ATTICA, Ohio — The weather was on everyone‘s minds throughout the day on Tuesday at Attica Raceway Park.
Rain had fallen at the one-third-mile oval in the days leading up to the 33rd annual Ohio Logistics Brad Doty Classic and it was in the forecast again Tuesday.
A significant storm skirted the track during the afternoon, only slightly delaying the proceedings. World of Outlaws and Attica officials kept the program running at a rapid pace and the checkered flag waved only minutes before rain began falling.
Still, the weather didn‘t deter the fans and a massive crowd filled the Attica Fairgrounds.
• Attica was the first of five consecutive nights of racing for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Sprint Car Series, with events at Eldora Speedway planned through the remainder of the week, topped by a pair of $175,00 to win Kings Royals on Thursday and on Saturday. That‘s a lot of money on the line.
• If it weren‘t for bad luck, Cole Macedo would have had no luck at all Tuesday at Attica Raceway Park.
Macedo qualified for the feature, but that‘s where his good fortune ended. He spun twice during the early laps and then was involved in an accident when another car spun in front of him and the pair made contact with Macedo flipping his Ray Brooks Racing entry along the frontstretch.
“God, I hope this luck turns around soon,” Macedo said on Twitter. “Feel like I can‘t catch a break lately. Our race car is extremely fast but have nothing to show for it. Me and the guys have been working our tails off. We‘re do for good runs.”
• The 48 sprint cars on hand for the Brad Doty Classic at Attica Raceway Park was the largest car count of the season for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series.
• Spencer Bayston became the 146th driver to win a World of Outlaws feature since the series‘ inception in 1978.
• Kyle Larson and the Paul Silva Racing No. 57 sprint car team suffered an unusual parts failure only a handful of laps into Tuesday‘s event. Larson‘s machine came to a stop on the track and despite a stop in the work area to replace an ignition box, would not refire. He was credited with a 24th-place finish.
• Ten-time series champion Donny Schatz qualified a dismal 16th in the second flight of cars on Tuesday night, but found something on the bottom of the track during the B main.
Schatz romped from sixth to finish second in the B and then charged from 22nd to fourth during the 40-lap feature.
• Ian Madsen, who won the Ohio Speedweek round at Attica in June but lost his ride in the McGhee Motorsports No. 11 that Spencer Bayston drove to victory Tuesday, was in the familiar Rudzik Construction No. 49 at Attica and was scheduled to drive the car through the remainder of the week at Eldora Speedway.
• The Ed Neumeister Racing sprint car team with driver Harli White suffered a flat tire on the team transporter en route to Attica and was unable to complete the journey to the third-mile dirt track.
• Greg Wilson has formed a partnership with Seeling Motorsports, combining his assets with those of the longtime Ohio-based team led by veteran crew chief Andy Potter.
As a result, Wilson‘s familiar No. 20 has been replaced by the Seeling team‘s No. 97. Wilson‘s Hercules Tires sponsorship remains.