2002 Season In Review
A News & Photo Collage
All Photos & Writing By Stephen J. Hartzell Except Where Noted.
Logo images are the property of the businesses shown on them.

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The following is a selection of news items and photos from the 2002 season, as posted exclusively on Seneca Sprints. In selecting news items for inclusion, an emphasis was placed on off-the-track and behind the scenes items.  Most photos are of Seneca County drivers. This is not intended to be comprehensive or all-inclusive.

I hope that you will enjoy this unique look at the great season that was in 2002.
C-YA At The Track!
SJH

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March 31, 2002

The All Star Circuit of Champions arrived at the historic Fremont Speedway only to be washed out before a single engine was fired. Knowing it was probably coming, no one was bold enough to even unload their cars after pulling into the pits. The event was to be the track's season opener. A regular show is slated for next Saturday night with the 410's, 305's and Fremont Trucks on the card. A number of 305 sprinters with virgin paint jobs are left to chomp at the bit for one more week.

Keith Whaley's familiar red #37 sprinter is sporting a much different look. It is now a black car, and looking good with it's new paint job. Mark Whaley, the other half of the new Whaley Brothers Racing Team will be in a white #34 car. Scott Kraylek was seen buzzing around in the pits in a jeep, slowing down just long enough to say with a grin, "How do you like my new ride?"  Joe Keegan was in the pits with his car. He stopped by the Robenalt trailer to cut up and discuss old times with Kenny Walker & Louie Foos. Bobby Distel had his #18 ride repaired and ready to race after a Friday night incident at Attica. Unfortunately for all, Mother Nature was not about to cooperate. As the rainout was made official, the irrepressible Robenalt crew firmly resolved to go back to the garage and drown their sorrows in adult beverages, which was done with much success.

Jim Ford Making History At Historic Track
Jim Ford has done, and continues to do an amazing job in reviving the "Track That Action Built". It is believed that the track is now the 3rd best paying dirt track in the country. Most importantly, he has left no doubt that he is a true friend of the racing teams themselves. Before every show he makes the rounds to the various trailers to talk to the teams, hear their concerns and simply discuss racing. It is of little wonder that he recieved a sustained standing ovation at the track's banquet last season. This season he has taken it upon himself to add softwalls to both sets of turns in an effort to reduce the risk of serious injury and lessen the amount of damage sustained to the racecars upon impact. He has also resolved to watch the drivers usage of their safety equipment closely and demand that these important accessories be used properly. In an effort to reduce the noise level in this part of Fremont he has also instituted a muffler rule. If there were only more promoters like Jim Ford, our great sport would surely become even greater. Jim has certainly earned the respect of the fans, the race teams and the community at Fremont Speedway.

Winning your first feature in a sprint car at the age of 16 is something special. Winning that feature at the tough Attica Raceway Park is, frankly, remarkable. Last season Craig Mintz was a top 10 driver before he was old enough to get an Ohio drivers license.  Think about that for a second. The Attica-Fremont circuit boasts some of the best week-to-week racing in the country, and here comes this kid who many doubted was mature enough to drive one of these beastly machines. Well, fans, if you still harbour any of these doubts, you have obviously not been paying attention.

Along with being a prodogy on the track, Craig Mintz is a truly good kid. I have visited their pits often, and I have yet to sense even the slightest hint of arrogance from him or any of his team members. He and his team were greatly helped by Dick Liskai, and Craig's dad has been doing a remarkable job of setting the car up and giving Craig a good car to drive night after night. As much as I want to see a Seneca County driver win every time I go to the track, I couldn't help but feel extremely happy for the Mintz Racing Team. Their friendly, open and helpful demeanor is an example that we should all seek to follow, and I extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to the entire Mintz crew. I only wish I had been there when the Mintz caravan rolled into Gibsonburg with horns honking, waking the entire neigborhood. Enjoy your success guys, you've earned the right to celebrate.

NRA Rule Enforcement Fair, Jeff Potts Shows No Favorites
At Attica on Friday about a half dozen cars were disqualified from their heat finishes for failing to go directly to the scales from the track. In addition, several cars were sent to the tail for jumping on the start, or restart. These are very clear NRA rules, and those rules were reitterated at the driver's meeting.

