From Brian Liskai
Fremont, OH — (September 15, 2012) — Tim Shaffer was sick of finishing second and third. The Aliquippa, Pa. driver took out his frustrations on the field at Fremont Speedway Saturday, dominating the last half of the 50-lap Jim Ford Classic Presented by Ludwig Propane to claim the $10,000 pay day.
The win was Shaffer’s 12th career victory at “The Track That Action Built,” and his sixth win of 2012 with the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions. Shaffer, who leads the series’ national points with just one race left, now has 51 career UNOH All Star victories. Shaffer is aiming to become only the third driver in series’ history to win four straight championships. He is also inching closer to Dale Blaney for the Ohio region championship.
“This feels so good. It’s been awhile. This year it seems like we’ve run seconds and thirds which is not a bad year. But, you want to win…you’re used to winning, it just feels great,” said Shaffer beside his Aaron Call/Janet Holbrook owned #83.
“It was just one of those nights…it was my night and it worked out. My hats off to my guys and this CH Motorsports team. I have great owners and a great crew and it’s really fun to be back up here,” said Shaffer about his Kistler Engines/VRP Shocks backed machine. “We have just kept working harder and harder at it. It feels great…it feels back like it used to be. It just takes time for people to work together and gel together.”
“I really love running this place because it changes throughout the night and you have to move around. It seems to fall in my hands. For the fans this is a great race track and Farmer (Rich, promoter) and the guys did a great job of prepping the track,” added Shaffer in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.
Current Fremont point leader Craig Mintz, who broke bones in his hands earlier in the week in a non-racing related incident, would drive from his 12th starting position to end up second.
“I like the track like this. When it gets black and slick you have to pedal it and it makes for great racing. We didn’t have anything for the 83 car. These guys behind me…Real Geese Decoys/Keller Chevrolet/Erie Shore Propane/R2C Filters/Kistler Engines/Ti22/Wasserman Construction…all these guys help out,” said Mintz.
“My hand is thumping pretty good right now but when you end up on the front stretch it makes the pain go away,” added Mintz.
Danny Holtgraver of Pittsburgh, Pa. has been one of the hottest UNOH All Star drives of late, and he would bring his Kargo Quality Cars/Alternative Power Source/DKW Transport machine home in third.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been standing up here talking to you after a feature at Fremont. We will take it. We had a heck of a race going there for a long time…it was fun,” said Holtgraver.
In the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint feature, Nate Dussel would spin while leading on lap 10, handing the point to D.J. Foos. The Fremont driver who leads the division’s point standings, would pull away for his sixth win of the season at Fremont Speedway. The victory was Foos’ 11th overall as he ended with five wins at Attica Raceway Park. Foos now had nine career wins at Fremont.
“This is amazing. After last night I needed this so bad. Nate Dussel was probably the fastest race car out here…I don’t know what happened, but this feels good after last night,” said Foos beside his Buckshot Farms/Schiets Motorsports/Tender Touch Car Wash/Automatic Fire Protection/Pit Stop Carryouts backed #11F. “This $1,000 really helps after last night. I pay for this 100 percent on my own. My family would help me out if I needed it but this is all me and that’s what makes it so great.”
Fremont’s John Ivy would take the lead from Cory Ward with just three laps to go in the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks, and would go on to his second win of the year in the division. Ivy added a 305 feature win the previous night and now has 35 career wins at Fremont to take over sole possession of 9th on the track’s all-time win list.
“I would have liked to have been a little bit better in the 305 feature earlier. But, Charlie and Craig have been working real hard on this. They almost weren’t going to bring it this weekend because they’ve been having bad luck here. But, I’m pretty sure they are glad they did,” said Ivy of his $1,000 win aboard the Diversified Machine and Welding/Perkins Tree Service/Level Performance/Vision Quest backed #94. “I’ve torn this thing up a few times but Charlie and Craig and the guys bust their butts on this thing. I hurt it a little bit last night and they straightened a panhard bar on it and they said race it.”
