Mintz would run nose to tail and at times side by side through lap 24 when they encountered lapped traffic. Mintz began searching for the right spot to make his move and on lap 28, raced to Smith’s inside in turns three and four, bring Wilson along for a tremendous three car battle.
That trio would keep the crowd on their feet as they came to the flag stand for the five to go signal. Now with a little bit of clear track in front of them, Smith and Mintz pulled away slightly and continued their side-by-side duel with Wilson comfortably in third while Blaney and Hannagan rounded out the top five. As Smith and Mintz took the white – Smith on the top of turns one and two and Mintz in the middle, Mintz would get a good run down the back stretch. Smith would go to the cushion in three and four while Mintz ran the middle and as Smith tried to break his momentum, Mintz drove to the outside and it was a drag race to the checkered where Mintz won by a nose.
Not to be out-done, the 25-lap Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature was also exciting as the previous night’s winner Garrett Krummert drove around race-long leader Jon Henry with eight laps to go and went on to make it a clean sweep at Attica for the weekend.
“To beat Henry starting on the pole…I knew he was going to be tough. I didn’t expect Ruhlman (Brian) to be that good on the bottom. It’s pretty awesome to come out here and win two races…that’s pretty cool,” said Krummert beside his Krummert Automotive, ProShot Directional Boring, East End Powder Coating, Turbo Start backed #29. “I couldn’t get rolling around the bottom like those guys. I knew I wasn’t going to beat him on the bottom….there’s no one any better on the bottom here than Jon. So I figured I had to start rolling the middle and I kind of got onto the braking a little bit there and we got picked up a little bit.”
“I have to thank my dad, he couldn’t be here tonight…he had to go to a wedding. I have to thank my girlfriend Jo and Ryan my crew chief…without him none of this is possible. I want to thank all the fans for coming out,” added Krummert who will turn 24 on April 10.
Henry would jump back into the lead when the green flew, with Markham , Ruhlman and Krummert battling for second. Krummert would drive to the outside of both Ruhlman and Markham for the runner-up spot on lap 16 just as the caution flew for a Matt Miller spin. On the restart, Krummert would drive to Henry’s outside and take the lead with Henry continuing to battle to the inside. That side-by-side battle lasted until lap 19 when Krummert began to pull away. Krummert, who now has three late model wins in his career would win by three car lengths over Henry with Ruhlman, Markham and Chance rounding out the top five.
“I just have so much confidence I the car right now. My dad and brother work so hard on this thing and it’s easy to drive,” said Foos beside his Level Performance, Buckshot Farms, Gyro Motorsports, Pit Stop Carryouts, Crown Battery, Kistler Racing Products backed machine. “I have to thank my Grandpa for waxing it and making it shine in victory lane…this is awesome.”
The win is Foos’ 13th of his young career, tying him for sixth on the track’s all-time win list for the 305 sprint division with Jody Keegan and Bobby Clark.
Steve Rando would jump into the lead at the drop of the green over Matt Ferrell, Matt Merrill and Jordan Ryan. Rando and Ferrell would race side by side over the first five laps until Merrill spun in turn two to bring out the caution. The car on the move was Caleb Griffith who had rocketed from his sixth starting spot into third with 7th place starter Foos up to fourth. Rando would rim-ride back into the lead while Ferrell now had his hands full with Griffith and Foos. Foos would take third on lap eight and drive around Ferrell for second on lap 12 and immediately closed on Rando.
Foos would drive under Rando for the lead on lap 14 exiting turn two and begin to steadily pull away. When Foos caught lapped traffic with seven laps to go he had a commanding lead. Meanwhile, Rando was locked in a torrid battle with Griffith and Ryan for second. Griffith would take the runner-up spot on lap 20 but could not catch Foos. Ryan, in only his second year behind the wheel of a sprint car, would finish third with Rando and Paul Weaver rounding out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park will be back in action Friday, April 13 for UUI/Bazell Race Fuels Night featuring the UMP late models, 305 sprints and first appearance of the Bob’s Machine Shop/BMS Engines Dirt Trucks.
