CAMARGO, IL (09-29-08 ) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations

The 2008 O’Reilly All star Circuit of Champions took flight of their 39th season at the North Florida Speedway in Lake City, Florida where eventual champion Dale Blaney would finish second. Blaney would continue that momentum throughout the season leading up to the final nights of racing action that concluded at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where he would not only win the event but also the championship.

The 2008 campaign was filled with some of the most exciting on track performances of the season. No driver found victory lane more however than the now 3-time All Star Circuit of Champions Champion Dale Blaney. Blaney, who drove for car owner and crew chief George Fisher, took home the top prize 8 times. Blaney would garner his first victory during Ohio Speedweek at Skyline Speedway on June 26th, and would go on to take a 2nd victory during the “Original Speedweek” at Eldora Speedway on June 29th. Only Mother Nature would take home more wins during the week.

The remainder 6 feature events in which Blaney found victory lane would come down the final stretch as the point’s battle between him and Lance Dewease began to heat up drawing a lot of attention. Blaney’s additional features would include; July 21 at Millstream Speedway, August 2 at Eagle Raceway (Thunder Through the Plains), August 13 at Waynesfield Motorsports Park, August 15 at Benton Race Park, August 30 at Attica Raceway Park (Attica Ambush), and September 13 at Lawrenceburg Speedway (Season Championship).

Lance Dewease would come home 2nd in points in his first full-time attack of the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions schedule. Dewease held the lead in the tight point’s battle early on in the season and then traded positions with Blaney for several weeks like slide jobs on a racy surface. Dewease would bring home top honors for his Catoctin Motorsports machine twice during the season with the All Stars, the first coming at Attica Raceway Park on April 4 and the second at the Butler Battlegrounds on August 23.

Coming home 3rd in the 2008 point’s battle was Randy “The Hurricane” Hannagan. Hannagan laid claim to the Ohio Speedweek title in 2008 as well while finding victory lane twice on the season. “The Hurricane” would get his first win of the 2008 campaign by taking home the first event of the 2008 Ohio Speedweek at Hilltop Speedway on June 24. The Penthouse/PocketShot.net machine would be parked in victory lane on August 1 at Thunderhill Speedway during the Thunder Though the Plains.

The two-time defending champion Greg Wilson had a mixed bag of success in 2008. Wilson, piloting the All Star Plumbing machine, scored one win on the season and finished in the 4 spot in the point’s battle. Wilson’s solo win came at a very fast and racy Fremont Speedway on May 24.

Rounding out the top 5 in points was Brian Ellenberger. The Pennsylvania native showed in 2008 that consistency can pay off in the point’s battle by maintaining a top spot week in and week out. Ellenberger captured his first ever All Star victory on August 16 at Riverside International Speedway.

Completing the top 10 in points was Brandon Martin, who had fans on the edge of their seats throughout the season with his daring moves and strong charges to the front, in 6th. Seventh belongs to Ryan Myers who also takes home Rookie of the Year honors. Under the tutelage of Jack Hewitt, Lee Stark brings home an 8th place position in the final points. Brock Mayes will bring home the 9th place rewards while missing a handful of events. Tim Shaffer, who took over the driving duties after Ohio Speedweek, comes home in the 10th position thanks to 4 wins.

The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions would like to thank all of their fans, teams, supporters, tracks, and officials for a great 2008. As the series looks forward to the 40th season of competition, the series looks for new and innovative ideas while preserving the rich heritage that is the All Star Circuit of Champions.






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