Gibsonburg’s Brubaker scores win to open racing

Gibsonburg High School graduate and Helena native Stuart Brubaker ventured west a few weeks ago to race his 410 sprint car because Ohio's rules would not let tracks open.
While he didn't bring home a victory, he did bring back knowledge to help him go faster. It paid off in a big way Friday, June 5 as Attica Raceway Park opened for the 2020 season to a packed pits but no fans.  
Brubaker, the track's 2018 champion, held off several challenges early from Caleb Griffith late in the race from Trey Jacobs to score his eighth career victory on Integrity Auto and Truck Sales Night.
 "Lapped traffic was difficult. We had this thing full of fuel and it would get into the corner and dirty air and it wanted to shove across. I saw Caleb coming and I had to sit back up in the seat and work. I have to thank Chad and Ron and my girlfriend Teresa and Benji and all these guys and all my sponsors. We went out west and didn't have a bad showing but we definitely learned a lot on the car and came back here and applied that and here we are," said Brubaker beside his Dave Story Equipment, SRM Construction, KS Sales and Service, Pit Stop Convenience Stores, Gary Holland Trucking, Phillips Electric, Gressman Powersports, Speedways Bar and Grill backed No. 35.
 It was "checkers or wreckers" for Logan Arntz in the late model feature. The Vestaburg, Mich. driver battled with former Attica champion Matt Irey the last half of the feature and the two were door to door coming to the checkers with Arntz claiming his first career track feature win by .049 seconds.
 "I saw the number 36 behind me on the scoreboard on that second restart (with five laps to go) and I knew I would have my hands full. We don't get to race here much but I always enjoy the competition here. This is just awesome to get my first win at Attica," said Artnz beside his Nickerson Trucking, Jimmy Shock, Vic Hill Racing Engines, No Limit Karts and Parts, Accu Force Dynos and Testers, Fisk Trucking, Mid States Hydrolics and Equipment backed 21N.
 Fremont's Seth Schneider avoided near disaster to score his first ever 305 sprint feature win at Attica, leading all 25 laps.
 "We finally got the monkey off our backs. The track was difficult...you had to pick your line carefully. It about bit me in turn two and I had to adjust. Scott Gressman builds a hell of a motor and we switched to Mach 1 Chassis and it has made a world of difference," said Schneider beside his Commercial Glazing Systems, Professional Grooming, Patriot Pet Supply, Steam Solutions Carpet Cleaning, CA Kustoms, Slade Shocks backed #36.
 Dylan Kingan and Brubaker brought the field to green for the 30 lap Callies Performance Center 410 Sprint A-main with Brubaker gaining the advantage over Griffith, Kingan, Ryan Ruhl and Buddy Kofoid. Brubaker quickly found the tail of the field by lap eight and Griffith pounced, sliding into the lead on lap nine with Brubaker returning the favor a lap later as the duo sliced through lapped cars. A caution on lap 11 gave Brubaker a clear track and he was able to pull away slightly as Griffith now had his hands full with eighth starter Trey Jacobs. Jacobs took the runner up spot on lap 15 just as lapped traffic would come into play again.
 Another caution on lap 23 allowed Brubaker to maintain his slight advantage as he executed perfect restarts. With four laps to go Brubaker pulled away as Jacobs tried to hold off Griffith. The battle for second was swapped several times over the last four laps. Brubaker pulled away for the win over Jacobs, Griffith, Kofoid and Brandon Spithaler.
 In the 25 lap Propane.com/Dirt Nerds Podcast Late Model feature, pole-sitter Mike Bores jumped into the early lead over Brett Bee, fifth starter Arntz and Eric Spangler. Bee went to the pits with issues on lap three, handing second to Arntz who immediately closed on Bores, grabbing the lead on lap five. By lap 11 the leaders were in heavy lapped traffic and Irey, who started ninth, quickly closed while Travis Stemler moved into fourth.
 A rash of cautions with five laps to go bunched up the field. Irey was able to lead at the white flag by a nose only to see Arntz fight back and take the narrow win. Stemler, Doug Drown and Devin Shiels would round out the top five.
 Schneider and defending track champion Jamie Miller brought the field to green for the 25 lap Fremont Fence 305 Sprint feature. Schneider pulled away in the early laps as Miller had to battle Paul Weaver and Kyle Peters to maintain second. However, Weaver would soon retire to the pits as Schneider raced into lapped traffic by lap eight. Disaster nearly struck for Miller on lap 13 as he made heavy contact with infield tires but he was able to keep rolling.
 A rash of race stoppages came at the half way mark, keeping Schneider in clean air. MIller's night came to a halt on lap 15 as he caught a rut and took a tumble. That moved Jimmy McGrath Jr. into second with a charging Steve Rando in third. Schneider was able to avoid issues and drove to an easy win over McGrath, Steve Rando, Peters and Luke Griffith.