Atomic Speedway
July 3, 2014
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Oliver Awesome in AMRA Late Model win at Atomic Speedway

Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OH (July 3) - The tradition of the "Night the Stars Come Out" lived up to its billing as a huge crowd, great racing, and high speeds helped kick off the Fourth of July weekend at Brad McCown's Atomic Speedway Thursday night, July 3rd.  Claiming the big win in the 30-lap UNOH All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 sprint cars was Cortland, Ohio's Dale Blaney, while local star Greggie Oliver, Jackson, Ohio brought home the $5,000 win in the Gullion Enterprises AMRA Late Model 40-lap event. Lake Shore, Minnesota driver, Dan Ebert claimed the 20-lap AMRA Advanced Services Octane Modified feature, his third of the year at Atomic.

In the AMRA Late Model main veteran Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, Ohio jumped into the early lead over outside pole sitter Greggie Oliver. Conley led the next 38 laps virtually uncontested.  The veteran Conley, a National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame driver, appeared to be on a rail--straight and fast. The senior speedster was the class of the field by a long shot until his mount stumbled coming out of turn four on the 38th circuit.

Initial reports were that Conley's car suffered an ignition problem, however, at press time those reports were not confirmed.

Conley's misfortune was Oliver's treasure as the Jackson Ironman --aka, the 'Pickle City Hustla" --inherited the lead and charged on to the five-grand victory.

"I was pumped to be in second, then I looked up and I was like number one on the scoreboard," said an excited Oliver.  "I don't know what happened to Delmas."

While Conley charged to at least a ten-car length lead much of the race and even a larger stretch of turf at the end of a 28-lap run, action became heated back in the pack. 

Despite Conley's domination, Oliver was strong as well, fending off the charges of Jackie Boggs much of the race. Oliver repelled earlier challenges from the rest of the field amid a field of 'shooting stars'.  Rod Conley settled in around 5th and 6th for the early portions of the race, before lighting a fire in his Rocket the last one-third of the race. 

Super-heated battles developed among 'No Fear' Chris Garnes, Jeremy Berwanger, Insane Duane Chamberlain, Brandon Kinzer, Dustin Linville, and Rod Conley. That side-by-side racing, sometimes displaying door-rubbing precision, highlighted the action. Berwanger suffered mechanical woes early and went to the infield.

The latter part of the race,  Garnes was perhaps the fastest car on the track, but the defending AMRA champ developed a push in a mad rush high against the wall. Garnes nearly pulled off a pass of Boggs for third, then scrubbed the first turn wall and lost some momentum, allowing Conley and Chamberlain an opportunity to blow by.  Garnes reclaimed 5th from Chamberlain as Dustin Linville fell off the pace with a flat tire, and the Garnes-Conley battle rekindled.

When Conley's mount waivered, the rest of the field seemed to step up their pace as a hefty payday lay in wait for the winner. Oliver remained fast and smooth in stifling Boggs' late race advances and roared on to the win.

"Yes, I was pumped to be in second...just happy to be there. I looked up and I was number one on the scoreboard and couldn't believe it," asserted a dismayed Oliver.  "I don't know what happened to Delmas, but this is great making it here to victory lane."

"I'd like to thank My Dad, brother Brandon, my crew and sponsors.  Over the years, Ralph Seymour helped me a lot when I didn't have anything to drive; in fact this one of his old cars.  It really is an old car, but I like it. I'm sure Ralph would be proud."

Rounding out the top ten were Greggie Oliver, Jackie Boggs, Rod Conley, Chris Garnes, Duane Chamberlain, Brandon Kinzer, Zach Dohm, Kevin Wagner, J.T. Conley, and Kenneth Howell. Ken Howell was the hard charger starting 20th and finished 10th.

