From Brian Liskai
Fremont, OH — (August 8, 2015) — Broc Martin was beginning to question whether all the time and effort in the garage was really worth it. The Wooster, Ohio sprint car driver was struggling throughout 2015. But, that all changed Saturday on Miller Rigging/Mac & Bob’s Service Garage Night.
Martin passed race long leader Brian Smith with eight laps to go, and then held off a charging Byron Reed for his first career win in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints. Reed had charged from his 16th starting spot and was right on Martin’s bumper with three laps to go, but an uncharacteristic bobble on the cushion in turn four by Reed gave Martin all he needed to score the victory.
“When that red came out (with 7 laps to go) and I heard them say Byron was up to fifth from 16th and everything was going through my mind. I knew I just had to stay relaxed. Byron and Dean (Jacobs) and Craig Mintz…I look up to those guys so much. That’s what I aspire to be…a tough local like that every week. Congratulations to Byron for winning the FAST deal…he’s still one of the best up here every,” said Martin beside his Jim Smith Enterprises, Santmyer Oil, Guerne Heights Drive-In, Rick at Mt. Dew, Orrville Trucking, Pel Electric backed machine.
“I’ll be honest; there were some times where I was questioning whether or not it was even worth it. A ton of time in the garage…really, outside of work and exercising and garage work…I really don’t have a life. And when things aren’t going well it can be very tough. We struggled last night but tonight we put it together. This is a great feeling. No matter what happens from here on out I can say I won one at Fremont,” added Martin.
“The track was awesome tonight. You could move around and I was testing a little bit of everything. Rich really did a good job. We fell back to fifth and no one can say this one was given to us by starting on the front row on a single lane race track. We fought for this one and we deserved it,” concluded Martin.
Reed would earn his third career Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship Presented by KS Sales and Service title. It was also announced that Kistler Racing Products would be back for the eighth year as the FAST Series title sponsor in 2016.
“Story of my season. I’m disappointed in myself this past month or so. I feel like I’m one of the better cars at the end of the race but I put myself in such a bad position to get us there. You can’t start 16th and win these races. It’s pretty frustrating. But, congratulations to Broc, he’s a really nice kid who keeps improving,” said Reed.
“I have to thank all the sponsors, Kistler Racing Products and Kevin Shammo at KS Sales and Service and all the people who support this FAST deal. It’s a great thing. I’m a little disappointed but I guess when I walk home with the $10,000 check I’ll feel a little better,” added Reed. “To earn a third FAST title means a lot. This is a great area for racing. There were only 20 cars here tonight but dang, they were all very good. It’s a good group to race against.”
John Ivy would take the lead on lap 11 and then held off a charging Dustin Dinan to score his third win of the season in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints. It was the 49th career win for Ivy as he sits sixth on the track’s all-time win list.
“I knew we lost a lot of air in the left rear on that red and I was trying to get it to come back up and it wouldn’t and the car just kept getting more free and my brother told me to get back to the bottom at least in four and it worked out for us,” said Ivy in his L&R Farms, Gressman Powersports, Sonny’s Machine and Welding, Kear’s Speed Shop, Adkins Fence and Sanitation, Kistler Racing Products backed #77i.
Bobby Clark would struggle to a 10th place finish in the 305 feature, but it was good enough to earn him the JLH General Contractor 305 FAST Championship Presented by Engine Pro. Also, Jon Horn announced he would be back as the 305 FAST Series title sponsor in 2016.
“Tonight was kind of bad. We haven’t had a night this bad in quite awhile. But I guess now that worrying about points is done we can go back to racing again. We will go back and focus and see how strong we can finish the year out,” said Clark.
“We don’t race for the most money so to have a point fund that pays a little more…it gives you something to shoot for all year long,” Clark added.
Clyde, Ohio’s Jimmy McGrath would battle Matt Foos during the first two thirds of the AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Truck feature, and then lost the lead to Kent Brewer with four laps to go. But, a lapped truck held Brewer up just enough and McGrath rubbed fenders with Brewer and took the lead in the final turn to earn his first win of the year. It was the ninth career win for McGrath.
“Kent’s a good guy…I think I got into him a little bit there but I think he understands it’s for the win,” said McGrath beside his truck that is for sale.
“If someone has six grand they can take it home and come back and win a race too. But this trophy is mine! I have to thank Winesburg Barbecue, J&F Miller Farms, York Fabrication, Level Performance, my mom and dad especially….I wouldn’t be out here if dad wasn’t working on this all week,” added McGrath.
Delta, Ohio’s Ky Harper would put on a dominating performance in the McCullough Industries 602 Late Model feature. He would lead all 15 non-stop laps and would lap up to the fifth place finisher for his third win of the year.
