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Christopher Bell Earns Career First Arctic Cat All Star Victory During Prelude to the Dirt Classic Indiana

(Photo: Christopher Bell in victory lane at Kokomo Speedway - Vince Vellella Photo Credit)

Christopher Bell Earns Career First Arctic Cat All Star Victory During Prelude to the Dirt Classic Indiana

KOKOMO, IN (July 22, 2016) - For the first time in nearly ten years, the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions invaded the famed Kokomo Speedway in Kokomo, Indiana, in an attempt to tame the Hoosier State’s “Baddest Bullring” during the inaugural Dirt Classic Indiana presented by Tony Stewart. The weekend doubleheader launched officially on Friday night, July 22, with 37 Arctic Cat All Star sprint cars making the call. When the dust settled, it was recent Tony Stewart Racing hired gun Christopher Bell at the top of the heap, leading all 35 laps on the Kokomo Speedway quarter-mile to score his first ever All Star victory worth $5,000. Rico Abreu finished just behind Bell, followed by Aussie invader Jamie Veal.

“It’s every kid’s dream to drive a race car for Tony Stewart. I’m just glad we were able to get it done tonight,” Bell explained in victory lane. “These guys gave me an awesome car tonight. It got a little tricky there in traffic because you really have to let up your momentum to figure out how to work around the drivers in front of you. I almost gave it away there at one point, but we were able to get by that and park ourselves in victory lane.”

Christopher Bell, piloting the Tony Stewart Racing/No. 14, jumped out to an early advantage ahead of recent Indianapolis 500 starter Bryan Clauson and Rico Abreu at the completion of lap one. After a pair of cautions, which halted action on lap two and lap three, green flag conditions would return with Christopher Bell maintaining his position at the front of the field. The Norman, Oklahoma, native extended his advantage quickly, using the very topside of the Kokomo quarter-mile. Even when traffic started to intensify, Bell kept his composure, moving to various parts of the surface to navigate traffic. At one point, Bell’s advantage stretched to nearly a straightaway.

Meanwhile, action for second, third, fourth, and fifth intensified. Bryan Clauson, Brady Bacon, Rico Abreu, and Chad Kemenah all battled continuously, utilizing slide jobs in turns one and two, as well as turns three and four, in an attempt to advance positions. By the time caution lights reappeared on lap 15, Bryan Clauson, who started on the outside of the front row, settled himself into the runner-up position, with Chad Kemenah, the main event’s fifth starter, just behind, each chasing Bell’s Tony Stewart Racing entry.

After the caution on lap 15, green flag conditions would return once again. Christopher Bell returned to the topside of the speedway, using clean air and an open track once again to his advantage. Bryan Clauson continued to chase the No. 14 from the runner-up spot, with Jamie Veal working his way forward from sixth to battle for third by lap 22. Veal’s campaign in third was eventually challenged and taken over by Rico Abreu, using a traditional Kokomo Speedway slide job.

Unfortunately for Bell, main event action would come to a stop three laps before the finish, this time for Bryan Clauson. Clauson, who was now racing hard with Rico Abreu for second in the running order, made contact with the turn four wall, sending the Matt Wood Racing/Cancer Treatment Centers of America/No. 17W entry for a ride, ultimately bringing out the red flag. Abreu would inherit second, just ahead of Jamie Veal.

Despite the distraction, Christopher Bell would keep control and lead the last three circuits to capture the $5,000 top prize, capping off a near clean sweep; qualifying sixth quick, winning his respective heat race, winning the dash, and dominating 35-lap main event.

The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions will continue their Kokomo Speedway invasion on Saturday evening, July 23, with the Dirt Classic Indiana finale. The $12,500-to-win showcase will feature a unique, non-points format for the Arctic Cat All Stars, utilizing two sets of heat races, each accumulating points to help set the lineup for the evening’s main event. The Dirt Classic Indiana winner will take home the cash, as well as a golden ticket; receiving an automatic bid to start in the Dirt Classic Ohio main event at Attica Raceway Park over Labor Day weekend.

Kokomo Speedway pit gates will swing back open at 3:00 pm on Saturday afternoon, July 23. The Dirt Classic Indiana drivers meeting will begin at 6, followed by hot laps at 7. Those seeking additional information should visit Dirt Classic live on the Web at www.dirtclassic.com. Other news can be found online at www.kokomospeedway.net. If weather becomes a factor, the Dirt Classic Indiana program will be moved to Sunday, July 24 with similar start times. Information will be released if necessary.

