ATTICA, Ohio – It was like an ending to a Hollywood movie or a romantic novel. Byron Reed, in his final appearance at Attica Raceway Park after 34 years of racing, led all 30 laps of the 410 sprint feature.
The eight-time Attica track champion recorded his 44th career win in the Kistler Racing Products/Jon Wright’s Custom Chrome Plating/Baumann Auto Group/Columbus Equipment/Central Ohio Farmers presents the Mark Keegan Classic to put an emotional exclamation point on the track’s final race of 2023.
Ironically, Reed finished second on the track’s Callie’s Performance Products 410 Sprint all-time win list behind Keegan. The pair combine for 100 career sprint wins at Attica. Reed finished second in the track’s 2023 standings as well, behind Cap Henry who wrapped up his second track title.
“Started on the pole but I did pass some cars…it was a good win. It’s Attica, a local track, but we got guys that can win nationwide and you can’t afford to make any mistakes. I knew I had to race the lapped cars just like it was for position. It’s been since 2019 that I’ve been in victory lane. We’ve been really good here this year…just missing it by just a little bit. It’s Mark Keegan Night and I have to thank him. We slapped the wall last week and bent the rear-end pretty bad and I really wanted this rear-end back this weekend and he and Mikey got it done for me,” said Reed.
Henry, who picked up the Attica 2020 track title, could wrap up his second All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group title Saturday, Sept. 9 at Fremont Speedway.
“It shows that everybody that got involved in the off-season…Jeff kind of let us do what we needed to do. He had a lot of really good equipment already. Gary Griffith did a lot with the engine program and just kept working on it. Zack (Myers) obviously does a good job every week and Chad and Chris Wilson have been awesome help. All our great marketing partners, Elliott’s Custom Trailers, Tony Elliott Foundation, Primal T Shop, Elite Wings, Maxim Racing, Griff’s Engines, FK Rod Ends, King Racing Products, Berryman Racing Shocks, Premier Planning Services…everyone that makes this happen,” said Henry.
Former Attica track champion Ryan Markham held off many challenges from five-time track champion Ryan Missler to score his second Dirt Nerds Podcast Powered by Propane UMP Late Model feature win.
Markham sliced through lapped traffic while holding off the Missler challenges in the non-stop 25 lap affair for his 23rd career Attica win.
“That lapped car on the last lap was there taking it to the top and I wasn’t going to get knocked off the outside so I just put it in there. My average starting spot here is eighth this season so when you’re coming from that far back every night it’s tough,” said Markham.
A fifth place finished wrapped up a fifth late model track title for Devin Shiels. It’s his fourth straight championship at Attica.
Kasey Jedrzejek was supposed to drive a 410 sprint at Attica Friday, but team suffered an issue with the trailer. Jim Taddeo at the last minute stepped up and offered his 305 sprint car to the teen and it paid off. Jedrzejek took the lead from Brendon Torok on lap six and drove away for his third win of the year in the Fremont Fence 305 Sprints. It was his fourth career win at Attica.
Jamie Miller’s third place showing in the 25-lap feature that saw only one caution, was good enough to wrap up his fourth 305 track championship (2005, 2019, 2021 and 2023).
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. 5-Byron Reed[1] ; 2. 23-Cale Thomas[3] ; 3. 29-Zeth Sabo[5] ; 4. 15K-Creed Kemenah[2] ; 5. 33W-Cap Henry[8] ; 6. 19-Trey Jacobs[9] ; 7. W20-Greg Wilson[17] ; 8. 8M-TJ Michael[11] ; 9. 16-DJ Foos[13] ; 10. 32-Bryce Lucius[20] ; 11. 5T-Travis Philo[21] ; 12. 7N-Darin Naida[12] ; 13. X-Mike Keegan[4] ; 14. 99-Skylar Gee[19] ; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10] ; 16. 25-Chris Myers[22] ; 17. 16C-Tylar Rankin[6] ; 18. 15C-Chris Andrews[18] ; 19. 32B-Dale Blaney[14] ; 20. 2+-Brian Smith[15] ; 21. 68G-Tyler Gunn[7] ; 22. 49X-Tim Shaffer[16]