From Brian Liskai
Fremont, OH — (April 20, 2013) — Tim Shaffer iced the field to open Fremont’s Speedway’s 62nd year of racing Saturday.
The Aliquippa, Pa. driver waged a great battle the first half of the race with defending track champion Craig Mintz, but pulled away late to capture his 13th career 410 sprint car win at “The Track That Action Built” on JRC Transportation Night. It was also the season opener for the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series, a separate point fund from both race tracks that will pay the season-ending champion $10,000.
On a cold, blustery evening, Fremont, Ohio’s John Ivy got around Nate Dussel late in the 305 sprint feature, which was a JLH General Contractors FAST event, and went on to score the victory. Ivy then hoped in a dirt truck and led all 20 laps to take the victory. The back-to-back wins move Ivy’s career total to 38 at the track, just two behind tying hall of famer Harold McGilton for 8th on the track’s all-time win list.
In the sports compacts, Delta, Ohio’s Maverick Wright led all 12 laps to score his first ever Fremont win.
In the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature, Shaffer would race side by side with Mintz from lap 6 through10 before driving under Mintz exiting turn four on lap 11 to take the lead for good.
“Hats off to these fans…it’s way too damn cold. Farmer (Rich, track promoter) and the guys did a great job…they gave us a great track. I could move all over the place. I had a great car. The CH Motorsports team has been awesome and it’s good to get a rebound and go for another championship,” said Shaffer beside his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned machine in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.
“The car was amazing…I could go top bottom through the middle…it makes my job a lot easier,” continued Shaffer about his Kistler Engines/VRP Shocks/J&J Auto/Weld Wheels/FK Rod Ends/Champion Oil/KSE Steering backed #83. “Wish we could get it like that every night. It would be a lot easier to drive.”
In the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint main, Nate Dussel would lead the first 18 laps, but Ivy would nip him at the start/finish line by .003 seconds on lap 19 with Dussel regaining the advantage but for naught, as the caution would fly. That meant the restart order went back to the last fully completed lap and that Ivy in the lead for the restart. Ivy would pull away the last six laps for the win.
“I tried to not hit that rut in turn four but I couldn’t help but get into it a couple times. But, it worked out for us,” said Ivy, who would catch the rut again with two laps to go, nearly losing a big lead. “I was just trying to stay away from it. I kept moving down lower and lower…I remember those tires at Attica the other week and I thought ‘I can’t do that.’ I’m just glad we got to finally get up here to make up for a couple of weeks ago at Attica. I have to thank everyone who’s on here….Kistler Engines, B&L Plumbing, of course Kenny and Karen and Fremont Fence, Sonny’s Machine Shop, Kear’s Speed Shop, Miller Rigging, Willey’s…everybody. Joey and my brother have been working real hard at it and we finally get up here the first time.”
In the AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Truck feature, Ivy would drive from his fifth starting spot under the trucks in the first two rows to take the lead right away. Art Ball, who leads the track’s all-time win list, would hound Ivy the entire 20 laps, but could not pass as Ivy drove to the checkers. Ivy was perfect in competition on the night, winning his heat in both the 305 sprints and trucks and the features in each division.
“Hopefully we aren’t done winning. The truck took off real good on the start and I thought ‘yeehaw here we go.’ I have to thank Charlie and Craig and everybody that helps out on this thing…Level Performance, Vision Quest, Diversified Machine and Welding, Sonny’s Machine Shop. This is great…two for two what a hell of a way to start the year out,” said Ivy.
In the Surfin’ Sweepstakes Sports Compacts Wright jumped into the lead at the drop of the green. Wright, 13, had to hold off defending track champion Brandon Myers in the closing laps to score his first career Fremont win.
“I’ve raced at Oakshade, but I like Fremont. It was kind of bumpy in the third and fourth turns. I want to thank my dad for helping me out,” said Wright.
Mintz and Byron Reed would bring the field to the green in the 30-lap 410 sprint feature. Mintz would grab the lead while third place starter Shaffer shot into second while Reed, Chris Andrews, Stuart Brubaker, Duane Zablocki, Caleb Griffith and Caleb Helms gave chase. After two laps were scored, Brubaker would spin in turn four to bring out the caution with the running order now Mintz, Shaffer, Reed, Andrews, Zablocki, Griffith, Helms and Danny Holtgraver.