All too often a sanctioning body will tend to let the rules bend and slide for certain individuals. This always causes justifyable hard feelings with the other drivers and their teams. This is certainly not the case with the NRA Sprint Invaders. The person who is responsible for the enforcement of those rules is NRA Competition Director Jeff Potts of Tiffin, a former Seneca County sprint car driver. His enforcement of the rules this past Friday was strict, fair and even-handed. Some of the best, most valued drivers that the NRA has to offer were penalized. This approach is as it should be with every sanctioning body. Rules are rules, and they must be enforced fairly, or your organization's credibility will surely go right down the porcelain convenience. If a rule is not serving a usefull purpose, then change it. Until then, enforce it! My hat goes off to Jeff Potts for having the guts to do his job to the best of his ability in a fair and uniform manner. Any sanctioning body would be well served to find a tech like Jeff Potts, and then allow him to do his job.

Brandon Martin & Greg Wilson Run Double Features At Attica
Running one feature race in a night can drain you. Running two in a night is a great accomplishment.

Brandon Martin made 2 features in the same night at Attica Raceway Park at the age of 17, and this is his greatest accomplishment to date. Brandon is extremely fortunate to be able to skip the step that requires a driver to start out in a car that is patched together out of many used up parts. All of his equipment is top notch, and he should always remember how very fortunate he is to have such a tremendous advantage. If Brandon can keep his patience, keep his cool, and maintain a certain amount of humility, there is little question that his future will be a bright one for years to come.

What can you say about the performance of Greg Wilson at the Open Wheel Shootout? Frankly, this was one of the most impressive displays of pure driving ability that I have ever seen. Folks, this cat can drive!! If I owned several top notch, best of the best sprinters to run against anyone in the country, I would not be the least bit afraid to give Greg Wilson a seat. I would really like to see what he can do with world class equipment against the best the best there is. He may be perched on the verge of greatness along with serious up and comers like Chad Kemenah and Lance Dewease.

Kear's Contribution To Our Sport Imeasurable
If there is anyone around the midwestern portion of the United States who has done more for our great sport than Shirley, someone would have to point them out to me. From it's earliest years up until today, she has been there to make a huge contribution to sprint car racing. Many of the greatest sprint car drivers of all time would not have been nearly as successful without her help and support. Thanks for everything Shirley! Our debt to you can never be properly repaid.

Says Kraylek, "Most of those trophies get stored away somewhere. But that first career win is special. That trophy is displayed in a special place."

Kraylek and his team determined that they were going to make sure that Chad Laux could have that special trophy. They combed the pits at Attica and solicited donations until soon they had collected enough money to get it done. The trophy will have an inscription that reads something like, "To Chad Laux in recognition of your first career feature win at Attica Raceway Park, from your fellow competitors."

This is a wonderful gesture, and it once again underscores the solidarity that is present among the drivers in the very competetive 305 support division. Scott Kraylek and the entire Kraylek #21 Team deserve great credit for initiating this.

Janet Holbrook has since informed me that special plaques will be awarded to Craig Mintz & Chad Laux in honor of their first career feature wins.

The list below comprises those racing teams, drivers and fans that so generously donated to this cause. Thanks guys!

KRAYLEK RACING TEAM #21, ED PSURNEY, CRAIG MINTZ, BRANDON MARTIN, BILL KRAYLEK, CHRIS LANG, MARK LANG, ROGER SHAMMO, JOSH HILL, BRYAN SCOTT, AJ SLEEK, KEITH WHALEY, MARK WHALEY, JAMIE MILLER, PAUL HEMRICK JR., DUSTIN KEEGAN, ANDY STOUT, MATT KARBLER, KENNY MEGGITT, SHAWN CHANEY, CHRISTIAN WALTON, TROY VACCARO, CALEB GRIFFITH, BRAD SCHELCTY, ALVIN ROEPKE, GENE FRANKART, ROB NATOLE, PAUL DEWALD FAMILY, GARY GRIFFITH, SCOTT GENZMAN, BROCK MAYES.

Throughout the season most have questioned the logic of running the full All Star schedule. Defiant of these questions, car owner Rob Robenalt has contended all along that, "You eventually elevate yourself to your competition. You have to run where the potential payoff is the greatest." The results of this weekend have begun to turn those questions around in the other direction, and Bruce Robenalt is again thinking that the sky is the limit.

Another of those decisions will become evident very soon. The team has decided to change absolutely everything. The yellow car will be left intact, and the team is hoping to finish the "new look" car in time for this weekend's All Star show at Attica. Another engine will be mounted to another car with new skins and a dramiticly different paint scheme. Although I am sworn to secrecy, I have seen this "new look" car, and I'll have to admit that it looks great! I'm not at liberty to describe it any further, but just look closely for a #98 car that looks much different that the familiar yellow car.