For more information go to www.atticaracewaypark.com
Attica Raceway Park - 4/7/2012
HD Supply Night
UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprints (44 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.514; 2. 54-Cap Henry, 12.516; 3. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.517; 4. 19-Stevie Smith, 12.521; 5. 83-Tim Shaffer, 12.523; 6. 5-Kasey Kahne, 12.528; 7. 3-Pete Miller III, 12.537; 8. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 12.557; 9. 60K-Jody Keegan, 12.561; 10. 2M-Dustin Daggett, 12.579; 11. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.581; 12. D4-Danny Holtgraver, 12.585; 13. 9X-Brandon Martin, 12.640; 14. 63-Chad Kemanah, 12.641; 15. 9-Joey Saldana, 12.667; 16. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.674; 17. 49-Brad Sweet, 12.707; 18. 24H-Bryan Sebetto, 12.745; 19. 16-Chris Andrews, 12.789; 20. 53-Phil Gressman, 12.790; 21. 12-Jared Ridge, 12.832; 22. 7X-Jamie Collard, 12.876; 23. 70-Brad Haudenschild, 12.897; 24. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.907; 25. 89G-David Gravel, 12.917; 26. 3L-Mike Linder, 12.950; 27. 14H-Todd Heller, 12.963; 28. 5T-Travis Philo, 12.964; 29. 60-Kory Crabtree, 12.988; 30. 44W-Austin Wheatley, 13.017; 31. 14W-Chad Wilson , 13.019; 32. 55-Brad Bowman, 13.035; 33. 14-Tony Stewart, 13.057; 34. 45-Paul McMahan, 13.058; 35. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 13.076; 36. O-Lee Jacobs, 13.087; 37. 22-Cole Duncan , 13.096; 38. 4-Danny Smith, 13.121; 39. 2MH-Dalas Hewitt, 13.216; 40. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.262; 41. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 13.272; 42. Os-Glenn Styres, 13.461; 43. 83M-Broc Martin, 13.574; 44. 7K-Kyle Sauder, 18.938
Heat 1 – Kear’s Speed Shop (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 49-Brad Sweet[2] ; 2. 9X-Brandon Martin[3] ; 3. 83-Tim Shaffer[5] ; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[6] ; 5. 14-Tony Stewart[9] ; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[11] ; 7. 22-Cole Duncan [10] ; 8. 12-Jared Ridge[1] ; 9. 89G-David Gravel[7] ; 10. 60-Kory Crabtree[8] ; 11. 60K-Jody Keegan[4]
Heat 2 – All Pro Aluminum Heads (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2M-Dustin Daggett[4] ; 2. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[2] ; 3. 63-Chad Kemanah[3] ; 4. 54-Cap Henry[6] ; 5. 44W-Austin Wheatley[8] ; 6. 5-Kasey Kahne[5] ; 7. 45-Paul McMahan[9] ; 8. 4-Danny Smith[10] ; 9. 7X-Jamie Collard[1] ; 10. 3L-Mike Linder[7] ; 11. Os-Glenn Styres[11]
Heat 3 – Dragon Race Fuels (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 70-Brad Haudenschild[1] ; 2. 2-Dale Blaney[4] ; 3. 9-Joey Saldana[3] ; 4. W20-Greg Wilson [6] ; 5. 16-Chris Andrews[2] ; 6. 3-Pete Miller III[5] ; 7. 14W-Chad Wilson [8] ; 8. 2MH-Dalas Hewitt[10] ; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[9] ; 10. 83M-Broc Martin[11] ; 11. 14H-Todd Heller[7]