On the restart Mintz had his hands full with Shaffer who drove to the leader’s inside. Reed ran comfortably in third while Andrews, Griffith, Zablocki, Helms and Holtgraver waged a terrific battle for fourth. With four laps in, Cole Duncan would spin after making contact with Paige Polyak, bringing out the caution.
This time on the restart Mintz got a fantastic jump and pulled away slightly from Shaffer who had his hands full with Reed. But with seven laps in the books, Shaffer had regained his lost ground on Mintz and again raced to his inside while Reed was left to battle with Andrews and Griffith for third. Mintz and Shaffer ran side by side until lap 11 when Shaffer drove under Mintz exiting turn four to steal the lead. Shaffer would pull away slightly as Mintz and Reed now battled for second with Griffith, Andrews and Holtgraver mixing it up for fourth. Just as Shaffer was getting into lapped traffic on lap 13, Griffith took a tumble on the front stretch halting the action.
Now with a clear track, Shaffer would pull away on the restart as Mintz, Reed, Andrews, Holtgraver, Zablocki, Bryan Sebetto, D.J. Foos and Helms gave chase. The final caution would fly on lap 16 for Helms with the running order Shaffer, Mintz, Reed, Holtgraver, Andrews, Zablocki, Sebetto and Foos. When the green reappeared, Shaffer was gone with Mintz, Reed, Holtgraver and Andrews battling for second. Andrews would retake fourth on lap 18 and would drive into third on lap 20.
With seven laps remaining, Shaffer had found lapped traffic, but was able to maneuver the car through to maintain his lead with Mintz comfortably in second. Shaffer would drive to the win over Mintz, Andrews, Holtgraver and Reed.
In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, Jess Stiger and Dussel would bring the field to the green with Dussel gaining the advantage. Dussel could not shake Stiger as Paul Weaver battled Bobby Clark, Dan Hammond, Seth Schneider and Ivy for third. Ivy would drive from his seventh starting spot into fifth by lap three.
Dussel would continue to tempt fate in turn four lap after lap as he bounced in the rut in turn four, but Stiger could not close as Clark and Ivy waged a terrific battle for third. As the leaders prepared to catch the rear of the field on lap 9, Clark began pressuring Stiger for second and was soon joined by Ivy. Clark would grab second on lap 10 as Stiger stayed on his rear bumper. With 13 laps in, Ivy got around Stiger to take third and would drive around Clark on lap 15 for second. The caution would fly for a Brandon Moore spin, putting Ivy right on Dussel’s rear bumper. On the restart T.J. Michael would spin off the top of turn three. On the restart, Dussel would have his hands full with Ivy and Clark with Dustin Dinan and Alvin Roepke ready to pounce. The lead trio of Dussel, Ivy and Clark waged a fantastic battle with Ivy getting the slight advantage at the start finish line to officially lead lap 19.
Dussel would drive back into the lead as they raced into lap 20, but Jeremy Shambaugh would spin, bringing out the yellow and giving Ivy the lead back as the race went back to the last fully completed lap. On the restart Ivy would pull away as Dussel and Clark battled for second with Dinan, Roepke, Sticker and Weaver in pursuit. Clark would drive into second on lap 20 bringing Dinan into third.
Ivy would drive to the win over Clark, Dinan, Dussel and Roepke.
Ball and Kent Brewer would pace the field for the 20-lap dirt truck main, but it was fifth place starter Ivy who would drive under all of them to grab the lead at the drop of the green. Ball would stay glued to Ivy’s rear bumper while a fantastic battle ensued for third between Brewer, Jeff Ward, Shawn Valenti, Cory Ward, Brian Melnek, Jimmy McGrath and Jim McGrath.
The first caution would fly on lap five for a Dana Fry spin. On the restart Ivy and Ball pulled away from Brewer, Valenti, the Wards and the McGraths. Valenti would take third on lap 10 and closed on Ball as the caution flew for a Jeff Ward spin on lap 11. Again Ivy and Ball would pull away on the restart with Valenti, the McGraths, Cory Ward, Dan Roepke Jr. and Dustin Keegan in pursuit.
