Christopher Bell passed Kyle Larson late to win the Ohio Speedweek stop at Sharon Tuesday (Vince Vellella Photo)
HARTFORD, Ohio (June 20, 2018) - Round five of Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing at Sharon Speedway seemed to be a lock for Elk Grove, California’s Kyle Larson on Tuesday night, charging ahead from the outside of row five to take command from Christopher Bell by lap 15. Although the potential outcome seemed obvious, Bell had something to say, mounting an impressive charge during the late stages of the 30-lapper to drive back around Larson, eventually earning the fifth Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory of his career, two of which accomplished at the Hartford oval.
“Kyle (Larson) is one hell of a driver. His car has been really good all week,” Christopher Bell said to the crowd on Tuesday night. “I knew he was going to be tough to beat. I kept seeing his number climb higher and higher on the scoreboard over in turn three. To be able to do this with the team that I have it really special. Tonight was a lot of fun. I’m very thankful I get to drive this thing.”
Bell, who started fourth aboard the Dough-Si-Dough Shoppe/Linder’s Speed Equipment/No. 11N sprint car, led during two different segments of the 30-lap program, the first being after the drop of the initial green. The current NASCAR Xfinity star led the first 14 circuits before his reign was interrupted by Kyle Larson.
Larson’s march toward the front of the field from row five commenced at the drop of the green, utilizing a restart to move into third with just seven laps complete, soon driving around Danny Dietrich for second just two circuits later. A pair of cautions on laps 13 and 15 set the field nose-to-tail again giving Larson two more attempts to gain the race lead. Although Larson was unable to work underneath Bell after the lap 13 restart, his lap 15 attempt was successful, gluing his Paul Silva-owned, No. 57 machine to the bottom of the speedway to drive underneath Bell as the pair battled off of turn four.
Keeping is focus on the bottom of the speedway, Larson maintained control until lap 27. As lapped cars started to block his racing lane, Bell took advantage, driving hard around the topside of the speedway to fly by Larson to officially lead lap 27. Larson moved to the cushion shortly thereafter in a desperate attempt to make-up ground on Bell, but it was too late. Bell throttled on to cross under the final checkers 1.47 seconds ahead of Larson, followed by Danny Dietrich, Rico Abreu, and a hard-charging Parker Price-Miller, who advanced 17 positions to earn the evening’s MSD Performance Hard Charger Award.
“It was tough. Whenever I came here last year, there was a lot more left on the top to run. This year, it was tough,” Christopher Bell continued in victory lane. “By laps two, three and four, I could tell that the top was already starting to go away. It was a matter of me just staying off of the wall and keeping my tires under me as I exited off of the corners. I was kinda surprised Kyle (Larson) stayed on the bottom behind the lapped cars. That gave me an open road on the top. I didn’t have the grip to run the bottom, so I was pretty much committed to the top.”
“I was watching all of the lapped cars in front of me race around the bottom, so I figured the top was too dirty to go up there,” a disappointed Kyle Larson said. “I kept thinking about moving to the top earlier, but I just didn’t do it. I’m kinda kicking myself now. Bell did a really good job, so congratulations to him and his team.”
Officially over the hump with five rounds down and four remaining, Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing will continue later tonight - Wednesday evening, June 20 - with a trip to the southern half of the Buckeye State. Atomic Speedway near Chillicothe will be the next venue to host the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1; the first of two visits during the nine-day, Ohio Sprint Speedweek stretch.
Atomic Speedway will open pit gates at 3 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. The mandatory All Star drivers meeting will take shape at 6:30 p.m., followed by hot laps at 7 p.m., sharp. Those seeking additional news and notes should visit Atomic Speedway live on the Web at www.atomicspeedway.net.
