Attica Raceway Park
August 3, 2012
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Ross Earns First Late Model Victory at Attica Raceway Park

by Brian Liskai
ATTICA, OH (August 3) - In the Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Models, it looked like Rusty Schlenk was headed to his fourth win of the season at Attica. But, a flat tire handed the lead back to Charing Cross, Ontario, Canada’s Chris Ross, who had led early and then stayed close to Schlenk. Ross then held off Ken Hahn the last five laps for his first career Attica victory.

“He left me in his dust and I thought I was running for second. But then he just started to slow down after that one caution and I thought well maybe we’ll get a little luck our way and get one back. I love coming here. I wish I could come here every Friday, but being three and half hours away and working every day…it’s kind of hard,” said Ross beside his Field Electric, Great Canadian Oil Change, Lube Tech, Autotech, backed #18r.

“I did a lot better than the last time I was here. I almost hit the flagman,” added Ross, who crashed into the front stretch fence, tearing down a big section. “I want to thank my wife, Shelley of course, and Scott Gressman who built me an awesome motor.”

Chris Ross #18R Matt Irey and Ross would bring the field to the green in the 25-lap late model feature, with Ross taking the lead over Irey, Ky Harper, Dan Wallace, Ken Hahn, Rusty Schlenk and Ryan Missler. Ross was able to pull away slightly as Irey and Harper were locked in a great battle for second with Hahn, Schlenk and Wallace also battling for fourth.

The first caution would fly on lap five for a Mike Bores Spin which also saw Harper slide off the track and stop. On the restart, Ross would lead as Schlenk drove into second with Irey, Hahn, Wallace, Chris Keller and Cody Scott in pursuit. Ryan Missler would stop on lap seven with a flat tire to bring out the caution. Ross had his hands full with Schlenk on the restart as Hahn, Irey, Wallace and Keller waged a terrific battle for third.

But, Troy Catterene would spin on lap eight for another caution. Again on the restart, Ross and Schlenk would race side by side for the lead with Hahn, Irey, Wallace, Keller and Scott battling for third while 19th starter Larry Kingseed closed. On lap 12, Schlenk would execute a slider in turns three and four to take the lead. A lap later, and John Bores would spin to bring out another caution.

On the restart, Schlenk was able to pull away from Ross with Hahn and Irey continuing their battle for third. After his early race problems, Harper was also on the move, moving into eighth by lap 14. Scott and Brandon Perkins would spin in separate incidents to bring out the caution with eight laps remaining.

On the restart, Schlenk slipped off the top side of turn two, allowing Ross to close with Hahn and Irey also making up ground. With five laps to go, Schlenk began to slow as Ross drove to his inside with Hahn, Irey and Harper also closing. Ross would grab the lead on lap 21 as Schlenk stopped with a flat right rear tire.

On the restart, Ross would have to hold off a charging Hahn while Irey was locked in a fantastic battle with Harper for third. However, with three laps remaining, Harper would smack into the front stretch wall, ending his great run and bringing out the caution.

Ross was able to drive away from Hahn, Irey, Kingseed and Wallace on the restart. As he came out of turn four to the checkers, Ross nearly drove off the cushion into the front stretch wall, but gathered it back up to score the win over Hahn, Irey, Kingseed and Wallace as only 10 cars finished the event.

Summit Racing Equipment Late Models (30 Cars)

Heat 1 - Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 92-Cody Scott[5] ; 2. 18R-Chris Ross[3] ; 3. 99-Steve Sabo[2] ; 4. 9C-Troy Cattarene[4] ; 5. 7-Brent Colby[1] ; 6. O3-Jim Gingery[6] ; 7. 42S-Bob Mayer[7] ; 8. 1J-Jason Stancil[8]

Heat 2 - Summit Racing Equipment (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 91-Rusty Schlenk[6] ; 2. 15B-Mike Bores[1] ; 3. 30-Nate Potts[4] ; 4. O1P-Brandon Perkins[7] ; 5. 56-B.J. Gregory[2] ; 6. 101-Chester Fitch[8] ; 7. O2-Jeff McCoy[3] ; 8. O6-Kyle Perry[5]

Heat 3 - Ultra Shield Race Products (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-Chris Keller[3] ; 2. X3-Dan Wallace[2] ; 3. 36-Matt Irey[7] ; 4. 1N-Casey Noonan[1] ; 5. 21-Larry Kingseed[5] ; 6. 69-John Mayes Jr.[6] ; 7. 4US-James Scout[4]

Heat 4 - Bell Racing Products (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 34-Ky Harper[1] ; 2. 50Y-Ryan Missler[6] ; 3. 27-Ken Hahn[2] ; 4. 2-Justin Chance[5] ; 5. 48-John Bores[4] ; 6. 25-Ryan Eddleblute[7] ; 7. 99M-John Mayes Sr.[3]

B-Main - Computer Man Inc. (12 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 56-B.J. Gregory[2] ; 2. 48-John Bores[4] ; 3. 21-Larry Kingseed[3] ; 4. 25-Ryan Eddleblute[8] ; 5. O6-Kyle Perry[14] ; 6. 101-Chester Fitch[6] ; 7. 42S-Bob Mayer[9] ; 8. 4US-James Scout[11] ; 9. O2-Jeff McCoy[10] ; 10. O3-Jim Gingery[5] ; 11. 1J-Jason Stancil[13] ; 12. 69-John Mayes Jr.[7] ; 13. 7-Brent Colby[1] ; 14. 99M-John Mayes Sr.[12]

A-Main - (25 Laps)
1. 18R-Chris Ross[2]; 2. 27-Ken Hahn[6]; 3. 36-Matt Irey[1]; 4. 21-Larry Kingseed[19]; 5. X3-Dan Wallace[4]; 6. 48-John Bores[18]; 7. 99-Steve Sabo[5]; 8. O1P-Brandon Perkins[14]; 9. OO-Chris Keller[8]; 10. 56-B.J. Gregory[17]; 11. 34-Ky Harper[3]; 12. 92-Cody Scott[12]; 13. 91-Rusty Schlenk[7]; 14. 25-Ryan Eddleblute[20]; 15. 1N-Casey Noonan[15]; 16. 9C-Troy Cattarene[13]; 17. 2-Justin Chance[16]; 18. 50Y-Ryan Missler[9]; 19. 15B-Mike Bores[11]; 20. 30-Nate Potts[10]