In the 50-lap UNOH All Star feature, Dean Jacobs and Shaffer would bring the field to the green with Jacobs getting the jump. Shaffer, Brad Bowman, Byron Reed, Stevie Smith, Holtgraver, Chris Andrews and Bryan Sebetto would be in pursuit. With three laps in, Smith would spin in turn three to bring out the caution with the running order now Jacobs, Shaffer, Reed, Bowman, Holtgraver, Sebetto, Andrews and Mintz.
Jacobs would pull away slightly when the green reappeared, but Shaffer would track him down and began applying pressure by lap six. But, Danny Smith would stop in turn four with engine problems to bring the yellow back out. Again on the restart Jacobs would pull away from Shaffer with Reed having his hands full with a charger Sebetto while Holtgraver, Andrews, and Mintz waged a terrific battle for fourth.
Sebetto would take the third position on lap 14 as Shaffer began closing on Jacobs. By lap 16, Shaffer and Jacobs were racing side-by-side in turns three and four as Reed rebounded to regain third from Sebetto. As they completed lap 17, Shaffer would drive under Jacobs in turns one and two to take the lead.
By lap 20, Shaffer raced into lapped traffic as now Jacobs had his hands full with Sebetto for second. Sebetto would grab the runner-up spot on lap 21 and two laps later, Holtgraver would blast under Jacobs for third, bringing Andrews and Mintz with him. At the half-way point Shaffer held a four car length lead over Sebetto with Holtgraver, Andrews, Mintz and Cap Henry in pursuit. Over the next four laps the crowd was treated to a fantastic battle for third between Andrews, Holtgraver, Mintz and Henry.
On lap 29, Holtgraver would drive under Sebetto to take the second spot and with 19 laps to go, Mintz would follow suit to take third. Meanwhile, Shaffer was steadily picking off lapped cars and lengthening his lead. The battle for third was still intense involving Mintz, Sebetto, Andrews, Henry and 19th starter Dale Blaney.
The caution would fly on lap 37 for Caleb Helms who stopped on the outside of turn three. Shaffer had three lapped cars separating him from Holtgraver. On the restart, Mintz would drive under Holtgraver to take second and started to close on Shaffer. Stuart Brubaker would bring out the final caution on lap 40.
On the ensuing restart, Shaffer only had one lapped car between him and Mintz with Holtgraver, Sebetto, Andrews and Blaney in tow. With a clear track, Shaffer was able to pull away from Mintz as Holtgraver ran comfortably in third while Sebetto, Blaney and Andrews continued to race hard four fourth.
Shaffer drove away to the win over Mintz, Holtgraver, Blaney and Andrews.
Paige Polyak and Nate Dussel would bring the field to the green in the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, with Dussel gaining the upper hand over fourth starting Foos with Polyak, Zack Kramer, John Ivy, Dustin Dinan and Chris Bell in tow. Dussel and Foos would pull away from the field and just as they were about to get into lapped traffic by the sixth circuit, the caution would fly for Kramer.
When the green came back Dussel and Foos pulled away again with Polyak, Ivy, Bell, Paul Weaver and Dustin Dinan in tow. Dussel would spin in turn two on lap 10, handing the lead to Foos. On the restart Foos pulled away from a good second place battle between Polyak and Ivy with Weaver moving into fourth.
Just as Foos was set to encounter heavy lapped traffic with 10 laps to go, T.J. Michael would drive off the high side of turn four to bring out the caution. ON the restart, with a clear track, Foos again pulled away from the battle for second between Polyak and Ivy with Bell getting around Weaver for fourth and 16th starter Jamie Miller moving into sixth.
Foos would find the back of the pack with just three laps to go, but it didn’t matter as he would drive to the victory over Polyak, Ivy, Bell and Miller.
In the 20-lap truck feature, Willie Keegan and Jimmy McGrath Jr. bringing the field to the green with Keegan gaining the advantage. With four laps in, a multi-truck crash would involve Ben Good, Gene Potridge, Dana Frey and Brad Mitten. On the restart the running order was Willie Keegan, McGrath, Dan Roepke Jr., Cory Ward, Dustin Keegan, John Ivy, Art Ball and Kent Brewer.