“The race track tonight…Rich Farmer did a very nice job with the track. It was smooth and fast. Definitely have to thank all the crew. They keep it well maintained and put a good set up on it tonight,” said Harper beside his Tiffin Paint and Body and Central Collision backed #34.
Stuart Brubaker and Brian Smith brought the field to green for the 30 lap 410 sprint feature with Smith grabbing the lead over fourth starter Craig Mintz, Brubaker, T.J. Michael, Martin and Gary Taylor. Smith would pull away from Mintz while Brubaker and Michael were locked in a great battle for third.
Action would grind to a halt on lap five when Tyler Gunn tipped over in turn two. He was able to rejoin the field. On the restart Smith again pulled away from Mintz with Brubaker and now Martin in tow with Michael, Cap Henry and Taylor challenging.
With 10 laps scored, the car on the move was Brubaker as he drove into second with Martin moving around Mintz for third a lap later as they raced into lapped traffic. Smith would drive into heavy lapped traffic on lap 18 with Brubaker, Martin, Mintz, Henry, Michael and a fast moving Cole Duncan giving chase.
Martin would drive under Brubaker for second on lap 20 and quickly reeled in Smith. Martin would drive under Smith exiting turn four to lead lap 22. Action would again grind to a half on lap 23 when Duncan tipped over in turn 3 with Henry also spinning.
When the green reappeared Martin would lead Smith but Reed would charge from fifth to third with Mintz and Brubaker in tow. With four laps to go Reed was clearly the fastest car on the track as he drove into second and closed on Martin. As they drove through turns three and four to complete lap 28 Reed would jump the cushion in turn four and Martin was able to pull away for the win. Reed, Smith, Mintz and Brubaker would round out the top five.
Trey Jacobs and Brian Gibbs paced the field for the 25 lap 305 sprint feature with Gibbs blasting into the lead over fourth starter Ryan French, Jacobs, Dustin Dinan, Ivy, Ricky Peterson, Dan McCarron and Seth Schneider.
As Gibbs and French pulled away, a good battle between Jacobs and Dinan ensued with Ivy waiting to pounce. The caution would fly on lap five when Frank Neill, Dustin Rall and Kyle Farmer all spinning. Gibbs would pull away when the green flew while French had to fight Dinan and Ivy. Ivy would drive into third on lap seven and took second a circuit later.
Ivy would close in on Gibbs by lap 10 and made the pass for the lead a lap latter. Dinan would grab second on lap 13 with Gibbs, Jacobs, French, Jordan Ryan and Schneider in tow. Just as the leaders were set to hit very heavy lapped traffic on lap 16, a nasty looking crash involving Brandon Moore and French occurred on the back stretch.
The restart order would be Ivy, Dinan, Gibbs, Jacobs, Ryan and Schneider. Ivy and Dinan would pull away from the battle for third when the green reappeared as Gibbs and Jacobs raced side by side with Ryan glued to their rear bumpers.
With four laps to go Dinan closed on Ivy and the two raced side by side for two laps. Ivy would drop down to the bottom the final two laps and was able to pull away for the win over Dinan, Jacobs, Ryan and Schneider. However, Dinan would be penalized two positions for failing to go to the scales after the race.
Jimmy McGrath and Brad Mitten brought the field to green for the 20 lap dirt truck feature with McGrath gaining the upper hand over Matt Foos, Steve Endicott, Cory McCaughey, Brandon Leighton, Eric Devanna and Mitten.
While McGrath and Foos battled for the lead the race for third was even more entertaining involving Endicott, Leighton, Mitten, Kent Brewer and McCaughey. Brewer would take the third spot on lap six just before the caution would fly for a stalled Leighton.
McGrath would get a great restart and pulled away slightly from Foos and Brewer as Endicott, Cory Ward, Devanna and McCaughey battled for fourth. Duffy Rubel would stop on the track with 10 laps in to bring out the caution. Again on the restart McGrath would pull away slightly but soon Foos and Brewer would reel him in.
With six laps to go McGrath had his hands full with Brewer and Foos as they raced into heavy lapped traffic. Brewer would edge into the lead on lap 16 but McGrath and Foos were within a half a truck length in pursuit. With three laps to go a lapped machine would have Brewer and McGrath scrambling as Foos fell into the clutches of Endicott and Ward.
As Brewer and McGrath took the white flag they were side by side while Endicott had moved into third over Foos and Ward. Driving into the final two corners, the lapped machine made Brewer try to squeeze to the bottom where McGrath was and the two made contact as they exited turn four.
McGrath would drive to the win over Brewer, Endicott, Ward and Foos.
In the 15 lap 602 late model feature, Brandon Perkins and Dustin Keegan brought the field to green but it was third place starter Harper who jumped into the lead over Perkins, Tim Sabo, Chester Fitch, Matt Shipley and Dale Cole. Harper would pull away from Perkins while Sabo and Fitch raced side by side for third.
