By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio – Byron Reed has often said he hates leading late in a race – he’d rather be in second. He got his wish Saturday, July 30 at Fremont Speedway.
The Monclova, Ohio driver was trailing Craig Mintz with five laps to go as the pair raced through heavy lapped traffic. That forced Mintz, the defending Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint track champion, to decide how to maneuver. Reed used the lapped machines as a pick and drove under Mintz exiting turn four with four laps to go to take the lead.
Reed, who started 13th in the 30-lap feature, would go on to claim his third win of the season on Kistler Engines Night and his 19th career victory at The Track that Action Built, moving him into a tie with hall-of-famer Jim Fleming for 19th on the track’s all-time win list.
The win also propelled Reed into second in the chase for the Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title (FAST) Championship Series title and the $10,000 that goes with it. Reed, the defending FAST champion, is now just two points behind Dean Jacobs.
“It seems like the last couple of weeks it hasn’t been a lot of fun for some reason so something like that makes it fun again. Hopefully we can build off that,” said Reed in the Engine Pro Victory Lane beside his Crown Battery, Reebar Diecasting, ProShocks backed #5. “It’s tough when you’re leading…you don’t want to take a chance but you really need to cause you know someone is on you and the lapped cars are all over the place. I was just lucky to hit a spot where he (Mintz) wasn’t.”
“Last night (Attica where he drove off the track battling in the top five) I probably was driving too hard. Tonight I told myself even though I was starting 13th I need to race hard but not take chances I should take and it worked out. I have to say happy birthday to my dad and my helper Kevin,” added Reed.
The 25-lap feature for the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints came down to the last few feet. Bobby Clark and Stuart Brubaker were side-by-side coming to the checkered and the two touched, sending Brubaker flipping across the start-finish line with Clark taking the win by less than half a car-length. Clark had led from the start, but with four laps to go Brubaker, the defending track champion was quickly closing. As they took the white flag the pair raced side by side all the way around the track. Brubaker shot low in turns three and four and slid up next to Clark who did not give an inch. They touched with both weaving toward the checkers.
“I was getting loose getting in if I got in too low. I was slowing down so I tried to get in higher but the higher I got in I got tight. I knew Brubaker would be coming. He runs hard…he races you hard…I just made up my mind I wasn’t lifting. I’m glad it wasn’t our car tore up,” said Clark of his second win of the season.
“I have to thank my crew…they worked hard…Scott and Matt,” added Clark beside his Fremont Fence/Jenny’s Copper Penny, B&L Plumbing/Kear’s Speed Shop backed #8k.
The win is Clark’s 26th of his career at Fremont, moving him into a tie with the late hall-of-famer De Genzman for 15th on the track’s all-time win list. “That is definitely an honor…if I only end up tied with him I know I’ve done well,” he responded.
Brubaker exited his torn up car and bowed to the cheering crowd. “I knew I only had one last shot. I don’t like to race like that and Bobby knows it. I thought I had him cleared…I saw his left front. I knew I had to slide him because we were both running the cushion. It was for the win and we came up just short,” he said.
The last 10 laps of the Fremont Fence & Guardrail Dirt Truck feature saw four trucks battling for the win. When the dust settled it was Castalia’s Dan Hennig standing in the Engine Pro Victory Lane for the second time this season. It was the ninth win of his career at Fremont Speedway.
“I hope that was as much fun for the fans to watch as it was for me out here driving. We changed a lot of stuff…during the heat race it absolutely sucked. I didn’t think I was going to be even close to getting up front. We changed some stuff around. I want to thank Collin, my son, for crewing for me and my brother Dustin and my dad Bob,” said Hennig beside Liberty Tax Service, Peans Pizza and Subs, Fleener Transmissions, Riedy’s Auto World backed #32h.
Roger Campbell and Mike Dussel led the field to the green in the 30-lap 410 sprint feature with Campbell taking the lead while fourth-place starter Craig Mintz moved into second. Fifth place starter Phil Gressman would grab third on the second lap as Mintz closed on Campbell. Just as Mintz and Campbell raced side-by-side for the lead coming down to complete the fifth lap, Mike Burkin would spin in turn four right in front of the leaders. Campbell would make contact with Burkin as Mintz ducked low, with Gressman also making contact. Gressman would stand on the gas, pushing Campbell around as he kept rolling. Campbell would retire to the pits, handing the lead to Mintz.