Ward would drive from fourth to second on lap seven, bringing Ivy into third. McGrath Jr. would spin on lap 11 to bring out the yellow, and on the restart both Ward and Ivy drove around Keegan for the top two spots. Roepke would move into third on lap 14 as Ivy began pressuring Ward for the lead.
Dustin Keegan would stop on lap 15 to bring out the caution, and on the restart Ivy would drive under Ward to take the lead, but for naught, as Shawn Valenti got into a tangle to bring the yellow back out. However, on the ensuing restart, Ward would again go to the high side, allowing Ivy to drive under and into the lead.
Ivy would hold off Ward for the win with Roepke, Ball and Brewer rounding out the top five.
In the two Surf’n Sweepstakes Sports Compacts features, Tyler Sherman of Clyde would battle with Brandon Myers the first half of the race in the opening event before taking his second win of the season. And in the second feature Myers would hold off a charge from Kelsey Ivy to claim his second win of the year.
Fremont Speedway will be idle on Sept. 23, but will come back to action for Kistler Racing Products Season Championship Night on Saturday, Sept. 29.
For more information go to www.fremontohspeeedway.com.
Fremont Speedway – 9/15/2012
Ludwig Propane Night
UNOH All Star 410 Sprints (29 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Kistler Engines
1. 55-Brad Bowman, 12.856; 2. D4-Danny Holtgraver, 12.932; 3. 83-Tim Shaffer, 12.933; 4. 53-Phil Gressman, 12.944; 5. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.952; 6. 89G-David Gravel, 12.961; 7. 97-Dean Jacobs, 12.973; 8. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.975; 9. 19-Stevie Smith, 12.984; 10. 40-Caleb Helms, 12.985; 11. 24H-Bryan Sebetto, 12.995; 12. 16-Chris Andrews, 13.013; 13. 60K-Jody Keegan, 13.043; 14. O-Chris Bell, 13.050; 15. 45-Paul McMahan, 13.050; 16. 4-Danny Smith, 13.081; 17. 7K-Cole Duncan, 13.098; 18. 54-Cap Henry, 13.105; 19. 2-Dale Blaney , 13.122; 20. 3L-Mike Linder, 13.131; 21. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 13.133; 22. 29-Rob Chaney, 13.192; 23. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.195; 24. 11X-Brandon Martin, 13.255; 25. 8-Mike Lutz, 13.257; 26. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.277; 27. 70-Derek Hager, 13.341; 28. O8-Dan Kurriger, 13.595; 29. 5K-Adam Kekich, 99.000
Heat 1 – Kear’s Speed Shop (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 60K-Jody Keegan[2] ; 2. 40-Caleb Helms[3] ; 3. 4-Danny Smith[1] ; 4. 55-Brad Bowman[6] ; 5. 97-Dean Jacobs[4] ; 6. 29-Rob Chaney[8] ; 7. 53-Phil Gressman[5] ; 8. 2-Dale Blaney [7] ; 9. 8-Mike Lutz[9] ; 10. O8-Dan Kurriger[10]
Heat 2 – All Pro Cylinder Heads (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. O-Chris Bell[2] ; 2. 7K-Cole Duncan[1] ; 3. 5R-Byron Reed[4] ; 4. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[3] ; 5. D4-Danny Holtgraver[6] ; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[8] ; 7. 3L-Mike Linder[7] ; 8. O9-Craig Mintz[5] ; 9. 2+-Brian Smith[9] ; 10. 5K-Adam Kekich[10]
Heat 3 – Dragon Race Fuels (10 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 54-Cap Henry[1] ; 2. 45-Paul McMahan[2] ; 3. 19-Stevie Smith[4] ; 4. 11X-Brandon Martin[8] ; 5. 16-Chris Andrews[3] ; 6. 83-Tim Shaffer[6] ; 7. 89G-David Gravel[5] ; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[7] ; 9. 70-Derek Hager[9]
