Chaney gets last lap, last corner pass for Ohio Speedweek win in front of hometown crowd at Hilltop
MILLERSBURG,
Ohio -(6-22-10) - By Brian Liskai - Rob Chaney passed David Gravel exiting
turn four coming to the checkered flag to score the 40-lap victory Tuesday
for night #5 of O’Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions Ohio
Sprint Speedweek, leaving the huge hometown crowd at Hilltop Speedway all
abuzz.“I didn’t even know I won. When I passed Tim Shaffer (on lap 32 of the 40-lap affair for third), I knew I was close to the front. This is awesome to do this in front of my family and friends. Bryan Grove and the crew gave me a great car tonight. I just had to be patient and save the tires,” said Chaney, who started eighth and utilized the high groove around the high-banked little track.
“I feel bad for David (Gravel) to get that close and not get the win…it’s heartbreaking. I know, I’ve been there before,” added Chaney beside his Canton Erectors backed #45.
It marked Chaney’s third career All Star victory.
In fact, Chaney didn’t become a threat for the win until a lap 27 restart when he drove from sixth into fourth. Chaney worked on defending All Star champion Tim Shaffer the next four laps before driving under him in turn two to take third. Tyler Walker was the next victim in Chaney’s march to the front, and he drove around him in turns three and four and into second with four to go. As leader David Gravel, from Watertown, Conn., who will celebrate his 18th birthday Wednesday, took the white flag, Chaney was on his rear bumper. Gravel drove low in turns three and four, his engine sputtering as his machine ran low on fuel. Chaney would blast to the outside and the two raced side-by-side out of turn four with Chaney’s momentum carrying him to the win.
“I ran out of fuel here again. This is the third time I’ve been here and the second time I’ve run out of fuel…it’s just so disappointing. I had this one won. My car was just so good on the bottom. With about five laps to go, the engine began sputtering… I just couldn’t believe it,” said dejected Gravel beside his DDR Motorsports, P&M Transportation, Hometown Wheels backed #89G. “At least this time I finished the race.”
Los Angeles, California’s Tyler Walker would lead the first 10 laps before Gravel would drive under him for the top spot. Walker would fight back to regain the lead on lap 13 as he and Gravel thrilled the crowed with their side-by-side, slide job trading racing. Walker would run in the top three throughout the race and would bring the Keen Motorsports #17 home in third at the end.
“We have not run these Goodyear tires much and we haven’t raced on slick tracks like this so my crew and I have had a steep learning curve. My hats off to my guys…they have worked their tails off to change this thing around…we’re figuring it out,” said Walker beside his Peterbuilt, Hunter’s Truck Sales backed #17.
“I lost this one…I burned the tires off way too early. I have to learn to be more patient. My thanks to the Keens for believing in me and giving me an opportunity to resurrect my career,” added Walker.
The race got off to a slow start, with one lap complete, Cole Duncan and Todd Kane got together in turn one to bring out the caution. Outside front row starter Walker would blast into the lead on the restart with Texan Gary Wright, Gravel, NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, Matthew Reed and Dean Jacobs in tow. The caution would fly on lap 9, just as the leaders were hitting the back of the field. Another quick yellow, and Walker would use the clear track to jump back into the lead, but not for long. Gravel, who moved around Wright into second on lap 9, would drive to Walker’s inside exiting turn four on lap 11 to take the lead with Blaney getting around Wright for third on lap 10.
Walker would drive the high line to regain the lead on lap 13 as he and Gravel continued to race side-by-side with Blaney closing. The leaders would catch lapped traffic on lap 18, and the “Connecticut Kid” would use one as a pick to regain the lead. Blaney would show his old sprint car racing form to drive under Walker into second at the halfway mark, but “Tee dub” would retake the runner-up position on lap 22.
The action would slow on lap 26 for a Greg Wilson, Matthew Reed collision. On the ensuing restart, Dave Blaney would drive into the turn two guardrail, putting his #55 on its lid and ending his great run. The running order was now Gravel, Walker, Dean Jacobs, 9th starter Tim Shaffer, Gary Wright and Chaney. When the green flew again, Shaffer would blast into third, with Chaney driving from sixth into fourth. The car on the move was Brandon Wimmer who started 19th and was not 7th.
