From Brian Liskai
Fremont, OH — (July 22, 2012) — Cole Duncan held off Craig Mintz on a couple of late race restarts and went on to score his first ever 410 sprint victory at Fremont Speedway on Burns Petroleum Night.
“Man I’ve been waiting to end up here on the front stretch for a long, long time,” said Duncan in the Engine Pro Victory Lane beside his Bobby Labonte Racing, Motorcity Auto Transport, Hoosier Tire backed #22. “I don’t know how many wins dad (Rodney) had here (four)…he was a lot better at it than I am. This was his kind of track tonight so he put the set-up on it…he did all the work. This is for him.”
“Those restarts made me a little nervous. I saw on the board the 09 (Mintz) was behind me and I figured he had come a long way (from ninth) up through there since he was in the B and I just tried to hit my marks,” added Duncan, who has now has three wins on the season; two at other tracks.
It was a Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series Presented by Engine Pro and KS Sales and Service event. With his second place finish, 2009 FAST champion Craig Mintz pulled to within 33 points of defending FAST champion Bryan Sebetto for the $10,000-to-win title.
In the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints, the last five laps were exciting. Race-long leader Jason Keckler found himself battling lapped cars and trying to hold off a charging Dustin Dinan. With three laps to go, Dinan drove under Keckler exiting turn four to grab the lead. As Dinan and Keckler raced into turn one, a lapped car was in the middle and Dinan made contact with him, pushing him up the track where Keckler was trying to get around. Contact was made, and Foos shot under all three to take the lead. Foos would drive to the white while Dinan regrouped to stay in second with Keckler third. Foos would take the win, his fourth of the season at Fremont and ninth overall (he has five at Attica).
“I was not the fastest race car at all. I just got pure luck…I found my keys to the luck machine,” said Foos beside his Buckshot Farms, Automatic Fire Protection, Tender Touch Car Wash, Gyro Motorsports, Schiets Motorsports, Pit Stop Carryout, Crown Battery, Level Performance backed #11F.
“By far Jason Keckler was the fastest car here tonight but I was just in the right place at the right time to capitalize. I have to thank my mom and dad, my brother Matt, my crew guy Jamie,” added Foos.
Foos, who also earned a free drum of racing fuel from Burns Petroleum for sporting one of their stickers, now has a 56 point lead over Nate Dussel for the FAST 305 Sprint Title and its $1,500 payday.
In the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks, Dustin Keegan battled with Keith Sorg early, then pulled away, but then had to survive a couple of late race restarts and challenges from Jim McGrath Sr. to earn his fourth career victory at Fremont. It was also his fourth win of the season.
“This truck is just awesome. I can’t thank Joe West and my dad and LJ Connors…everyone who works on this thing,” said Keegan beside his Paul’s Drive Through, LST Excavating, Foster Auto Body, JLH General Contractors, OC Shocks, York Fabrication, Advanced Auto Parts backed #D1. “This is our type of track…if they keep it like this the rest of the field will have problems.”
In the Surf’n Sweepstakes Sport Compacts, Sparky Marky, 13-years-old from Liberty Center, Ohio, dominated to earn his first career victory.
“I’ve been racing at Oakshade and decided to come here for a change. I used to race quarter midgets and then I got into these,” said Marky. “I have to thank my sponsor King Road Auto Parts and all my family who has helped me.”
Duncan and Broc Martin would bring the field to the green in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint 30-lap main. Duncan would bolt into the lead with Martin in pursuit while Chris Andrews tried to hold off Byron Reed and Dean Jacobs for third. With five laps in, Andrews had caught Martin as they battled for second while Duncan pulled away.
Meanwhile, Mintz used the middle of the track to charge from his ninth starting spot to sixth. A lap later he took fifth and began to drive into fourth on lap seven. With 9 laps recorded, Mintz and Andrews were battling hard for third as Duncan hugged the bottom to build a comfortable lead.
Mintz would take third on lap 11 and quickly closed on Martin as they also reeled in Duncan who was trapped behind the rear of the field. Jody Keegan would spin on lap 17 to bring out the first caution of the event with the running order Duncan, Martin, Mintz, Andrews, Reed and Jacobs. On the restart, Reed would spin.