The final caution flew for debris on lap 16, setting up a four lap shoot-out. But, Ivy was up to the task and drove to the win over Ball, Cory Ward, Valenti and Roepke.
Amanda Shammo and McKenzie Biddle brought the sports compacts to the green for their 12 lap main. But, it was fourth place starter Wright who would drive into the lead. Shammo would battle with Erik Paulson for second with Myers, Taylor Holland, Evan Patynko, Kyle Famer and Andrew Schroeder in pursuit. After a lap two caution, Wright would continue to lead while Shammo ran second with Myers moving into third. Shammo would have troubles with an infield tire on lap five, dropping her to the tail and moving Myers into second.
Wright and Myers would pull away on the restart with Paulson, Schroeder, Farmer and Patynko following. Myers would mount a challenge the last five laps, but Wright was too strong and took the win. Myers, Shammo, Paulson and Schroeder would round out the top five.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, April 27 as all four divisions will be in competition on Adkins Fence and Sanitation Night. It is a Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship Series event for the 410 sprints. It’s also Fan Zone Night and race fans are encouraged to make signs and banners and wear the apparel of their favorite driver with rewards going to the best fan zone.
For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com and like Fremont Speedway on Facebook and follow the track on Twitter.
Fremont Speedway – 4/20/2013
JRC Transportation Night
Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410Sprints (20 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Fricker’s Restaurant/Callie’s Performance
1. 40-Caleb Helms, 12.553; 2. 45L-Brian Lay, 12.657; 3. 40DD-Caleb Griffith, 12.761; 4. 45-Danny Holtgraver, 12.797; 5. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 12.830; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 12.859; 7. 16-Chris Andrews, 12.908; 8. 83-Tim Shaffer, 12.920; 9. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.988; 10. O9-Craig Mintz, 13.034; 11. 24H-Bryan Sebetto, 13.083; 12. 9-Dean Jacobs, 13.138; 13. 53-DJ Foos, 13.194; 14. 94-Jack Sodeman, 13.245; 15. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.289; 16. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.304; 17. 46AU-Stuart Williams, 13.385; 18. 55-Brad Bowman, 13.538; 19. 27P-Paige Polyak, 14.138; 20. 29-Cole Duncan, 99.990
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5T-Travis Philo[1] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[3] ; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[4] ; 4. 53-DJ Foos[2] ; 5. 45-Danny Holtgraver[5] ; 6. 27P-Paige Polyak[7] ; 7. 40-Caleb Helms[6]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 94-Jack Sodeman[2] ; 2. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[3] ; 3. 46AU-Stuart Williams[1] ; 4. 83-Tim Shaffer[4] ; 5. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5] ; 6. 45L-Brian Lay[6] ; 7. 29-Cole Duncan[7]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2+-Brian Smith[2] ; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[4] ; 3. 55-Brad Bowman[1] ; 4. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[6] ; 5. 35-Stuart Brubaker[5] ; 6. 9-Dean Jacobs[3]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 83-Tim Shaffer[3]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[1]; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[4]; 4. 45-Danny Holtgraver[7]; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[2]; 6. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[11]; 7. 53-DJ Foos[13]; 8. 9-Dean Jacobs[12]; 9. 29-Cole Duncan[20]; 10. 45L-Brian Lay[10]; 11. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[6]; 12. 2+-Brian Smith[15]; 13. 27P-Paige Polyak[19]; 14. 94-Jack Sodeman[14]; 15. 55-Brad Bowman[18]; 16. 40-Caleb Helms[9]; 17. 5T-Travis Philo[16]; 18. 46AU-Stuart Williams[17]; 19. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[8]; 20. 35-Stuart Brubaker[5]
