From Brian Liskai
Fremont, OH — (December 8, 2014) — Fremont Speedway wrapped up it’s 64th racing season by honoring the top 10 in points in the track’s three divisions during a gala banquet Saturday night. Also, the top 10 in the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series and JLH General Contractor FAST Championship Series received their prizes.
Fremont Speedway Promoter and FAST owner Rich Farmer handed out several special awards and also noted the fifth FAST season participants would share in a record amount of prize money and contingency prizes.
“Jim Ford put together a great staff of people to work at Fremont Speedway when he reopened the track and many of them are still with us today,” said Farmer honoring several employees for their years of service.
Vicki Collins was recognized for 30 years of service while Mike Busey, Brian Sabo, Chris Roepke, Sue Lohr, Carol Biller, Scott Barman and David Castillo were honored for 15 years of service. Kelly Sleek was honored as the employee of the year.
Also taking home $500 from Callie’s Performance were John Ivy (305 sprints) and Dale Blaney (410 sprints) for recording the fastest qualifying lap in non-sanctioned events during 3014.
Gary Griffith of Griff’s Engines received the Engine Pro Engine Builder of the Year Award as Griff’s put drivers in all three divisions in victory lane in 2014.
Dylan Schiebel was honored for all the video work to help promote the racing at Fremont Speedway.
The Alex Burkett Business Awards were given to John Horn of JLH General Contractors, Kiser Sound and the Baumann Auto Group.
Through a random draw, several drivers in the FAST 305 series took home gift certificates from Kear’s Speed Shop with Jordan Ryan winning a free set of cylinder heads from All Pro. Also, Kurt Brewer, Byron Reed’s crew chief, and Craig Dussel, Nate Dussel’s crew chief received a set of tools from Productive Tools and Equipment as the Crew Chiefs of the Year.
Byron Reed of Monclova, Ohio, took home $5,000 as the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint Track Champion. Fremont’s 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2013 champion competed in 16 of the 20 A-mains in 2014. He recorded 13 top 10 finishes and 10 top five finishes. Byron posted three runner-up finishes and a third. Byron started strong, not finishing out of the top five in the first four features he competed in. He also finished strong, not finishing out of the top eight in the final seven features he raced in. Byron’s average A-main finishing position was seventh.
Jordan Ryan of Castalia, Ohio claimed his first Fremont championship, taking the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint title. Jordan competed in all 18 A-mains in 2014. He recorded an incredible 16 top 10 finishes and 14 top five runs. Jordan scored five wins in 2014 – April 26th, May 3rd, July 19th, Sept. 13th and Sept. 27th – to run his career total at Fremont to six. Besides the wins, Jordan recorded four runner-up finishes. Jordan’s average A-main finishing position was fifth.
Shawn Valenti of Risingsun, Ohio dominated the AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Truck division in 2014 to claim his first ever Fremont championship. Shawn competed in all 19 A-mains in 2014. Shawn finished out of the top two only once, a seventh place finish on May 10th. Shawn posted 14 wins out of the 19 events in 2014 to run his career total to 23 and a tie for 20th on the track’s all-time win list. Shawn also had four runner-up finishes. Shawn’s average A-main finishing position was a remarkable second!
Reed took home the $10,000 Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship Series title. It was his second FAST title.
Nate Dussel earned his second straight JLH General Contractors FAST Championship Series title and it’s $2,000 prize.
Here’s the rest of the top 10 in points for the 410 sprints:
10.-Matt Merrill, Fremont, Ohio. The 2014 410 rookie of the year competed in 7 A-mains in 2014, posting a season-best 12th on Sept. 27.
9.-Jody Keegan, Fremont, Ohio. Fremont’s 1996 305 sprint champion competed in 11 of the 20 A-mains in 2014 with a season-best 10th on Sept. 27th. His average A-main finishing position was 16th.
