By:  Brian Liskai

(Attica, OH) Mike Linder has sent a message to the area 410 sprint teams in 2008 - new team owner, new number, new colors, but same winning results.

Linder tamed a tough field that included Advanced Auto Parts World of Outlaws and O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions teams on R&R Auto Wrecking/HD Supply Night at Attica Raceway Park Friday, April 18. It was the eighth career 410 sprint victory for the Fremont, Ohio driver at "Ohio's Finest Racing" speedplant.

For Linder, who has recorded the most 305 sprint wins in the history of Attica, Friday night's victory was even more special.

"It's my wife, Stephanie's birthday. It's also our first win since we lost her dad (Larry Finsel) to cancer in January," said Linder, who defeated the likes of Outlaw regulars Daryn Pittman and Sam Hafertepe Jr. and All Star champions Greg Wilson and Dale Blaney. "When we had that red (on lap 8) I saw that black nose under me and I knew it was either that 21 car (Pittman) or the 5 (Byron Reed). The yellows fell just right for us tonight and the car was so good on the bottom. I knew if I didn't screw up and stayed down there I'd be hard to beat."


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"We were good here on opening night a couple of weeks ago, but I don't think anyone noticed but us because of the way the track was. I have to give credit to John Bores (ARP promoter) and the track crew here. They worked their tails off a couple of weeks ago to try and give us a surface to race on despite all the rains. And to come back here and have the track this good shows you how dedicated they are here," said Linder beside his Linder's Speed Equipment, About Realty, State Street Consignment, Engler Printing backed #312.

Linder, a two-time Fremont Speedway champion, purchased the team over the winter from long-time car owner Andy James. He switched the number to what his dad, Jim Linder, used when he began racing, along with the color scheme of that era.

In the 30-lap 410 sprint feature, pole-sitter Greg Wilson grabbed the early lead with Linder, Blaney, Pittman and Phil Gressman in tow. While Wilson was banging agains the cushion up top, Linder was running around the light poles and by lap five was running side-by-side with Wilson for the lead. Linder would rocket of the bottom of turn two on lap six to grab the lead.

The action would grind to a half on lap 8 when Caleb Griffith spun and collected Mark Keegan and Mike Dussel. Dussell would rejoin the field, but Keegans night was over. The running order was Linder, Wilson, Pittman, Blaney, Byron Reed, Haefertepe, David Harrison, Gressman and 15th starter Brock Mayes.

Linder would jump back into the lead and put some distance on the rest of the field. The real battle was for second between Wilson and Pittman, who would secure the runner-up spot on lap 13. The caution would fly again on lap 18 with the running order Linder, Pittman, Wilson, Blaney, Harrison, Reed and Mayes.

Pittman would mount one more charge at Linder on the restart, and would close each lap as he was better in turns 3 and 4 and Linder was good at the other end. At the checkers, Linder held a four car length advantage over Pittman, with Blaney, Wilson and Reed rounding out the top five.

Attica Raceway Park (4-18-08)
R&R Auto Wrecking/HD Supply Night

410 Sprints
Heat 1 - All Pro Heads (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 10-David Harrison; 2. 312-Mike Linder; 3. 12-Caleb Griffith; 4. 2M-Dustin Daggett; 5. 20X-Brian Smith; 6. 6-Mike Dussell (R)

Heat 2 - Ultra Shield Race Products (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 15-Sam Hafertepe Jr.; 2. 2-Dale Blaney; 3. 5R-Byron Reed; 4. 75-Mike Hogan; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver; 6. 48S-Andy Shammo; 7. 23-Ben Rutan; 8. 1R-Brian Lay (R)

Heat 3 - Bell Racing (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 11M-Brandon Martin; 2. 83-Phil Gressman; 3. 16-Lee Jacobs; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes; 5. 2H-Tim Hunter; 6. X-Mark Keegan; 7. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 8. 91-Aaron Middaugh

Heat 4 - Friendship Food Stores (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 15C-Chris Andrews; 3. 21-Daryn Pittman; 4. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 5. 60-Jody Keegan; 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. 5T-Travis Philo; 8. 69-Scott Curren

B-main - Computer Man Inc.
1. 2H-Tim Hunter; 2. 20X-Brian Smith; 3. X-Mark Keegan; 4. 6-Mike Dussell (R); 5. 1W-Paul Weaver; 6. 48-Mike Burkin; 7. 23-Ben Rutan; 8. 16S-Lee Stark; 9. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 10. 69-Scott Curren; 11. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 12. 1R-Brian Lay (R); 13. 5T-Travis Philo; 14. 60-Jody Keegan; 15. 48S-Andy Shammo

A-Main Starting Position [#]
1. 312-Mike Linder[2]; 2. 21-Daryn Pittman[6]; 3. 2-Dale Blaney[4]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson[1]; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[8]; 6. 11B-Brock Mayes[15]; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews[5]; 8. 20X-Brian Smith[18]; 9. 10-David Harrison[9]; 10. 75-Mike Hogan[14]; 11. 11M-Brandon Martin[10]; 12. 6-Mike Dussell (R)[20]; 13. 83-Phil Gressman[3]; 14. 2M-Dustin Daggett[13]; 15. 2H-Tim Hunter[17]; 16. 12-Caleb Griffith[11]; 17. 15-Sam Hafertepe Jr.[12]; 18. 98-Bruce Robenalt[16]; 19. X-Mark Keegan[19]; 20. 16-Lee Jacobs[7]