8/29/2015
Kears Speed Shop
Blaney wins 7th in a row at Atomic
By Scott Wolfe Atomic Speedway Results
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO- Hartford, Ohio's Dale Blaney captured the $2,500 410 Sprint Car paycheck and a berth in the Seneca Energy Freedom 40 on October 3 with what was his seventh consecutive win on the high banks of Atomic Speedway during Ohio Valley Veneer Night festivities. Cole Duncan was the runner-up and also secured a starting berth in the Freedom 40.
Claiming the Late Model main was Wheelersburg, Ohio's "Hot Rod" Conley, while Steven Partin grabbed the Ohio Valley Roofers Legend win, and Alex Watson, Columbus claimed the USAC HPD midget main.
In the 25-lap Freedom 40 qualifier, Chillicothe's Danny Smith bolted to the front as a result of his front row start on the pole. Smith led several circuits before swapping positions with eventual winner Blaney. Blaney went on a ten lap Blitzkrieg and was checking out when lapped traffic slowed him momentarily, then it was back to full speed ahead.
Smith had a solid second but as traffic stonewalled the outstanding driver's charge to the front, Jac "the Wild Child" Haudenschild and young Cale Thomas closed in. Beau Stewart, off a second place finish last weekend, looped his mount in front of the pack. Drivers fought to take evasive action with Haudenschild and Thomas shuffling sharply to the high-side where Thomas rode one of Haudenschild's wheels and spiraled end-for-end off the turn two banking.
The contact ended great runs for both drivers, but bumped Duncan up to third. As the race approached the five-lap marker, Duncan passed Smith, while Ryan Broughton won a race-long battle with Capp Henry for fourth.
Rounding out the top ten were Nathan Skaggs, Caleb Armstrong, Brandon Wimmer, Bryan Nuckles, and Caleb Griffith aboard Randy Fink's #41. Griffith's usual mount suffered engine woes in hot laps and Fink offered up his ride for the evening.
"I can't explain it," said Blaney. "We just love this place and have had the right set-up over the last several runs here. We drew the last pill, qualified last out of the gate and put ourselves behind the 8-ball, but we worked through it. I just really enjoy racing here."
Usually tabbed as the low rider, Blaney explained his rim-riding victory run. "Sometimes you have to run up high to win here. You do what you have to do. It's fast up there (next to the wall) and actually it's a lot of fun. I just want to thank my crew, my sponsors, George Fisher, and everyone that works so hard to get us here."
In the late model main Hot Rod Conley burst into the early lead and led flag to flag after sustaining several bids for the top spot from Jason Montgomery and Chris Garnes. Once out in front, Conley took advantage of a torrid battle between Garnes and Montgomery. Montgomery finally shook free of Garnes in the latter half of the race, leaving Garnes and Greggie Oliver to resume a similar battle for third.
Garnes staved off Oliver for the position, followed by Brian Eaton and Chad Smith.
"I could have pushed it some more if I needed to," said Conley after being asked if he knew just how far he was ahead. "I just tried to hit my marks and stay smooth in the turns. This is the best this track has been this year. You could hook up anywhere."
"This is my old car," noted Conley. "It wasn't ready last week, but we got it together and it did the job tonight. And we are still leading the points."
Steven Partin took advantage of a Josh Francis spin on lap four to take the lead and roar to victory in the Legends cars. Partin was challenged the latter portions of the race by Derek Minshew, who several times pulled up alongside for the lead only to have Partin pull away down the back chute.
Tom Partin and Fracis, both early spin victims, charged up through the field to make it a four car race over the last three laps. When the curtain fell for the finale, Partin brought home the win over Minshew, Tom Partin, Josh Francis, Cole Demint, John Gutman, Jeremy Scott, Steve Duderstadt, Scott McMahan, Ashley Tackett, and Rusty Dement.
The USAC HPD midget cars joined by a contingent from the Southern Ohio Lightning Mini Sprint Association put on a great non-wing show. Gage Etgen led the first 17 circuits, but after several healthy challenges gave way to eventual winner Alex Watson. Watson rode the high side in exciting fashion to bring home the victory.
Etgen was second ahead of Chris Smalley, Corey Bedwell, Jim Lewis, Steven Shell, Kyle Kruger, Jacob Taylor, Todd Wills, Dillon Allagree, Jacob Stickle, Patrick Mead, and Cory Guingrich.
Submitted By: ANN TUSING
