ATTICA, Ohio — Tim Shaffer won Friday night’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 feature that opened the Attica Ambush at Attica Raceway Park.
Resulting in the 67th All Star Circuit of Champions victory of his illustrious career, the Aliquippa, Pa.-native led all 40 circuits at the Attica short track to secure his trip to victory lane, withstanding early pressure from Jac Haudenschild, before holding off Shane Stewart during the closing circuits.
Shaffer is now an eight-time Series winner at Attica Raceway Park, officially tied with Frankie Kerr for second on the all-time Attica All Star win list.
“It’s been a while. I haven’t run with the series steady, but we’re just out here building a team,” said the driver of the Canton Erectors, Grove Racing, No. 28 sprint car. “We can only run a limited schedule, so we have to make it worthwhile when we do run. Hats off to my guys. Everybody has stepped up and here we are. These kids are getting harder and harder to beat.”
Inheriting a front row starting position after a false start by Cale Conley during the initial green, Shaffer drove on to gain the early advantage, leading Jac Haudenschild and Cale Conley by the flagstand for the first time.
Searching around the speedway early, Shaffer found his rhythm within the first few circuits, eventually relying on the top of turns one and two and the bottom of turns three and four. Although in control the entire distance, traffic was never a factor for the former All Star Circuit of Champions titlist.
Despite a few early attempts by Haudenschild to work by the Grove Racing No. 28, it was Stewart who challenged Shaffer late, putting himself in view of the lead after sneaking by the “Wild Child” at the exit of turn four on lap 18.
A caution on lap 36 for a troubled Cory Eliason, who was battling for a top-five spot at the time of the incident, gave Shane Stewart one final opportunity to gain the edge over Shaffer, but Shaffer proved to be too strong with a clear track ahead.
“This is Attica,” Shaffer continued. “If you don’t move around, you’re going to get it handed to you. The track definitely changes throughout the night. I was hoping I was doing the right things.”
Stewart chased Shaffer to the final checkers, followed by Cale Thomas, Cale Conley and Paul McMahan.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 28-Tim Shaffer [3]; 2. 71-Shane Stewart [8]; 3. 70-Cale Thomas [7]; 4. 3C-Cale Conley [1]; 5. 13-Paul McMahan [9]; 6. 24-Rico Abreu [22]; 7. 3-Jac Haudenschild [2]; 8. 17-Ian Madsen [14]; 9. 22-Cole Duncan [11]; 10. 8M-TJ Michael [24]; 11. 4-Cap Henry [12]; 12. O9-Craig Mintz [17]; 13. 99-Skylar Gee [18]; 14. 11-Zeb Wise [10]; 15. 16-DJ Foos [21]; 16. 87-Aaron Reutzel [19]; 17. 35-Stuart Brubaker [13]; 18. 97-Max Stambaugh [6]; 19. 26-Cory Eliason [5]; 20. 3J-Trey Jacobs [4]; 21. 33W-Caleb Griffith [20]; 22. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg [16]; 23. 23-Cole Macedo [23]; 24. 9Z-Duane Zablocki [15] Lap Leaders: Tim Shaffer (1-40)