Bill Kraylek's Recent Success A Team Effort
Bill Kraylek appears to be stepping up! He has won 2 features in the last 3 weeks, and has also finished in the top 5 a few times. I asked Bill what has caused him to improve so much. "I can't explain it", was his response. His crew chief gave a similar response.

It is my belief that this has been a total team effort. No one thing has made THE difference. The driver has driven better races. The crew chief has given him a better, more consistant ride. This total team effort is a vital component, and all too often it is underestimated. Congratulations, Bill! Keep it going.

Jamie Miller & Crew Celebrate 1st Win
Very often it seems that a new low is followed closely by a new high. After flipping at the Open Wheel Shootout at Attica, Jamie Miller is stepping up. Saturday at Fremont Miller withstood pressure that has caused many a 305 driver to buckle, Bryan Scott on your bumper. For about a third of the race Scott applied relentless pressure, and during those same laps Miller continued to run calm, crist, smart laps. "I decided that there was no way that I was going to let him get past me", Miller told Seneca Sprints. "Whatever I had to do, block him, whatever, I was going to do it." Miller did just that, and the result was his 1st career win, with a huge trophy from Fremont Speedway to show for his fond memory.

After the race the elated team resolved to celebrate the night away back at the team garage in Fostoria. Congratulations guys! Bet I missed out on one hell of a party.

Bobby Distel does graphic design and decal work for racing teams at an extremely competetive price. His own #18 sprinter contains his own work. He has gratiously agreed to design and produce the decals free of charge. You would be well advised to talk to Bobby and compare his rates with those that you are currently paying. Thanks Bobby!

Through 20 events so far this season there have been 12 different winners. In other richer series you can take a handfull of drivers and have a fair chance of predicting the winner. With the All Stars this season, you don't have enough fingers on both of your hands to list the possibilities on any given night. Fans love this type of competition, and it shows at the gate, in the media and on the internet.

Take Jeff Shepard for example. Last season he was an Outlaw regular. Most expected him to step into the All Star camp and take over, or at least challenge for the championship. That has just not happened, and he is currently 8th in points. The biggest reason why he is now on a par with the All Stars is RULES. Weight rules, and others, tend to put more cars on a more even plane, and this makes the whole series more unpredictable, and levels the playing field for the drivers.

Rumours of the impending demise of the Gummout series also continue to persist. Low car counts and a general lack of interest in the series tend to make these rumours very credible. Soon Ted Johnson will have little choice but to improve his relationship with the All Stars, and others, in order to survive. It is my hope that this positive change takes place before the senior series faces even bigger problems.

KJ Knows His Championship Is In Serious Jeopardy
Four time All Star champion Kenny Jacobs is now 71 points behind Chad Kemenah in the points race. His title is in serious jeopardy, and he knows it. "We can't win a race to save our butt!" he said after finishing 3rd at Eldora Thursday night. He has desperately searched for answers, with numerous engine changes and other alterations almost daily. 71 points is a lot to make up this late in the season. Kemenah would have to nearly fall completely apart in the upcoming "Thunder Through The Plains" races in order for KJ to repeat now. But Kenny is far from being ready to concede the crown. He continues to franticly look for that little extra edge, and he will certainly do so for as long as he continues to drive a sprint car.

When you think about the All Stars you first think of Bert Emick. Then you think about "The Mouse", Kenny Jacobs. No matter who you are rooting for, you cannot help but respect this man. When his brother Dean came up with the infamous "Mouse Trap" he took it in good humour. He has always been the consumate class act, and seldom has he been seen losing his cool. He handles all of his victories as well as his failures with the utmost dignity. He is what every driver should seek to be. When KJ finally retires from racing the All Stars will be left with a hole that will be extremely difficult to fill. Let's all hope that this hole does not form for a very long time.

Ted Johnson chose Media Day at the Knoxville Nationals to make some stunning announcements about the future of his World of Outlaws sprint car series. Forget about all of the rumours of Johnson trying to bury the All Stars. The war is over, and it appears as though Ted's pocketbook may be driving the issue.

The Outlaws will institute a weight rule in 2003. While 1375 lbs. with driver has been the most speculated figure, Ted says it could be higher. He feels that the cars have become too light, and they will be much safer if they are made of heavier material. More rules in the interest of safety will be announced soon. After the Outlaws announce the specifics of their 2003 weight rule, it is expected that the rule will be adopted by most 410 sanctioning bodies and become a national rule. Joe Darmofal told Seneca Sprints a few weeks ago that the All Star Circuit of Champions will quickly adopt the new rule as well.