Contingency Awards/Results: Kokomo Speedway - Friday, July 22, 2016:

Event: Prelude to the Dirt Classic Indiana

EMi Driver’s Meeting: 37 Entries

State Water Heaters Warm-Ups: Bryan Clauson - 11.693 seconds

Lincoln Electric Fast Qualifier: (Second Quick) Tyler Courtney - 11.258 seconds

Kistler Racing Products Heat #1: Dale Blaney

All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads Heat #2: Christopher Bell

Hunt Brothers Pizza Heat #3: Danny Holtgraver

Classic Ink USA Heat #4: Hunter Schuerenberg

JE Pistons Dash: Christopher Bell

Daido Engine Bearings Main Event Winner: Christopher Bell

MSD Performance Hard Charger Award: Chris Windom (+9)

Outback Steakhouse A-Main 5th Place Finisher: Sheldon Haudenschild (6th)

Outback Steakhouse A-Main 10th Place Finisher: Danny Holtgraver

Outback Steakhouse A-Main 15th Place Finisher: Tyler Courtney

(Lincoln Electric, Daido Engine Bearings, MSD Performance, Outback Steakhouse; Need decal to qualify for contingency award)

Qualifying

1.99-Brady Bacon, 11.139; 2.23c-Tyler Courtney, 11.258; 3.71-Jamie Veal, 11.262; 4.93-Sheldon Haudenschild, 11.353; 5.10H-Chad Kemenah, 11.354; 6.14-Christopher Bell, 11.425; 7.24-Rico Abreu, 11.680; 8.1-Dale Blaney, 11.686; 9.81-Lee Jacobs, 11.694; 10.2-Parker Price-Miller, 11.744; 11.1st-Gary Taylor, 11.788; 12.17W-Bryan Clauson, 11.907; 13.21-Cap Henry, 11.929; 14.6M-Jac Haudenschild, 11.956; 15.11K-Kraig Kinser, 11.959; 16.4-Danny Smith, 12.044; 17.70-Danny Holtgraver, 12.086; 18.71m-Dave Blaney, 12.122; 19.3G-Brandon Wimmer, 12.144; 20.11N-Randy Hannagan, 12.247; 21.23-Jimmy Light, 12.372; 22.8M-TJ Michael, 12.422; 23.60-Kory Crabtree, 12.437; 24.12-Daniel Harding, 12.452; 25.5-Chris Windom, 12.535; 26.O7-Jacob Wilson, 12.540; 27.20N-Hunter Schuerenberg, 12.548; 28.57X-Andrew Palker, 12.579; 29.10-Carl Bowser, 12.637; 30.40-Caleb Helms, 12.660; 31.2X-Spencer Bayston, 12.722; 32.4K-Kody Kinser, 12.734; 33.7S-Joe Swanson, 13.010; 34.7-Critter Malone, 13.368; 35.49H-Bradley Howard, 13.402; 36.85-Mike Terry, 13.478; 37.99M-Kyle Moody, 13.571;

Heat 1, Group A - (10 Laps)

1. 1-Dale Blaney[1] ; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[2] ; 3. 71-Jamie Veal[3] ; 4. 99-Brady Bacon[4] ; 5. 11K-Kraig Kinser[6] ; 6. 81-Lee Jacobs[5] ; 7. 5-Chris Windom[9] ; 8. 12-Daniel Harding[8] ; 9. 4-Danny Smith[7] ; 10. 49H-Bradley Howard[10]

Heat 2, Group B - (10 Laps)

1. 14-Christopher Bell[1] ; 2. 10H-Chad Kemenah[2] ; 3. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[3] ; 4. 1st-Gary Taylor[6] ; 5. 2-Parker Price-Miller[5] ; 6. 8M-TJ Michael[7] ; 7. O7-Jacob Wilson[9] ; 8. 23c-Tyler Courtney[4] ; 9. 60-Kory Crabtree[8]

Heat 3, Group C - (10 Laps)

1. 70-Danny Holtgraver[2] ; 2. 17W-Bryan Clauson[4] ; 3. 6M-Jac Haudenschild[3] ; 4. 71m-Dave Blaney[1] ; 5. 57X-Andrew Palker[6] ; 6. 40-Caleb Helms[8] ; 7. 23-Jimmy Light[5] ; 8. 10-Carl Bowser[7] ; 9. 2X-Spencer Bayston[9]