Dash – Outerwears Performance Products (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 97-Dean Jacobs[1] ; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer[3] ; 3. 55-Brad Bowman[5] ; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[2] ; 5. 19-Stevie Smith[4] ; 6. D4-Danny Holtgraver[6]
B-Main – MSD Ignititions (12 Laps – Top 6 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2-Dale Blaney [4] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[2] ; 3. 89G-David Gravel[3] ; 4. 53-Phil Gressman[1] ; 5. 3L-Mike Linder[5] ; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker[6] ; 7. 2+-Brian Smith[8] ; 8. 8-Mike Lutz[7] ; 9. O8-Dan Kurriger[10] ; 10. 70-Derek Hager[9] ; 11. 5K-Adam Kekich[11]
A-Main – (50 Laps)
1. 83-Tim Shaffer[2]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[12]; 3. D4-Danny Holtgraver[6]; 4. 2-Dale Blaney [19]; 5. 16-Chris Andrews[9]; 6. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[8]; 7. 54-Cap Henry[18]; 8. W20-Greg Wilson[23]; 9. 89G-David Gravel[13]; 10. 11X-Brandon Martin[24]; 11. 5R-Byron Reed[4]; 12. 45-Paul McMahan[15]; 13. 97-Dean Jacobs[1]; 14. O-Chris Bell[14]; 15. 55-Brad Bowman[3]; 16. 7K-Cole Duncan[17]; 17. 29-Rob Chaney[22]; 18. 3L-Mike Linder[20]; 19. 60K-Jody Keegan[10]; 20. 35-Stuart Brubaker[21]; 21. 40-Caleb Helms[7]; 22. 19-Stevie Smith[5]; 23. 53-Phil Gressman[11]; 24. 4-Danny Smith[16]
Hard Charger: 2-Dale Blaney [+15]
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (27 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8K-Zack Kramer[1] ; 2. 5-Dustin Dinan[6] ; 3. 68G-Tyler Gunn[2] ; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver[5] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 6. 10-Josh Harrison[8] ; 7. 4X-TJ Michael[7] ; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 9. 88-Jake Trevino[9]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Chris Bell[1] ; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[5] ; 3. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[2] ; 4. 8I-John Ivy[9] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[6] ; 6. 10S-Roger Shammo[8] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[7] ; 8. 7p-Brandon Moore[3]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[2] ; 2. 13-Junior Felver[4] ; 3. 27-Paige Polyak[6] ; 4. 1-Nate Dussel[8] ; 5. 5R-Jordan Ryan[5] ; 6. 4M-Jamie Miller[7] ; 7. 25-Jason Keckler[3] ; 8. O8-Andy Feil[1] ; 9. 8-Jerry Smith[9]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 4M-Jamie Miller[3] ; 2. 10S-Roger Shammo[2] ; 3. 25-Jason Keckler[6] ; 4. 10-Josh Harrison[1] ; 5. 8J-Jess Stiger[5] ; 6. 4X-TJ Michael[4] ; 7. O8-Andy Feil[7] ; 8. 8-Jerry Smith[-] ; 9. 7P-Brandon Moore[8]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[4]; 2. 27-Paige Polyak[1]; 3. 8I-John Ivy[5]; 4. 40-Chris Bell[7]; 5. 4M-Jamie Miller[16]; 6. 1W-Paul Weaver[9]; 7. 19R-Steve Rando[3]; 8. 5-Dustin Dinan[8]; 9. 1-Nate Dussel[2]; 10. 25-Jason Keckler[18]; 11. 36-Seth Schneider[11]; 12. 10S-Roger Shammo[15]; 13. 68G-Tyler Gunn[10]; 14. 10-Josh Harrison[17]; 15. 8J-Jess Stiger[20]; 16. 22D-Dan Hammond[14]; 17. 4X-TJ Michael[19]; 18. 13-Junior Felver[12]; 19. 8K-Zack Kramer[6]; 20. 5R-Jordan Ryan[13]
Hard Charger: 4M-Jamie Miller[+11]