On the restart, Mintz would pull away from Gressman with Dussel, Kevin Lee, Bruce White and Mike Linder in tow. Lee would take third on lap six as Mintz began to check out with Gressman comfortably in second. With eight laps in, Reed had worked his way from 13th to sixth. Just as Mintz hit the back of the field, Bryan Sebetto would spin to bring out the caution on lap 10.
With a clear track Mintz would rocket away from Gressman and Lee with Reed driving past both White and Dussel into fourth. At the half-way point Mintz had a huge lead over Gressman as Lee battled with Reed. The final caution would fly for Cole Duncan on lap 16. On the restart Mintz pulled away again from Gressman as Lee and Reed continued their battle with Linder, Brad Bowman and 20th place starter Dean Jacobs in tow. Reed would drive around Lee into third on lap 17 and take second a circuit later.
It seemed Mintz had an insurmountable lead as he caught the back of the field with eight laps to go. But, as the lapped cars raced side-by-side, Mintz was forced out of his high line and Reed began to close. With five laps to go Reed had wiped out a 10 car length deficit and was right on Mintz’ rear bumper. On lap 26 as the pair raced in lapped traffic, Reed would dive under Mintz for the lead. Mintz would not give up and as they raced into turns three and four on the final lap pulled right in on Reed. Reed was able to hold off the last lap challenge and take the win by a car length over Mintz. Gressman, Lee and Jacobs would round out the top five.
Bobby Clark would grab the lead at the drop of the green in the 305 sprint feature with Jason Keckler pressuring while Jimmy Colvin, Dustin Dinan, Nate Dussel, Brubaker and Paul Weaver in tow. Colvin would spin in turn two as they raced into the second lap, collecting Weaver and Dussel, ending all of their nights.
After Jamie Miller got into the front stretch wall on the restart, Clark and Keckler would continue their battle for the lead with Brubaker, Dinan and Paige Polyak in tow. On lap four D.J. Foos would find the front stretch wall to bring out the caution. Again on the restart Clark and Keckler would battle up front with Brubaker, Dinan, Polyak, Seth Schneider and 15th place starter Bryan Scott following.
As the laps clicked off Clark began to pull away from Keckler as he raced into lapped traffic on the 13th circuit. With 10 laps to go Clark was getting set to lap the 10th place running machine but Keckler had his hands full with Brubaker and Polyak. With five laps to go Clark’s lead was quickly evaporating as Keckler, Brubaker and Polyak began to close. Brubaker would grab second on lap 21 and with two laps to go was right on Clark’s rear bumper, setting up the wild finish.
Behind Clark and Brubaker at the checkered were Keckler, Polyak and Dinan.
John Ivy took the lead at the drop of the green in the dirt truck feature with Kent Brewer, Hennig, Bob Dible, Jim McGrath and Daniel Roepke Jr. in tow. Ivy would begin to pull away as the battle for second was a dandy between Brewer, Hennig, McGrath, Dible, Steve Sabo and Roepke. Dible would bring out the first caution on lap 9 with a flat tire. Ivy seemed to have the race in control, pulling away on the restart. But, at the half-way mark, he spun in turn two, handing the lead to Brewer with Hennig, McGrath, Roepke and Sabo giving chase.
Following a lap 12 caution for Phil Burroughs coming to a stop on the track, Hennig would make his move on the restart, shooting around Brewer into the lead. With five laps remaining, the caution would fly for debris, setting up a shoot-out. Hennig and Roepke would race side by side on the restart with McGrath, Brewer and 17th place starter Art Ball pressuring. Hennig was finally able to pull away slightly over the remaining three laps with rookie Roepke finishing second followed by Ball, McGrath and Brewer.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, Aug. 6 on Burger King Night featuring the 410 and 305 sprints and the dirt trucks battling the stock cars.
