ATTICA, Ohio — Aaron Reutzel is certainly no stranger to Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory lane, but his trip to the top of the podium on Friday night at Attica Raceway Park was more dramatic than most.
Reutzel passed racelong leader Buddy Kofoid with three laps remaining in the 40-lap preliminary feature for the Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic presented by Racing Optics
Reutzel earned $5,000 for the victory and regained the All Star point lead by two markers over Dale Blaney.
Also using the late-race restart to his advantage, Tim Shaffer chased Aaron Reutzel to the final checkers, followed by Kofoid, Brock Zearfoss and Cap Henry.
“It’s nice to get a win. We’ve been having either really good luck, or really bad luck; no in between,” Reutzel said. “It was a great night for all of my guys. It was nice to close back in on the points. Dale (Blaney) and I have been going back and forth a lot this year in the points. I just want to get the lead and set sail. Dale is a seasoned veteran at this stuff and probably takes the stress a little bit better than I do.”
Starting fourth on the evening grid, Reutzel was not a major contender until late in the 40-lapper. Battling early with Cap Henry, the pair exchanged the runner-up spot nearly five times before Reutzel finally settled into second on lap 28.
While Henry and Reutzel battled in the background, Buddy Kofoid was in control. The Ed Neumeister Racing ace took off from the pole position and maintained a blistering pace on the topside of the speedway.
An early reg flag incident on lap eight, followed by a pair of cautions on lap 13 and lap 17, were Kofoid’s only distractions during the first half of the 40-lap program.
A long green flag segment after the lap 17 caution eventually led the front-runners to lapped traffic. Despite Kofoid’s torrid pace on top, getting by the slower cars became a challenge, ultimately allowing Cap Henry and Aaron Reutzel to track down the youngster.
On lap 28, executing a bold slider between turns three and four, Reutzel drove by Henry for second, next setting aim on the No. 11n of Kofoid.
As the laps clicked down, so did Kofoid’s command, nearly losing the top spot to Reutzel when the Texan attempted a slide job in turns one and two on lap 37. Although the attempt failed, yellow flags waved shortly thereafter giving Kofoid the breather that he needed, or so he thought.
It turns out that the ensuing restart with three laps to go was just what Reutzel needed, sticking himself between the bottom edge and a blocking Kofoid as the pair battled through turns one and two.
“I was going to try to get a run on the top, but he blocked the top,” Reutzel said. “I really thought he was going to take off earlier than that and not leave us anything, but he waited a long time to take off. I knew if we had any chance, that’s when it was going to be. I think he knew he made a little bit of a mistake and tried to block it, but he left the door open just enough. We had a great race car. That late caution is what won us the race.”
The final caution also allowed Tim Shaffer the opportunity to drive by Kofoid to claim second. It was the Aliquippa-native’s first night in the Ron Gorby-owned/Howard Johnson of Lima/No. G1.
“We’re still learning the car,” Tim Shaffer said of his new opportunity, who started fifth on the grid. “Early on in that race, I just couldn’t get the wing back enough. The track was so tight on the right rear. It finally slicked up to where I could get the wing back and get a little more leverage getting into the corner. That last restart, I think I had a shot at (Reutzel) but I missed the bottom. It’s a great night and a great job for all of us.”
“My motor didn’t take off there on that last restart,” Kofoid explained. “I guess I just need to do my job better on restarts. I really wasn’t challenged on the restarts before that one. I’m just glad to finish in a podium spot.”
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 87-Aaron Reutzel [4]; 2. G1-Tim Shaffer [5]; 3. 11N-Buddy Kofoid [1]; 4. 70-Brock Zearfoss [11]; 5. 4-Cap Henry [2]; 6. 26-Cory Eliason [13]; 7. 13-Paul McMahan [14]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson [23]; 9. 99-Skylar Gee [3]; 10. 70X-Justin Peck [12]; 11. 11-Dale Blaney [19]; 12. 5R-Byron Reed [17]; 13. 3-Jac Haudenschild [9]; 14. 71P-Parker Price-Miller [8]; 15. O7-Gerard McIntyre [16]; 16. 22-Brandon Spithaler [6]; 17. 16-DJ Foos [22]; 18. 33W-Caleb Griffith [10]; 19. K4-Chad Kemenah [7]; 20. 25M-Chris Andrews [15]; 21. 1ST-Gary Taylor [18]; 22. 28-Danny Mumaw [24]; 23. 57X-Andrew Palker [20]; 24. 5T-Travis Philo [21] Lap Leaders: Buddy Kofoid (1-37), Aaron Reutzel (38-40)