Heat 4 – Kinsler Fuel Injection (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 19-Stevie Smith[6] ; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[1] ; 3. D4-Danny Holtgraver[4] ; 4. 53-Phil Gressman[2] ; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[3] ; 6. 1X-Randy Hannagan[5] ; 7. 55-Brad Bowman[8] ; 8. 5T-Travis Philo[7] ; 9. O-Lee Jacobs[9] ; 10. 7K-Kyle Sauder[11] ; 11. 2+-Brian Smith[10]
Dash –Outerwear’s Performance Products (10 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 83-Tim Shaffer[1] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[2] ; 3. W20-Greg Wilson [3] ; 4. 2M-Dustin Daggett[4] ; 5. 19-Stevie Smith[5] ; 6. 54-Cap Henry[6]
C-Main - Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps - Top 2 finishers transfer to the B-feature)
1. 7K-Kyle Sauder[6] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[3] ; 3. 83M-Broc Martin[5] ; 4. 2MH-Dalas Hewitt[1] ; 5. 2+-Brian Smith[2]
B-Main – MSD Ignitions. (12 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1X-Randy Hannagan[3] ; 2. 5-Kasey Kahne[1] ; 3. 3-Pete Miller III[2] ; 4. 60K-Jody Keegan[4] ; 5. 3L-Mike Linder[8] ; 6. 14H-Todd Heller[9] ; 7. 89G-David Gravel[7] ; 8. 45-Paul McMahan[14] ; 9. 7X-Jamie Collard[6] ; 10. 12-Jared Ridge[5] ; 11. O-Lee Jacobs[16] ; 12. 4-Danny Smith[18] ; 13. 14W-Chad Wilson [12] ; 14. 5T-Travis Philo[10] ; 15. 7K-Kyle Sauder[19] ; 16. 55-Brad Bowman[13] ; 17. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[15] ; 18. 35-Stuart Brubaker[20] ; 19. 60-Kory Crabtree[11] ; 20. 22-Cole Duncan [17]
UNOH A-Main - (40 Laps)
1. O9-Craig Mintz[2]; 2. 19-Stevie Smith[5]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson [3]; 4. 2-Dale Blaney[7]; 5. 1X-Randy Hannagan[13]; 6. 83-Tim Shaffer[1]; 7. 63-Chad Kemanah[10]; 8. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[18]; 9. 16-Chris Andrews[19]; 10. D4-Danny Holtgraver[8]; 11. 54-Cap Henry[6]; 12. 9X-Brandon Martin[9]; 13. 5-Kasey Kahne[11]; 14. 9-Joey Saldana[15]; 15. 49-Brad Sweet[17]; 16. 14-Tony Stewart[24]; 17. 3-Pete Miller III[12]; 18. 2M-Dustin Daggett[4]; 19. 44W-Austin Wheatley[23]; 20. 60K-Jody Keegan[14]; 21. 70-Brad Haudenschild[21]; 22. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[22]; 23. 53-Phil Gressman[20]; 24. 5R-Byron Reed[16]
Hard Charger: 24H-Bryan Sebetto[+10]
Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (31 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 - Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. M14-Brandon Thirlby[1] ; 2. 27-Ken Hahn[3] ; 3. 27S-Eric Spangler[6] ; 4. 1N-Casey Noonan[5] ; 5. 34-Ky Harper[8] ; 6. 99-Steve Sabo[4] ; 7. X3-Dan Wallace[7] ; 8. 51-Devin Shiels[11] ; 9. 91T-Adam Thrush[2] ; 10. 8-Rob Anderzack[9] ; 11. 56G-BJ Gregory[10]
Heat 2 - Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 29-Garrett Krummert[4] ; 2. O1-Justin Chance[1] ; 3. 15B-Mike Bores[3] ; 4. 15-Jon Henry[9] ; 5. 3-Matt Miller[8] ; 6. O3-Doug Eck[10] ; 7. 36-Matt Irey[7] ; 8. 42K-Bob Mayer[2] ; 9. O6-Kyle Perry[5]