Heat 4, Group D - (10 Laps)

1. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg[1] ; 2. 11N-Randy Hannagan[2] ; 3. 3G-Brandon Wimmer[3] ; 4. 21-Cap Henry[4] ; 5. 4K-Kody Kinser[5] ; 6. 7-Critter Malone[7] ; 7. 99M-Kyle Moody[9] ; 8. 85-Mike Terry[8] ; 9. 7S-Joe Swanson[6]

Dash 1 - (6 Laps)

1. 14-Christopher Bell[1] ; 2. 17W-Bryan Clauson[2] ; 3. 24-Rico Abreu[3] ; 4. 99-Brady Bacon[8] ; 5. 10H-Chad Kemenah[4] ; 6. 71-Jamie Veal[5] ; 7. 1-Dale Blaney[6] ; 8. 70-Danny Holtgraver[7]

B-Main 1 - (12 Laps)

1. 23c-Tyler Courtney[1] ; 2. 8M-TJ Michael[5] ; 3. 5-Chris Windom[8] ; 4. 81-Lee Jacobs[2] ; 5. 12-Daniel Harding[7] ; 6. 23-Jimmy Light[4] ; 7. 2X-Spencer Bayston[12] ; 8. 49H-Bradley Howard[15] ; 9. 40-Caleb Helms[11] ; 10. 7-Critter Malone[14] ; 11. 85-Mike Terry[16] ; 12. 10-Carl Bowser[10] ; 13. O7-Jacob Wilson[9] ; 14. 99M-Kyle Moody[17] ; 15. 7S-Joe Swanson[13] ; 16. 4-Danny Smith[3] ; 17. 60-Kory Crabtree[6]

A-Main 1 - (35 Laps)

1. 14-Christopher Bell[1] ; 2. 24-Rico Abreu[3] ; 3. 71-Jamie Veal[6] ; 4. 10H-Chad Kemenah[5] ; 5. 99-Brady Bacon[4] ; 6. 93-Sheldon Haudenschild[11] ; 7. 11N-Randy Hannagan[9] ; 8. 6M-Jac Haudenschild[12] ; 9. 1-Dale Blaney[7] ; 10. 70-Danny Holtgraver[8] ; 11. 3G-Brandon Wimmer[13] ; 12. 20N-Hunter Schuerenberg[10] ; 13. 1st-Gary Taylor[14] ; 14. 5-Chris Windom[23] ; 15. 23c-Tyler Courtney[21] ; 16. 21-Cap Henry[16] ; 17. 11K-Kraig Kinser[17] ; 18. 40-Caleb Helms[25] ; 19. 2-Parker Price-Miller[18] ; 20. 8M-TJ Michael[22] ; 21. 17W-Bryan Clauson[2] ; 22. 81-Lee Jacobs[24] ; 23. 71m-Dave Blaney[15] ; 24. 4K-Kody Kinser[20] ; 25. 57X-Andrew Palker[19]

Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Standings (July 22, 2016):

1. Chad Kemenah: 3174
2. Dale Blaney: 3116
3. Sheldon Haudenschild: 3074
4. Danny Holtgraver: 2966
5. Cap Henry: 2962
6. Kraig Kinser: 2892
7. T.J. Michael: 2850
8. Lee Jacobs: 2708
9. Caleb Helms: 2706
10. Andrew Palker: 2500

Additional Arctic Cat All Star Series Info:

Those seeking additional information regarding the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions should visit their official online home at www.allstarsprint.com. Series updates and breaking news will be posted regularly on the official Twitter account of the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions: https://twitter.com/ASCoC. Find full text results from each and every event, as well as an up-to-date schedule, online at www.allstarsprint.com/schedule/.

About the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions:

All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All-Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first 'outlaw' Sprint Car organization of the modern era. After a 10 year stint as owner of the All Stars, Miller passed control of the series to Bert Emick in 1980; a reign that would continue through 2002. Guy Webb then purchased the series from Emick in the summer of 2002 and served as the series President for the next 12 years. Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.

About Arctic Cat:

The Arctic Cat brand is among the most widely recognized and respected in the recreational vehicle industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), side-by-sides and snowmobiles, in addition to related parts, garments and accessories under the Arctic Cat® and Motorfist® brand names. Arctic Cat Inc.’s world headquarters is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ACAT.” More information about Arctic Cat and its products is available at www.ArcticCat.com.

Contact: Tyler Altmeyer

Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions

(724) 954-4915

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