ATTICA, Ohio — Indiana’s Zeb Wise concluded opening night of the 41st edition of Ohio Sprint Speedweek with an impressive highside hustle at Attica Raceway Park, resulting in a $6,000 Bert and Brigitte Emick Classic score.
Wise — now a three-time Attica Raceway Park winner with Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions — ripped the lip in the final corner of the last lap, ultimately driving by race leader and two-time All Star champion, “Sunshine” Tyler Courtney.
Courtney and Wise had been battling back and forth for much of the second half of the 35-lap race with “Sunshine” earning the lead initially on lap eight. Wise then took control from Courtney with a slider on lap 22, only to lose command to Courtney with a dive of his own on lap 31.
The pair would resume their near-nose-to-tail campaign until Wise’ aforementioned cushion blast on the final circuit, which eventually ended in a drag race. The final margin of victory was .281 seconds.
“That last lap was definitely win it or wear it. I’m not sure I ran three and four that hard all race until the last lap,” said Wise, ace of the Rudeen Racing/Rayce Rudeen Foundation/No. 26 sprint car. “I kinda made some poor decisions prior to that last lap that put us behind Tyler [Courtney] earlier in the race. I think I was able to move a little bit better than he could.
“It’s just really rewarding to come here and put it all together, and I owe it all to the guys standing behind me. I don’t know what it is about this place. I’ve just always been really comfortable here. I’m not sure if it’s the banking or the shape, but I’ve always really enjoyed racing at Attica.”
Jordan Ryan, who led the first seven circuits before losing the top spot to Courtney, finished third at Attica Raceway Park, followed by Craig Mintz and Cole Macedo.
“I made the wrong move into three,” Courtney said. “I just feel it for my guys. I think I gave one away there, but hats off to Zeb and his team. It’s been fun watching him grow up the last few summers. He’s a really good race car driver.”
Feature Results (35 Laps)
1. 26-Zeb Wise[1]; 2. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 3. 25R-Jordan Ryan[2]; 4. 09-Craig Mintz[10]; 5. 29M-Cole Macedo[4]; 6. 55-Michael Kofoid[6]; 7. 9-Trey Jacobs[5]; 8. 45-Tim Shaffer[7]; 9. 4-Chris Windom[19]; 10. 48-Danny Dietrich[13]; 11. W20-Greg Wilson[9]; 12. 5-Byron Reed[21]; 13. 35-Stuart Brubaker[18]; 14. 8M-TJ Michael[17]; 15. 32-Bryce Lucius[14]; 16. 29-Sye Lynch[25]; 17. 97-JJ Hickle[24]; 18. 23-Zeth Sabo[8]; 19. 33W-Cap Henry[11]; 20. 7N-Darin Naida[22]; 21. 71M-Caden Englehart[16]; 22. 4S-Tyler Street[23]; 23. 28M-Conner Morrell[26]; 24. 19-Paige Polyak[20]; 25. 22-Brandon Spithaler[12]; 26. 49X-Cale Thomas[15].