Gavel would continue to lead, with Walker and Shaffer racing each other hard for second with Chaney waiting to pounce. Chaney would wait to take third on lap 32 as Gavel was mired in traffic, allowing Walker, Chaney and Shaffer to close. With five laps to go, Chaney would drive around Walker into second. As Gravel raced under the flags with just two laps remaining, Chaney quickly closed with Walker and Shaffer right there as well. Gravel would take the white flag with Chaney glued to his rear bumper while Walker stuck his nose under Chaney for second with Shaffer in the mix. As Gravel dove to the bottom of turns three and four one final time, Chaney would slingshot around the top to race to the win. Gravel, Walker, Shaffer and Dean Jacobs would round out the top five. For more information go to www.allstarsprint.com
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 17-Tyler Walker, 12.920; 2. 24H-Lee Jacobs, 12.967; 3. 89G-David Gravel, 12.970; 4. 9X-Gary Wright, 13.029; 5. 55-Dave Blaney, 13.137; 6. V92-Matthew Reed, 13.137; 7. 97-Dean Jacobs, 13.200; 8. 6-Bill Rose, 13.205; 9. 38K-Duffy Smith, 13.221; 10. 45-Rob Chaney, 13.236; 11. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.257; 12. 83-Tim Shaffer, 13.290; 13. 11M-Brandon Martin, 13.298; 14. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.404; 15. 16-Danny Mumaw, 13.418; 16. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 13.479; 17. 78-Todd Kane, 13.546; 18. 3J-Kevin Lee, 13.558; 19. 0-Brandon Wimmer, 13.609; 20. 5M-Brad Haudenschild, 13.622; 21. 47-Caleb Helms, 13.772; 22. 12-Jared Ridge, 13.875; 23. 83M-Broc Martin, 13.962; 24. 15C-Chris Andrews, 14.075; 25. 15H-Mitch Harble, 14.087; 26. 2-Dale Blaney, 14.112; 27. O4-Cap Henry, 14.156; 28. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 14.196; 29. 71AU-Matt Butler, 14.301; 30. 6Z-Zack Ames, 14.354; 31. D12-Jason Dolick, 99.001; 32. 1-Stevie Smith, 99.003
Heat 1 - MSD Ignition (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 11M-Brandon Martin; 2. 78-Todd Kane; 3. 17-Tyler Walker; 4. 38K-Duffy Smith; 5. 55-Dave Blaney; 6. 47-Caleb Helms; 7. 15H-Mitch Harble; 8. 71AU-Matt Butler
Heat 2 - Kear's Speed Shop (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 12-Jared Ridge; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 3J-Kevin Lee[2]; 4. V92-Matthew Reed; 5. 45-Rob Chaney; 6. 24H-Lee Jacobs; 7. 6Z-Zack Ames; 8. 2-Dale Blaney- DNS
Heat 3 - All Pro Heads (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 0-Brandon Wimmer; 2. 16-Danny Mumaw; 3. 97-Dean Jacobs; 4. 89G-David Gravel; 5. O4-Cap Henry; 6. 83M-Broc Martin; 7. 22-Cole Duncan; 8. D12-Jason Dolick
Heat 4 - Outerwear's Performance Products (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 5M-Brad Haudenschild; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer; 3. 15C-Chris Andrews; 4. 9X-Gary Wright; 5. 1-Stevie Smith; 6. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 7. 6-Bill Rose; 8. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild
Dash - Rubbn' Repair (6 Laps - Top - Transfer)
1. 17-Tyler Walker; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer; 3. 89G-David Gravel; 4. 11M-Brandon Martin; 5. W20-Greg Wilson; 6. 97-Dean Jacobs-DNS
B-Main -
University of Northwestern Ohio (15 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 24H-Lee Jacobs; 2. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild; 3. 6-Bill Rose; 4. 22-Cole Duncan; 5. 47-Caleb Helms; 6. 15H-Mitch Harble; 7. 6Z-Zack Ames; 8. 71AU-Matt Butler; 9. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 10. 83M-Broc Martin
A-Main - O’Reilly Auto Parts (40 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 45-Rob Chaney[8]; 2. 89G-David Gravel[3]; 3. 17-Tyler Walker[2]; 4. 83-Tim Shaffer[9]; 5. 97-Dean Jacobs[6]; 6. 0-Brandon Wimmer[19]; 7. 9X-Gary Wright[1]; 8. 16-Danny Mumaw[15]; 9. 11M-Brandon Martin[10]; 10. 6-Bill Rose[12]; 11. 24H-Lee Jacobs[11]; 12. 1-Stevie Smith[24]; 13. 3J-Kevin Lee[18]; 14. 5M-Brad Haudenschild[20]; 15. 22-Cole Duncan[13]; 16. V92-Matthew Reed[5]; 17. 12-Jared Ridge[21]; 18. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[16]; 19. 55-Dave Blaney[4]; 20. W20-Greg Wilson[14]; 21. 38K-Duffy Smith[7]; 22. 15C-Chris Andrews[22]; 23. 78-Todd Kane[17]; 24. O4-Cap Henry[23]
