(Photo: Tim Shaffer earns $5,000 for his efforts at Bubba Raceway Park - Paul Arch Photo Credit)
OCALA, Fla. (February 2, 2018) - The “Steel City Outlaw” Tim Shaffer made the most of his front row starting position on Friday night, eventually leading all 30 circuits around Bubba Raceway Park to claim his first Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 main event victory of the season. The pilot of the Rudzik Excavating, No. 49X earned $5,000 for his efforts, edging out the “Madman” Kerry Madsen for the 61st victory of his career against the All Star Circuit of Champions.
“This is great for the Rudzik team,” Shaffer said, a four-time All Star champion from 2009 to 2012. “Everyone works so hard back at the shop. That hard work makes all of this happen. This is what makes all of their hard work fun.”
Shaffer started from the outside-pole position and earned the early advantage, racing by the flagstand for the first time with Tyler Clem and Sheldon Haudenschild in tow. The Aliquippa, Pa., native maintained a quick pace at the front of the running order until caution flags appeared for the first time on lap nine. Unfortunately for Clem and Haudenschild, the caution flag was the result of their misfortune, each collected by a stopped lapped car.
Green flag conditions soon returned with Shaffer resuming his campaign at the front of the running order. With Clem and Haudenschild out, it was Sunbury, Pennsylvania’s Mark Smith inheriting the runner-up position, followed closely by New York native, Coleman Gulick, and Kerry Madsen.
While Shaffer controlled the point, pushing his advantage to nearly two seconds even with traffic coming back into play as early as lap 14, it was Madsen who was attracting the attention, driving by Gulick on lap 11 and eventually squeezing under Mark Smith on lap 20. On lap 21, caution flags appeared for the second and final time once again erasing Shaffer’s advantage.
With rubber starting to come into play around the bottom of the speedway, it was obvious that Shaffer had the edge despite Madsen’s speed. Madsen followed Shaffer back to green on lap 21 and raced on the tail tank of the familiar No. 49X for the next nine circuits. Once again, traffic came into the picture but this time acting as a roadblock around the thin lane of rubbered-up racing surface. Madsen made a few attempts to squeeze under Shaffer, but the attempts failed. The “Steel City Outlaw” prevailed for his third All Star Circuit of Champions victory at Bubba Raceway Park.
“I tried to get out of line and get around the lapped car on the front stretch, but I had to duck back in line,” Shaffer explained. “You just have to be patient. Last night I wasn’t patient and it cost us. To come back tonight and win is just awesome for this team. This is a Rider Engine and it is running great. The first win is always the hardest to get. To get a win this early will really help us the rest of the year. It is a building tool for the team.”
Kerry Madsen chased Shaffer to the line, followed by Mark Smith, Coleman Gulick, and Paul McMahan.
“I did think about trying to squeeze under [Tim Shaffer] a few times, but I thought I better get on the brakes because I didn’t want to take him out,” Madsen explained, pilot of the GoMuddy.com, No. 2. “I tried to keep him honest right there at the end and be right up his bum. If he had a slip, I was going to get right in there. We had a good run. I’m happy for this team. Second run of the year and we got a top-two. I’m happy with that.”
The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 will end their three-day visit to Ocala, Fla., on Saturday, February 3, with a third and final appearance at Bubba Raceway Park. “America’s Series” will battle for a $5,000 top prize during the final leg of their Winter Nationals campaign, successfully wrapping up the first segment of their Florida invasion. The All Stars will return to competition on Wednesday evening, February 7, at Volusia Speedway Park near Barberville, Florida.
On Saturday, February 3, starting times will move ahead one hour at Bubba Raceway Park with the All Star drivers meeting scheduled for 4:30 p.m. followed by All Star hot laps at 5:45 p.m., sharp. Those seeking additional news and notes, such as general admission gate times and ticket prices, should visit Bubba Raceway Park live on the Web at www.bubbaracewaypark.com.
Contingency Awards/Results: Bubba Raceway Park - Friday, February 2:
7th Annual Winter Nationals
EMi Driver’s Meeting: 34 Entries
State Water Heaters Warm-Ups: Sheldon Haudenschild - 12.209 seconds
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Chad Kemenah - 11.944 seconds (2nd Quick)
Ford Performance Heat #1:Tyler Clem
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Coleman Gulick
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Tim Shaffer
Mobil 1 Heat #4: Sheldon Haudenschild
JE Pistons Dash #1: Tyler Clem
Wix Filters Dash #2: Tim Shaffer
Classic Ink USA B-Main: Trevor Baker
Daido Engine Bearings Main Event Winner:Tim Shaffer
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Steve Buckwalter [+10]
(Lincoln Electric, Daido Engine Bearings, MSD Performance: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)
Qualifying
Group (A)
1. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 11.944; 2. M1-Mark Smith, 11.987; 3. 14T-Tyler Clem, 12.062; 4. 5M-Max Stambaugh, 12.121; 5. 51-John Garvin, 12.1267; 6. 7K-Cale Conley, 12.1268; 7. 4X-Danny Smith, 12.186; 8. 17-Caleb Helms, 12.364; 9. 1080-Jordan Mackison, 12.614
