By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio – DJ Foos waited until the white flag lap to take the lead from race-long leader Trey Jacobs and then held off a last lap challenge from Byron Reed to earn his second 410 sprint win of the year in thrilling fashion at Fremont Speedway Saturday, May 15 on Great Lakes Truck Centers Night.
It was Foos’ second straight victory of the year in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints and the 19th of his career at “The Track That Action Built.” And the win pads Foos’ lead in his quest for a second championship for the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products 410 Attica Fremont Championship Series Presented by the Baumann Auto Group.
“Trey bobbled a couple of times on the cushion in one and two which is pretty easy to do tonight…there’s a pretty massive curb. I was kind of cheating it. My guys kept me pretty snug so I was rolling underneath the cushion and caught the moisture on the way out. I wondered if I was ever going to get to the lead on this deal. I messed up on the restart (with 11 to go) and gave him a pretty big lead. I didn’t have anything for him but he made a couple of mistakes and I was able to capitalize on it. It’s so easy to make complacent mistakes when you are leading. I can’t say enough for the Burmeister family for the opportunity. This is the second night out on this car and we had amazing speed last night and tonight we were able to capitalize on it,” said Foos beside his Crown Battery, CR Juices, All in Tent Rentals, Dave Story Equipment, Burmeister Trophy, Sonny’s Signs, Vantage Branding, The Jet Express, Berryman Racing Shocks, Kistler Engines, Kistler Racing Products backed machine.
In the make-up feature for Pub 400 Night from April 24, Lemoore, California’s Cole Macedo took the lead from Stuart Brubaker on a restart and never looked back, winning by nearly six seconds for his first career Fremont Speedway victory.
“Me and my team…we didn’t qualify very good tonight and these guys went through the car and found some things wrong and it’s a rocket ship now. It just shows how good these guys are…Mike and Steven bust their tails every week and it shows. So many people that help out on this team…Cody, Sam, Jason, the Finsel boys…so many people who make this thing possible. I have to thank Ray Brooks for taking a chance on us,” said Macedo beside his Fremont Auto Parts, Grant Decker Construction, Linder’s Speed Equipment, Gill Construction, CK Mechanical, ML Graphics, Diversified Builders backed #18.
In another fantastic race, Fremont’s Dustin Stroup held off a very late race challenge from defending Fremont Speedway track champion Paul Weaver to earn his second straight Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint win. It was redemption for Stroup who struggled the previous night at Attica Raceway Park and he and his dad and crew stayed up all night repairing his Automatic Fire Protection; MLP Lawn care & Snow Removal; Vantage Branding; Level Performance; Advance Auto Parts backed machine. With two laps to go, Stroup nearly gave the race away with a bobble on the cushion in turns one and two with Paul Weaver breathing down his neck and a trio of lapped cars racing hard in front of him.
“I was very embarrassed by my performance last night at Attica…I was ready to quit. We came out two weeks ago and won here and we had a terrible night last night and I was just so distraught. We spent a very long time in the shop last night and this morning putting this thing back together. I have to thank everyone who helps out…mom and dad, Adam and all my great sponsors and Level Performance for building one hell of an engine,” said Stroup.
“I knew I could not get past the lapped cars…they were running my line. There was one on the top and one on the bottom so I just held my line. I could hear someone…didn’t know who…and the last couple of laps I had to pick up the pace. We held on for the win,” added Stroup.
Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti held off several challenges and drove to his second Burmeister Trophy Dirt Truck feature win of the year. It is his 63rd career victory at Fremont Speedway placing him alone in second on the all-time win list just 13 behind Art Ball. It was the 80th total win for that truck at various tracks over the years.
“Time and time again I say I’m just thankful to be driving this thing. Babcocks put me in a heck of a piece and I want to thank Madison Motors for putting up some extra cash tonight for our division. It’s pretty remarkable to have 80 wins in one vehicle,” said Valenti beside his Best Performance Motorsports; A Plus Auto Center; Craig Miller Trucking; KS Sales & Service; Gressman Powersports; Dave Story Equipment, Speedways Bar and Grill backed truck.