8.-Travis Philo, Waterville, Ohio. Travis competed in 13 of the 20 A-mains in 2014. He posted four top 10 finishes including a season-best pair of six place runs. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.
7.-Stuart Brubaker, Fremont, Ohio. The three time Fremont 305 sprint champion and former 410 rookie of the year competed in 14 of the 20 A-mains in 2014. He posted five top 10 finishes including a season-best fourth on Sept. 27th. Stuart’s average A-main finishing position was 13th.
6.-DJ Foos, Fremont, Ohio. The 2012 Fremont 305 sprint champion and last year’s rookie of the year competed in 17 of the 20 A-mains in 2014, missing only the non-wing event, the May 25th All Star feature and the Thursday Speedweek event. He recorded 12 top 10 finishes and scored a season-best third on May 24 against the All Stars. D.J.’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.
5.-Brian Smith, Fremont, Ohio. The track’s 2004 305 sprint champion competed in 17 of the 20 A-mains in 2014, missing only the All Star events on May 25th and Sept. 12th and the World of Outlaws feature on Oct. 18th. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes including a season-best third on June 14th. Brian’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.
4.-Caleb Griffith, Castalia, Ohio. The track’s 2003 305 sprint champion competed in 18 of the 20 A-mains in 2014, missing only the nonwing feature and the July 19th event. He posted 12 top 10 finishes and 4 top five runs. He posted wins on April 26th and his first career All Star victory on May 24th to take his career total to six. Caleb’s average A-main finishing position was ninth.
3.-Chris Andrews, Sandusky, Ohio. Chris was the only driver to compete in all 20 A-mains in 2014 at Fremont. He scored 11 top 10 finishes and 7 top five runs. He scored his seventh career Fremont win on Sept. 27th and added a runner-up finish and four top three finishes including against the World of Outlaws. Chris’ average A-main finishing position was 10th.
2.-Brian Lay, Genoa, Ohio. Brian competed in 18 of the 20 features in 2014, missing only the non-wing feature and the July 5th event. He finished just 9 points away from the championship. He recorded 13 top 10 finishes and 7 top five runs. Brian scored his two career Fremont wins on May 17th and June 14th. He started the year strong, not finishing out of the top 9 in the first five features he competed in. He also had a strong middle of the year, not finishing out of the top nine in 7 straight features. Brian’s average A-main finishing position was ninth.
Here’s the rest of the top 10 in points for the 305 sprints:
10. Seth Schneider, Fremont, Ohio. Seth competed in 17 of the 18 A-mains in 2014, missing only the Sept. 13th event. Seth recorded 9 top 10 finishes including a season-best third on May 24th. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.
9. Kyle Capodice, Sandusky, Ohio. The 2014 305 sprint rookie of the year competed in 17 of the 18 A-mains in 2014, missing only the Sept. 13th event. He recorded six top 10 finishes including a season-best third on Sept. 27th. Kyle’s average A-main finishing position was 12th.
8. Jason Keckler, Fremont, Ohio. Jason competed in 16 of the 18 A-mains in 2014, missing only the June 14th and Sept. 27th events. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes including a season-best fifth on May 24th. Jason’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.
7. Alvin Roepke, Elmore, Ohio. Alvin competed in all 18 A-mains in 2014. He recorded 12 top 10 finishes and posted his fifth career Fremont win on May 10th. Alvin’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.
6. Steve Rando, Lindsey, Ohio. Steve competed in all 18 A-mains in 2014, recording 11 top 10 finishes and 7 top five runs. He scored wins on April 12th and May 25th to run his career total to five at Fremont. Steve’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.
5. Bobby Clark, Fremont, Ohio. Bobby competed in all 18 A-mains in 2014. He recorded 14 top 10 finishes and 9 top five runs. Bobby scored wins on June 14th and Aug. 12th to run his career total to 29 and move him into 14th on the track’s all-time win list. Bobby’s average A-main finishing position was seventh.
