Brent Marks
The program starts on time and as advertised, at 5:30. Good job Attica! During warm ups, Lee Jacobs struggles with a backfiring motor. He got it fixed in time for time trials. Chad Kemenah times in quickest with Brent Marks timing second quick. Jody Keegan, who is retiring after this season, had to scratch after time trials. He is a local favorite around here and it was too bad he didn't get to race tonight. The track is in good shape. There is traction everywhere with a ledge developing around the top of both turns. It's too tall to call it a cushion. After qualifying, the track crew reworks both turns to knock down the ledge and also smooth out a few ridges. But overall, the surface is pretty good, considering that the night before, there was a big late model feature as well as a 410 feature run on it.
Heat 1 finishes with Stuart Brubaker at the front, followed by Byron Reed, D.J. Foos, Chad Kemenah, Duane Zablocki, Caleb Helms and Lee Jacobs. Not much passing. This heat was pretty much follow the leader although Zablocki got past Helms for a transfer spot.
Heat 2 was Dale Blaney, Craig Mintz, Cap Henry, Brent Marks, Taylor, Stambaugh and Duncan. Blaney was smoking pretty badly the last few laps. Dale's guys ended up changing the motor before the dash.
Heat 3 was Tim Shaffer, Chris Andrews, Brian Lay, Andrew Paulker, and Caleb Armstrong. The race for the final transfer spot was a good one as Dean Jacobs and TJ Michaels traded the 5th spot back and forth with Armstrong until the final lap when Armstrong sealed the deal.
Heat 4 finished with Broc Martin in front, followed by Sheldon Haudenschild, Travis Philo, Kraig Kinser and Danny Holtgraver. Holtraver made a last lap pass on Hanks at the flag stand to get the last transfer spot. Holtgraver didn't seem to have much speed. Motor didn't seem to be pulling very well.
The dash finish was Blaney, Reed, Shaffer, Haud, Marks, Andrews, Kemenah and Mintz. Blaney got to start at the front and Kemenah started on the back. Positions 4 thru 6 were throwing sliders with Haud getting 4th.