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Jim Nier goes from promoter to
O’Reilly All Star winner at KC Raceway Camargo, IL (7-3-09) – Jim Nier and K-C Raceway are synonymous with each other. After promoting the track for years Nier recorded his first O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions win tonight at the very track that his name will go down in history with. Beginning on the front row of tonight’s A-Main before a packed house was some of the younger drivers trying to make a name for themselves with the All Stars. 2009 Rookie title hopeful Brandon Wimmer and 2008 O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Rookie-of-the-Year Ryan Myers started side-by-side at the drop of the Green Flag. Going into the first turn it was Wimmer who had the edge and Myers was content to follow him for the first circuit of the track. The feature was fast and furious as it would continue on wire-to-wire without a single caution period Early on Nier quickly worked his way to the front, by lap three he had slid under Myers to take second. On Lap 5 Wimmer held on to the lead over a closing Nier, while David Gravel and Rob Chaney rounded out the top five. This is when Dale Blaney began to make his presence known, slipping his way into the top 5. Up Front Nier had caught Wimmer and the duo was beginning to catch the tail end of the field. While making their way through lapped traffic Nier set up his pass perfectly. Using a lapped car to block Wimmer, Nier dove under Wimmer and took the leap on Lap 8. While Nier began to build his lead the battle for second began to warm up. Myers, Wimmer, and Blaney staged quite a battle, but in the end it was Blaney who would dive under Wimmer and Myers who were side-by-side to take over the second position. Wimmer would battle back and get back past Blaney for a split second, but in the end it was Blaney who had the upper hand. With 20 laps down in the 30 lap event, Blaney was closing on Nier’s lead. Two lapped cars stood in the way between him and the track veteran. With just four laps to go Blaney would pick off the first of the cars that stood in his way, on the following lap he would clear the second setting giving him just three laps to catch and pass Nier. With the White Flag waving in the air Blaney had Nier in his sight and was closing quickly. Blaney would move to the outside line in the last two turns to attempt a last lap pass on Nier, but the promoter held on. At the line it was Nier taking the Checkered Flag first. He was followed by Blaney, with Wimmer, Tim Shaffer and Jimmy Stinson who started 15th, rounded out the top-five. The second leg of the O’Reilly All Star
holiday weekend double header will take center stage tomorrow night at
the Terre Haute Action Track. Adult reserved grandstand tickets for the
race are $25, with general admission grandstand running $20, bleacher
seats running $15 and Adult infield running $10. A child’s reserved
grandstand seat is $15, with general admission grandstand running $10,
child’s bleacher and infield tickets are $5. The track is also offering
a $25 family pack which will get two adults and up to four children
infield seats. The track is also running promotions with local vendors
where you can get free children’s reserved grandstand or general
admission grandstand seats free at any First National Bank or with your
Kroger Plus Card at the track. The ticket office will be opening at 3:00
pm with the gates opening to fans at 4:00 pm and hot laps beginning at
6:00 pm. For more information call 812-236-7951 or visit
www.theactiontrack.com. First Place Jim Nier – “It was great. This has been a long time coming. The car was just right and everything just worked out perfectly tonight. I know Blaney was right there, but if bullfrogs had wings right? I know if I had made a mistake he would have had me. Dale is a great driver, and should be. He has been all over the world in these things.” Second Place Dale Blaney – “I basically lost it myself. I wasted too many laps racing lapped guys and running in spots on the track that I should not have been. It was basically my fault. I felt like I gave the race away. I had a car good enough to probably win it, but I feel like I made too many mistakes. I would really like to get a win. Points do not matter to me right now. We really just need to win a race right now.” Third Place Brandon Wimmer – “We just missed the set up. That is all there is to it. We were good at the beginning and the car just got really loose on us at the end and we fell back. I wish we could have got our first win of the year, but the car just went away on us tonight. Goodyear helps us out a lot. We could not do it without them. They are one of our sponsors that help us put new tires on our car every night.” Kistler Engines Qualifying Heat Finishes (Started) Kears Speed Shop Heat 2 – 10 Laps All Pro Heads Heat 3 – 10 Laps Rubbin Repair Dash – 6 Laps University of Northwestern Ohio B Main –
12 Laps O’Reilly Auto Parts A Main – 30 Laps |
