Attica Raceway Park
Henry 3-for-3 after winning from 10th at Attica
By Brian Liskai
Attica Raceway ParkATTICA, Ohio (April 15) — Rallying from his fifth-row starting spot, Jon Henry of Ada, Ohio, remained unbeaten at Attica Raceway Park after picking up his third straight weekly victory in Friday night's action. Henry has won every race — three heats and three features — at Attica's third-mile oval in 2011. | Weekly results
"I don't know what we're doing," Henry said, "but it is working."
Two first-lap cautions helped Henry get to the front quickly as he took command on the second lap and then held off a challenge by two-time and reigning track champion Ryan Missler during the race's middle stages.
Henry, who used the bottom groove for his first two victories, tried the high side early in the race, but when Missler showed him his nose, the leader went back to the bottom and pulled away the final seven laps.
"I feel bad for Rusty (Schlenk) and Jeep (Van Wormer)," Henry said. "They got taken out early so who knows what might have happened. I felt good up top and I was cruising and all of a sudden I saw Ryan drive under me and I figured I had better go down to stop him and the car actually got better."
It took three tries to get the 25-lap feature rolling On the first attempt, Kyle Perry and Ron Miller got together. On the second try, Dave Hornikel, Dusty Moore, Schlenk and Van Wormer tangled, sending Moore, Schlenk and Van Wormer to the pits. That moved Henry from his original 10th starting position up to fourth. On the third try, D.J. Miller grabbed the lead as Henry slid into second with Chris Keller, Ryan Missler and John Bores in tow.
Henry took the top spot a lap later, bringing Keller into second. Henry built a comfortable lead over Keller while Miller and Missler battled for third and Bores had his hands full with Larry Kingseed and Ryan Markham for fifth.
Missler took the runner-up spot on lap seven and began to chase down Henry while Keller was comfortable in third. Missler moved to the rear bumper of Henry by lap 10 and they ran nose to tail the next three laps. Missler dove under Henry on lap 13 and the frontrunners raced side-by-side with Missler executing a slide job several times in turns one and two while Henry crossed over to maintain the lead down the backstretch.
With eight laps remaining, Henry had enough of Missler and moved to the low groove, pulling away slowly while Keller continued to run alone in third.
The third and finale caution appeared on the 20th lap for debris, giving Missler one final shot at Henry. But Henry controlled the rest of the race for his third victory in as many races.
Notes: Henry's No. 15 is sponsored by Wide Open Graphics, Eibach Springs and K&N Filters. ... "I have to thank my dad and John McClain for putting this team together," Henry said. ... The track's Late Model division is sponsored by Fultz Fabrication & Speed Shop. ... Among drivers failing to make the main event: Ernie Haynes, Ken Hahn, Steve Sabo and J.R. Gentry.
Attica Raceway Park: (1) Jon Henry, (2) Ryan Missler, (3) Chris Keller, (4) Ryan Markham, (5) Larry Kingseed, (6) Devin Shiels, (7) John Bores, (8) D.J. Miller, (9) Josh Scott, (10) Kyle Perry, (11) Jeremy Canada, (12) Dale Glassford, (13) Mike Bores, (14) Dave Hornikel, (15) Mike Stiltner Jr., (16) Sam Epling, (17) Dusty Moore, (18) Jeep Van Wormer, (19) Rusty Schlenk, (20) Ron Miller. Heat race winners (among 33 cars): Van Wormer, Schlenk, Keller, Henry. Consolation winner: Perry.