The new Ford head that Joey Saldana's engine builder has been experimenting with will also apparently be banned because of it's extremely high cost. Joey was running this head in Charlie Fisher's #48 car at Eldora the night he won the All Star feature.

In another stunning announcement Johnson confirmed that the Gummout series will be desolved after this season. The support series has suffered from low car counts since it's inception, and their demise was not totally unexpected. The real stunner is the announcement that the World of Outlaws has reached an agreement in principal with the All Star Circuit of Champions to co-sanction a number of races next season. This new partnership would seem to establish the All Star Circuit of Champions as the primary support series, in effect assuming the role that the Gummouts now fill.

This is big news, fans! The All Stars will be greatly helped by this news, and I feel that it will enrichen the series by attracting more sponsorship money from larger corporations. It will also begin to erase the dilema now faced by the track promotors, that you run either the All Stars or the Outlaws, and never both. The All Stars will be free to run at a much greater number of tracks next season, and the Outlaws options will increase as well.

Our great sport will be greatly enhanced as the various sanctioning bodies begin to reconcile the differences in their car specs and rules. In the long run the biggest winners will be the fans.

All Star regular Barry Ruble had a tough evening. In his heat race he crashed out and was brought back to the pits on the hook. Immediately his fellow competitors swung into action, led by All Star points leader Chad Kemenah. Soon he was joined by Bruce Robenalt and 3 of his crew and Mike Wagner to help get the Ruble owned 63R ready for the B-Main. There was front end damage, including a bent torsion tube. Kemenah, Ruble & Robenalt furiously wrenched and hammered away to get the front end taken apart in order to begin to straighten the torsion tube. Once it was taken apart, a torch was borrowed from one of the Fremont Truck racing teams. A pry bar was forced into the tube and Kemenah heated it up with the torch. Soon came Mike Wagner with a pipe extension to allow for more leverage, and he and Kemenah pulled on the bar to get the tube straightened while Robenalt & one of his crew braced the car to keep it from falling off of the jack. About a half hour later the front end was back together and Robenalt's crew was doing top wing repair. Through all of this effort Ruble was able to line up for the B-Main with time to spare.

While this appears extraordinary to the common observer, it is commonplace with the All Star Circuit of Champions. When one of their own is in a pinch they will always jump in and help out without hesitation, offering help of labor, parts, tools and sometimes even backup cars. This is as it should be in every traveling circuit, and this is one of the things that makes the All Stars truly a Circuit of Champions.

Tidbits From The All Star Meeting At Fremont
Among the items reportedly discussed was the schedule. The All Stars are reportedly aiming at a schedule that includes somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 races, which will reportedly include some states not currently scheduled. It looks as though, if the Gummout series folds, then the All Stars will reportedly provide cars for selected Outlaw races , but it is highly unlikely that the All Stars will agree to enter into any formal long term agreement with the World of Outlaws. High wickerbills may also be banned, with the standard becoming 1 inch maximum. The possibility still exists that the All Stars may adopt a spec tire rule, and the ramifications of such a rule were reportedly a hotly discussed topic. If other sanctioning bodies adopt the 1375 lb. weight rule, including the driver, then the All Stars will probably adopt it as well.

Drivers, Pit Crews & Fans Unite To Raise Over $10,000 For Hewitt
Over $10,000 was raised for Jack Hewitt over the weekend due to the generousity and hard work of the entire racing community.

Sunday was "ride day" at Fremont Speedway with All Stars Chad Kemenah and Greg Wilson at the controls of Jack Hewitt's 2 seater. Bob Hampshire, a long time Hewitt friend and owner of Wilson's #63 car acted as crew chief. Hampshire kicked things off by taking the first ride at noon. Four of those many rides were purchased by a group of 305 drivers who kicked in their own money to buy them, and raffled them off, giving the proceeds to Jack. The last ride was given after dark, as Jim Ford turned the lights on so that a few more rides could be sold.  The cost was $100 for 4 laps, with a number of folks paying for extra laps. Although the rides were booked ahead of time, they still managed to find time for about 15 unscheduled rides. Wilson & Kemenah rotated drivers about every 10 rides. And these were not creampuff rides!! 3 of the laps were taken on the rubber with the last lap being around the high side of the oval. It was reported that nearly every rider that got into the car in normal condition emerged from the car shaking, and having a blast!