On the ensuing restart, Mintz would drive around Martin for the second spot, as Duncan pulled away. Martin would not give up without a fight and continued to battle Mintz for the runner-up position with Andrews, Jacobs, Brian Lay, Stuart Brubaker, Duane Zablocki and 19th starter Greg Wilson in pursuit.
With five laps to go, Duncan had again caught the rear of the field, allowing Mintz and Martin to close quickly. As Mintz began to apply pressure to Duncan, Bryan Sebetto and Matt Linder would get together exiting turn four to bring out the caution with just two laps to go.
On the restart, Andrews and Jacobs would get together in turn one, bringing the caution back out. Now, with a clear track, Duncan would pull away the remaining two laps to score the victory over Mintz, Martin, Lay and Wilson.
In the 25 lap Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint feature, Keckler and Steve Rando would pace the field. But, before a lap could be completed, John Ivy stopped with mechanical issues. On the next restart, Keckler would rocket into the lead over Rando, Dustin Dinan, Jimmy Colvin, Alvin Roepke, Nate Dussel and Foos.
Dinan would take second on lap four with Roepke taking third on lap six with Foos following into fourth. Foos would drive around Roepke for third on lap seven.
Keckler would hit lapped traffic by the ninth circuit, allowing Dinan to close. Dinan would drive under Keckler exiting turn two on lap 11 to take the lead, but Keckler would return the favor in turns three and four to maintain the top spot. Foos would join the battle on lap 12.
Dinan would make heavy contact with the lapped car of Jeremy Duposki on lap 12 after taking the lead, bringing out the caution. After a lap would be completed, another caution for a Tyler Gunn spin. Then on the restart, Colvin, Paige Polyak and Roger Shammo would tangle in turn one.
Now with a clear track, Keckler would pull away from Dinan, Foos, Roepke, Dussel and 15th starter Jamie Miller. Keckler seemed to have the race in hand until he caught the rear of the pack again with three laps to go. Dinan was there to pounce and drove under Keckler to lead lap 23. But, as Dinan and Keckler raced into turn one, Dinan made contact with the lapped car, causing him and Keckler to check up while Foos drove under both to take the lead.
Foos would drive to the checkered over Dinan, Keckler, Roepke and Miller.
Keith Sorg and Gene Potridge would bring the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks to the green for their 20 lap feature with Sorg taking the lead over Potridge, Dustin Keegan, Curt Inks, Jim McGrath Sr., Brian Sorg, Dan Roepke Jr. and Art Ball. Keegan would hug the bottom to take second on lap two with Inks moving into third. Keegan immediately drove to Sorg’s inside to challenge for the lead.
Keegan would take the top spot on lap four as the caution flew for Cory Ward who stopped in turn three. Keegan would pull away on the restart as Sorg had his hands full with Inks, McGrath, Potridge, Brian Sorg and Roepke. Inks would steal the second position on lap seven as Brian Sorg also moved into third.
As Keegan built a sizeable lead, a tremendous battle ensued behind between Inks, Keith Sorg, Brian Sorg, Potridge, McGrath, Roepke and Ball. Keegan would race into lapped traffic with seven laps to go as Inks tried to hold off Keith Sorg, McGrath, Brian Sorg and Keith Sorg.
Cody Basinger would spin on lap 13 to give Keegan a clear track. Again the leader would pull away from Inks, Keith Sorg, McGrath Brian Sorg and Roepke. McGrath would take the third position on lap 15. Chuck Roelle would stop with a flat with five laps to go for the final caution.
Again with a clear track Keegan would pull away while a six truck battle ensued for second. McGrath would take the runner-up position on lap 17 with Brian Sorg moving into third as the white flag flew. Keegan would win by eight truck lengths over McGrath, Brian Sorg, Inks and Keith Sorg.
Erik Paulson and Derek Genzman would bring the field of nine to the green in the 12-lap Surf’n Sweepstakes Sports Compact race, but it was sixth starter Sparky Marky who would drive to the lead over Steve Pocock, Chevy Farmer, Brandon Myers and Kyle Farmer. Myers would take second on lap three as the caution would fly for a stalled Amanda Shammo.
