|
Kevin Kovac
ATTICA, Ohio (July 24) - The final statistics will show that Steve Shaver led from flag-to-flag to win Friday night's 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series Ohio Speedweek A-Main at Attica Raceway Park.
But don't think for a minute that the $10,600 triumph came easy for the veteran driver from Vienna, W.Va.
Shaver, 45, worked hard for his money, holding off a battling group of WoO LMS superstars throughout the distance to record his coveted first career win on the national tour - and provide his son, Dylan, a memorable eighth birthday present.
Josh Richards of Shinnston, W.Va., Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky. - the top three drivers in the WoO LMS points standings - all got close to the lead, but Shaver never wavered during the frenetic race around the high-banked, one-third-mile oval.
"I was looking down to my left and could see them on entry (to the turns)," Shaver said of his Outlaw challengers. "But I never saw 'em off (the corners), so I figured I didn't have to change my line. I was running kind of a unique line of my own and I had plenty of momentum as long as I didn't catch lapped traffic at the wrong time."
Shaver calmly disposed of two potentially dangerous slower machines rounding turns one and two on the final lap, giving him a cushion he carried to the finish line. He drove his Drywall Systems Inc. Rocket car under the checkered flag 0.741 of a second ahead of Francis, who slipped by Lanigan heading down the backstretch on the last circuit to register his third consecutive runner-up finish on the WoO LMS.
Lanigan settled for third, followed by Richards, who won last year's inaugural WoO LMS event at Attica, and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., who started 17th and was charging around the outside of the track during the race's closing stages. Smith momentarily moved ahead of Richards for fourth but fell back to fifth on the final lap when his Team Zero by Bloomquist machine became boxed in behind a lapped car.
Shaver, who started second, outgunned polesitter Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., for the lead at the initial green flag and never looked back. He credited his savvy tire choice for keeping him at the front of the pack.
"We had harder tires on than most of those guys," said Shaver, who became the 14th different winner in 26 WoO LMS A-Mains this season. "I was leaning toward a hard tire before the race because I knew I wanted to run my right-rear in the black (groove), but it was my crew chief, Casey Marshall (the winner of the Integra Shocks Wrench of the Race Award), who thought we should run a 1400 (Hoosier compound).
"The tire worked perfect for us. I had plenty of traction the whole race."
An entrant in selected WoO LMS events since 2004, Shaver finished second to Francis in the tour's stop on May 31 at Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, W.Va. He was thrilled to finally break through to join the list of winners on the series.
"It means a lot just to be able to contend with (the Outlaws), let alone beat them," said Shaver, whose earnings included the $500 WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' cash for being the highest-finishing driver who had never won a tour A-Main and wasn't ranked among the top 12 in the series points standings. "It's a great feeling to win one of these races."
Shaver's triumph overshadowed the titanic tussle for second place between the tour's top title contenders. Lanigan (fifth starting spot), Francis (ninth) and Richards (10th) found themselves running 2-4 by lap 24, and, with the event going caution-free from lap 20 to the finish, they engaged in a thrilling display of non-stop competition for second place.
At times racing three-wide a few car lengths behind Shaver, the trio of Rocket chassis campaigners kept the big Attica crowd buzzing. Lanigan managed to secure second from Richards on lap 33, but he couldn't find the speed to pull even with Shaver and ultimately lost the position to Francis on the final lap.
Francis, 41, was able to close the gap on Shaver rolling through turns three and four for the last time, leaving him wishing for a slightly longer race.
"My car was exceptional," Francis said of his Beitler Motorsports mount. "But Josh and Darrell were racing side-by-side in front of me and it just took me too long to find a way by them. I zigged and zagged, but I just couldn't get by them until it was too late."
The race further tightened the WoO LMS points standings. Richards left Attica leading the standings by six points over Francis and eight points over Lanigan.
Rick Eckert of York, Pa., who started 13th, finished sixth after Brady Smith knocked him from the top five on lap 44. Tim Fuller of Watertown, N.Y., who used a provisional to start 24th after breaking a starter bolt and driveshaft while leading on the final lap of the first B-Main, charged forward to salvage a seventh-place finish. Satterlee, Eddie Carrier Jr. of Salt Rock, W.Va., and top-rookie finisher Jordan Bland of Campbellsville, Ky., completed the top 10.