Harper continued to check out while Perkins battled with Fitch for second. Fitch would take the runner-up spot on lap 10 but could not get close to Harper. Harper would drive to the checkers with nearly a six second advantage over Fitch with Perkins, Shipley and Tim Sabo rounding out the top five.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, Aug. 15 as the Mo Vaughn Transportation Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series non-wing sprint cars invade for the Second Annual Mike Hensel Memorial paying the feature winner $5,000. The 305 sprints, dirt trucks and late models will also be in action.
For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com
Fremont Speedway – 8/8/2015
Miller Rigging/Mac & Bob’s Service Garage Night
Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (19 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Qualifying – Fricker’s Restaurant/Callie’s Performance
1. 40DD-Nate Dussel, 12.667; 2. 19C-Chris Andrews, 12.803; 3. 83M-Broc Martin, 12.856; 4. 8M-Tj Michael, 12.857; 5. 14H-Todd Heller, 12.870; 6. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.873; 7. 2+-Brian Smith, 12.910; 8. 16-Stuart Brubaker, 12.942; 9. 68G-Tyler Gunn, 12.989; 10. 9-Jordan Ryan, 13.006; 11. 1ST-Gary Taylor, 13.015; 12. 53-Cap Henry, 13.022; 13. 97-Dean Jacobs, 13.029; 14. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.088; 15. 33M-Caleb Griffith, 13.095; 16. 5-Byron Reed, 13.381; 17. 96AU-Bruce White, 13.537; 18. 38-Dave Baumgartner, 14.058; 19. 50B-Mike Burns, 14.433
Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 97-Dean Jacobs[2] ; 2. 5-Byron Reed[1] ; 3. 8M-Tj Michael[5] ; 4. 2+-Brian Smith[4] ; 5. 40DD-Nate Dussel[6] ; 6. 9-Jordan Ryan[3] ; 7. 50B-Mike Burns[7]
Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 22-Cole Duncan[2] ; 2. 16-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 3. 1ST-Gary Taylor[3] ; 4. 14H-Todd Heller[5] ; 5. 19C-Chris Andrews[6] ; 6. 96AU-Bruce White[1]
Heat 3 – Hoosier Racing Tires (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 53-Cap Henry[3] ; 2. 33M-Caleb Griffith[2] ; 3. 83M-Broc Martin[6] ; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[5] ; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn[4] ; 6. 38-Dave Baumgartner[1]
Dash – Borer Glass & Mirror (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 16-Stuart Brubaker[1] ; 2. 2+-Brian Smith[2] ; 3. 83M-Broc Martin[6] ; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[3] ; 5. 8M-Tj Michael[5] ; 6. 14H-Todd Heller[4]
A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 83M-Broc Martin[3]; 2. 5-Byron Reed[16]; 3. 2+-Brian Smith[2]; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[4]; 5. 16-Stuart Brubaker[1]; 6. 97-Dean Jacobs[9]; 7. 1ST-Gary Taylor[7]; 8. 40DD-Nate Dussel[11]; 9. 9-Jordan Ryan[14]; 10. 8M-Tj Michael[5]; 11. 19C-Chris Andrews[12]; 12. 14H-Todd Heller[6]; 13. 33M-Caleb Griffith[15]; 14. 68G-Tyler Gunn[13]; 15. 38-Dave Baumgartner[18]; 16. 53-Cap Henry[8]; 17. 22-Cole Duncan[10]; 18. 96AU-Bruce White[17]; 19. 50B-Mike Burns[19]
Hard Charger: 5-Byron Reed[+14]
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (25 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 36-Seth Schneider[1] ; 2. 87-Brian Gibbs[2] ; 3. 9R-Dustin Rall[4] ; 4. 22M-Dan McCarron[6] ; 5. 12-Kyle Capodice[9] ; 6. 44-Kyle Farmer[3] ; 7. 18N-Frank Neill[8] ; 8. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[7] ; 9. 75-Jerry Dahms[5]
Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 39-Jamie Miller[1] ; 2. 19R-Steve Rando[4] ; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[8] ; 4. 1X-Dustin Dinan[3] ; 5. 10X-Dustin Stroup[5] ; 6. 99-Alvin Roepke[7] ; 7. 10-Josh Harrison[6] ; 8. 11G-Luke Griffith[2]
