Ballou blasts to BOSS win at Fremont; Dussel rebounds for 305 win; Valenti gets truck victory - #FIMotorsports

Ballou blasts to BOSS win at Fremont; Dussel rebounds for 305 win; Valenti gets truck victory

Saturday, May 4, 2013

By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio – Robert Ballou was skeptical when he got to Fremont Speedway Saturday for the Smith Family Foods/Mike Hensel Memorial Race. He had been struggling as of late and the track didn’t look like it would suit his driving style. But, the Rocklin, California native worked with his crew and the results showed.

Ballou passed six time USAC National Sprint Car Champion Levi Jones on lap 19 of the 33-lap, $3,300 to win Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) season opener and drove to his first win at “The Track That Action Built.”

“That Jeff Walker’s race car with Levi Jones are two of the best guys around and if you can run them guys down you know you’ve got something. Jeff Walker is the best mechanic around and Levi has obviously shown it with six championships with the USAC National Sprint Car series. Last night we struggled and Ken Baldwin was going to hire someone else…he said we suck on slick tracks so I had to do something to show these guys. I give it my best and sometimes it isn’t enough,” said Ballou beside his Baldwin Brothers Racing/Fox Paving/Hinchman Uniforms/Butlerbuilt/Infinity Shocks/Kercher Engines/Indy Race Parts backed #5. “I have to thank Derek for sticking with me night in and night out…he does this for free.”

“This is for this family (the Mike Hensel family)…I’m sorry for their loss,” continued Ballou about his win in the first ever Mike Hensel Memorial Race run in memory of the former racer.

Bradner, Ohio’s Nate Dussel, who scored wins at Attica Raceway Park and Fremont Speedway a week ago, destroyed a car this past Friday at Attica. He and his brothers and dad worked all night to put a car together to come to Fremont and he rewarded them with his second win of the year in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints.

Dussel used a great move on a restart to get around early race leader Paul Weaver, and then battled with John Ivy in lapped traffic before claiming his 9th career Fremont win.

“On that restart I timed it up perfect so I could try and pull a slider on him (Weaver). I hope it wasn’t dirty cause that’s not how I race. And I knew John (Ivy) would be coming…he always is there. He gets to see the race track a lot during the night (Ivy races in the 305 sprints and dirt trucks),” said Dussel beside his Berrier Fabrication/Dussel Welding/Kylynn Mfg./Conrad Transport/ Kistler Racing Products backed #1.

“I’m pretty tired…I haven’t had to run on a curb all year…I’m pretty tired. I have to thank my brothers Craig and Mike and Bill Berrier…my dad and myself. We put in a lot of time. I can’t thank them guys enough. I destroy a race car and all they worry about is getting it back together for me,” added Dussel.

In another close race, Risingsun, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti battled with Ivy all 20 laps of the AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Trucks feature and nipped Ivy at the checkered by .08 seconds to score his sixth career win.

“I have to thank John Ivy for racing me clean. I was hoping I didn’t give that one away there at the end. I appreciate the way he raced me,” said Valenti beside his Gressman Powersports/Die Hard batteries backed #7b. “I’m just happy to get this one. I have to thank my wife for all the time we’ve spent on this thing. It was a last minute deal…I wouldn’t have thought three weeks into the season we’d be standing in the Engine Pro Victory Lane. This is still more fun than ever. I would race anything and I’m glad to be back at Fremont.”

In the 33-lap BOSS/MTS feature, Scotty Weir and Levi Jones would bring the 24-car field to the green. But, a multi-car pile-up in turn one involving Tony Beaber, Aaron Middaugh and John Watson would necessitate a complete restart.

Jones would grab the lead when the green reappeared over Weir, Gary Taylor, Steve Irwin and Ballou. The caution would fly after two laps for Tracy Hines who would retire to the pits. On the restart, Weir would pressure Jones for the lead with Irwin moving into third. The caution would come out again on lap 6 for defending BOSS champion Dustin Smith. And when the green flew, Jones and Weir pulled away slightly from Ballou with Taylor, Chase Stockton, Irwin and Matt Westfall giving chase.