4. John Ivy, Fremont, Ohio. The 3 time 410 sprint track champion, 2 time 305 sprint track champion and defending dirt truck track champion competed in 17 of the 18 A-mains in 2014, missing only the May 25th event. John started the year strong, not finishing out of the top six through May 24th. John posted 14 top 10 finishes and 10 top five runs. John scored his 46th career Fremont win on June 28th and sits sixth on the track’s all-time win list. He also had four runner-up finishes. John’s average A-main finishing position was sixth.
3. Dustin Dinan, Fremont, Ohio. Dustin competed in all 18 A-mains in 2014. He recorded 15 top 10 finishes and 14 top five runs. He picked up his eighth career Fremont win on May 24th and had a pair of third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was sixth.
2. Nate Dussel, Bradner, Ohio. Nate competed in all 18 A-mains in 2014, recording an incredible 16 top 10 finishes and 11 top five runs. Nate posted wins on July 5th, Aug. 9th and Sept. 6th to take his career total to 16. He also recorded three runner-up finishes and three third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was a remarkable fifth.
Here’s the rest of the top 10 in points for the dirt trucks:
Rookie of the Year – Brandon Leighton, Fremont, Ohio. Brandon finished 15th in the track’s final points. He competed in 14 of the 19 A-mains in 2014 with a season-best 9th place finish on May 3rd. His average A-main finishing position was 14th.
10. – Keith Sorg, Fremont, Ohio. Keith competed in 17 of the 19 A-mains in 2014, missing only the May 24th and Aug. 9th events. He recorded 7 top 10 finishes including a season-best sixth on May 17th. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.
9. – Brad Keckler, Fremont, Ohio. Brad competed in 18 of the 19 A-mains in 2014, missing only the May 17th event. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes and 3 top five runs. His season-best finish was a third on May 3rd. His average A-main finishing position was 12th.
8. – Cory McCaughey, Toledo, Ohio. Cory competed in all 19 A-mains in 2014. He recorded 9 top 10 finishes and three top five runs including a season-best pair of fourth place finishes to wrap up the season. Cory’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.
7. – Kent Brewer, Fostoria, Ohio. Kent competed in 17 of the 19 A-mains in 2014, missing the first two events of the season. Kent did not finish out of the top four in the first 7 events he competed in this year. He posted 15 top 10 finishes and 14 top five runs. He scored his third career Fremont win on July 19th and also had three runner-up finishes and seven third place runs. Kent’s average A-main finishing position was fifth.
6. – Dana Fry, Clyde, Ohio. Dana competed in all 19 A-mains in 2014. He posted 10 top 10 finishes including a season-best fourth on Aug. 6th. Dana’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.
5. – Art Ball, Tiffin, Ohio. Art competed in 18 of the 19 A-mains in 2014, missing only opening night. He posted 14 top 10 finishes and 10 top five runs. Art scored two wins in 2014 – May 10th and June 28th to run his career total to 76 to lead all drivers in the history of the track. His average A-main finishing position was seventh.
4. – Dustin Keegan, Fremont, Ohio. Dustin competed in all 19 A-mains in 2014, recording 11 top 10 finishes including a season-best third on April 26th. Dustin’s average A-main finishing position was ninth.
3. – Jeff Ward, Sandusky, Ohio. Jeff competed in all 19 A-mains in 2014, recording an incredible 16 top 10 finishes and five top five runs. He scored a season-best runner-up finish on Aug. 6th and a third on the final night. Jeff’s average A-main finishing position was eighth.
2. – Matt Foos, Fremont, Ohio. Last year’s dirt truck rookie of the year competed in 18 of the 19 A-mains in 2014, missing only the Aug. 6th event. Matt recorded 12 top 10 finishes and 9 top five runs. Matt had four runner-up finishes and a pair of third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was eighth.
For more information on Fremont Speedway go to www.fremontohspeedway.com. For more on the FAST Series go to www.fastondirt.com