K-C Raceay race report

ALMA, OH - Rob Chaney picked a good time to win his first career All Star race Saturday night at K-C Raceway in the 40-lap All Star sprint vs. NCRA Eastern Showdown feature. It was "The Night The Stars Come Out," a doubleheader with the STARS late model series, paying $7,000 to win. Chaney's strong performance saw him win over Rodney Duncan by half a straightaway.

"I have to thank Stan Courtad, he's given me a great race car. We've finally gotten around to running really good," Chaney stated. "I found the rubber early and got by Brian Ellenberger and we just stayed there and hung on." Chaney's machine used a Kistler powerplant and rode on American Racer tires. "I was nervous the last five laps because Rodney runs as good as anyone there is." Chaney then thanked his dad and Tom Berkey for getting him started in racing and Dean and Kenny Jacobs, Rodney Duncan, Dean Bruns and Aaron Hammer for all their assistance. "I've had a lot of help in my career," he concluded.

"Rob was just better tonight," Duncan said from second. "His tire took off better on the restarts. On long runs I think I could stay even, and I caught up in lapped traffic. I'm proud of him, he was the best man today."

Brian Ellenberger started on the ButlerBuilt Hot Seat pole with Greg Wilson alongside. Wilson grabbed the immediate lead in Bob Hampshire's No. 63 over Ellenberger and Mark Keegan, who took third from Chaney, who started fifth. Kenny Jacobs, who started sixth, joined the three car battle for third by lap four. Lap five saw Wilson on top ahead of Ellenberger, Chaney and Jacobs. Then disaster struck the leader on lap six when Jim Nier, Gary Wright and Keith Crabtree tangled in turn three, and Wilson hit the brakes, but still hit Nier's machine and slid off turn three and turned over. Craig McGuire was also involved in the accident, causing the red flag to come out. Only Nier and McGuire were eliminated in the incident.

This put Ellenberger on top for the restart over Chaney, Jacobs, Keegan and Dean Jacobs. Ellenberger led again with heavy pressure from Chaney. Chaney tried a low groove move in the turns each lap to pass the leader, but each time Ellenberger motored by in the top groove. K. Jacobs joined in the fun by passing Chaney for second with a low move on lap 12, but then in the next turn he slid off the top of the racetrack, losing eight spots as he kept control and kept racing.

Mike Wagner stopped on the backstretch on lap 16 as Ellenberger was still on top over Chaney, Duncan, D. Jacobs, Kemenah, Jimmy Stinson, Danny Smith and K. Jacobs. Following the restart, Chaney dove low under Ellenberger to lead by a nose going down the front stretch on lap 17. He then began pulling away from Ellenberger as Duncan moved up to challenge Ellenberger. Duncan took over second just before a lap 21 caution with Ellenberger third, D. Jacobs fourth and Kemenah fifth. Chaney pulled away following the restart, and kept a big lead until he entered lapped traffic again. Duncan maintained second with Kemenah challenging Ellenberger for third. Greg Wilson and Todd Kane got together on the front stretch on lap 35, resulting in Kane taking a nasty flip on the front straight, destroying his Pullins Motorsports No. 29.

It was now a five lap dash to the checkered. Chaney had Duncan right on his tail for two laps following the restart, but began pulling away to win easily as Kemenah maintained third.

Ellenberger finished fourth with K. Jacobs fifth, D. Jacobs sixth and Kelly Kinser finished seventh, winning the Team Simpson Racing Lucky Seven award. Eighth was Danny Smith, ahead of Jimmy Stinson and Jerrod Hull.

The K-T Equipment heat went to Jim Nier, the JB Enterprise Racing Products heat to Todd Kane, the Crown Battery heat to Jerrod Hull and the Engler Machine & Tool heat was won by Craig McGuire. Kenny Jacobs captured the Haulmark Dash and Tom Busch won the Georgia Marketing & Promotions C Main with Brian Ellenberger winning the B Main. In the B Main, Eric Hysong was running in the final transfer spot when he got tangled up with Mike Wagner and flipped wildly down the front stretch, trashing the frame of his machine.