Marky would drive away when the green reappeared as Myers retired to the pits with mechanical woes, putting Chevy Farmer into second with Kyle Farmer and Genzman in tow. Chevy Farmer’s night would end when his right front wheel broke, putting Kyle Famer into the runner-up spot.
Marky would fly to the checkered over Kyle Farmer and Genzman.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, July 28 for Kistler Engines Night with the 410 and 305 sprints, dirt trucks and sports compacts.
For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com
Fremont Speedway – 7/21/2012
Burns Petroleum Night
Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (27 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Callie’s Performance
1. 60-Jody Keegan, 14.744; 2. 5R-Byron Reed, 14.773; 3. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 14.906; 4. 1X-Matt Linder, 15.109; 5. O9-Craig Mintz, 15.120; 6. 97-Dean Jacobs, 15.165; 7. 16-Chris Andrews, 15.207; 8. 45L-Brian Lay, 15.239; 9. 83M-Broc Martin, 15.241; 10. 22-Cole Duncan, 15.315; 11. 3-Mike Linder, 15.355; 12. 14H-Todd Heller, 15.355; 13. 12-Jared Ridge, 15.404; 14. 55-Brad Bowman, 15.420; 15. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 15.448; 16. 2+-Brian Smith, 15.540; 17. 53-Phil Gressman, 15.545; 18. 24H-Bryan Sebetto, 15.602; 19. 5T-Travis Philo, 15.993; 20. W20-Greg Wilson, 16.233; 21. 78-Todd Kane, 16.245; 22. 48-Mike Burkin, 16.644; 23. 51-Roger Campbell, 16.908; 24. 7-Critter Malone, 16.937; 25. O6-Brandy Bower, 16.951; 26. O-Kevin Lee, 17.012; 27. 6-Ryan Dickey, 17.940
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 12-Jared Ridge[2] ; 2. 2+-Brian Smith[1] ; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[4] ; 4. 1X-Matt Linder[5] ; 5. 22-Cole Duncan[3] ; 6. 60-Jody Keegan[6] ; 7. 5T-Travis Philo[7] ; 8. 48-Mike Burkin[8] ; 9. O6-Brandy Bower[9]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 55-Brad Bowman[2] ; 2. 53-Phil Gressman[1] ; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[7] ; 4. 3-Mike Linder[3] ; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[6] ; 6. O9-Craig Mintz[5] ; 7. 51-Roger Campbell[8] ; 8. O-Kevin Lee[9] ; 9. 45L-Brian Lay[4]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[2] ; 2. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[1] ; 3. 14H-Todd Heller[3] ; 4. 97-Dean Jacobs[5] ; 5. 83M-Broc Martin[4] ; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[6] ; 7. 78-Todd Kane[7] ; 8. 7-Critter Malone[8] ; 9. 6-Ryan Dickey[9]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[3] ; 3. 45L-Brian Lay[4] ; 4. 60-Jody Keegan[1] ; 5. 78-Todd Kane[6] ; 6. 48-Mike Burkin[7] ; 7. O-Kevin Lee[11] ; 8. 51-Roger Campbell[8] ; 9. 5T-Travis Philo[5] ; 10. 7-Critter Malone[9] ; 11. 6-Ryan Dickey[12] ; 12. O6-Brandy Bower[10]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 22-Cole Duncan[1]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[9]; 3. 83M-Broc Martin[2]; 4. 45L-Brian Lay[10]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[19]; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[8]; 7. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[15]; 8. 53-Phil Gressman[17]; 9. 14H-Todd Heller[12]; 10. 2+-Brian Smith[16]; 11. 78-Todd Kane[20]; 12. 5R-Byron Reed[6]; 13. 1X-Matt Linder[5]; 14. 97-Dean Jacobs[4]; 15. 12-Jared Ridge[13]; 16. 60-Jody Keegan[7]; 17. 16-Chris Andrews[3]; 18. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[18]; 19. 3-Mike Linder[11]; 20. 55-Brad Bowman[14]
Hard Charger: W20-Greg Wilson[+14]