Hard Charger: 29-Cole Duncan[+11]
Fremont Federal Credit Untion 305 Sprints (24 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[2] ; 2. 8J-Jess Stiger[3] ; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[5] ; 4. 6-Dustin Dinan[8] ; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin[6] ; 6. 39M-Matt Merrill[7] ; 7. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4] ; 8. 7P-Brandon Moore[1]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-Alvin Roepke[1] ; 2. 22D-Dan Hammond[2] ; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[8] ; 4. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 5. 25-Jason Keckler[4] ; 6. 48-Mike Burkin[6] ; 7. 10X-Dustin Stroup[5] ; 8. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[7]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8I-John Ivy[3] ; 2. 8M-T.J Michael[1] ; 3. 4X-Bobby Clark[4] ; 4. 22M-Dan McCarron[2] ; 5. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[5] ; 6. 34-Eric Duposki[7] ; 7. 23F-Matt Fackler[8]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 39M-Matt Merrill[1] ; 2. 10X-Dustin Stroup[5] ; 3. 48-Mike Burkin[2] ; 4. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[8] ; 5. 7P-Brandon Moore[7] ; 6. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4] ; 7. 34-Eric Duposki[3] ; 8. 23F-Matt Fackler[6]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 8I-John Ivy[7]; 2. 4X-Bobby Clark[3]; 3. 6-Dustin Dinan[12]; 4. 1-Nate Dussel[2]; 5. OO-Alvin Roepke[9]; 6. 5R-Jordan Ryan[11]; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[1]; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[6]; 9. 10X-Dustin Stroup[17]; 10. 9-Jimmy Colvin[13]; 11. 25-Jason Keckler[14]; 12. 22D-Dan Hammond[5]; 13. 8M-T.J Michael[10]; 14. 22M-Dan McCarron[8]; 15. 39M-Matt Merrill[16]; 16. 48-Mike Burkin[18]; 17. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[19]; 18. 1W-Paul Weaver[4]; 19. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[15]; 20. 7P-Brandon Moore[20]
Hard Charger: 6-Dustin Dinan[+9]
AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Trucks (19 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-John Ivy[5] ; 2. 5-Jim McGrath[8] ; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[10] ; 4. 45-Brian Melnek[4] ; 5. 18-Jeff Ward[3] ; 6. 7B-Shawn Valenti[9] ; 7. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[1] ; 8. 99X-Gene Potridge[2] ; 9. 37-Eric Devanna[6] ; 10. 95-Keith Sorg[7]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[5] ; 2. O1-Art Ball[3] ; 3. 8KB-Kent Brewer[9] ; 4. 115-Ben Good[4] ; 5. 7-Dana Frey[1] ; 6. 2-Matt Foos[6] ; 7. 36M-Cory McCaughey[7] ; 8. 72-Eric Potridge[2] ; 9. D1-Dustin Keegan[8]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[1] ; 2. 36M-Cory McCaughey[2] ; 3. 99X-Gene Potridge[3] ; 4. 72-Eric Potridge[4] ; 5. 37-Eric Devanna[5] ; 6. D1-Dustin Keegan[6] ; 7. 95-Keith Sorg[7]
A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. OO-John Ivy[5]; 2. O1-Art Ball[1]; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[9]; 4. 7B-Shawn Valenti[8]; 5. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[13]; 6. 5-Jim McGrath[6]; 7. D1-Dustin Keegan[18]; 8. 2-Matt Foos[7]; 9. 95-Keith Sorg[19]; 10. 115-Ben Good[12]; 11. 37-Eric Devanna[17]; 12. 7-Dana Frey[4]; 13. 36M-Cory McCaughey[14]; 14. 45-Brian Melnek[10]; 15. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[11]; 16. 99X-Gene Potridge[15]; 17. 18-Jeff Ward[3]; 18. 8KB-Kent Brewer[2]; 19. 72-Eric Potridge[16]
Hard Charger: D1-Dustin Keegan[+11]
Surf’n Sweepstakes Compacts (12 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
A-Main – (12 Laps)
1. 98-Maverick Wright[4]; 2. 32-Brandon Myers[12]; 3. 14-Amanda Shammo[3]; 4. PI-Erik Paulson[9]; 5. 23-Andrew Schroeder[6]; 6. 92-Kyle Farmer[8]; 7. 77-Eric Pocock[10]; 8. 34S-McKenzie Biddle[2]; 9. 711-Taylor Holland[7]; 10. 5G-Sparky Marky[11]; 11. 7P-Evan Patynko[5]
Hard Charger: 32-Brandon Myers[+10]
©2013 – Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH