Talented Driver Lineup Looking To Win All Stars Crown

Story By: NICHOLAS FILLMAN / RPW – INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The 2017 Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions will once again boast one of the most talented and diverse tour fields of sprint cars in the country. It will feature both veterans and rookies who will follow the nine month tour up and down the East Coast and through the Midwest.

With a talented rookie field in tow, the All Stars will be lead by 2016 Series Champion, Chad Kemenah. Kemenah will once again behind the wheel of the Rob Hunter #10H mount. The veteran, who has been a multi-time champion with the All Stars, and followed the World of Outlaws tour for a number of years, will be the driver with the largest target on his back for the 2017 season.

Kraig Kinser will also once again try his hand at grabbing the title on the All Stars tour in a car owned by his legendary father, Steve Kinser. Kraig is a former WoO driver, Knoxville Nationals winner, and Camping World truck Series competitor, who finished the 2016 season fifth place in series points, collecting two feature wins.

Returning All Stars will include former USAC Kenyon midget champion Caleb Armstrong in the #7c, runner-up for Rookie of the Year honors last season, the “Texas Traveler,” TJ Michael in the family #8m, Findlay, OH driver Calem Helms aboard his family-owned #40, as well as Pennsylvania-native Bradley Howard.

Ryan Smith is also a former full time driver with the All Stars. While Smith will again follow the tour in 2017, after a solid rookie campaign in 2015, Smith will have a new combo in 2017. He will be behind the wheel of a combination effort “super team”, which includes time in Tom & Sherry Leidig’s #59 and the Rob Warko #94.

Smith will start the season running the Leidig 59 with sponsorship from Warko during the All Stars Florida Speedweeks races.

A name not so well known to the east coast sprint car scene is that of Ryan Linder. While Linder has made a handful of starts in team cars to Ryan Smith in the 358 and 410 sprint cars at the Susquehanna, the Mexico, IN-born driver will move his X-1 chassis company to Central Pennsylvania and compete for the All Stars “Rookie of the Year” honors this season.

Sons of former Central Pennsylvania standout Johnny Mackison, Jordan and Hunter Mackison will both compete full time with the All Stars in 2017. Both will be aboard their familyoowned and maintained mounts this coming year.

Former Lernerville Speedway and BOSS Series Sprint Car Champion Brandon Spithaler, New York native and Patriot Sprint Car 360 Series winner Dane Lorenc, father-son duo Brent and Brandon Matus from the Western PA circuit, former Super Late Model competitor John Garvin, and Central PA 358 Sprint Car Series driver Tyler Esh will also be rookie competitors with the All Stars this year.

Elida, OH driver Max Stambaugh will also throw his hat into the Rookie fight, aboard Ray Marshall’s #33m machine. Stambaugh, who has claimed back-to-back NRA 360 Sprint Car Invaders Series Championships, will certainly be one of the most talented rookies in the field.

With Former Series Champ Dale Blaney and heavy hitters Danny Holtgraver and Sheldon Haudenschild not running with the All Stars full-time in 2017, the door is wide open for drivers to have their shot at claiming the crown.

This year’s tour will kick off next week with three nights of action, starting Thursday at the Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, FL before moving over to Volusia Speedway Park.