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Ellenberger Takes First Career O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Checkers
CAMARGO, IL (08-16-08 ) by Robert Cortum - O'Reilly All Star Public Relations
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions capped off a busy week at the Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Arkansas. On a track where every inch counted, Brian Ellenberger took off from his pole position to earn his first career O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions win.
With the majority of the cars favoring the bottom, Ellenberger, in the Car Mate 20e, got out to the early lead by getting the jump on fellow front row starter Tim Shaffer in the Call Motorsports 83a. The battle with Shaffer and Randy Hannagan in the Penthouse/PocketShot.net #1x car did battle for 27 straight laps until the caution flag flew. Ellenberger would lead Hannagan and Shaffer back to the green as Hannagan would inch up on Ellenberger and take the lead coming out of turn two. However, another caution flag flew for a spin by Tim Shaffer, who was making one of the boldest moves of the night, before one lap was scored.
Back to the 2nd start of the 27th circuit, Ellenberger brought in tow, Hannagan and now in third place, Lance Dewease in the Catoctin 30c. This time, Ellenberger guarded the preferred line and held of the charging superstars to finish out the event. As the final flags flew, Lance Dewease would finish second, Hannagan third, Tim Crawley in the Mike Ward owned #88 would take home 4th, and Chad Blonde taking fifth. Crawley was the highest finishing 360 c.i. machine on the night.
Prior to the A-main event, hometown hero and sprint car legend Sammy Swindell would win a hard fought battle with current O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions points leader, Dale Blaney. Swindell hit his marks through out the affair and took advantage when it counted to get by Blaney. Additional transferring cars would be Lee Stark and Ernie Ainsworth.
In the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series Dash event, Ryan “Boom Boom” Bunton in the Morton Collision Center #6r would capture his second Dash checkers of the weekend. Bunton showed the way after a tight battle with Jerrod Hull in the Ozarc Gas and Welding Supercenters 12 machine in the early onset laps. Tyler Thompson brought his USMD Medical Development 11 machine 3rd and Miranda Throckmorton in the Bonds and Associates 22t would cross in the 4th position.
The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Dash saw “The Steel City Outlaw” Tim Shaffer leading the way. Shaffer held off Dewease, Ellenberger, Hannagan, Chad Blonde in the Blonde Motorsports 5b, and Greg Wilson in the All Star Plumbing w20. Shaffer has quickly become a threat and a fan favorite with the series since taking over driving duties during the 2008 edition of Ohio Speedweek.
Heat race action saw 2 of 410 powered mounts leading the way and 2 360 machines winning. In the first event, Joey Moughan, who plans finishing out the season chasing the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series would lead A.G. Rains and Randy Hannagan across the stripe. The 2nd heat race belonged to local Brad Bowden in his 15b mount taking in tow Ellenberger and Wilson. Picking up her first All Star Circuit of Champions heat race victory was Miranda Throckmorton, with Shaffer and Ryan Myers right behind. Heat 4 saw Ronnie Howard taking the checkers over Brandon Martin in the Level Performance 11m and Jerrod Hull.
Setting quick time for the night was Chad Blonde with a 13.403 second lap. Blonde, who won the first Riverside International Speedway date in 2007, would edge out Dale Blaney by .034 seconds. Tim Shaffer was third quick turning in a 13.624 second lap.
Next up for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions is a visit to the famed Butler Battlegrounds. The O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series will be looking forward to their visit to Bloomington Speedway this upcoming weekend as well.
Official Results:
Qualifying
1 - 5b - Chad Blonde - 13.403
2 - 2 - Dale Blaney - 13.437
3 - 83a - Tim Shaffer - 13.624
4 - 30c - Lance Dewease - 13.629
5 - 1x - Randy Hannagan - 13.647
6 - 20e - Brian Ellenberger - 13.665
7 - 58 - Sammy Swindell - 13.736
8 - 88 - Tim Crawley - 13.763
9 - 3 - A.G. Rains - 13.774
10 - w20 - Greg Wilson - 13.806
11 - 56r - Ryan Myers - 13.842
12 - 12 - Jerrod Hull - 13.983
13 - 6r - Ryan Bunton - 13.987
14 - 0 - Jeremy Campbell - 14.097
15 - 11 - Tyler Thompson - 14.139
16 - 11m - Brandon Martin - 14.174
17 - 16 - Lee Stark - 14.192
18 - 15b - Brad Bowden - 14.193
19 - 22t - Miranda Throckmorton - 14.223
20 - 44 - Ronnie Howard - 14.23
21 - 55b - Joey Moughan - 14.281
22 - 24 - Justin Carver - 14.288
23 - 12m - Greg Merritt - 14.327
24 - 8x - Chris Williams - 14.348
25 - 6 - Tim Sites - 14.361
26 - 51 - Lee Sowell - 14.499
27 - 40 - Ernie Ainsworth - 14.57
28 - 26s - Jon Stinson - 14.589
29 - 3b - Brad Greer - 14.617
30 - 12t - Jeff Swindell - 14.644
Heat Race 1 (Numerically)
55b
3
1x
5b
6r
16
6
3b
Heat Race 2 (Numerically)
15b
20e
w20
0
24
51
12t
2
Heat Race 3 (Numerically)
22t
83a
56r
12m
11
40
58
24w (DNS)
Heat Race 4 (Numerically)
44
11m
12
30c
88
8x
26s
O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Dash
83a
30c
20e
1x
5b
w20
O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series Dash
6r
12
11
22t
B-Main
58
2
16
40
8x
51
6
26s
3b
24w
A-Main
20e
30c
1x
88
5b
w20
12
58
3
16
2
6r
22t
0
56r
15b
11m
24
44
11t
83a
40
55
12m
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