From Brian Lisaki
FREMONT, Ohio – Over its 60 year history, Fremont Speedway has played host to many big sprint car events. Some of the biggest names in racing have tried to conquer “The Track That Action Built.” When the World of Outlaw sprint cars come to town on Saturday, Oct. 15, it could be one of the most exciting events in the track’s history as the talented local drivers have a legitimate shot at defeating the tough touring stars.
The Joe Stelter Memorial – honoring the man who began Fremont Speedway as its first promoter in 1951 – has a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 16. The night’s racing action is sponsored by Coors Light and Miller Light. Gates will open at 3 p.m. Saturday (and Sunday if needed) with racing underway at 7 p.m.
According to information from the World of Outlaws, “The Greatest Show on Dirt” has made four appearances at Fremont Speedway, the last coming May 22, 1993 with Stevie Smith taking the victory. Frankie Kerr, who called Fremont, Ohio home for many years while he campaigned the Stan Shoff #23s machine, won World of Outlaw events at Fremont in August 1992 and August 1991. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Doug Wolfgang won the only other World of Outlaw event at Fremont, that coming on May 19, 1990.
Defending World of Outlaws champion Jason Meyers has caught fire of late. The current series point leader has won four straight, including the Williams Grove National Open. Meyers scored an All Star Circuit of Champions win at Fremont Speedway on May 29, holding off Tim Shaffer, who has scored three wins at the speedway in 2011, including the $10,000 Ohio Sprint Speedweek finale.
Meyers has eight World of Outlaw wins in 2011 behind 20 time series champion and Tony Stewart Racing driver Steve Kinser (second in WoO points) and Craig Dollansky (fifth in WoO points) who each have nine wins. Tony Stewart Racing’s Donny Schatz, who holds four series championships, sits third in the World of Outlaw points with six series wins, with Casey Kahne Racing’s Paul McMahan is fourth with four series wins.
Rounding out the World of Outlaws’ top 10 are Jason Sides (4 wins), Lucas Wolf, Kraig Kinser (1 win), former Fremont native Chad Kemenah and Cody Darrah, while former series champion Sammy Swindell (4 wins) and Kasey Kahne Racing’s Joey Saldana (6 wins) follow.
Steve Kinser has two career wins at Fremont, while Kemenah owns 11 career Fremont victories, and Swindell has one career win at the track.
However, while the stars of the World of Outlaws have had success at the tricky one-third mile clay oval, 2011 has seen some exciting weekly racing. Fremont native Bryan Sebetto earned the track’s 2011 championship with four feature wins, including holding off Shaffer in an exciting Jim Ford Classic on Sept. 17 for a $10,000 payday. Dean Jacobs, who earned the 2011 Attica Raceway Park championship, finished second in Fremont Speedway’s points, while three time speedway champion Byron Reed was third with three feature wins.
Fremont Speedway’s 2010 champion Craig Mintz finished fourth in the 2011 points, while Phil Gressman, who scored a feature win, was fifth followed by rookie Brad Haudenschild (1 speedway win), Mike Linder (1 speedway win), Brian Smith, Jody Keegan and Duane Zablocki.
Three time All Star champion Dale Blaney also scored an All Star win at Fremont in 2011 and holds 12 career victories at the track. Two time All Star champion Greg Wilson has scored two wins at Fremont in 2011, including the most recent event on Oct. 8, his ninth career victory at the track.
The top 24 in the track’s final points in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints and Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks will also compete in A-mains only. Thanks to Kear’s Speed Shop and Fremont Speedway, an extra $1,000 has been added to the 305 sprint feature total purse, while Fremont Speedway promoter Rich Farmer has also added $1,000 to the purse for the dirt truck event.
Reserved tickets for the World of Outlaws event are still available and are $40 each. Adult general admission tickets the day of the event are $35 with teens ages 11-16 $20 and kids 10 and under free. Pit passes are $40 each. To view a seating chart for reserved tickets go to www.fremontohspeedway.com or call 419-307-4241.
Fremont Speedway is located in the Sandusky County Fairgrounds at the corner of Rawson Ave. and North Street, just south of Ohio Turnpike Exit 91 and the U.S. 20 bypass.