THE SUMMARY:  

PINE TREE TOWING AND RECOVERY
All- Star Sprints (31)
Atomic Speedway  - 7/3/2014
UNOH Night/Night the Stars Come Out

GULLION ENTERPRISES AMRA LATE MODELS  (27)
Fast Time: Delmas Conley  14:306
Heat One- Delmas Conley, Jeremy Berwanger, Rod Conley, Brandon Kinzer, Kevin Wagner,  J.T. Conley, Keith Sansom, Steve Weigle, Mike Taylor
Heat Two-Jackie Boggs, Dustin Linville, Mark Frazier, Billy Guillon, Paul Davis, Freddie Carpenter,  Curtis Deisenroth, Mick Sansom, Brandon Conkel
Heat Three-Greggie Oliver, Chris Garnes, Duane Chamberlain, Zach Dohm, John Whitney,  Kenneth Howell, Andy Bond, Avery Taylor, Daniel Kattine
B-Main : Freddie Carpenter, J.T. Conley, Andy Bond, Curtis Deisenroth, Ken Howells, Mick Sansom, Keith Sansom, Avery Taylor, Steve Weigle, Daniel Kattine, Mike Taylor, Brandon Conkle.

Feature:  Greggie Oliver, Jackie Boggs, Rod Conley, Chris Garnes, Duane Chamberlain, Brandon Kinzer, Zach Dohm, Kevin Wagner, J.T. Conley, Kenneth Howell, Billy Guillon,John Whitney, Delmas Conley, Dustin Linville, Andy Bond, Curtis Deisenroth, Paul Davis, Mark Frazier, Jeremy Berwanger, Freddie Carpenter.


ADVANCE SERVICES H & C  AMRA MODIFIEDS ( 22)
Fast Time: Fireball Pinkerton 15:722
Heat One-Kenny Johnson, Dave Pinkerton, Tim Tribby, Phillip Bapst, Roy Roush, David McWilliams, Mike Long, Jeff Surber
Heat Two- Dan Ebert, J.P. Roberts,  Greggie Oliver,  Jason Cottrill, Donnie Miller, Derrick Smith, Seth Daniels
Heat Three-  Brian Whiteman,  Rick Hensley, Shawn Holiday, Brandon Oliver, Brian Moore,  Bob Crace, Jr., Rick Shutts

Feature: Dan Ebert, Greggie Oliver, Shawn Holiday, Tim Tribby, J.P. Roberts, Phillip Bapst, David McWilliams, Derrick Smith, Rick Hensley, Brian Whiteman, Donnie Miller, Bob Crace, Jr., Rick Shutts, Brian Moore, Roy Roush, Jason Cottrill, Brandon Oliver, Kenny Johnson, David Pinkerton, Mike Long, Seth Daniels.

All Star Circuit of Champions (31 Cars)

Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 55F-Taylor Ferns, 11.520; 2. 84-Jimmy Stinson, 11.737; 3. 5T-Travis Philo, 11.839; 4. 7C-Caleb Armstrong, 11.862; 5. 45-Tim Shaffer, 11.882; 6. 10H-Danny Holtgraver, 11.887; 7. 49-Cole Duncan, 11.901; 8. 4-Danny Smith, 11.946; 9. 9W-Jac Haudenschild, 11.971; 10. 14K-Dale Blaney, 11.973; 11. 22-Ryan Broughton, 12.016; 12. 81-Lee Jacobs, 12.079; 13. 63-Chad Kemenah, 12.081; 14. 4X-Eddie Slone, 12.119; 15. 40I-Mark Imler, 12.120; 16. 60C-Kory Crabtree, 12.156; 17. 57X-Andrew Palker, 12.181; 18. 40-Caleb Helms, 12.218; 19. 99-Todd Kane, 12.259; 20. 23-Jimmy Light, 12.355; 21. A97-Aaron Higgins, 12.421; 22. 41-Randy Fink, 12.492; 23. 25AU-Jack Lee, 12.563; 24. 92-Sam Ashworth, 12.582; 25. 59-Bryan Nuckles, 12.699; 26. 45C-Mark Coleman, 12.702; 27. 3F-Brandy Bower, 12.707; 28. 22D-Josh Davis, 12.798; 29. 83X-Nate Reeser, 12.911; 30. 3FX-Dean Kester, 13.774; 31. 2-Nathan Skaggs, 99.999