Heat 3 - Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 15A-Phil Ausra[1] ; 2. 49-Brian Ruhlman[5] ; 3. 5M-Ryan Markham[6] ; 4. 21-Larry Kingseed[7] ; 5. 50Y-Ryan Missler[3] ; 6. 91-Rusty Schlenk[8] ; 7. 5H-Ernie Haynes[2] ; 8. 23C-Jeremy Canada [4] ; 9. 48-John Bores[9] ; 10. B4U-Chris Keller[10]
B-Main - Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O3-Doug Eck[2] ; 2. 91-Rusty Schlenk[3] ; 3. 51-Devin Shiels[7] ; 4. X3-Dan Wallace[4] ; 5. 99-Steve Sabo[1] ; 6. 23C-Jeremy Canada [9] ; 7. 36-Matt Irey[5] ; 8. B4U-Chris Keller[14] ; 9. O6-Kyle Perry[11] ; 10. 5H-Ernie Haynes[6] ; 11. 8-Rob Anderzack[13] ; 12. 56G-BJ Gregory[15] ; 13. 91T-Adam Thrush[10] ; 14. 42K-Bob Mayer[8] ; 15. 48-John Bores[12] ; 16. 4US-James Scout[16]
A-Main - (25 Laps)
1. 29-Garrett Krummert[9]; 2. 15-Jon Henry[1]; 3. 49-Brian Ruhlman[12]; 4. 5M-Ryan Markham[4]; 5. O1-Justin Chance[6]; 6. 91-Rusty Schlenk[17]; 7. 1N-Casey Noonan[11]; 8. 3-Matt Miller[14]; 9. 21-Larry Kingseed[8]; 10. 27S-Eric Spangler[2]; 11. O3-Doug Eck[16]; 12. 15B-Mike Bores[5]; 13. 50Y-Ryan Missler[15]; 14. 51-Devin Shiels[18]; 15. 99-Steve Sabo[20]; 16. 27-Ken Hahn[7]; 17. 15A-Phil Ausra[10]; 18. 34-Ky Harper[13]; 19. M14-Brandon Thirlby[3]; 20. X3-Dan Wallace[19]
Hard Charger: 91-Rusty Schlenk[+11]
Fremont Fence 305 Sprints (24 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 - Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 39-Matt Merrill[5] ; 2. 36X-Dustin Keegan[4] ; 3. 67M-Matt Ferrell[1] ; 4. 19R-Steve Rando[7] ; 5. 23-Jim Cushing[2] ; 6. 10X-Dustin Stroup[8] ; 7. 22M-Dan McCarron[6]
Heat 2 - Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[2] ; 2. 1-Nate Dussel[4] ; 3. 9-Jimmy Colvin[6] ; 4. 8K-Jon Ivy[3] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[1] ; 6. 22D-Dan Hammond [8] ; 7. 4M-Jamie Miller[5] ; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser[7]
Heat 3 - Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Caleb Griffith [7] ; 2. 11F-D.J. Foos[3] ; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 4. 25-Jason Keckler[4] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 6. 717-Trey Jacobs[8] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[5] ; 8. 5-Dustin Dinan[6]
B-Main - Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 10X-Dustin Stroup[1] ; 2. 4M-Jamie Miller[5] ; 3. 8J-Jess Stiger[6] ; 4. 22D-Dan Hammond [2] ; 5. 22M-Dan McCarron[4] ; 6. 83X-Nate Reeser[7] ; 7. 717-Trey Jacobs[3] ; 8. OO-alvin Roepke[9]
A-Main - (25 Laps)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[7]; 2. 40-Caleb Griffith [6]; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[3]; 4. 19R-Steve Rando[1]; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[9]; 6. 67M-Matt Ferrell[4]; 7. 1-Nate Dussel[11]; 8. 8K-Jon Ivy[8]; 9. 10X-Dustin Stroup[16]; 10. 36X-Dustin Keegan[10]; 11. 4M-Jamie Miller[17]; 12. 9-Jimmy Colvin[12]; 13. 25-Jason Keckler[5]; 14. 8J-Jess Stiger[18]; 15. 36-Seth Schneider[15]; 16. 22D-Dan Hammond [19]; 17. 22M-Dan McCarron[20]; 18. 39-Matt Merrill[2]; 19. 23-Jim Cushing[13]; 20. 68G-Tyler Gunn[14]
Hard Charger: 10X-Dustin Stroup[+7]
©2012 - Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH