8/24/2014
All Star Circuit of Champions
Shaffer ends UNOH All Star drought with Mercer Win
MERCER, PA. (Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014) – From 2009 through 2012, Tim Shaffer was THE man to beat in University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions competition. Since 2012 after his fourth straight series title, a lot has changed for “The Steel City Outlaw,” including teams and crew members and the win totals fell.
That all changed Sunday at Mercer Raceway Park. Shaffer held off protégé Danny Holtgraver to claim the 25th running of the Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Championship Presented by Bonnell’s Rod Shop. It was Shaffer’s fourth career win at Mercer.
You could say all Shaffer needed was some “home cooking” as the track is minutes from his home in Aliquippa, Pa. The win was the 54th of Shaffer’s All Star Career, moving him into fourth on the series’ all-time win list. It was Shaffer’s first UNOH All Star win in nearly a year, since he swept the Attica Ambush Aug. 30 and 31, 2013. Shaffer’s win also stopped Dale Blaney’s three race UNOH All Star win streak.
The two-day event at Mercer included a party with live music, a hog roast and other activities to entertain the fans and to raise money for the injured driver relief fund.
“I’m just happy to win…it’s been awhile,” said Shaffer beside his Bryan Grove Racing/Canton Erectors/J&J Racing/Gressman Powersports backed #45.
Danny Holtgraver, who scored an All Star win at Mercer last year, was closing rapidly in the final stages of the race, but Shaffer was able to time his passing of lapped cars to perfection.
“You got to have some luck in this game, you know, and catching them at the right time is definitely an advantage…you have to make it happen to get by and you can’t get tied up too long,” said Shaffer of his winning moves.
Holtgraver, who has two UNOH All Star wins in 2014, acknowledged Shaffer had the edge in traffic.
“He was unbelievable in traffic. I got to him but he could move around to get by the lapped cars and I was committed to the bottom and I just couldn’t get around them in the corners,” said Holtgraver beside his Rob Hunter Racing/Bonnell’s Rod Shop/Berlin Natural Bakery/Golden Flavor Sesame Sticks/Alternative Power Sources/West View Motors/DKW Transport backed #10H.
“It was pretty cool to be up on the front stretch with Tim Shaffer. Last year I won and he was second and this year it was reversed. But, it’s great that we could come home and do that. If I’m going to finish second, it couldn’t be to a better guy. It’s cool to be able to be up on the front stretch for our sponsor Bonnell’s Rod Shop. He’s been a huge help to us,” added Holtgraver.
Shaffer and Carl Bowser would bring the field to green for the 30 lapper. Shaffer got the jump while Bowser got sideways, making contact with Saturday night winner Dale Blaney. Blaney, the current UNOH All Star point leader, spun to the inside apron, necessitating a complete restart.
When the green reappeared Shaffer got the lead again and held it through the conclusion of the contest, though it wasn’t easy. With eight laps in, Shaffer had just cleared the lapped machine of Francis Sesco when Sesco spun. Shaffer led Jac Haudenschild, Bowser, Lee Jacobs and Holtgraver. While watching the leaders battle through traffic, many in the big crowd were watching Blaney work his way from the tail up to 16th.
On the restart Shaffer was able to maintain control of the race as the battle for second heated up between Haudenschild, Bowser, Jacobs and Holtgraver. The caution flew with 10 laps in when Scott Priester spun in turn two with Haudenschild applying pressure to Shaffer with Jacobs pressuring Bowser for third.
When the green flew Shaffer pulled away slightly from Haudenschild. The final caution would come out with 16 laps to go when Caleb Armstrong spun off of turn four. Blaney’s charge forward had him in the 13th spot at the yellow.
Shaffer continued to lead Haudenschild when the race resumed, but the man on the move was Holtgraver. He advanced from fourth to second by lap 22 and set out after the high-flying Shaffer. While Holtgraver was able to close the game on Shaffer, he could never pull beside him. “The Steel City Outlaw” timed his passing of lapped cars perfectly and Holtgraver had to check up several times when he closed on the slower cars.