Contingency Awards/Results: Sharon Speedway - Tuesday, June 19, 2018:
36th Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing: Round #5
EMi Driver’s Meeting: 48 entries
State Water Heaters Warm-Ups: Jesse Attard - 15.443 seconds
Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: Kyle Larson - 15.107 seconds
Ford Performance Heat #1: Christopher Bell
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: D.J. Foos
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Caleb Helms
Mobil 1 Heat #4: T.J. Michael
Kistler Racing Products Heat #5: Carson Macedo
Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts C-main: Mitchell Wormall
JE Pistons Dash #1: D.J. Foos
Wix Filters Dash #2: Danny Dietrich
Classic Ink USA B-Main: Stuart Brubaker
Daido Engine Bearings Main Event Winner: Christopher Bell
MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Parker Price-Miller (+17)
(Lincoln Electric, Daido Engine Bearings, MSD Performance: Need decal to qualify for contingency award)
Qualifying
Group (A)
1. 57-Kyle Larson, 15.107; 2. 70-Dave Blaney, 15.574; 3. 11n-Christopher Bell, 15.774; 4. 11-Ryan Smith, 15.895; 5. 21-Cap Henry, 15.923; 6. 5M-Max Stambaugh, 16.075; 7. 81-Lee Jacobs, 16.239; 8. 4-Parker Price-Miller, 16.268; 9. 53-Jessie Attard, 16.511; 10. 34M-Michael Marano II, 17.434
Group (B)
1. 71X-Gio Scelzi, 15.756; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah, 16.004; 3. 23X-DJ Foos, 16.140; 4. O8-Dan Kuriger, 16.239; 5. 45-Trevor Baker, 16.322; 6. 14-Tony Stewart, 16.390; 7. 35-Tyler Esh, 16.488; 8. 9M-Jordan Ryan, 16.673; 9. 4N-Jim Morris, 16.903; 10. 70M-Henry Malcuit, 17.023
Group (C)
1. 35s-Stuart Brubaker, 15.666; 2. 49x-Tim Shaffer, 15.801; 3. 24-Rico Abreu, 15.984; 4. 17-Caleb Helms, 16.024; 5. O7-Gerard McIntyre, 16.305; 6. 46-Michael Bauer, 16.361; 7. 27K-Jeremy Kornbau, 16.613; 8. 97au-Mitchell Wormall, 16.655; 9. 8-Jared Zimbardi, 16.818; 10. 40-George Hobaugh, 16.901
Group (D)
1. 87-Aaron Reutzel, 15.841; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich, 15.982; 3. 8M-TJ Michael, 16.131; 4. 3-Jac Haudenschild, 16.211; 5. 22-Brandon Spithaler, 16.356; 6. 5T-Travis Philo, 16.388; 7. 13-Paul McMahan, 16.416; 8. 51-John Garvin, 16.724; 9. 71-Ayrton Olsen, 17.045
Group (E)
1. 39-Spencer Bayston, 15.525; 2. 17b-Josh Baughman, 16.240; 3. 3G-Carson Macedo, 16.272; 4. 7K-Cale Conley, 16.366; 5. 19-Mitch Harble, 16.452; 6. 98-Carl Bowser, 16.466; 7. 5K-Adam Kekich, 16.789; 8. 23-Chase Baker, 17.045; 9. 21N-Frankie Nervo, 17.245
Heat #1 - Group (A) (8 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 11N-Christopher Bell [2]; 2. 11-Ryan Smith [1]; 3. 70-Dave Blaney [3]; 4. 57-Kyle Larson [4]; 5. 21-Cap Henry [5]; 6. 4-Parker Price-Miller [8]; 7. 5M-Max Stambaugh [6]; 8. 53-Jessie Attard [9]; 9. 34M-Michael Marano II [10]; 10. 81-Lee Jacobs [7]
Heat #2 - Group (B) (8 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 23X-DJ Foos [2]; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah [3]; 3. 71X-Gio Scelzi [4]; 4. 14-Tony Stewart [6]; 5. 45-Trevor Baker [5]; 6. O8-Dan Kuriger [1]; 7. 9M-Jordan Ryan [8]; 8. 35-Tyler Esh [7]; 9. 4N-Jim Morris [9]; 10. 70M-Henry Malcuit [10]
Heat #3 - Group (C) (8 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 17-Caleb Helms [1]; 2. 24-Rico Abreu [2]; 3. 49X-Tim Shaffer [3]; 4. O7-Gerard McIntyre [5]; 5. 40-George Hobaugh [10]; 6. 46-Michael Bauer [6]; 7. 35S-Stuart Brubaker [4]; 8. 27K-Jeremy Kornbau [7]; 9. 8-Jared Zimbardi [9]; 10. 97AU-Mitchell Wormall [8]
Heat #4 - Group (D) (8 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 8M-TJ Michael [2]; 2. 48-Danny Dietrich [3]; 3. 13-Paul McMahan [7]; 4. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4]; 5. 51-John Garvin [8]; 6. 3-Jac Haudenschild [1]; 7. 22-Brandon Spithaler [5]; 8. 71-Ayrton Olsen [9]; 9. 5T-Travis Philo [6]
Heat #5 - Group (E) (8 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 3G-Carson Macedo [2]; 2. 7K-Cale Conley [1]; 3. 17B-Josh Baughman [3]; 4. 39-Spencer Bayston [4]; 5. 19-Mitch Harble [5]; 6. 98-Carl Bowser [6]; 7. 5K-Adam Kekich [7]; 8. 23-Chase Baker [8]; 9. 21N-Frankie Nervo [9]
