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Butch
Schroeder stands in victory lane after his win at Eldora Saturday.
Photo by Nancy Feldner.
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Blaney &
Schroeder prevail in surprising turn of events
Eldora Speedway...
ROSSBURG – Dale Blaney’s victory in Saturday’s All Star Circuit of
Champions Sprintacular at Eldora Speedway moved him into a tie on the
all-time All Star win list at Eldora; while the NRA (National Racing
Alliance) Sprint Invader post-race inspection found the apparent race
winner, Jim Nier, not passing the tech inspection. That handed the
victory to Butch Schroeder for his second NRA win of the season at
Eldora.
For much of the All Star event, it appeared that current point leader
Tim Shaffer was going to break out of his winless streak for the
sanctioning group at Eldora. The Aliquippa, PA native had dominated the
event once taking the lead from fast qualifier Randy Hannagan on lap
nine and had a sizeable lead over the field.
That lead was wiped out on lap 23. With Rob Chaney flipping in turn
one, Shaffer clipped Terry McCarl in the melee and slowly spun to a
stop. The All Star officials ruled Shaffer to be involved in the
accident as a result of the spin, and was relegated to the rear of the
field.
That handed the lead over to Blaney, who had gotten by Hannagan on lap
18 to move into second spot. With the renewed charge to the finish,
Hannagan remained in the hunt and pressured Blaney, while Danny Smith
and David Gravel were mowing into the limelight as well to provide a
close chase to the checkered flag.
Meanwhile, Shaffer marched forward from the rear of the field and was
able to salvage a disappointing fifth place finish behind Blaney,
Hannagan, Smith and Gravel.
Nier’s celebration on victory lane, his first-ever, was curtailed when
the NRA officials tested his fuel supply and found it not to be in
compliance with their specifications.
That led to expected disappointment from the Nier camp, as the Piketon,
OH chauffeur had driven a flawless race to move to the front with
precision, from his fourth place starting slot.
Polesitter Ron Blair set an early torrid pace to lead the early going
of the 25-lap chase, holding off Wayne Johnson and Nier. While those
three were battling for the top spot, Kyle Sauder was moving his way
through the field, along with the evening’s quickest qualifier, Randy
Hannagan.
Sauder’s run ended on lap 8 with a flip down the backstretch after
making contact with the turn two wall. Sauder was unhurt, although the
car was damaged and towed to the pit area.
It was that restart that catapulted Nier to the top spot he was to hold
to the finish. Schroeder’s late race charge to second and a near pass
of Nier in the closing stages, eventually gave him the win, with
Hannagan hanging for second in the final run-down, followed in pursuit
by Tony Beaber, Blair and Jamie Collard.
Joining the tripleheader were the Legends Cars, with Bryan Nuckles
capturing their main event for his initial Eldora triumph.
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