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Rahmer holds off Shaffer and Wilson for 25th All Star win at Utica-Rome

VERNON, N.Y. -By Brian Liskai- (7-13-10) Fred Rahmer and Greg Wilson put on a classic duel, trading the lead back and forth throughout the entire 30 laps of the O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions feature at Utica-Rome Speedway Tuesday night, July 13. And when Tim Shaffer entered the fray with three laps to go, the crowd was on their feet. When the checkered flew, “Fast Freddie” was able to hold on for his second All Star victory of 2010 and his 25th career win with the series.

“The guys had the car real good. We were lucky on that last restart. Greg sort of took a lickin’ there, but that’s part of racing,” said Rahmer beside his C&S Lawn and Landscape, Miller Brothers Automotive Family, Materials Handling Systems backed #51. “I’m just glad to win up here and make the trip worthwhile. I appreciate everybody coming out. They had the track pretty good…I’ve never run that good on this kind of slick but very happy to win here tonight.”

On the initial start, Jack Sodeman Jr. was penalized for jumping and moved back a row. On the second try Pete Miller looped it out on the back stretch. The third time was the charm and two-time All Star champion Wilson grabbed the lead, but not for long, as Rahmer would drive to his outside for the top spot a lap later. Wilson rebounded to drive under Rahmer for the lead on lap five as they raced into lapped traffic.

Battling traffic and each other, Rahmer and Wilson were side-by-side on lap 7, with Wilson still leading by inches. A caution for a track barrier tire moved onto the track on lap 10 postponed the tremendous battle up front. Rahmer got a great jump on the ensuing restart, driving around Wilson into the lead. But, Wilson drove his Warnimont owned machine back under Rahmer in turn four to regain the advantage.

Wilson continued to lead with Rahmer right on his rear bumper when they again encountered lapped traffic with 13 laps remaining. A caution four laps later for a stalled Jared Ridge as this would set up the most important restart of the race. Wilson would slip up, allowing Rahmer to drive into the lead. The lapped machines would allow defending All Star champ Tim Shaffer to catch the lead duo with just four laps to go to make it a three car battle with three circuits remaining. With a lapped machine in front of them, all three drivers had to make a split-second decision on which groove to make their moves. Rahmer took the outside and Wilson went low as Shaffer followed Rahmer up top. Rahmer, Shaffer and Wilson raced nose to tail to the checkered.

“When I slowed my paced down to run where the best part of the track was I was getting rolled up, but I rolled around the top of them because that was the only place I had to go and I came to try and win and got lucky,” added Rahmer beside his CJB Motorsports owned Maxim chassis. “I have to thank Chad and Jenn for letting me drive this car and my wife for letting me do it and my boys and Bob for working on the car all week.”

For Shaffer, it was his fifth straight top three finish as he continues his march to a second consecutive All Star title.

“At beginning of the night we struggled pretty hard. For awhile there was hope for getting a top five, but Brian (Kemenah, crew chief) and the guys did a great job. We were off a little bit, but we’ll take second,” said Shaffer beside his VRP Shocks, Kistler Engines, Kistler Racing Products backed #83.

“I really wanted to see the race stay green…it seemed like I could move around pretty good, but when they got out in clean air they would drive away. I’m happy to run second. As bad as I felt earlier in the night and then come back and finish second is awesome,” continued Shaffer of his CH Motorsports team.

For Wilson, who finished second at Monday night’s All Star race, it was more proof his All Star Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning team is turning their season around.

“We were better on the long green runs…A.J. and Floyd had the car pretty good tonight. Fred Rahmer is a heck of a racer, I mean he’s a legend so to get beat by him…it’s frustrating but we didn’t get beat by no slouch,” said Wilson beside his DNC Hydraulics, Kear’s Speed shop, Don Snyder Excavating backed #W20.

“I want to thank all the fans for coming out. This is a great place to race. Great crowd and great people…just wish we could have finished two spots better is all.”

For more information log onto www.allstarsprint.com
Qualifying - Kistler Engines

1. 89G-David Gravel, 17.598; 2. W20-Greg Wilson, 17.651; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer, 18.018; 4. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr., 18.020; 5. 6-Bill Rose, 18.104; 6. 83-Tim Shaffer, 18.189; 7. 87-George Suprick, 18.226; 8. 8-Blake Breen, 18.247; 9. 7M-Mark Smith, 18.261; 10. 32-Justin Barger, 18.319; 11. 3-Pete Miller III, 18.359; 12. 14-Jessica Zemken, 18.473; 13. O4-Cap Henry, 18.604; 14. 79-Davey Sammons, 18.728; 15. 20-Tony Stewart, 18.809; 16. 93-Doug Esh, 18.966; 17. 22Z-Mark Zemcik, 19.119; 18. 5-Vern Wasson, 19.151; 19. 214-Steve Wilson, 19.207; 20. O7-Mark Coldren, 19.538; 21. 17T-Jeff Taylor, 19.591; 22. 71C-Jack Helgit, 19.651; 23. 12-Jared Ridge, 99.000

Heat 1 - MSD Ignition (8 Laps)

1. 89G-David Gravel; 2. 93-Doug Esh; 3. 87-George Suprick; 4. 32-Justin Barger; 5. O4-Cap Henry; 6. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.; 7. 71C-Jack Helgit; 8. 214-Steve Wilson

Heat 2 - Kear's Speed Shop (8 Laps - Top 7 Transfer)

1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 79-Davey Sammons; 3. 8-Blake Breen; 4. 6-Bill Rose; 5. 22Z-Mark Zemcik; 6. O7-Mark Coldren; 7. 3-Pete Miller III; 8. 12-Jared Ridge [DNS]

Heat 3 - All Pro Heads (8 Laps)

1. 14-Jessica Zemken; 2. 20-Tony Stewart; 3. 51-Fred Rahmer; 4. 83-Tim Shaffer; 5. 7M-Mark Smith; 6. 5-Vern Wasson; 7. 17T-Jeff Taylor

A-Main – O’Reilly Auto Parts (30 Laps) [#]-Starting Position

1. 51-Fred Rahmer[2]; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer[5]; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[3]; 4. 79-Davey Sammons[14]; 5. 7M-Mark Smith[9]; 6. 32-Justin Barger[10]; 7. 20-Tony Stewart[15]; 8. 6-Bill Rose[6]; 9. 14-Jessica Zemken[12]; 10. 8-Blake Breen[8]; 11. 89G-David Gravel[4]; 12. 93-Doug Esh[16]; 13. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.[1]; 14. 87-George Suprick[7]; 15. O4-Cap Henry[13]; 16. O7-Mark Coldren[20]; 17. 5-Vern Wasson[18]; 18. 17T-Jeff Taylor[21]; 19. 214-Steve Wilson[19]; 20. 22Z-Mark Zemcik[17]; 21. 12-Jared Ridge[23]; 22. 71C-Jack Helgit[22]; 23. 3-Pete Miller III[11]

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