ATTICA, Ohio – Byron Reed hasn’t raced much this year, but the veteran sprint car driver still knows his way around Attica Raceway Park.
Reed, an eight-time track champion, held off a charging Hunter Schuerenberg to score his second 410 sprint car win of the year Friday on Sutton Bank/Craig Miller Trucking/Burns Electric Night.
The victory was the 41st of Reed’s career at Attica as he inches closer to the top of the Callie’s Performance Product 410 Sprint Car division’s all-time win list. Mark Keegan is the all-time 410 division win record holder with 56 victories.
A solid third place finish for Cap Henry puts him closer to Buddy Kofoid in the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group standings.
For Reed, it was only his fifth race of the season at Attica and while the final finish shows he led all 30 laps of the 410 sprint feature, he withstood early challenges from Buddy Kofoid and the last six laps from a surging Schuerenberg for the victory.
“I’m not usually a top groove type guy for a long period of time like that. But watching the B-main I felt like that’s where you had to be. Every year you get a little bit older and you think ‘can I still do this.’ Young guys come in and they’re really fast…confidence means a lot and mine hasn’t been real good lately,” said Reed. “This is one of my more satisfying wins. I want to thank Paul Kistler of Kistler Engines and Crown Battery and I had a new shock on from Doug Berryman…I felt like that might have made a difference in trying to run the top. Also, I know Rick Susong passed away recently…I’ve known the guy for 30 years so it’s sad to hear that.”
Reed and Kofoid brought the field to green for the 30-lap 410 sprint feature but a multi-car incident involving Jess Stiger, Ryan Broughton and Travis Philo necessitated another attempt. On the second try, Caleb Griffith stopped in turn two and last week’s winner Chris Andrews spun in turn three. On the third try Reed bolted into the lead over Kofoid, Cap Henry, Nate Dussel, D.J. Foos and Schuerenberg.
Kofoid stayed glued to Reed’s rear bumper while Henry ran comfortably in third with a great battle for fourth involving Dussel, Foos and Schuerenberg. Kofoid was battling with Reed for the lead on lap nine, when he spun off of turn four, handing second to Henry. On the restart Danny Mumaw and Brock Martin tangled but when the green flew again the race would go to it’s conclusion without another stoppage.
Reed pulled away on the restart with Henry working to stay within striking distance while Foos and Schuerenberg battled for third with the later taking the spot on lap 12. At the half way point Reed held a commanding lead over Henry, Schuerenberg, Foos and Dussel. With 10 laps to go all eyes were on Schuerenberg who found the top side of the track to his liking as he took second on lap 24 and closed quickly on Reed who was into heavy lapped traffic.
Reed made the move of the race with three laps to go, splitting two lapped cars as Schuerenberg was right on his bumper. Reed was able to hit his marks perfectly the final three laps and took the close win over Schuerenberg, Henry, Foos and Dussel.
In an exciting Summit Racing Equipment UMP Late Model feature, Doug Drown took the lead with four laps to go after a spirited battle with Matt Irey and Ryan Missler and went on to earn his third victory of the season at Attica. The 25-lap green to checker feature took just seven minutes to complete.
Drown’s victory is the 27th of his career at the track as he sits atop the division all-time win list.
Jamie Miller raced to his second-straight victory in Fremont Fence 305 Sprint action Friday night in a non-stop feature. He lapped up to 10th place, winning by 7.5 seconds. Miller now has 20 victories at Attica Raceway Park, placing him fifth on the division’s all-time win list.
The win puts Miller back in the thick of things in the KS Sales & Service AFCS Presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales points battle for the 305 sprints.