Camargo, IL (11-11-09) – By Kelly Brown – With the calendar officially showing it is November, the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions is looking back at July. It is hard to believe that just four short months ago the drivers of the series were getting ready for a month that would end with a swing across the plains. But before the All Stars headed out west they had three races in three different states to contend and these races would not disappoint fans as two new winners were added to the All Star record books. It may be hard to believe but during the month that Americans celebrate their independence, both Jim Neir and Daryn Pittman would both go on to record their first career wins with the series.

Neir Win

At K-C Raceway in Ohio some of the younger drivers were trying to make a name for themselves with the All Stars. 2009 Rookie title hopeful Brandon Wimmer and 2008 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Rookie-of-the-Year Ryan Myers started side-by-side at the drop of the Green Flag. Going into the first turn it was Wimmer who had the edge and Myers was content to follow him for the first circuit of the track. The feature was fast and furious as it would continue on wire-to-wire without a single caution period. Early on Jim Nier, former K-C Raceway promoter quickly worked his way to the front, by lap three he had slid under Myers to take second. On Lap 5 Wimmer held on to the lead over a closing Nier, while David Gravel and Rob Chaney rounded out the top five. This is when Dale Blaney began to make his presence known, slipping his way into the top 5. Up Front Nier had caught Wimmer and the duo was beginning to catch the tail end of the field. While making their way through lapped traffic Nier set up his pass perfectly. Using a lapped car to block Wimmer, Nier dove under Wimmer and took the leap on Lap 8.

While Nier began to build his lead the battle for second began to warm up. Myers, Wimmer, and Blaney staged quite a battle, but in the end it was Blaney who would dive under Wimmer and Myers who were side-by-side to take over the second position. Wimmer would battle back and get back past Blaney for a split second, but in the end it was Blaney who had the upper hand. With 20 laps down in the 30 lap event, Blaney was closing on Nier’s lead. Two lapped cars stood in the way between him and the track veteran. With just four laps to go Blaney would pick off the first of the cars that stood in his way, on the following lap he would clear the second setting giving him just three laps to catch and pass Nier. With the White Flag waving in the air Blaney had Nier in his sight and was closing quickly. Blaney would move to the outside line in the last two turns to attempt a last lap pass on Nier, but the promoter held on. At the line it was Nier taking the Checkered Flag first. He was followed by Blaney, with Wimmer, Tim Shaffer and Jimmy Stinson who started 15th, rounded out the top-five.

Tim Shaffer has Hart

When the Green Flag first flew over the main event at Hartford Motor Speedway, Chad Kemenah got the jump over the pole sitter, who lived up to his name, Gary Fast. The first Yellow Flag would slow the event after the first lap of the race was completed when Brandon Wimmer lost the motor on this 0, 410 sprint car. On the restart, it was Kemenah, Ryan Myers, and Shaffer leading the field to the green. Kemenah would retain the lead until Gary Fast spun on Lap 2 with apparent handling issues. In order to miss the spinning car both David Gravel and Daron Clayton spun. Kemenah would run away from the field on the restart, but his racing machine would have a right rear tire go up in smoke on Lap 6 and he would hand over the lead to Ryan Myers for a few laps, but once Shaffer took the top spot on Lap 8, he never looked back.

The third caution of the night came out on Lap 10 when the 27k of Ryan Kirkendall lost steering on his car and slowed on course. While the yellow flag was out two cars would go to the pits with tire issues, both the 4x of Toni Lutar and second place running Ryan Myers would be able to continue on at the end of the field. The fourth and final Yellow Flag of the night came out on Lap 12, when something went awry on the 23 of Ben Rutan. He would leave the track with parts flying, which would end his night. When the Green Flag flew again, it stayed out until the Checkered Flag flew. Shaffer would drive out to a comfortable advantage, so the battle was for second. The best fight on the track the whole night was in the closing laps between second place running Greg Wilson and Randy Hannagan. Hannagan worked on Wilson and was even able to pull up beside him a few times, but was not able to pass him. At the end of the 30 lap event, Tim Shaffer would take the Checkered Flag first, with the dueling duo of Wilson and Hannagan behind him. Rounding out the top -5 would be home state driver Dustin Daggett, who was a crowd favorite throughout the night and David Gravel.

The Tri-City Twister

At the drop of the Green Flag at Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, PA pole sitter Cole Duncan took the lead initially with Pittman in his tire tracks. It would not take long for Pittman to start pursing the 22 car as he began sizing him up. On Lap 4 Pittman had Duncan in his clutches and slid around him to take the lead, just before the first caution flag of the night flew. On Lap 5 the yellow would come out for an incident involving Ed Lynch Jr. and Tim Shaffer. The two were battling side-by-side for position in the top-10 when the two touched wheels. This would send the two spinning, but both would rejoin the field at the tail. Almost simultaneously, Matthew Reed in the v92 sprint spun and came to a stop with a flat tire, but due to other problems with the car, he was unable to continue on. When the Green Flag flew again Pittman drove away from Duncan and left him in the clutches of Greg Wilson, who was able to get past him using the outside line. Just as Pittman was beginning to encounter lapped traffic the Red Flag came out on Lap 11. Coming out of the second turn the 92 of Daron Clayton made contact with the 6f of Bob Felmlee. The result sent Clayton airborne, but luckily the car landed on all four tires. This would end Clayton’s night, but Felmlee was able to continue on with minor damage.

Throughout the rest of the event Pittman was in command. He was able to endure a few charges by second place running Greg Wilson, but was able to work lapped traffic skillfully retaining the lead. In the closing laps Dale Blaney would make charge, trying to get past Wilson for second. It seemed every time Blaney would catch Wilson that Wilson would close the door. With the Checkered Flag in Pittman’s sights, he out muscled Wilson to the finish line with Wilson and Blaney in tow. Fourth place Danny Smith turned in quite a performance tonight, after starting fifteenth he was able to make his way to the front before the end of the race. Rounding out the top-5 tonight was pole sitter Duncan.

Now that the stage has been set, it is time for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions to take on the west. With five races in just five days the 2009 edition of Thunder though the Plains was another event that will be engrained in the memories of All Star fans for the unforgettable fast paced racing action displayed across three states. Stay tuned as the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions look back on another fast and furious season of racing action.

For the most up to date information on the All Star Circuit of Champions, bookmark www.allstarsprint.com on your computer.



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