Heat 1 - Kears Speed Shop (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[4] ; 2. 63-Chad Kemenah[3] ; 3. 57X-Andrew Palker[2] ; 4. 45-Tim Shaffer[5] ; 5. A97-Aaron Higgins[1] ; 6. 55F-Taylor Ferns[6] ; 7. 83X-Nate Reeser[8] ; 8. 59-Bryan Nuckles[7]

Heat 2 - All Pro Aluminum Heads (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 14K-Dale Blaney[4] ; 2. 40-Caleb Helms[2] ; 3. 84-Jimmy Stinson[6] ; 4. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[5] ; 5. 4X-Eddie Slone[3] ; 6. 41-Randy Fink[1] ; 7. 3FX-Dean Kester[8] ; 8. 45C-Mark Coleman[7]

Heat 3 - Dragon Racing Fuels (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 99-Todd Kane[2] ; 2. 5T-Travis Philo[6] ; 3. 22-Ryan Broughton[4] ; 4. 40I-Mark Imler[3] ; 5. 2-Nathan Skaggs[8] ; 6. 25AU-Jack Lee[1] ; 7. 3F-Brandy Bower[7] ; 8. 49-Cole Duncan[5]

Heat 4 - Kinsler Fuel Injection (8 Laps - Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 81-Lee Jacobs[4] ; 2. 92-Sam Ashworth[1] ; 3. 23-Jimmy Light[2] ; 4. 22D-Josh Davis[7] ; 5. 4-Danny Smith[5] ; 6. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[6] ; 7. 60C-Kory Crabtree[3]

Dash - Howard Johnson Hotel - Lima, OH (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 45-Tim Shaffer[2] ; 2. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[1] ; 3. 84-Jimmy Stinson[3] ; 4. 5T-Travis Philo[4] ; 5. 4-Danny Smith[5] ; 6. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[6]

B-Main - MSD Ignition (12 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 49-Cole Duncan[3] ; 2. 60C-Kory Crabtree[4] ; 3. 55F-Taylor Ferns[1] ; 4. 25AU-Jack Lee[6] ; 5. 41-Randy Fink[5] ; 6. 59-Bryan Nuckles[7] ; 7. 45C-Mark Coleman[8] ; 8. 83X-Nate Reeser[10] ; 9. 3FX-Dean Kester[11] ; 10. 7C-Caleb Armstrong[2] ; 11. 3F-Brandy Bower[9]

A-Main - University of Northwestern Ohio (30 Laps)
1. 14K-Dale Blaney[7]; 2. 45-Tim Shaffer[1]; 3. 5T-Travis Philo[4]; 4. 10H-Danny Holtgraver[2]; 5. 81-Lee Jacobs[9]; 6. 49-Cole Duncan[12]; 7. 63-Chad Kemenah[10]; 8. 4-Danny Smith[5]; 9. 84-Jimmy Stinson[3]; 10. 60C-Kory Crabtree[15]; 11. 2-Nathan Skaggs[24]; 12. 4X-Eddie Slone[13]; 13. 55F-Taylor Ferns[11]; 14. 9W-Jac Haudenschild[6]; 15. 40-Caleb Helms[17]; 16. 57X-Andrew Palker[16]; 17. 22D-Josh Davis[23]; 18. 23-Jimmy Light[19]; 19. 92-Sam Ashworth[22]; 20. A97-Aaron Higgins[20]; 21. 99-Todd Kane[18]; 22. 40I-Mark Imler[14]; 23. 25AU-Jack Lee[21]; 24. 22-Ryan Broughton[8]
Hard Charger: 2-Nathan Skaggs[+13]