After a caution to start the make-up 410 feature, Stuart Brubaker jumped into the early lead over Frankie Nervo, Macedo, Travis Philo, Foos and Chris Andrews. On lap five Nervo took a nasty spill but was uninjured. On the restart Byron Reed tipped over. On the restart Cale Thomas took a spill. When the green flew again Macedo drove into the lead over Brubaker, Philo, Andrews and Foos.
The race would go the rest of the way caution-free and Macedo dominated, leading by over five seconds at times. He would take the win over Brubaker, Philo, Foos and Brian Smith.
Following an opening lap mishap, Trey Jacobs grabbed the early lead In the night’s regular 410 feature. Just as things were heating up for second between Nate Dussel and Foos, the caution flew on lap five. Jacobs got a great restart and pulled away slightly as Dussel and Foos battled very hard for second. Following a caution on lap 12, Jacobs again drove away on the restart as Dussel and Foos continued their battle for second with Landon LaLonde, Chris Andrews, Craig Mintz and Greg Wilson challenging fourth.
Just as Dussel was closing on Jacobs on lap 19, the caution flew and it was for a Dussel spin. When the green reappeared the car on the move was Byron Reed as he drove into third. With eight laps to go Foos had chopped a lot of time off Jacobs’ lead and when they raced to the white flag, Foos and Jacobs were side by side with Foos gaining the advantage. It was Reed who was mounting the serious challenge and coming to the checkers Foos was able to hold off Reed with Jacobs, Andrews and Macedo rounding out the top five.
Mike Keegan drove into the lead at the drop of the green for the 305 Sprint feature with Seth Schneider challenging while Steve Rando, Stroup and Alvin Roepke in pursuit. Other than a spin on the opening lap, the event would go to the checkers without another stoppage. Stroup took second from Schneider on lap 10 and closed quickly on Keegan, eventually taking the lead on lap 13.
In the closing laps Stroup’s lead quickly disappeared as Weaver closed. Stroup was able to hold on for the win over Weaver, Keegan, Alvin Roepke and Valent.
Valenti battled with Jeff Babcock early in the 20-lap truck feature then had to hold off Steve Sabo for the win.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 22 for the 410 and 305 sprints and dirt trucks with the 305s running their make-up feature as well.
Keep up to date with Fremont Speedway by going to www.fremontohspeedway.com or on Facebook at www.facebook/FremontSpeedway or on Twitter https://twitter.com/FremontSpeedway.
About Great Lakes Truck Center – www.monroevillefreightliner.com
Great Lakes Truck Centers in Monroeville carries a full line of Freightliner and Western Star with new and pre-owned trucks providing service and parts by trained technicians! Check the website for inventory, financing, parts and specials!
FREMONT SPEEDWAY
Friday, May 17, 2021
410 Sprints – Fort Ball Pizza Palace
From April 24 event
Qualifying