Along with Hewitt's normal crew there was lot's of help. Tracy Kemenah and Wilson's girlfriend Marcie worked at scheduling, getting papers signed, collecting the money and suiting up the riders. The track was dry and slick, and continued to take on rubber all night. Two of Hewitt's crew members did nothing but mount and dismount tires all day, which was quite a job. Brian Kemenah, Bruce Robenalt and his son Robert mounted the tires and refilled the fuel tank. There were many others there to help out, including members of Kemenah & Wilson's crews, push truck drivers and many others. The drivers began to realize just how much energy it takes to drive the 2 seater for a day. Chad Kemenah was quoted as saying, "Man! Jack is the MAN! He does this all day by himself!"

Says Bruce Robenalt, "We could only run 4 laps on a left rear Hoosier; 10 and it was slick bald! Fronts would last about 20 laps and right rears about 8. All I know is that is the biggest pile of junk tires I have ever seen! Bryan Scott bought a ride for his wife, and it scared the (crap) out of her. TJ Slideways and his dad were there, and his dad rode. I can't even estimate how many different people I saw throughout the day!" Bruce and his son helped out from 3:00 to about 7:30. "We only had 1 problem with the car the whole day when we had a bigger rider than normal and bottomed the car out breaking the rear rotor. We all worked hard and got the car back together in about 45 minutes."

Robenalt continued, "Jack was there and in good spirits. He hasn't gotten all of the movement back in his right side yet but I hope he soon will. He can walk with a cane and he was very happy with what was happening all day. He sat outside of his motorhome in the infield and watched most of the day." Then the young All Star rookie turned to his own memories. "As a kid when I was growing up, at Fremont Speedway, Jack Hewitt and Bob Hampshire were a lethal combination! One year they won 16 All Star shows and the championship, so I think in a way we all looked up to him. He probably would have won more All Star titles had he run the complete schedule. Jack and Hamp had all different types of cars. During the 80's Jack won the Silver Crown championship several times, so that schedule conflicted with some of the All Star schedule. I have been a fan of Jacks since I started going to the races. I can remember the first time I ever hit the track with Jack. He blew by me like I was sitting still, but I was so proud to actually say I raced with Jack Hewitt. That race was in Findlay at Millstream Speedway. That night was when I realized that we had acomplished something. We raced with Jack!"

And that's what this is all about, great racing memories and a need to give back some of that which was given to us. But it isn't possible to give Jack Hewitt that which is really his due, so we'll all just have to do the best we can.

If you would like to send a donation, or cards and letters to Jack Hewitt, please use the following link.
http://www.allstarsprint.com/pages/jack.html

A press release was issued Wednesday morning by All Star PR representative Scott Hall, after having been initially released by the World of Outlaws' Richard Day on Tuesday. The release details an unprecidented set of rule changes which will be honored by at least 3 different sanctioning bodies.

Below is the release in it's entirety.
 

ALLEN, TX (September 17) - The Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series, in
conjunction with other prominent 410 sprint car sanctioning organizations,
released significant rules changes Tuesday that will reduce costs, enhance
the quality of racing and help standardize the rules governing the sport.

The rules changes range from the total weight, tires, wheels, cylinder heads
and engine blocks on sprint cars racing with the leading series.

"In recent months, we have worked closely with other sanctioning bodies,
promoters, race teams and manufacturers to develop a common set of rules
that will reduce the cost of maintaining a race team," World of Outlaws
President Ted Johnson said. "Our other goal was to arrive at a set of rules
that everyone could live with. This will, in effect, allow a team to build a
race car that could legally race with various series. By working with the
All Star Circuit of Champions and the IRA (Interstate Racing Association),
we believe this goal has been accomplished. We will continue to work with
others and make changes when necessary for the betterment of 410 sprint car
racing."

The new rules for 2003 include:

A minimum weight of 1,375 pounds (driver in the car).

The same right rear tire used in the qualifying session must be used
throughout the Heat and Dash races.

Wheels will be limited to 18 inches wide on the right rear and 15 inches on
the left rear.

The Brodix BD 2000 head will be legal in 2003, but not in 2004.
Additionally, the front mag drive block will be outlawed starting in 2003.

The 2002 rules concerning body side panels and sheet metal not extending
farther than the leading edge of the rear axle will remain in effect.

"The All Star Circuit of Champions totally supports these moves to help make
sprint car racing more affordable and exciting to watch," Guy Webb said.

"The Interstate Racing Association is pleased to join the Pennzoil World of
Outlaws Series in this cooperative effort to improve 410 sprint car racing,"
Steve Sinclair said.
 

This past weekend's 305 race at Fremont was rained out, denying Brock Mayes an oportunity to win a track championship. Bryan Scott won the 305 championship over Mayes by just one point!