For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com
Fremont Speedway – 7/30/2011
Kistler Engines Night
Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (26 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 45-Kevin Lee, 12.98; 2. 51-Brad Bowman, 13.18; 3. 312-Mike Linder, 13.18; 4. 45L-Brian Lay, 13.18; 5. 12-Jarred Ridge, 13.19; 6. 53-Phil Gressman, 13.23; 7. O9-Craig Mintz, 13.31; 8. 96AU-Bruce White, 13.32; 9. 14H-Todd Heller, 13.33; 10. 3T-Tony Beaber, 13.33; 11. O-Mike Dussel, 13.34; 12. 51C-Roger Campbell, 13.36; 13. 5R-Byron Reed, 13.43; 14. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton, 13.48; 15. 4K-Kody Kinser, 13.49; 16. 16-Bryan Sebetto, 13.51; 17. 48-Mike Burkin, 13.60; 18. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.65; 19. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 13.71; 20. 1X-Matt Linder, 13.71; 21. 10-Brad Haudenschild, 13.80; 22. 97-Dean Jacobs, 13.83; 23. 5M-Max Stambaugh, 13.89; 24. 60-Jody Keegan, 13.95; 25. 41J-Jermey Powley, 15.93; 26. 2+-Brian Smith, 99.00
Heat 1 – Heat 1 (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 16-Bryan Sebetto[1] ; 2. 5R-Byron Reed[2] ; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[4] ; 4. 45-Kevin Lee[6] ; 5. 97-Dean Jacobs[8] ; 6. 3T-Tony Beaber[3] ; 7. 45L-Brian Lay[5] ; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[7] ; 9. 41J-Jermey Powley[9]
Heat 2 – Heat 2 (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton[2] ; 2. 48-Mike Burkin[1] ; 3. 96AU-Bruce White[4] ; 4. O-Mike Dussel[3] ; 5. 12-Jarred Ridge[5] ; 6. 51-Brad Bowman[6] ; 7. 5M-Max Stambaugh[8] ; 8. 2+-Brian Smith[9] ; 9. 1X-Matt Linder[7]
Heat 3 – Heat 3 (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 22-Cole Duncan[1] ; 2. 4K-Kody Kinser[2] ; 3. 53-Phil Gressman[5] ; 4. 51C-Roger Campbell[3] ; 5. 312-Mike Linder[6] ; 6. 14H-Todd Heller[4] ; 7. 10-Brad Haudenschild[7] ; 8. 60-Jody Keegan[8]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 51-Brad Bowman[1] ; 2. 45L-Brian Lay[2] ; 3. 14H-Todd Heller[3] ; 4. 3T-Tony Beaber[4] ; 5. 1X-Matt Linder[6] ; 6. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5] ; 7. 60-Jody Keegan[9] ; 8. 10-Brad Haudenschild[7] ; 9. 5M-Max Stambaugh[8] ; 10. 2+-Brian Smith[11] ; 11. 41J-Jermey Powley[10]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 5R-Byron Reed[13]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[4]; 3. 53-Phil Gressman[5]; 4. 45-Kevin Lee[8]; 5. 97-Dean Jacobs[20]; 6. 312-Mike Linder[7]; 7. 16-Bryan Sebetto[16]; 8. 45L-Brian Lay[10]; 9. 51-Brad Bowman[9]; 10. 14H-Todd Heller[11]; 11. 96AU-Bruce White[3]; 12. 1X-Matt Linder[19]; 13. 3T-Tony Beaber[12]; 14. O-Mike Dussel[2]; 15. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton[14]; 16. 22-Cole Duncan[18]; 17. 4K-Kody Kinser[15]; 18. 51C-Roger Campbell[1]; 19. 12-Jarred Ridge[6]; 20. 48-Mike Burkin[17]
Hard Charger: 97-Dean Jacobs[+15]
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (26 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Heat 1 (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5-Dustin Dinan[2] ; 2. 4M-Jamie Miller[5] ; 3. 27-Paige Polyak[3] ; 4. 8K-Bobby Clark[9] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[4] ; 6. 39-Matt Merrill[8] ; 7. 10S-Roger Shammo[7] ; 8. 36X-Dustin Keegan[6] ; 9. 30-Adam Ollom[1]
Heat 2 – Heat 2 (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[9] ; 2. 1-Nate Dussel[7] ; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond[1] ; 4. 9-Jimmy Colvin[8] ; 5. 5R-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 6. 77S-Jim Sipe[3] ; 7. 72C-Ross Moore[2] ; 8. 94-John Ivy[5] ; 9. 8B-Zack Kramer[6]