1.35-Stuart Brubaker, 12.645; 2.16-DJ Foos, 12.728; 3.18-Cole Macedo, 12.742; 4.10-Zeb Wise, 12.748; 5.5T-Travis Philo, 12.858; 6.2+-Brian Smith, 12.917; 7.4-Cap Henry, 12.942; 8.8M-TJ Michael, 12.947; 9.23-Chris Andrews, 12.979; 10.1-Nate Dussel, 12.987; 11.97-Gary Taylor, 13.080; 12.11N-Harli White, 13.087; 13.27s-John Ivy, 13.191; 14.7T-Troy Vaccaro, 13.254; 15.21N-Frankie Nervo, 13.357; 16.5-Byron Reed, 13.391; 17.12-Kyle Capodice, 13.393; 18.14-Chad Wilson, 13.555;
Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
1. 4-Cap Henry[2] ; 2. 18-Cole Macedo[4] ; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[1] ; 4. 10-Zeb Wise[3] ; 5. 5-Byron Reed[6] ; 6. 12-Kyle Capodice[7] ; 7. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[5] ; 8. 10S-Jay Steinbach[8]
Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
1. 97-Gary Taylor[2] ; 2. 8M-TJ Michael[3] ; 3. 21N-Frankie Nervo[1] ; 4. 2+-Brian Smith[4] ; 5. 14-Chad Wilson[5] ; 6. 20-Danial Burkhart[7] ; 7. 27K-Zach Broughman[6]
Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps)
1. 5T-Travis Philo[2] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 3. 23-Chris Andrews[1] ; 4. 27s-John Ivy[6] ; 5. 11N-Harli White[5] ; 6. 16-DJ Foos[3] ; 7. 27z-Zane Devault[7]
A-Main 1 – (30 Laps)
1. 18-Cole Macedo[4] ; 2. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 3. 5T-Travis Philo[5] ; 4. 16-DJ Foos[6] ; 5. 2+-Brian Smith[8] ; 6. 23-Chris Andrews[7] ; 7. 11N-Harli White[12] ; 8. 27s-John Ivy[9] ; 9. 1-Nate Dussel[3] ; 10. 14-Chad Wilson[11] ; 11. 12-Kyle Capodice[13] ; 12. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[14] ; 13. 97-Gary Taylor[15] ; 14. 5-Byron Reed[10] ; 15. 21N-Frankie Nervo[1]
Fremont Speedway 2
Saturday, May 15
410 Sprints – Fort Ball Pizza Palace
Qualifying
1.16-DJ Foos, 12.212; 2.23-Chris Andrews, 12.339; 3.97-Gary Taylor, 12.352; 4.0-Trey Jacobs, 12.408; 5.5-Byron Reed, 12.462; 6.09-Craig Mintz, 12.486; 7.1-Nate Dussel, 12.492; 8.18-Cole Macedo, 12.540; 9.35-Stuart Brubaker, 12.581; 10.55-CJ Leary, 12.612; 11.2L-Landon Lalonde, 12.628; 12.12-Kyle Capodice, 12.631; 13.5T-Travis Philo, 12.646; 14.2+-Brian Smith, 12.663; 15.22M-Dan McCarron, 12.702; 16.14-Chad Wilson, 12.718; 17.11N-Harli White, 12.758; 18.21N-Frankie Nervo, 12.767; 19.W20-Greg Wilson, 12.813; 20.7T-Troy Vaccaro, 12.831; 21.27s-John Ivy, 12.898; 22.83-Wesley McIntyre, 13.030; 23.29-Zeth Sabo, 13.167;
Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
1. 23-Chris Andrews[3] ; 2. 12-Kyle Capodice[1] ; 3. W20-Greg Wilson[5] ; 4. 35-Stuart Brubaker[2] ; 5. 27s-John Ivy[6] ; 6. 22M-Dan McCarron[4] ; 7. 83-Wesley McIntyre[7]
Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
1. 55-CJ Leary[2] ; 2. 0-Trey Jacobs[4] ; 3. 2L-Landon Lalonde[1] ; 4. 18-Cole Macedo[3] ; 5. 11N-Harli White[7] ; 6. 2+-Brian Smith[5] ; 7. 14-Chad Wilson[6]
Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps)
1. 1-Nate Dussel[1] ; 2. 09-Craig Mintz[2] ; 3. 5-Byron Reed[3] ; 4. 16-DJ Foos[4] ; 5. 5T-Travis Philo[5] ; 6. 29-Zeth Sabo[7] ; 7. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[6]
A-Main 1 – (30 Laps)