Three caution flags slowed the A-Main within a four-lap window. Tim McCreadie of Watertown, N.Y., stopped in turn three on lap 17; rookie Brent Robinson of Smithfield, Va., spun in turn two on lap 19; and Donnie Moran of Dresden, Ohio, spun in turn two on lap 20 in an incident that also marginally involved Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga.
Fifty-four cars were entered in the evening's action - the fourth-largest field of the 2009 WoO LMS.
Tim Dohm of Cross Lanes, W.Va., recorded the fastest lap in Ohlins Shocks Time Trials, blistering the track in 14.514 seconds to earn a $50 bonus. He was later the first retiree in the A-Main, pulling to the infield with mechanical trouble on lap four.
Heat winners were Satterlee, Lanigan, Shaver and Jeep VanWormer of Pinconning, Mich. The B-Mains were captured by Brady Smith and Moran.
Ohio Speedweek for the WoO LMS continues on Sat., July 25, at Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, and Sun., July 26, at Eriez Speedway in Hammett, Pa.
For more information on the WoO LMS, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Attica Raceway Park (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (2) Steve Shaver/50 $10,600
2. (9) Steve Francis/50 $5,600
3. (5) Darrell Lanigan/50 $3,650
4. (10) Josh Richards/50 $3,000
5. (17) Brady Smith/50 $2,500
6. (13) Rick Eckert/50 $2,200
7. (24) Tim Fuller/50 $1,900
8. (1) Gregg Satterlee/50 $1,300
9. (14) Eddie Carrier Jr./50 $1,200
10. (12) Jordan Bland/50 $1,950
11. (6) Robbie Blair/50 $1,050
12. (7) Mike Knight/50 $1,000
13. (25) Chub Frank/50 $750
14. (18) Donnie Moran/50 $900
15. (11) Austin Hubbard/50 $850
16. (4) Jeep VanWormer/49 $800
17. (23) Shane Clanton/49 $1,270
18. (22) Dustin Hapka/49 $750
19. (19) Brent Robinson/49 $1,230
20. (20) Tim McCreadie/27 $800
21. (15) Matt Miller/26 $700
22. (16) Clint Smith/20 $1,200
23. (8) Doug Drown/10 $700
24. (21) Jerry Bowersock/8 $700
25. (3) Tim Dohm/4 $750
NOTE: Jeep VanWormer and Doug Drown were penalized to starting spots at the rear of the field for reporting late to the pre-race lineup staging on the racetrack
* Earnings include Winners Circle program and cash contingency award bonuses
Time of Race: 21 Mins., 54.648 Secs.
Margin of Victory: 0.741 Secs.
Yellow Flags: 3 (Laps 17, 19, 20)
Lap Leaders: Shaver (1-50)
Provisional Starters: Clanton, Fuller, Frank
Rookie of the Race: Bland ($250)
WoO LMS 'Bonus Bucks' Winner: Shaver ($500)
Integra Shocks Crew Chief of the Race: Casey Marshall (Shaver)
Ohlins Shocks Time Trial Results (Position/No./Driver/Hometown/Best Lap):
1. 17T-Tim Dohm/Cross Lanes, WV 14.514
2. 12d-Doug Drown/Wooster, OH 14.629
3. 7-Matt Miller/Waterville, OH 14.648
4. 99B-Rick 'Boom' Briggs/Bear Lake, PA 14.657
5. 22s-Gregg Satterlee/Rochester Mills, PA 14.663
6. 29-Darrell Lanigan/Union, KY 14.663
7. 18-Dustin Hapka/Grand Forks, ND 14.804
8. 55-Jeep VanWormer/Pinconning, MI 14.812
9. 24-Rick Eckert/York, PA 14.840
