5th Place Finish Bitter Sweet for Blair at Hartford's ASLMS
Sanctioned Event

 

Hartford, MI – (May 29, 2009)
Jason Shank – O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series Director

Fairmont, WV’s Jared Hawkins along with Conley led the mixed group of All Star drivers and ALMS drivers to the green with ‘Hot Rod’ taking the early lead with ‘Superfly’ Coleby Frye following into second before the slowed car of Mike Knight brought out the events first caution.  During the caution period, Frye, second in All Star points, pulled off the speedway with what was said to be motor problems and did not return.

Conley and his Conley Trucking / Rocket Chassis / Draime Racing Engines / American Metal Supply / Brown Sevices LLC sponsored #71R led the field to the ensuing green flag but Hawkins, who was third in the running order spun coming out of turn four collecting or making contact with a slew of drivers including All Star point leader Boom Briggs, Brian Ruhlman, J.R. Hotovy, and Jeep Van Wormer among others.

When racing resumed Conley set a torrid pace with the ‘Titusville Terror’ Robbie Blair in tow.  On lap eight Rod was into lapped traffic as Robbie quickly closed the gap.  Conley had to take evasive action as a lapped car wreaked havoc on the race leader.  Rod was running the low groove with Blair riding the rim on the outside.  The lapped car chose the low grove in turns three and four blocking Conley and giving Robbie and open door to take the lead.  Blair blasted out of turn four the new race leader as Conley stayed right on his rear deck-lid.  The two ran nose to tail until Briggs’s mount came to a slow roll in turn two to bring out the caution flag on lap 17.  While the field was pacing under yellow, Blair’s left rear tire went flat sending him pit-side to change his tire.  Robbie rejoined the rear of the field as new leader Conley took the green.

Blair began a new assault on the field as he tried to work his way back up to the front with just over half way remaining.  Robbie’s cause was helped by a few more cautions as not only him but B-Main winner Frank Heckenost Jr. weaved his way through the field into a top five spot. 

Conley pulled away from the field the rest of the way to take his first career O’Reilly All Star win followed by Matt Miller in second, Jared Miley in third, Heckenost Jr, fourth and the hard charging Blair in fifth.  Casey Noonen was sixth followed by Curt Spalding, Mike Knight, Alan Vochaska, and Dave Hess Jr. to round out the top ten.

‘All Stars vs ALMS 40’ Summary

"All Stars vs ALMS 40" Results:
1. Rod Conley
2. Matt Miller
3. Jared Miley
4. Frank Heckenost Jr.
5. Rob Blair
6. Casey Noonan
7. Curt Spalding
8. Mike Knight
9. Alan Vochaska
10. Dave Hess Jr.
11. Shawn Negangard
12. Jon Henry
13. Kerry Matthew
14. Ryan Vanderueon
15. Brian Ruhlman
16. Don Mihelich
17. Phil Ausra
18. Boom Briggs
19. J.R. Hotovy
20. Ky Harper
21. Jeep Van Wormer
22. Jared Hawkins
23. Rusty Sever
24. Coleby Frye

Ramada Lighthouse Inn and Conference Center Heat 1
7M Matt Miller, 71R Rod Conley, 49 Brian Ruhlman, H1, Jared Miley, 16 Shawn Negangard, 11S Curt Spalding, 21S Tom Sprague Jr., 9R Curtis Roberts, 99JR Frank Heckenost Jr, 78 Mark Wagner, 44 Dave Hess Jr.

Ramada Lighthouse Inn and Conference Center Heat 2
99B Boom Briggs, F1 Coleby Frye, 34V Alan Vochaska, 55 Jeep Van Wormer, 13H J.R. Hotovy, Kerry Matthew, 1H Jon Henry, 18S Rusty Sever, 05, C.J. Heskett, 23L Ted Loomis

Ramada Lighthouse Inn and Conference Center Heat 3
37 Jared Hawkins, W11 Rob Blair, 9K Mike Knight, 1N Casey Noonan, 15A Phil Ausra, 23V Ryan Vanderveen, 34 Ky Harper, 13B Scott Baker, 15M Justin McNeil, 17DM Don Mihelich

O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series B-Main One
99JR Frank Heckenost Jr., 44 Dave Hess Jr., 14 Kerry Matthew, 111S Curt Spalding, 23V Ryna Vanderveen, 34 Ky Harper, 17DM Don Mihelich, 18S Rusty Sever, 15M Justin McNeil, 13B Scott Baker, 9R Curtis Roberts, 21S Tom Sprague Jr., 1H Jon Henry, 05 C.J. Heskett, 23L Ted Loomis, 78 Mark Wagner