Dash #1 (4 Laps)
1. 23X-DJ Foos [1]; 2. 7K-Cale Conley [2]; 3. 11-Ryan Smith [4]; 4. 3G-Carson Macedo [5]; 5. 10H-Chad Kemenah [6]; 6. 17-Caleb Helms [3]
Dash #2 (4 Laps)
1. 48-Danny Dietrich [4]; 2. 11N-Christopher Bell [2]; 3. 24-Rico Abreu [3]; 4. 39-Spencer Bayston [1]; 5. 57-Kyle Larson [5]; 6. 8M-TJ Michael [6]
C-Main (10 Laps) - Top 2 Transfer
1. 97AU-Mitchell Wormall [12]; 2. 53-Jessie Attard [2]; 3. 35-Tyler Esh [1]; 4. 21N-Frankie Nervo [9]; 5. 71-Ayrton Olsen [5]; 6. 8-Jared Zimbardi [7]; 7. 23-Chase Baker [4]; 8. 4N-Jim Morris [8]; 9. 70M-Henry Malcuit [13]; 10. 34M-Michael Marano II [10]; 11. 81-Lee Jacobs [11]; 12. 27K-Jeremy Kornbau [3]
B-Main (12 Laps) - Top 4 Transfer
1. 35S-Stuart Brubaker [1]; 2. 4-Parker Price-Miller [9]; 3. 21-Cap Henry [2]; 4. 19-Mitch Harble [4]; 5. 3-Jac Haudenschild [7]; 6. 40-George Hobaugh [6]; 7. 97AU-Mitchell Wormall [16]; 8. 5M-Max Stambaugh [12]; 9. 45-Trevor Baker [3]; 10. 51-John Garvin [5]; 11. 98-Carl Bowser [11]; 12. 9M-Jordan Ryan [14]; 13. 5K-Adam Kekich [15]; 14. 22-Brandon Spithaler [13]; 15. 53-Jessie Attard [17]; 16. 46-Michael Bauer [10]; 17. O8-Dan Kuriger [8]
A-Main (30 Laps)
1. 11N-Christopher Bell [4]; 2. 57-Kyle Larson [10]; 3. 48-Danny Dietrich [2]; 4. 24-Rico Abreu [6]; 5. 4-Parker Price-Miller [22]; 6. 8M-TJ Michael [12]; 7. 39-Spencer Bayston [8]; 8. 3G-Carson Macedo [7]; 9. 10H-Chad Kemenah [9]; 10. 11-Ryan Smith [5]; 11. 7K-Cale Conley [3]; 12. 13-Paul McMahan [17]; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild [25]; 14. 21-Cap Henry [23]; 15. O7-Gerard McIntyre [19]; 16. 70-Dave Blaney [13]; 17. 49X-Tim Shaffer [15]; 18. 19-Mitch Harble [24]; 19. 23X-DJ Foos [1]; 20. 22-Brandon Spithaler [26]; 21. 87-Aaron Reutzel [18]; 22. 35S-Stuart Brubaker [21]; 23. 17-Caleb Helms [11]; 24. 14-Tony Stewart [20]; 25. 71X-Gio Scelzi [14]; 26. 17B-Josh Baughman [16] Lap Leaders: Christopher Bell (1-14), Kyle Larson (15-26), Christopher Bell (27-30)
All Star Circuit of Champions Driver Standings: (after 6/19/2018)
1. Carson Macedo - 2234
2. Aaron Reutzel -2198
3. Chad Kemenah - 2178
4. Jac Haudenschild - 2174
5. Parker Price-Miller - 2128
6. Dave Blaney - 2052
7. Paul McMahan - 2020
8. Cale Conley - 1928
9. Brandon Spithaler - 1858
10. Carl Bowser - 1802
Cometic Gasket Ohio Sprint Speedweek presented by C&R Racing Standings: (after 6/19/2018)
1. Kyle Larson - 696
2. Paul McMahan - 696
3. Carson Macedo - 670
4. Danny Dietrich - 660
5. Spencer Bayston - 644
6. Ryan Smith - 618
7. Tim Shaffer - 614
8. Parker Price-Miller - 614
9. Aaron Reutzel - 612
10. Gio Scelzi - 602
About Cometic Gasket:
Cometic Gasket is the Official Gasket of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions. Cometic is a leading worldwide supplier of gaskets and engine sealing solutions for the Automotive Performance, Powersports, Original Equipment and Remanufactured Engine Industries. Cometic gaskets are must-haves for championship-winning teams across the globe. Cometic Gaskets are proudly made in the USA. For more information, log on to www.cometic.com.
About C&R:
Founded in 1988, C&R has built its reputation on providing top-quality cooling components to winning race teams across all major motorsports series. C&R is now part of PWR Advanced Cooling Technology, a global leader in design and production of specialized cooling solutions used by top-tier race teams, high-end automotive manufacturers, and in specialty vehicle applications worldwide. Continuing their drive for excellence, C&R brings new innovation to the development and manufacturing of cooling products within their Indianapolis based facility. Visit the C&R website at CRRacing.com and follow on Instagram at @crracing.
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. In 2018, MAVTV Motorsports Network will be the official television home of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 and will broadcast eight high-profile events.
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.
#Photo Credit: Vince Vellella
Contact: Tyler Altmeyer
Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1
(724) 954-4915, pr@tonystewart.com