Heat 3 – Heat 3 (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 35-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 2. 25-Jason Keckler[2] ; 3. 8J-Jess Stiger[1] ; 4. 11F-D.J. Foos[7] ; 5. OOS-Bryan Scott[6] ; 6. M28-Josh Muntz[5] ; 7. 10-Josh Harrison[8] ; 8. 80-Jake Trevino[3]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. M28-Josh Muntz[3] ; 2. 10S-Roger Shammo[4] ; 3. 39-Matt Merrill[1] ; 4. 8B-Zack Kramer[11] ; 5. 10-Josh Harrison[6] ; 6. 36X-Dustin Keegan[7] ; 7. 77S-Jim Sipe[2] ; 8. 30-Adam Ollom[10] ; 9. 72C-Ross Moore[5] ; 10. 80-Jake Trevino[9]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 8K-Bobby Clark[2]; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[5]; 3. 25-Jason Keckler[1]; 4. 27-Paige Polyak[7]; 5. 5-Dustin Dinan[4]; 6. M28-Josh Muntz[16]; 7. 36-Seth Schneider[13]; 8. 5R-Jordan Ryan[14]; 9. OOS-Bryan Scott[15]; 10. 10S-Roger Shammo[17]; 11. 10-Josh Harrison[20]; 12. 8J-Jess Stiger[12]; 13. 22D-Dan Hammond[11]; 14. 11F-D.J. Foos[9]; 15. 8B-Zack Kramer[19]; 16. 4M-Jamie Miller[10]; 17. 9-Jimmy Colvin[3]; 18. 1-Nate Dussel[6]; 19. 1W-Paul Weaver[8]; 20. 39-Matt Merrill[18]
Hard Charger: M28-Josh Muntz[+10]
Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks (30 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – Heat 1 (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5-Jim McGrath[2] ; 2. 36X-Phil Burroughs[3] ; 3. 8KB-Kent Brewer[7] ; 4. 79-Andrew Lutman[8] ; 5. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[1] ; 6. 92-Loren Schwochow[6] ; 7. 6-Linda Sabo[4] ; 8. 50-Jeff Potridge[5]
Heat 2 – Heat 2 (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. OO-John Ivy[6] ; 2. 16-Steve Sabo[2] ; 3. P51-Willie Keegan[8] ; 4. 4X-Brian Sorg[5] ; 5. O1-Art Ball[7] ; 6. 23M-Brad Mitten[3] ; 7. 99X-Gene Potridge[4] ; 8. 41C-Chad Stahl[1]
Heat 3 – Heat 3 (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 17-Bob Dible[6] ; 2. 32H-Dan Hennig[4] ; 3. 99-Art Howey Jr.[7] ; 4. O-Jim Keegan[3] ; 5. 9-Curt Inks[2] ; 6. 115-Ben Good[5] ; 7. 14-Scott Beard[1]
Heat 4 – Heat 4 (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 18W-Cory Ward[1] ; 2. 8-Steve Endicott[2] ; 3. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[3] ; 4. 84-Tony Siferd[4] ; 5. 3R-Chuck Roelle[6] ; 6. 30-Dave Gibbs[7] ; 7. 4S-Keith Sorg[5]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O1-Art Ball[2] ; 2. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[1] ; 3. 3R-Chuck Roelle[4] ; 4. 9-Curt Inks[3] ; 5. 99X-Gene Potridge[10] ; 6. 30-Dave Gibbs[8] ; 7. 92-Loren Schwochow[5] ; 8. 4S-Keith Sorg[12] ; 9. 41C-Chad Stahl[14] ; 10. 23M-Brad Mitten[6] ; 11. 14-Scott Beard[11]
A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. 32H-Dan Hennig[4]; 2. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[10]; 3. O1-Art Ball[15]; 4. 5-Jim McGrath[8]; 5. 8KB-Kent Brewer[1]; 6. 16-Steve Sabo[3]; 7. 18W-Cory Ward[5]; 8. P51-Willie Keegan[12]; 9. OO-John Ivy[2]; 10. 3R-Chuck Roelle[17]; 11. 17-Bob Dible[6]; 12. 4X-Brian Sorg[14]; 13. 9-Curt Inks[20]; 14. 8-Steve Endicott[9]; 15. O-Jim Keegan[13]; 16. 36X-Phil Burroughs[11]; 17. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[18]; 18. 84-Tony Siferd[16]; 19. 99-Art Howey Jr.[7]; 20. 79-Andrew Lutman[19]
Hard Charger: O1-Art Ball[+12]
©2011 – Results Provided by: Computer Man Inc. Fremont, OH