Shaffer led Holtgraver to the checkers. Close behind was Haudenschild who had finished second the previous night. Jacobs would score his third consecutive top four at Mercer, with Bowser rounding out the top five. Cap Henry led Adam Kekich, Andy McKisson and Brandon Spithaler across the line with Blaney rebounding to round out the top 10.
The UNOH All Stars head to Attica Raceway Park Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29 and 30 for the traditional Attica Ambush, an event Shaffer swept last year. On Sunday the All Stars travel back to the NAPA Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway where earlier this year Sheldon Haudenschild scored his first series victory.
For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com.
Mercer Raceway Park - 8/24/2014
UNOH Night
All Star Circuit of Champions (23 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
14K-Dale Blaney, 13.784; 2. 81-Lee Jacobs, 13.847; 3. 45-Tim Shaffer, 13.895; 4. 10H-Danny Holtgraver, 13.908; 5. 27-Billy Dietrich, 14.026; 6. 53-Cap Henry, 14.082; 7. 23-Jimmy Light, 14.145; 8. 9W-Jac Haudenschild, 14.180; 9. 7C-Caleb Armstrong, 14.220; 10. 5K-Adam Kekich, 14.295; 11. 10-Carl Bowser, 14.305; 12. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 14.346; 13. 13-Brandon Matus, 14.357; 14. 15-Scott Priester, 14.371; 15. 7-Eric Williams, 14.424; 16. O8-Dan Kuriger, 14.433; 17. O-Andy McKisson, 14.673; 18. 55F-Taylor Ferns, 14.684; 19. 46-Mike Bauer, 14.706; 20. 38-Dennis Wagner, 14.721; 21. 33-Brent Matus, 15.356; 22. 24-Chris Pochiro, 15.523; 23. 2S-Francis Sesco, 18.073
Heat 1 - Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps - Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
5K-Adam Kekich[1] ; 2. 14K-Dale Blaney[4] ; 3. 23-Jimmy Light[2] ; 4. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[3] ; 5. 13-Brandon Matus[5] ; 6. 46-Mike Bauer[7] ; 7. O8-Dan Kuriger[6] ; 8. 24-Chris Pochiro[8]
Heat 2 - All Pro Aluminum Heads (8 Laps - Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
9W-Jac Haudenschild[2] ; 2. 10-Carl Bowser[1] ; 3. 81-Lee Jacobs[4] ; 4. 27-Billy Dietrich[3] ; 5. O-Andy McKisson[6] ; 6. 15-Scott Priester[5] ; 7. 38-Dennis Wagner[7] ; 8. 2S-Francis Sesco[8]
Heat 3 - Dragon Racing Fuels (8 Laps - Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
22-Brandon Spithaler[1] ; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer[4] ; 3. 53-Cap Henry[3] ; 4. 7-Eric Williams[5] ; 5. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[2] ; 6. 55F-Taylor Ferns[6] ; 7. 33-Brent Matus[7]
Dash - Howard Johnson Hotel - Lima, OH (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
45-Tim Shaffer[1] ; 2. 10-Carl Bowser[2] ; 3. 14K-Dale Blaney[4] ; 4. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[5] ; 5. 22-Brandon Spithaler[6] ; 6. 5K-Adam Kekich[3]
A-Main - University of Northwestern Ohio (30 Laps)
45-Tim Shaffer[1]; 2. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[8]; 3. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[4]; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs[7]; 5. 10-Carl Bowser[2]; 6. 53-Cap Henry[10]; 7. 5K-Adam Kekich[6]; 8. O-Andy McKisson[17]; 9. 22-Brandon Spithaler[5]; 10. 14K-Dale Blaney[3]; 11. 7-Eric Williams[15]; 12. 13-Brandon Matus[13]; 13. 23-Jimmy Light[11]; 14. O8-Dan Kuriger[16]; 15. 27-Billy Dietrich[9]; 16. 33-Brent Matus[21]; 17. 15-Scott Priester[14]; 18. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[12]; 19. 55F-Taylor Ferns[18]; 20. 46-Mike Bauer[19]; 21. 24-Chris Pochiro[22]; 22. 2S-Francis Sesco[23]; 23. 38-Dennis Wagner[20]
Hard Charger: O-Andy McKisson[+9]
Submitted By: Ross Paulson