Paul McMahon won the All Star Hoosier Classic at Lawrenceberg, Indiana. More importantly, Chad Kemenah stretched his lead back up to 60 points over defending champion Kenny Jacobs. Teen phenom Brandon Wimmer turned in the 2nd quick time at the event, then promptly flipped it coming out of turn 1 ending his night! There are 4 more races remaining on the All Star schedule, with only 3 of them being for full points.

With a 102 point lead going into the final All Star race of the season at Florence, Kentucky, Findlay's Chad Kemenah will clinch the 2002 All Star Circuit of Champions title the moment he signs into the pits on Saturday. Kemenah's championship will end Kenny Jacobs' consecutive string of titles at 4. Jacobs' fate was essentially sealed when he was forced to exit the race at Mercer last weekend with engine problems. A season of consistency has paid off big time for the Kemenah team. Along with Chad's outstanding driving this season, much of the credit for the success of the 15K sprinter goes to crew chief Brian Kemenah, last season's All Star Crew Chief Of The Year, and car owner Jim Harble.

At Joplin, Missouri, the race teams were plagued on both nights by cut tires, caused by the many rocks embedded in the racing surface. The weekend events were co-sanctioned by the All Stars and the NCRA. Australian driver Brook Tatnell claimed the win in Friday action, strengthening his hold on the top spot in the NCRA point standings. It was also Tatnell's first career All Star win. With Tatnell taking the top spot for good on lap 4, 9 time NCRA champion Gary Wright and All Star point leader Chad Kemenah diced it up throughout the race in an exciting battle for 2nd. Kemenah challenged for the lead on the last lap, but the driver from down under was too strong in taking a 4 car length win at the stripe. Kelly Kinser passed Wright on the final lap to take 3rd while Dean Jacobs came home in 5th.

The All Stars and the NCRA have run together 12 times this season. Jeff Shepard has now won half of those after claiming the win at Joplin on Saturday night. Shepard has driven Danny Ashworth's #92 car for the entire post-Florida season. Shepard took over the lead from Kenny Jacobs on lap 6 and took it to the house from there with Danny Smith the runner-up. Brook Tatnell ended Gary Wright's 9 year reign as NCRA champion with his 3rd place finish.

Kemenah Celebrates 1st All Star Championship
In the pits at Florence, Kentucky, Chad Kemenah shook more hands than an aspiring polititian. A steady stream of friends, drivers, fans and well wishers entered the pits and immediately looked for the familiar blue Harble Motorsports 15K sprinter that carried the tall Findlay driver to an impressive All Star Circuit of Champions title this season. Kemenah made time for each one while preparing for another important race. Key among them was his good friend and fellow competitor Greg Wilson of Benton Ridge. Other drivers who made a special effort to offer their congratulations included Dale Blaney, Bruce Robenalt, Mike Wagner, Paul McMahon, Jason Dukes, Barry Ruble, Bill Rose, Phil Gressman, 305 ace Bryan Scott, along with Shirley Kear and many others. After the feature the Harbles & Kemenahs served a delicious selection of food for everyone in the pits who cared to indulge. Crew Chief Brian Kemenah was seen with a slushy orange drink. When asked what it was, he said "I don't know, but it sure is good!" In reality it was peach schnapps, which was surprising since Brian is not a drinker. "I'll probably be drunk for a month after this drink" he said. Chad Kemenah turned down a beer and opted for a Dr. Pepper.

Meanwhile the new All Star 2 seater could be heard in the background on the 1/2 mile oval with Danny Smith at the controls. Shirley Kear was asked if she would like a ride. "No way", she replied firmly. "I'm just a parts dealer. You guys race the cars!"

Jim Harble and Chad Kemenah have formed the perfect partnership. Chad afectionately refers to the Harbles as "Grandma & Grandpa Harble", and he is like their adopted son. Crew chief Brian Kemenah, Chad's brother has done an amazing job for the past few seasons. In 2000 he was named All Star Crew Chief Of The Year, a title he certainly deserves to win this season. A lot of Chads developement has without question been a result of his guidance and direction. No one on the circuit has been more consistent than Chad Kemenah, and that is the biggest reason why he has been able to unseat legendary perenial champion Kenny Jacobs this season. Congratulations to Chad, Brian, Jim and everyone associated with Harble Motorsports!

The following is the final All Star Circuit of Champions top 20. These drivers will be honored at a banquet on December 7 in Indianapolis.

