by Jacob Hord, @HordRaceWatcher
Been a minute, hasn’t it? Let’s take a look at some talking points from Attica Raceway Park’s opening weekend with the All Stars, as well as some Wayne County and Waynesfield info.
- Zeb Wise had a frustrating, yet very successful weekend with the All Stars in the Rudeen 26 machine. He finished the weekend with two second place finishes after leading both features. More importantly, he walked out of Attica with an early All Star points lead over Tyler Courtney. If Wise can keep this pace up most nights, he might be able to dethrone defending champion Courtney at season’s end.
- How about Craig Mintz? First All Star win in 11 years and he does it in about the most exciting fashion you can imagine. I’ll be interested to see what Mintz can do as he does a little bit of traveling this year.
- It’s hard to believe that Brent Marks picked up his first win of the year in Attica. After catching Tuesday’s High Limit Race in Kansas, he decided to hit up Attica, and it paid off. He won from the BMain on Saturday night and finished fourth on Friday night.
- Byron Reed announced that 2023 would be his last year in competition. Reed started off the year strong with a tenth and an eleventh place finish against two strong All Star fields. It will be interesting to see what that black No. 5 car can do once the local scene picks up next week.
- Brent Marks, Zeb Wise, Tyler Courtney, Cap Henry, JJ Hickle, Parker Price-Miller, Travis Philo, and Craig Mintz all finished in the top ten at Attica both Friday and Saturday night.
- Speaking of Hickle, he and crew chief Andy Potter have the Seeling 97 car going good right now. I wouldn’t be surprised if they knock off a few All Star wins this season.
- Thirty-one cars checked into Wayne County Speedway Saturday night with the FAST Series, and 30 were at Attica Raceway Park for a total of 61 winged 410’s racing in the state of Ohio Saturday night. 33 360’s and 25 non-winged 410’s checked in at Waynesfield. Safe to say that car counts are healthy early on this season.
- Henry Malcuit picked up the FAST win at Wayne County after a late pass on Brandon Spithaler. The 2022 track champion picking up right where he left off.
- Randy Hannagan and Dallas Hewitt were your NRA 360 and GTLS non-wing winners at Waynesfield, respectively.
- Steve Rando led wire-to-wire to win the 305 season opener at Attica Saturday night over Jamie Miller and Dustin Stroup.
- Attica had a healthy crowd Saturday night despite an iffy weather forecast, and the show being streamed online. Things that make you go “Hmmm.”
- We’re hoping DJ Foos can make a quick recovery after suffering second degree burns on his lower legs Friday night at Attica. Major kudos to All Star official Ken Osbourne and Jay Kiser Racing crew member Sheldon Arndt for helping DJ get out of the car and extinguish the flames.
A look ahead: - The Flo Racing Night in America Late Model Series will visit Eldora Speedway Tuesday night. $23k to win for the late models with modifieds and super stocks on tap at Earl’s.
- The AFCS kicks off their season Friday and Saturday at Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway. Both the 410’s and 305’s are slated to run both nights.
- Atomic returns to action with the BOSS non-wing series and OVSCA 410’s on their Open Wheel Night.
- Wayne County will also have 410 racing Saturday night with their Fast Five program.