Attica Raceway Park
Henry outduels Van Wormer for ALMS victory
By Brian Liskai
Attica Raceway Park
Jon Henry enjoys victory lane. (Action Photo)
ATTICA, Ohio (April 26) — After an edge-of-your-seat, race-long duel with Jeep Van Wormer, two-time series champion Jon Henry pulled away on a couple of late-race restarts to capture a Sunoco American Late Model Series victory at Attica Raceway Park.
The 30-lap feature featured a tremendous battle the entire distance between Henry, Brian Ruhlman, Jeep Van Wormer and a charging Matt Miller, who stormed from his 18th starting spot to finish third behind Henry and Van Wormer.
“I earned that one tonight. I tell you what, this is emotional for me. I have a lot of people supporting me and one individual in particular, Darrell Kirsch. ... I wanted to win one for him,” said Henry, of Ada, Ohio. “It’s tough ... I’ve been thinking about him and I’m thinking about Kent Robinson, a fellow racer who lost his dad today. I raced that race for them.”
Henry said it was “heart” that got him to victory lane.
“I just got up on the wheel and said I’m not letting this one slip away ... I let the last one slip away, I’m racing my ass off,” he said. “You’d better be elbows up when Jeep’s around. I knew what I had to do to win this race and it was either wreck or win. I have to thank my dad, John; he busts his ass for me.”
Ryan Markham and Ruhlman, the reigning ALMS champ, brought the field to green with Ruhlman grabbing the lead. Henry, who started seventh, took third on the second lap, then grabbed second a lap later. On lap four, Henry raced inside Ruhlman to take the lead with Van Wormer running third.
A caution on lap five for reigning track champ Ryan Missler and John Mayes Jr. bunched the field with the running order of Henry, Ruhlman, Van Wormer, Brandon Thirlby, Markham and Cody Scott.
When the green flew Henry pulled away slightly as Ruhlman and Van Wormer raced door-to-door for second. Van Wormer finally gained the advantage by lap eight and slowly closed on Henry. By lap 12, Van Wormer raced to Henry’s outside and the duo raced that way over the next four laps until Van Wormer took the lead on the high side on lap 17.
With nine laps remaining, Henry moved off the bottom and drove to the outside of Van Wormer who was hung up trying to get through lapped traffic. The caution flew for Chris Keller with Henry leading Van Wormer, Ruhlman, Thirlby, Rusty Schlenk and Miller. When the green came back out, Henry pulled away slightly as both Miller and Schlenk drove around Thirlby. With five laps to go, Miller had caught Van Wormer as they battled for second, allowing Henry to pull away. Henry took the checkers about three lengths ahead of Van Wormer.
Notes: Henry’s Rocket Chassis is sponsored by his “Mean 15” of Fultz Fabrications, Henry Farms, Mike and Sheila Keller, Truman Quarter horses, Lehman & Lehman, Norada Lanes, Associated Plastic, Home Savings and Loan, William H. Bass Trucking, Ron Spencer Real Estate, Jim Weber Motorsports, Automated Transport, In Memory of Darrell Kirsch, Re-Deck of Northwest Ohio and Fremont Speedway. ... The night’s action was sponsored by True Value of Woodville, Merrill Lynch and Columbus Equipment. ... Henry notched his ninth-career ALMS victory and first since May 5, 2012, at Fremont. ... Fourth-place finisher Rusty Schlenk improved four positions. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Dona Marcoullier, Andrew Reaume, Scott Phillips, B.J. Gregory, Josh Haynes, Steve Sabo, Jim Gingery, Ryan Sutter, Wayne Maffett Jr., Tim Sabo, Kevin Reeve, Coby Bartram and Bobby Michaels. ... Attica returns to weekly action May 3. ... ALMS competitors head to Winston Speedway in Rothbury, Mich., on Saturday for the $2,500-to-win Player Hater.
ALMS @ Attica: (1) Jon Henry, (2) Jeep Van Wormer, (3) Matt Miller, (4) Rusty Schlenk, (5) Brian Ruhlman, (6) Brandon Thirlby, (7) Wayne Chinn, (8) Cody Scott, (9) Casey Noonan, (10) Ryan Markham, (11) Dusty Moore, (12) Devin Shiels, (13) Matt Irey, (14) Mike Bores, (15) Phil Ausra, (16) Larry Kingseed, (17) Chris Keller, (18) Eric Spanger, (19) Ryan Missler, (20) John Mayes Jr., (21) Ken Hahn, (22) Jeff Babcock. Heat race winners (among 40 cars): Markham, Ruhlman, Thirlby, Van Wormer. Consolation winners: Hahn, Miller. Provisional starters: Ausra, Babcock.