Group (B)
1. 2M-Kerry Madsen, 11.848; 2. 5W-Lucas Wolfe, 12.159; 3. 14G-Coleman Gulick, 12.161; 4. 21-Carson Short, 12.188; 5. 13-Paul McMahan, 12.25; 6. 17B-Steve Buckwalter, 12.282; 7. 2C-Wayne Johnson, 12.579; 8. 1P-Curtis Evans, 12.658; 9. 95-Hunter Mackison, 12.668
Group ( C )
1. 14-Tony Stewart, 12.055; 2. 4-Parker Price-Miller, 12.076; 3. 49x-Tim Shaffer, 12.082; 4. 44-Trey Starks, 12.524; 5. 70-Dave Blaney, 12.68; 6. 7J-Joe Swanson, 12.843; 7. 40-Mark Imler, 13.159; 8. 33-Brent Matus, 14.161
Group (D)
1. 48-Danny Dietrich, 12.067; 2. 24-Rico Abreu, 12.304; 3. 17S-Sheldon Haudenschild, 12.317; 4. 40H-George Hobaugh, 12.352; 5. 45-Trevor Baker, 12.454; 6. 27-Greg Hodnett, 12.645; 7. 49H-Bradley Howard, 12.835; 8. 91-Anthony Fiore, 12.99
Heat #1 - Group (A) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 14T-Tyler Clem [2]; 2. M1-Mark Smith [3]; 3. 5M-Max Stambaugh [1]; 4. 10H-Chad Kemenah [4]; 5. 7K-Cale Conley [6]; 6. 4X-Danny Smith [7]; 7. 17-Caleb Helms [8]; 8. 51-John Garvin [5]; 9. 1080-Jordan Mackison [9]
Heat #2 - Group (B) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 14G-Coleman Gulick [2]; 2. 2M-Kerry Madsen [4]; 3. 21-Carson Short [1]; 4. 13-Paul McMahan [5]; 5. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [3]; 6. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [6]; 7. 2C-Wayne Johnson [7]; 8. 95-Hunter Mackison [9]; 9. 1P-Curtis Evans [8]
Heat #3 - Group ( C ) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [2]; 2. 4-Parker Price-Miller [3]; 3. 14-Tony Stewart [4]; 4. 44-Trey Starks [1]; 5. 70-Dave Blaney [5]; 6. 7J-Joe Swanson [6]; 7. 40-Mark Imler [7]; 8. 33-Brent Matus [8]
Heat #4 - Group (D) (8 Laps) - Top 5 Transfer
1. 17S-Sheldon Haudenschild [2]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich [4]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [3]; 4. 27-Greg Hodnett [6]; 5. 91-Anthony Fiore [8]; 6. 45-Trevor Baker [5]; 7. 40H-George Hobaugh [1]; 8. 49H-Bradley Howard [7]
Dash #1 (4 Laps)
1. 14T-Tyler Clem [4]; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah [1]; 3. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5]; 4. 48-Danny Dietrich [3]; 5. 4-Parker Price-Miller [2]
Dash #2 (4 Laps)
1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [1]; 2. M1-Mark Smith [3]; 3. 17S-Sheldon Haudenschild [4]; 4. 14-Tony Stewart [5]; 5. 14G-Coleman Gulick [2]
B-Main (12 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 45-Trevor Baker [4]; 2. 4X-Danny Smith [2]; 3. 51-John Garvin [1]; 4. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [3]; 5. 40H-George Hobaugh [6]; 6. 2C-Wayne Johnson [8]; 7. 7J-Joe Swanson [5]; 8. 49H-Bradley Howard [11]; 9. 95-Hunter Mackison [10]; 10. 17-Caleb Helms [7]; 11. 1080-Jordan Mackison [13]; 12. 1P-Curtis Evans [14]; 13. 40-Mark Imler [9]; 14. 33-Brent Matus [12]
A-Main (30 Laps)
1. 49X-Tim Shaffer [2]; 2. 2M-Kerry Madsen [5]; 3. M1-Mark Smith [4]; 4. 14G-Coleman Gulick [10]; 5. 13-Paul McMahan [14]; 6. 10H-Chad Kemenah [3]; 7. 27-Greg Hodnett [16]; 8. 48-Danny Dietrich [7]; 9. 14-Tony Stewart [8]; 10. 4-Parker Price-Miller [9]; 11. 24-Rico Abreu [13]; 12. 7K-Cale Conley [17]; 13. 5W-Lucas Wolfe [18]; 14. 17B-Steve Buckwalter [24]; 15. 14T-Tyler Clem [1]; 16. 91-Anthony Fiore [20]; 17. 5M-Max Stambaugh [11]; 18. 70-Dave Blaney [19]; 19. 21-Carson Short [12]; 20. 44-Trey Starks [15]; 21. 17S-Sheldon Haudenschild [6]; 22. 51-John Garvin [23]; 23. 45-Trevor Baker [21]; 24. 4X-Danny Smith [22] Lap Leaders: Tim Shaffer [1-30]
About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first 'outlaw' Sprint Car organization of the modern era. Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.
About Arctic Cat:
For more than 50 years, the Arctic Cat snowmobile brand has stood as one of the most widely recognized and respected in the industry. Today Arctic Cat’s snowmobile product lines span more than 50 different models, with offerings for every style of riding, from trail-riding with the family, to long-distance touring with friends, to mountain sleds to handle the most severe backcountry conditions. For more information, visit: www.arcticcat.com.
About Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc:
Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of golf cars, utility and personal transportation vehicles, snowmobiles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles, professional turf-care equipment, and ground support equipment. Textron Specialized Vehicles markets products under the E-Z-GO®, Cushman®, Arctic Cat®, Textron Off Road™, Jacobsen®, Dixie Chopper®, Ransomes®, TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™ and Safeaero™ brands. Its vehicles are found in environments ranging from golf courses to factories, airports to planned communities, and theme parks to hunting preserves.
About Mobil 1:
The world's leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1™ features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.
For more information, visit mobiloil.com, on Twitter @Mobil1 and, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/mobil1.
Mobil, Mobil 1 and Mobil 1 Racing are registered trademarks of Exxon Mobil Corporation or one of its subsidiaries.
#Contact: Tyler Altmeyer
Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1
(724) 954-4915, altmeyer119@gmail.com