Attica Raceway Park
Mod grad triumphs at Attica in Halcomb entry
By Brian Liskai
Attica Raceway Park
Jon Henry tunes up at Attica. (Dustin Jarrett)
ATTICA, Ohio (July 11) — Jon Henry's learning curve was quick. About as fast, as a matter of fact, as his Late Model at Attica Raceway Park. The driver from Ada, Ohio, who had raced modifieds to nine feature victories in 2008, captured a Late Model feature at Attica in only his second night behind the wheel of a Late Model.
In the 25-lap feature for the UMP-sanctioned division sponsored by Service Drive Solutions, Henry overtook Curtis Deisenroth on the 14th lap then held him off on the last lap for his first career Attica victory.
"It was a huge adjustment coming from the modifieds to the Late Models and it showed last week. These things are so much more powerful and it took me a while to figure out the throttle control," said the 22-year-old Henry, who drove a car sponsored by Jegs, Professional Drywall, Flexaust and Subway. "I have to thank (car owners) Shane and Jennifer Halcomb for giving me this opportunity. This is only my second time at Attica and what a great place and great fans."
At the drop of the green, Michael Stiltner grabbed the lead with Deisenroth, Ryan Missler, Wayne Maffett Jr. and Jim Fleming in tow. Deisenroth grabbed the top spot on lap six while Stiltner and Missler raced hard for second. Missler took the runner-up slot on lap 8, but he spun a lap later to move Stiltner back into second with sixth-starting Henry up to third.
Deisenroth continued to lead as Maffett moved into second on lap 10. Henry slid under Maffett on lap 12 and below Deisenroth for the lead on lap 14. Henry could not shake Deisenroth, who continued to drive to his outside lap after lap. The action halted on lap 19 when John Bores got upside down. He was OK, but the stoppage set up a six-lap dash to the finish. Henry would not budge from the bottom as the higher-running Deisenroth continued to battle. Behind those two, Maffett and 12th-starting Dusty Moore raced for third. Fans also kept an eye on late arrival Rusty Schlenk, who had to come from the tail of the B-main and from 16th in the feature. By lap 18, he was up to fifth and moved into fourth by lap 23.
As Henry and Deisenroth took the white flag, they raced nose to tail down the backstretch. Deisenroth drove hard into turn three hard and to the outside of Henry, but Henry held on to win by half a car length. Moore, Schlenk and Maffett rounded out the top five.
Attica Raceway Park (July 11): (1) Jon Henry, (2) Curtis Deisenroth, (3) Dusty Moore, (4) Rusty Schlenk, (5) Wayne Maffett Jr., (6) Jeremy Canada, (7) Ken Hahn, (8) Devin Shiels, (9) Brad Eitniear, (10) Ernie Haynes, (11) Ryan Missler, (12) Noah Wagner, (13) Larry Kingseed, (14) Jamie Reed, (15) Mike Marteney, (16) Jim Fleming, (17) John Bores, (18) Michael Stiltner, (19) John Mayes Jr., (2) Brandon Perkins.