1. 16-DJ Foos[4] ; 2. 5-Byron Reed[8] ; 3. 0-Trey Jacobs[1] ; 4. 23-Chris Andrews[6] ; 5. 18-Cole Macedo[12] ; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[10] ; 7. 09-Craig Mintz[7] ; 8. 55-CJ Leary[9] ; 9. 2L-Landon Lalonde[3] ; 10. 2+-Brian Smith[17] ; 11. 97-Gary Taylor[23] ; 12. 22M-Dan McCarron[16] ; 13. 83-Wesley McIntyre[19] ; 14. 1-Nate Dussel[2] ; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[11] ; 16. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[21] ; 17. 12-Kyle Capodice[5] ; 18. 14-Chad Wilson[20] ; 19. 29-Zeth Sabo[18] ; 20. 5T-Travis Philo[15] ; 21. 27s-John Ivy[13] ; 22. 11N-Harli White[14] ; 23. 21N-Frankie Nervo[22]
305 Sprints – Fremont Federal Credit Union
Qualifying
1.X-Mike Keegan, 13.352; 2.10X-Dustin Stroup, 13.355; 3.9R-Logan Riehl, 13.363; 4.99-Alvin Roepke, 13.376; 5.12F-Matt Foos, 13.428; 6.28-Shawn Valenti, 13.438; 7.5Jr-Jimmy McGrath Jr, 13.520; 8.19R-Steve Rando, 13.554; 9.1W-Paul Weaver, 13.560; 10.X15-Kasey Ziebold, 13.576; 11.36-Seth Schneider, 13.590; 12.26-Jamie Miller, 13.608; 13.5-Kody Brewer, 13.677; 14.Z10-Brandon Moore, 13.706; 15.21-Larry Kingseed JR, 13.789; 16.61-Tyler Shullick, 13.803; 17.32-Bryce Lucius, 13.873; 18.3X-Brandon Riehl, 13.893; 19.3V-Chris Verda, 13.920; 20.34-Jud Dickerson, 13.983; 21.6-Jimmie Ward, 14.199; 22.20i-Kelsey Ivy, 14.215; 23.51-Garrett Craine, 14.419; 24.18X-Bobby Distel, 14.452; 25.77X-Jamin Kindred, 14.700; 26.3M-Logan Mongeau, 14.845;
Heat 1, Group A – (8 Laps)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[3] ; 2. 36-Seth Schneider[1] ; 3. X15-Kasey Ziebold[2] ; 4. 9R-Logan Riehl[4] ; 5. 5-Kody Brewer[5] ; 6. 21-Larry Kingseed JR[6] ; 7. 3X-Brandon Riehl[7] ; 8. 18X-Bobby Distel[8] ; 9. 77X-Jamin Kindred[9]
Heat 2, Group B – (8 Laps)
1. 12F-Matt Foos[1] ; 2. 10X-Dustin Stroup[3] ; 3. 99-Alvin Roepke[2] ; 4. 28-Shawn Valenti[5] ; 5. X-Mike Keegan[4] ; 6. 5Jr-Jimmy McGrath Jr[6] ; 7. 61-Tyler Shullick[8] ; 8. Z10-Brandon Moore[7] ; 9. 34-Jud Dickerson[9]
Heat 3, Group C – (8 Laps)
1. 19R-Steve Rando[4] ; 2. 26-Jamie Miller[3] ; 3. 3V-Chris Verda[1] ; 4. 32-Bryce Lucius[2] ; 5. 20i-Kelsey Ivy[6] ; 6. 6-Jimmie Ward[5] ; 7. 51-Garrett Craine[7] ; 8. 3M-Logan Mongeau[8]
B-Main 1 – (10 Laps)
1. 5Jr-Jimmy McGrath Jr[2] ; 2. 21-Larry Kingseed JR[1] ; 3. 61-Tyler Shullick[5] ; 4. 3X-Brandon Riehl[4] ; 5. Z10-Brandon Moore[8] ; 6. 6-Jimmie Ward[3] ; 7. 18X-Bobby Distel[7] ; 8. 34-Jud Dickerson[11] ; 9. 51-Garrett Craine[6] ; 10. 3M-Logan Mongeau[9] ; 11. 77X-Jamin Kindred[10]
A-Main 1 – (25 Laps)
1. 10X-Dustin Stroup[3] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[9] ; 3. X-Mike Keegan[1] ; 4. 99-Alvin Roepke[7] ; 5. 28-Shawn Valenti[11] ; 6. 19R-Steve Rando[4] ; 7. 12F-Matt Foos[8] ; 8. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 9. 26-Jamie Miller[10] ; 10. 61-Tyler Shullick[17] ; 11. Z10-Brandon Moore[19] ; 12. 21-Larry Kingseed JR[16] ; 13. 5-Kody Brewer[13] ; 14. 32-Bryce Lucius[12] ; 15. 3V-Chris Verda[5] ; 16. 3X-Brandon Riehl[18] ; 17. X15-Kasey Ziebold[6] ; 18. 20i-Kelsey Ivy[14] ; 19. 5Jr-Jimmy McGrath Jr[15] ; 20. 6-Jimmie Ward[20]