10. 28-Eddie Carrier Jr./Salt Rock, WV 14.862
11. 30-Steve Shaver/Vienna, WV 14.883
12. won11-Robbie Blair/Titusville, PA 14.937
13. 3-Brent Robinson/Smithfield, VA 14.939
14. 1-Josh Richards/Shinnston, WV 14.950
15. 39-Tim McCreadie/Watertown, NY 14.969
16. 25-Shane Clanton/Locust Grove, GA 15.000
17. 56-Russell King/Bristolville, OH 15.005
18. 64-Jerry Bowersock/Wapakoneta, OH 15.019
19. 9k-Mike Knight/Ripley, NY 15.038
20. 99M-Donnie Moran/Dresden, OH 15.044
21. 1*-Chub Frank/Bear Lake, PA 15.056
22. 2-Brady Smith/Solon Springs, WI 15.062
23. c9-Steve Casebolt/Richmond, IN 15.104
24. 44-Clint Smith/Senoia, GA 15.104
25. 19-Steve Francis/Ashland, KY 15.105
26. 21M-Jason Montgomery/Jackson, OH 15.110
27. 1H-Jon Henry/Ada, OH 15.119
28. 12b-Jordan Bland/Campbellsville, KY 15.138
29. 19T-Tim Fuller/Watertown, NY 15.190
30. 49-Brian Ruhlman/Clarklake, MI 15.193
31. 11H-Austin Hubbard/Seaford, DE 15.193
32. 21L-Matt Lux/Franklin, PA 15.296
33. 40WD-Dusty Moore/Swanton, OH 15.319
34. 5M-Ryan Markham/Ashland, OH 15.333.
35. 11-Tyler Reddick/Corning, CA 15.515
36. 15B-Mike Bores/Bellevue, OH 15.560
37. 40M-Wayne Maffett Jr./Mansfield, OH 15.567
38. 5H-Ernie Haynes/Rising Hill, OH 15.641
39. 93T-Jeff Esbenslade/Ashland, OH 15.758
40. 50Y-Ryan Missler/Bellevue, OH 15.809
41. 2d-Curtis Deisenroth/Oak Harber, OH 15.826
42. 1DJ-Craig Vosbergen/Perth, AUSTR 15.827
43. 27-Ken Hahn/Gibsonburg, OH 15.885
44. 83-Noah Wagner/Fremont, OH 15.892
45. 22G-Jill George/Cedar Falls, IA 15.937
46. 51-Devin Shiels/Britton, MI 15.978
47. 48-John Bores/Bellevue, OH 16.019
48. 12s-Michael Stiltner II/Green Springs, OH 16.092
49. 3R-Chuck Roelle/Fostoria, OH 16.196
50. 69-John Mayes Jr./Clyde, OH 16.227
51. 50L-Chuck Hummer/Ottawa Lake, MI 16.583
52. 41-Randy Pollock/Seville, OH 16.749
53. 99s-Steve Sabo/Fremont, OH 16.978
54. 15M-Justin McNeil/Houghton Lake, MI 17.474
Heat No. 1 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Satterlee, Dohm, Francis, Eckert, Fuller, Frank, King, Moore, George, Maffett, Robinson, Deisenroth, Roelle, Sabo
Heat No. 2 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Lanigan, Drown, Richards, Carrier, B. Smith, Montgomery, Bowersock, Ruhlman, Markham, Vosbergen, McNeil, Haynes, Mayes, Shiels
Heat No. 3 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): Shaver, Knight, Hubbard, M. Miller, Hapka, Casebolt, Henry, Reddick, McCreadie, Hahn, J. Bores, Hummer, Esbenslade
Heat No. 4 (10 laps - Top 4 Transfer): VanWormer, Blair, Bland, C. Smith, Moran, Lux, Missler, Briggs, Clanton, M. Bores, Pollock, Wagner, Stiltner
B-Main No. 1 (12 laps - Top 3 Transfer): B. Smith, Robinson, Bowersock, Montgomery, Ruhlman, Moore, McNeil, Vosbergen, George, Haynes, Shiels, Roelle, Mayes, Fuller, King, Deisenroth, Moffett, Frank, Markham, Sabo
B-Main No. 2 (12 laps - Top 3 Transfer): Moran, McCreadie, Hapka, Clanton, Henry, Briggs, Reddick, Hahn, Missler, M. Bores, Esbenslade, Pollock, Hummer, Lux, Wagner, Casebolt, J. Bores, Stiltner
|
