From Tyler Altmeyer | allstarsprint.com
Craig Mintz steals Spring Nationals opener at Attica Raceway Park for first All Star victory in 11 years
ATTICA, Ohio (April 14, 2023) - It has been over a decade since Craig Mintz last found himself in Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions presented by Mobil 1 victory lane, 11 years and seven days to be exact, but the Gibsonburg, Ohio, native can finally put that drought to rest, as the former two-time Attica Raceway Park track champion scored night one of the Core & Main Spring Nationals for a $6,000 payday.
Mintz, who started seventh on Attica’s A-Main grid, led the only lap that counts, stealing the show from Angola, Indiana’s Zeb Wise with a last lap, last corner takeover. The final margin of victory measured at a mere-seven one-thousands of a second, automatically qualifying the All Star points opener as a “Race of the Year” candidate.
Although not taking command until the final circuit, Mintz, now a 17-time winner at Attica Raceway Park, as well as a two-time All Star winner, was in the hunt the entire 35-lap distance, working his way forward before being forced to pick a fight with Myerstown, Pennsylvania’s Brent Marks and “Hunter Percent” Hunter Schuerenberg. Once on the back bumper of Wise, who took the lead from Schuerenberg on lap 28, it was all Mintz could do to get by the Rudeen Racing No. 26, sliding Wise on lap 34 before making it stick the following circuit.
“We’ve been struggling with bleeders all night. Just couldn’t get going on those long runs. Regardless, I knew we had a great car and I probably showed my hand a little early. It’s fun to race with Zeb (Wise). We were both really going for it,” Craig Mintz said. “This means so much. My dad, the guys behind me, my wife, my kids…they all bust their butts to give me the chance to race. We’re out here doing it for fun.”
“That was frustrating,” Zeb Wise said. “Hats off to Craig. He drove one heck of a race. I feel like I let my team down there. I really didn’t know where to go in turns one and two.”
Hunter Schuerenberg held on to finish third, followed by Brent Marks and Parker Price-Miller.
Attica Raceway Park’s annual Core & Main Spring Nationals will continue tomorrow evening, Saturday, April 15, with another $6,000-to-win main event.
Contingency Awards/Results: Attica Raceway Park | April 14, 2023:
Core & Main Spring Nationals | Night #1
Kistler Racing Products Pill Draw | Entries: 41
Macri Concrete Hot Laps: Parker Price-Miller | 12.700
Hercules Tires Fast Qualifier: Stuart Brubaker | 12.579
Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #1 Winner: Hunter Schuerenberg
Competition Suspension Inc Heat #2 Winner: Travis Philo
All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #3 Winner: Tyler Courtney
Kistler Racing Products Heat #4 Winner: Parker Price-Miller
Mobil 1 Heat #5 Winner: Trey Jacobs
Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts Dash Winner: Hunter Schuerenberg
Classic Ink USA Screenprinting and Embroidery B-Main Winner: Stuart Brubaker
Rayce Rudeen Foundation Contingency Award: Sean Rayhall
Tezos A-Main Winner: Craig Mintz
Tezos A-Main Hard Charger: JJ Hickle (+10)
Carquest Perseverance Award: Conner Morrell
Tezos A Feature (35 Laps):
1. 09-Craig Mintz[7]; 2. 26-Zeb Wise[2]; 3. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[1]; 4. 19M-Brent Marks[3]; 5. 29-Parker Price Miller[4]; 6. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[5]; 7. 33W-Cap Henry[6]; 8. 5T-Travis Philo[9]; 9. 97-JJ Hickle[19]; 10. 5-Byron Reed[16]; 11. 4-Chris Windom[11]; 12. 9-Trey Jacobs[8]; 13. 99-Skylar Gee[14]; 14. 25R-Jordan Ryan[22]; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[21]; 16. 68G-Tyler Gunn[23]; 17. 23-Zeth Sabo[24]; 18. 8M-TJ Michael[20]; 19. 7N-Darin Naida[12]; 20. 70-Scotty Thiel[18]; 21. 28M-Conner Morrell[25]; 22. (DNF) 45-Tim Shaffer[15]; 23. (DNF) 4T-Tyler Street[10]; 24. (DNF) 15C-Chris Andrews[13]; 25. (DNF) 22-Brandon Spithaler[17] Lap Leaders: Hunter Schuerenberg (1-27), Zeb Wise (28-34), Craig Mintz (35)
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Photo"s: ASCoC | Wayne Riegle | Other