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (25 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 25-Jason Keckler[2] ; 2. 11F-D.J. Foos[3] ; 3. 10S-Roger Shammo[1] ; 4. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 5. 39-Matt Merrill[6] ; 6. 22D-Dan Hammond[8] ; 7. 4T-Tim Taddeo[4] ; 8. 77S-Jim Sipe[7] ; 9. 7P-Brandon Moore[9]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5-Dustin Dinan[2] ; 2. 1-Nate Dussel[1] ; 3. 4X-John Ivy[7] ; 4. 19R-Steve Rando[3] ; 5. 27-Paige Polyak[6] ; 6. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[5] ; 7. 10-Josh Harrison[4] ; 8. 8B-Zack Kramer[8]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9-Jimmy Colvin[1] ; 2. 10X-Dustin Stroup[8] ; 3. OO-Alvin Roepke[5] ; 4. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 5. 4M-Jamie Miller[4] ; 6. 5R-Jordan Ryan[7] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[2] ; 8. 35-Stuart Bruker[6]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8B-Zack Kramer[8] ; 2. 22D-Dan Hammond[1] ; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[3] ; 4. 8J-Jess Stiger[6] ; 5. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[2] ; 6. 10-Josh Harrison[5] ; 7. 35-Stuart Bruker[9] ; 8. 7P-Brandon Moore[10]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[7]; 2. 5-Dustin Dinan[3]; 3. 25-Jason Keckler[1]; 4. OO-Alvin Roepke[5]; 5. 4M-Jamie Miller[15]; 6. 1-Nate Dussel[6]; 7. 10X-Dustin Stroup[9]; 8. 19R-Steve Rando[2]; 9. 8J-Jess Stiger[19]; 10. 5R-Jordan Ryan[18]; 11. 39-Matt Merrill[13]; 12. 8B-Zack Kramer[16]; 13. 68G-Tyler Gunn[11]; 14. 22D-Dan Hammond[17]; 15. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[20]; 16. 36-Seth Schneider[12]; 17. 9-Jimmy Colvin[4]; 18. 27-Paige Polyak[14]; 19. 10S-Roger Shammo[10]; 20. 4X-John Ivy[8]
Hard Charger: 4M-Jamie Miller[+10]
Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks (20 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. D1-Dustin Keegan[3] ; 2. 4X-Brian Sorg[1] ; 3. 95-Keith Sorg[4] ; 4. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[6] ; 5. 3R-Chuck Rolle[7] ; 6. 18W-Cory Ward[2] ; 7. 8KB-Kent Brewer[5]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 23M-Brad Mitten[5] ; 2. 71-Craig Holland[6] ; 3. 99X-Gene Potridge[4] ; 4. 73-Cody Basiner[1] ; 5. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[7] ; 6. 4C-Chris Royster[3] ; 7. 79-Andrew Lutman[2]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5-Jim McGrath Sr.[6] ; 2. O1-Art Ball[1] ; 3. P51-Willie Keegan[3] ; 4. 9-Curt Inks[5] ; 5. 18-Jeff Ward[4] ; 6. 45-Brian Melnek Jr.[2]
A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. D1-Dustin Keegan[6]; 2. 5-Jim McGrath Sr.[4]; 3. 4X-Brian Sorg[5]; 4. 9-Curt Inks[3]; 5. 95-Keith Sorg[1]; 6. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[8]; 7. O1-Art Ball[7]; 8. 23M-Brad Mitten[9]; 9. 8KB-Kent Brewer[19]; 10. P51-Willie Keegan[11]; 11. 45-Brian Melnek Jr.[18]; 12. 99X-Gene Potridge[2]; 13. 18-Jeff Ward[15]; 14. 3R-Chuck Rolle[13]; 15. 73-Cody Basiner[12]; 16. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[14]; 17. 71-Craig Holland[10]; 18. 18W-Cory Ward[16]; 19. 79-Andrew Lutman[20]
Hard Charger: 8KB-Kent Brewer[+10]
Surf’n Sweepstakes Sport Compacts (9 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
A-Main – (12 Laps)
1. 5G-Sparky Marky[6]; 2. 92-Kyle Farmer[7]; 3. 25-Derek Genzman[2]; 4. 29-Chevy Farmer[8]; 5. 32-Brandon Myers[9]; 6. 77-Steve Pocock[3]; 7. ?R²-Erik Paulson[1]; 8. 14-Amanda Shammo[4]; 9. 5-Tyler Sherman[5]
Hard Charger: 5G-Sparky Marky[+5]