1 Chad Kemenah
2 Kenny Jacobs
3 Jeff Shepard
4 Danny Smith
5 Greg Wilson
6 Dean Jacobs
7 Kelly Kinser
8 Mike Wagner
9 Bill Rose
10 Barry Ruble
11 Bruce Robenalt
12 Rodney Duncan
13 Byron Reed
14 Paul McMahan
15 Jason Johnson
16 Rob Chaney
17 Butch Schroeder
18 Phil Gressman
19 Dale Blaney
20 Mark Keegan

Key Drivers Face Uncertain Futures With All Stars
Every season at this time our attention turns to which drivers will be changing rides, and who will be driving which car next season. This season is different, and it appears that an entire series is now in transition. For a number of this season's All Star regulars, the future is uncertain. If the World of Outlaws Gummout Series does indeed disolve, then everything changes economicly for a number of All Star teams because of the prospect of an expanded schedule. This will make the craziness of this time of year even crazier. I talked to a number of people in the pits at Florence to try to get some insight into their future plans.

At the top of the list is Kenny Jacobs. As unbelievable as this may sound, he is currently without a ride for 2003. The economic impact of running his own show, and owning Lee Jacob's #2 car this season has been crushing, and he cannot afford to do it the same way in 2003. His 3 cars will be sold, and he is hoping to find a ride. With an astounding 96 career All Star wins to his credit, he could only manage one this season, with that one coming at Fremont as his 1st career All Star win at the historic track. To lose their signature driver would be a huge blow to the All Stars, and everyone is hoping that it will all work out for him in 2003. Kenny finished 2nd in All Star points.

Dean Jacobs future would also appear to be in doubt. Dean's situation has been tight for the entire season as the driver of the Baker 34 car. On several occasions he was forced to borrow an open trailer to get it to the track. Finally Jacobs and Baker parted company, and Dean became the driver of the Pullins #29 car at Florence. His seat in that car is surely uncertain, as Pullins changes drivers almost as often as you and I change our socks! The season began with Todd Kane in the car, but he was fired in favor of Rob Chaney. When Chaney left, Pullins tapped Kyle Sauder for a few races before Dean took over at Florence. The team will likely go to Charlotte next weekend to run with the Outlaws. It seems that Dean is a little leary of this new deal, and who could blame him? Therefore, Dean Jacobs plans for 2003 are uncertain at the present time. Dean finished 6th in All Star points.

The prospect of an expanded All Star schedule in 2003 is a matter of great concern for the lower budget All Star regulars. It has left a number of drivers to consider other options.

Mike Wagner is very concerned about the added expense of an expanded schedule. He owns his #55 sprinter, and hauls to All Star events from his central PA home. If the schedule expands he will surely fall off of the circuit and run weekly at Port Royal and Williams Grove. Wagner finished 8th in All Star points.

Bill Rose, who owns his #6B car and has little sponsorship money would love to return next season. But at the same time he cannot see how he could afford the expense and extra time off of work that running an expanded schedule would require. If the schedule expands he will probably have no choice but to fall off of the regular circuit. If that happens he will mothball the wing and return to USAC and also run some wingless shows in his home state of Indiana. Rose finished 9th in All Star points in his rookie season.

Barry Ruble is concerned about the added expense that an expanded schedule would present. He owns his #63R ride, and he and his wife handle the majority of the pit duties. While he was able to make it to every All Star event this season, he doesn't see how he could squeeze a 70 race schedule into his already stretched budget. If he is forced off of the circuit he will likely run more races at Sharon Speedway, which is much closer to his home. Ruble finished 10th in All Star points this season.

Bruce Robenalt of Tiffin is also uncertain about his 2003 plans. His car is owned by his dad, Rob Robenalt, and the majority of their support comes from the Walkers, Stiney's 3 Oaks and E-Systems Design & Automation along with a few other sponsors. Unless more sponsorship money can be secured, they too may be forced off of the regular circuit if the schedule is expanded. Robenalt finished 11th in All Star points in his rookie season.

If the above drivers all fall off of the traveling circuit, the All Stars will need to rely on a large new group of drivers to fill the shows outside of Ohio. With the prospect of a higher national profile in 2003, the All Stars cannot afford to come up short. This great series has truly reached a crossroad, and the direction they choose to travel will go a long ways in determining their future.