Heat 3 – Hoosier Racing Tires (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2-Ricky Peterson[2] ; 2. 3J-Trey Jacobs[4] ; 3. 77I-John Ivy[7] ; 4. 26-Ryan French[3] ; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[8] ; 6. 8-Bobby Clark[6] ; 7. 7M-Brandon Moore[5] ; 8. 25-Jason Keckler[1]
B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 8-Bobby Clark[3] ; 2. 99-Alvin Roepke[2] ; 3. 44-Kyle Farmer[1] ; 4. 18N-Frank Neill[4] ; 5. 7M-Brandon Moore[6] ; 6. 75-Jerry Dahms[10] ; 7. 25-Jason Keckler[9] ; 8. 10-Josh Harrison[5] ; 9. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[7]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 77I-John Ivy[7]; 2. 3J-Trey Jacobs[1]; 3. 5R-Jordan Ryan[12]; 4. 1X-Dustin Dinan[3]; 5. 36-Seth Schneider[9]; 6. 12-Kyle Capodice[13]; 7. 19R-Steve Rando[11]; 8. 87-Brian Gibbs[2]; 9. 22M-Dan McCarron[6]; 10. 8-Bobby Clark[16]; 11. 10X-Dustin Stroup[14]; 12. 99-Alvin Roepke[17]; 13. 2-Ricky Peterson[5]; 14. 39-Jamie Miller[10]; 15. 18N-Frank Neill[19]; 16. 44-Kyle Farmer[18]; 17. 26-Ryan French[4]; 18. 7M-Brandon Moore[20]; 19. 9R-Dustin Rall[8]; 20. 1W-Paul Weaver[15]
Hard Charger: 5R-Jordan Ryan[+9]
AAA Auto Club Dirt Trucks (20 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2-Matt Foos[1] ; 2. 33-Jeff Ward[2] ; 3. 37-Eric Devanna[6] ; 4. 18W-Cory Ward[5] ; 5. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath [7] ; 6. 17X-Dustin Keegan[3] ; 7. 4S-Keith Sorg[9] ; 8. 3-Andy Earnhart[8] ; 9. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[4] ; 10. 18R-Duffy Rubel[10]
Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 17-Steve Endicott[4] ; 2. 23M-Brad Mitten[8] ; 3. 36M-Cory McCaughey[5] ; 4. 8KB-Kent Brewer[10] ; 5. 22-Brandon Leighton[1] ; 6. 7F-Dana Frey[7] ; 7. 99X-Gene Portidge[9] ; 8. 99H-Art Howey[6] ; 9. 16-James Holcolm[2] ; 10. P51-Tim Baker[3]
A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath [1]; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[8]; 3. 17-Steve Endicott[4]; 4. 18W-Cory Ward[9]; 5. 2-Matt Foos[3]; 6. 37-Eric Devanna[6]; 7. 36M-Cory McCaughey[5]; 8. 33-Jeff Ward[10]; 9. 23M-Brad Mitten[2]; 10. 7F-Dana Frey[12]; 11. 16-James Holcolm[18]; 12. 4S-Keith Sorg[13]; 13. 99H-Art Howey[16]; 14. 99X-Gene Portidge[14]; 15. 3-Andy Earnhart[15]; 16. P51-Tim Baker[20]; 17. 18R-Duffy Rubel[19]; 18. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[17]; 19. 17X-Dustin Keegan[11]; 20. 22-Brandon Leighton[7]
Hard Charger: 16-James Holcolm[+7]
McCullough Industries 602 Late Models (13 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position
Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 34-Ky Harper[3] ; 2. 17X-Dustin Keegan[5] ; 3. 98-Tim Sabo[7] ; 4. 44MS-Matt Shipley[6] ; 5. 116-Steve Sabo[4] ; 6. 23-Dustin Sautter[2] ; 7. 4M-Jamie Miller[1]
Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 3-Dale Cole[5] ; 2. O1-Brandon Perkins[6] ; 3. 101-Chester Fitch[4] ; 4. O4-Jeff Hites[3] ; 5. 1-Chevy Farmer[1] ; 6. 43K-Louis Allan[2]
Pursuit – Shipley Auto Services
1. 101-Chester Fitch[5] ; 2. 23-Dustin Sautter[7] ; 3. 17X-Dustin Keegan[3] ; 4. 44MS-Matt Shipley[1] ; 5. 98-Tim Sabo[4] ; 6. O4-Jeff Hites[2] ; 7. 3-Dale Cole[6]
A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 34-Ky Harper[3]; 2. 101-Chester Fitch[4]; 3. O1-Brandon Perkins[1]; 4. 44MS-Matt Shipley[7]; 5. 98-Tim Sabo[5]; 6. 23-Dustin Sautter[11]; 7. 116-Steve Sabo[9]; 8. 3-Dale Cole[6]; 9. 4M-Jamie Miller[13]; 10. 43K-Louis Allan[12]; 11. O4-Jeff Hites[8]; 12. 1-Chevy Farmer[10]; 13. 17X-Dustin Keegan[2]
Hard Charger: 23-Dustin Sautter[+5]