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (27 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8K-Zack Kramer[1] ; 2. 5-Dustin Dinan[6] ; 3. 68G-Tyler Gunn[2] ; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver[5] ; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[3] ; 6. 10-Josh Harrison[8] ; 7. 4X-TJ Michael[7] ; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 9. 88-Jake Trevino[9]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40-Chris Bell[1] ; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[5] ; 3. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[2] ; 4. 8I-John Ivy[9] ; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond[6] ; 6. 10S-Roger Shammo[8] ; 7. 8J-Jess Stiger[7] ; 8. 7p-Brandon Moore[3]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[2] ; 2. 13-Junior Felver[4] ; 3. 27-Paige Polyak[6] ; 4. 1-Nate Dussel[8] ; 5. 5R-Jordan Ryan[5] ; 6. 4M-Jamie Miller[7] ; 7. 25-Jason Keckler[3] ; 8. O8-Andy Feil[1] ; 9. 8-Jerry Smith[9]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 4M-Jamie Miller[3] ; 2. 10S-Roger Shammo[2] ; 3. 25-Jason Keckler[6] ; 4. 10-Josh Harrison[1] ; 5. 8J-Jess Stiger[5] ; 6. 4X-TJ Michael[4] ; 7. O8-Andy Feil[7] ; 8. 8-Jerry Smith[9] ; 9. 7P-Brandon Moore[8]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 11F-D.J. Foos[4]; 2. 27-Paige Polyak[1]; 3. 8I-John Ivy[5]; 4. 40-Chris Bell[7]; 5. 4M-Jamie Miller[16]; 6. 1W-Paul Weaver[9]; 7. 19R-Steve Rando[3]; 8. 5-Dustin Dinan[8]; 9. 1-Nate Dussel[2]; 10. 25-Jason Keckler[18]; 11. 36-Seth Schneider[11]; 12. 10S-Roger Shammo[15]; 13. 68G-Tyler Gunn[10]; 14. 10-Josh Harrison[17]; 15. 8J-Jess Stiger[20]; 16. 22D-Dan Hammond[14]; 17. 4X-TJ Michael[19]; 18. 13-Junior Felver[12]; 19. 8K-Zack Kramer[6]; 20. 5R-Jordan Ryan[13]
Hard Charger: 4M-Jamie Miller[+11]
Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks (22 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. D1-Dustin Keegan[2] ; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[6] ; 3. O1-Art Ball[7] ; 4. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[8] ; 5. 23M-Brad Mitten[3] ; 6. 45-Brian Melnek Jr.[1] ; 7. 18-Jeff Ward[4] ; 8. 99X-Gene Potridge[5]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[1] ; 2. 16-Steve Sabo[2] ; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[7] ; 4. 94-John Ivy[5] ; 5. 4X-Brian Sorg[4] ; 6. 115-Ben Good[6] ; 7. 95-Keith Sorg[3]
Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. X-Dana Frey[2] ; 2. 9-Curt Inks[1] ; 3. P51-Willie Keegan[4] ; 4. O-Andy Keegan[7] ; 5. 5-Jim McGrath Sr.[5] ; 6. 17-Bob Dible[3]
A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. 94-John Ivy[10]; 2. 18W-Cory Ward[5]; 3. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[4]; 4. O1-Art Ball[7]; 5. 8KB-Kent Brewer[8]; 6. P51-Willie Keegan[1]; 7. 16-Steve Sabo[9]; 8. 9-Curt Inks[6]; 9. 45-Brian Melnek Jr.[16]; 10. 5-Jim McGrath Sr.[15]; 11. 23M-Brad Mitten[13]; 12. 4X-Brian Sorg[14]; 13. 95-Keith Sorg[20]; 14. 115-Ben Good[17]; 15. X-Dana Frey[11]; 16. 18-Jeff Ward[19]; 17. 99X-Gene Potridge[21]; 18. O-Andy Keegan[12]; 19. D1-Dustin Keegan[3]; 20. 3R-Shawn Valenti[22]; 21. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[2]
Hard Charger: 94-John Ivy[+9]
Surf’n Sweepstakes Sport Compacts (8 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
A-Main – (12 Laps)
1. 32-Brandon Myers[6]; 2. 20-Kelsey Ivy[1]; 3. 77-Steve Pocock[7]; 4. ?R²-Trent Laird[8]; 5. 25-Derek Genzman[3]; 6. 5-Tyler Sherman[5]
Hard Charger: 32-Brandon Myers[+5]