6/4/2010
All Star Circuit of Champions
Blaney holds off Shaffer for Lernerville All Star victory
SARVER, PA. - (6-4-10)- By Brian Liskai- All Star Championship Racing, Inc. - Tim Shaffer threw everything at Dale Blaney Friday night at Lernerville Speedway, including slide-jobs the final two circuits. But, Blaney, a former Lernerville track champion and three time All Star champion, was able to hold him off to claim the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions victory.
Blaney drove the Ti22 Performance Parts/George Fisher Racing #2 to his 74th career All Star victory, as he led all 30 laps. Shaffer, the defending All Star champion and current point leader and a former Lernerville Speedway champion, caught Blaney on the white flag lap, executing a slide job in turn two. Blaney pulled back around down the back stretch and Shaffer tried again in turns three and four, but Blaney drove back by for the victory.
Pittsburgh’s Danny Holtgraver continues to impress in 2010, as he finished third behind two of Lernerville’s finest exports.
Starting alongside of Holtgraver on the front row, Blaney jumped to the lead with Holtgraver in pursuit. While running third, Bob Felmlee brushed the front wall, ending his night.
As the race was just starting to take shape again, the fiery crash happened in front of the leaders. When the race resumed Shaffer quickly slid under Holtgraver to take second. David Gravel also got by Holtgraver as the leaders quickly reeled in lapped traffic. Blaney picked his way through traffic like a surgeon, but it allowed Gravel to close on Shaffer to challenge for second. Once clear of traffic, Shaffer pulled away from Gravel and began eating into Blaney’s lead.
Meanwhile Holtgraver stormed back to pass Gravel to regain third on lap 24. Shaffer began pressuring Blaney in the final few laps as the leaders battled in heavy traffic. “The Steel City Outlaw” pulled even with Blaney at the flag stand on both laps 27 and 28, but could not get enough forward bite to complete the pass.
Blaney would take his second Lernerville Speedway feature win in the last three weeks. Following Blaney, Shaffer and Holtgraver across the finish line was Gravel with Danny Smith rounding out the top five.
“I saw Tim’s nose with two to go…I knew I’d see him sometime in that race,” said Blaney in the Sheetz Victory Lane.
“We finally got the car feeling pretty good. We learned something the last three weeks and it started right here at Lernerville. We’ve been very competitive again. The car’s back to the way it felt last year,” added Blaney.
The night’s racing was marred by a horrific crash on the front stretch on lap 7 which included Charlie Holben, Pete Miller III and Scott Bonnell. Bonnell and Miller came to rest along the inside retaining wall while Holben’s car landed upside down just beyond the flag stand, bursting into flames. Driver Brent Matus unstrapped from his machine to help get Holben out of his burning car. Holben was airlifted to a Pittsburgh hospital where he is listed in fair condition. Cards and well-wishes may be sent to UPMC Mercy, 1400 Locust St., Pittsburg, PA, 15219 or online at ecards.upmc.com in care of Charlie Holben.
Kistler Engines Qualifying:
- (89G) David Gravel 12.801
- (04) Cap Henry 12.982
- (D4) Danny Holtgraver 13.016
- (83) Tim Shaffer 13.045
- (2) Dale Blaney 13.055
- (6F) Bob Felmlee 13.077
- (4X) Danny Smith 13.088
- (22) Cole Duncan 13.094
- (24H) Lee Jacobs 13.171
- (W20) Greg Wilson 13.184
- (6R) Bill Rose 13.184
- (94) Jack Sodeman Jr. 13.207
- (3B) Scott Bonnell 13.232
- (75) Dave Ely 13.264
- (15) Charlie Holben 13.283
- (12) Jared Ridge 13.284
- (10) Carl Bowser 13.287
- (9) Kevin Schaeffer 13.305
- (3) Pete Miller III 13.446
- (33) Brent Matus 13.500
- (24S) Brian Steinman 13.517
- (66) Chris Best 13.591
- (43G) Andy Priest 13.620
- (O) Andy McKisson 13.874
- (13) Brandon Matus 14.246
- (96) Lindsay Enscoe 14.250
- (4) Rod George No Time
MSD Ignition Heat Race #1
- (W20) Greg Wilson
- (83) Tim Shaffer
- (3B) Scott Bonnell
- (4X) Danny Smith
- (89G) David Gravel
- (3) Pete Miller III
- (13) Brent Matus
- (66) Chris Best
- (12) Jared Ridge
Kear's Speedshop Heat Race #2
- (75) Dave Ely
- (10) Carl Bowser
- (6R) Bill Rose
- (2) Dale Blaney
- (22) Cole Duncan
- (04) Cap Henry
- (43) Andy Priest
- (33) Brent Matus
- (96) Lindsay Enscoe
All Pro Aluminum Heads Heat Race #3
- (9) Kevin Schaeffer
- (15) Charlie Holben
- (24H) Lee Jacobs
- (D4) Danny Holtgraver
- (6F) Bob Felmlee
- (94) Jack Sodeman Jr.
- (O) Andy McKisson
- (24S) Brian Steinman
- (4) Rod George
O’Reilly Auto Parts A-Main
- (2) Dale Blaney, Fowler, OH
- (83) Tim Shaffer, Aliquippa
- (D4) Danny Holtgraver- Pittsburgh
- (89G) David Gravel,
- (4X) Danny Smith, Chillicothe, OH
- (04) Cap Henry, Bellevue, OH
- (24H) Lee Jacobs,
- (W20) Greg Wilson,
- (22) Cole Duncan,
- (12) Jared Ridge, Snohomish, WA
- (10) Carl Bowser, Sarver
- (6R) Bill Rose,
- (43) Andy Priest, New Castle
- (75) Dave Ely,
- (24S) Brian Steinman, Lucinda
- (66) Chris Best, Butler
- (33) Brent Matus, Wampum
- (94) Jack Sodeman Jr., N.Jackson, OH
- (15) Charlie Holben, Cabot
- (3) Pete Miller III, Port Vue
- (3B) Scott Bonnell, Fairview
- (6F) Bob Felmlee, Franklin
- (9) Kevin Schaeffer, Kittanning
- (O) Andy McKisson, Strattanville
Article Credit: Brian Liskai
Submitted By: Ross Paulson