305 sprint ace Bryan Scott of Castalia was seen roaming the pits at Florence. When asked what the prospects of a 410 ride looked like for next season, he said that he was hopeful. He is currently talking to a car owner about that posibility. While he refused to tell me the name of that car owner, he said that it is someone who is well known in our area. In my opinion Bryan Scott is certainly ready to make the jump. Seneca Sprint driver Scott Kraylek is certainly deserving of a chance, and has been working on the situation for about a year now. I also have a strong hunch that you will see Gibsonburg teen Craig Mintz in a family owned 410 at some point next season. Bobby Clark & Bobby Foster should also solidify themselves as 410 drivers for the full season. Will Brandon Martin's team sell the 305 engine and opt for a pair of 410s? Will Keith Whaley run some 410 in 2003? How about Bill Kraylek, or Jamie Miller, or NRA 360 champion Mike Dussel? Who will be in the 2003 410 rookie class? There is some darned good raw talent in the lower divisions around here, folks. Time will answer all of the questions, and there will certainly be a few surprises along the way.

In spite of heavy rains earlier in the day, the World of Outlaws event at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina pushed off as scheduled with 39 cars in the pits. The track conditions were horible, as the surface chunked up badly causing numerous cautions to slow the action every few laps during the feature. In the end it was Tyler Walker who led from wire to wire in dominating fashion. The top All Star finisher was Dean Jacobs with the Pullins #29 car coming home in 10th. Kenny Jacobs raced his way through the B-Main to finish 20th. All Star champion Chad Kemenah started 11th, and held that position untill he spun to avoid another car causing him to go to the pits for a 24th place finish. K-C Raceway owner Jim Nier won the B-Main and finished the feature in 13th. There were 5 Ohio drivers in the main event.

Tiffin drivers Joe Laugherty and All Star Bruce Robenalt also made the pull to Charlotte. Laugherty timed 38th and finished 18th in the B-Main. Robenalt timed 36th and finished 12th in the B-Main just ahead of Randy Hannagan and behind Curt Trainer. Action continues tonight at the same track, and the race will be webcast on SCN starting at 8:00.

Scott Kraylek Selling Everything!
A spokesman for the Scott Kraylek Racing Team has confirmed that the young 305 hotshoe is selling everything, car & trailer included. Their plans for the 2003 season are currently uncertain. No further information was immediately disclosed, but the team has promised to give more details to Seneca Sprints at a later date. The 2002 season was a disappointing one by Kralek's standards with only 1 feature win. An incredible string of bad breaks and equipment failures contributed to Kraylek's woes this season.

Gibsonburg teen Craig Mintz will be the driver of the 8S car of Dick "Soup" Sabo for the 2003 season at age 17. It has been said that the car will be renumbered 809 to reflect the merging of the 2. Mintz claimed his first career 305 feature win at Attica Raceway Park this season at age 16. The agreement was first confirmed to a Seneca Sprints car owner, and was later reported on "The Last Lap" radio show. The Sabo ride was without a regular driver this season, but among the part-time drivers was former World of Outlaws driver Dale Blaney. Crew Chief Les Mintz, Craig's dad, is selling the 09 sprinter and all of his 305 parts, effectively committing the team to 410 racing for the long term. While there will certainly be a learning curve for the entire team, it would seem to be best for the young driver to make the move sooner rather than later. It is assumed that the schedule will evolve over the course of the 2003 season as the team measures Craig's progress. The Mintz team is well liked by fans and fellow competitors alike, and Seneca Sprints wishes them the best of luck in their new venture. Craig is a good level-headed  kid, and I am predicting that he will handle the pressure of "running with the big dogs" well.

Two other 305 aces are rolling the dice in hopes of finding 410 rides. Fostoria's Scott Kraylek and Castalia's Bryan Scott are selling all of their 305 equipment. Bryan Scott is reportedly close to reaching a deal with a well known car owner. Scott Kraylek's status is still uncertain, but the team has promised to keep Seneca Sprints informed of any new developements.

As is the case with anyone who makes the jump from a 305 to a much more powerfull 410, the keyword will be PATIENCE. The most difficult part is in learning throttle control, a skill that many who have made the move have found to be hard to master. After all, it is very true that you must first finish before you can ever finish first.

Half of the All Star regulars of 2002 are withholding their 2003 plans until after the All Star Circuit of Champions banquet in Indianapolis. All Star officials have stated that they hope to release a good portion of their schedule at that time. The principal owners of the series are Guy Webb and Eldora owner Earl Baltes. The All Stars have already stated that they hope to run a 70 race schedule, which would be extremely hard for the bottom half of the series, in terms of team budgets, to follow for the entire season. There have also been rumors of key personel changes within the organization, but it is still too early to speculate as to the nature of any of those possible changes. And so, the "silly season" continues!