Just as the leaders were ready to hit lapped traffic, Ballou would drive into second on lap 12. On lap 15, the caution flew for Dean Jacobs who clipped an infield tire and spun after having moved from his 16th starting spot to eighth. On the restart Jones and Ballou pulled away from Weir, Taylor and Stockton, who would make a fantastic move to drive into third on lap 17.

Action would grind to a half on lap 18 for a double flip involving Roger Shammo and Watson with both drivers escaping injury. On the restart Ballou drove to Jones’ outside and grabbed the lead. Ballou and Jones would rocket away from Stockton, Weir, Taylor, Westfall and Chris Andrews. Andrews was making his non-wing debut and had charged from 21st starting spot.

Ballou would enter lapped traffic with six laps to go, but Jones could not close. Ballou would pick his way through the back-markers while Jones now faced a challenge from Stockton. Ballou would drive to the checkers ahead of Jones, Stockton, Weir and Andrews.

“I used to be a live or die by the top guy but in the last year I built my own race car because my old car owner didn’t want to race. I went to every race track that we sucked at…every short track is where we struggled. We go the big tracks pretty much in my pocket. So we went to the tracks I wasn’t good at and beat it into the ground and finally started winning at those tracks. I figured it out that if you don’t run the bottom once and awhile it will cost you races,” said Ballou in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.

In the 25 lap Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint feature, rookie T.J. Michael and Paul Weaver would pace the field to the green, with Michael spinning in turn one to necessitate a complete restart as Jason Keckler now joined Weaver in the front row. On the restart Ryan French would get upside down in turn four, ending his night.

The third time was the charm as Weaver bolted into he lead over Keckler, Jordan Ryan, Jimmy Colvin, Dussel, Bobby Clark and John Ivy. Weaver would hit lapped traffic on the fifth circuit as Ryan drove into second. Weaver continued to lead as Ryan began to close with Keckler now racing hard with Dussel and Ivy for third. Dussel would grab third on lap 11 as the caution flew for Ryan who coasted around turns three and four.

The restart running order was Weaver, Dussel, Keckler, Ivy, Clark and Colvin. When the green reappeared, Dussel would execute a perfect slider for the lead exiting turn four. Ivy would drive under Weaver for second on lap 16 and slowly started to close on Dussel. Clark would take third on lap 19 as the leaders raced into heavy lapped traffic that was racing side by side in front of them.

Ivy closed to Dussel’s rear bumper with five laps to go when Dussel, while trying to navigate through lapped cars, jumped the cushion in turn two. Dussel and Ivy raced side by side down the back stretch with three laps to go with Clark, Weaver, Alvin Roepke and Keckler in pursuit. Dussel was able to make some great moves in traffic the remaining two laps and took the win over Ivy, Clark, Weaver and Keckler.

Ivy and Jimmy McGrath would bring the field to the green in the 20-lap AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Truck feature with Ivy taking the lead while third place starter Valenti drove into second. The caution flew on lap 2 for a Duffy Ruble spin. On the restart Valenti would continue to race inside Ivy and finally grabbed the lead by a bumper on lap four. Valenti and Ivy would race side by side while McGrath, his dad, Jim McGrath, Dustin Keegan, Daniel Roepke and Cory Ward.

Valenti pulled away slightly while Ivy had his hands full with McGrath Jr. with Keegan, Ward, Roepke, McGrath Sr. and Bob Dible in tow. With six laps to go, Ivy and McGrath Jr. had close don Valenti when the caution flew for a Jeff Ward spin. On the restart, Valenti and Ivy would race side by side for the lead with McGrath Jr., Ward and Roepke closing. As they raced to the checkers, Valenti and Ivy were door to door, with Valenti getting the win by less than a bumper. Ivy, Cory Ward, McGrath Jr. and Roepke would round out the top five.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 11 for the Baumann Auto Group Night. The event is a point’s race for the coveted $10,000 championship for the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Series for the 410 sprints. It is also a point’s race for the JLH General Contractors 305 FAST Championship. The dirt trucks and sports compacts will also be in action.

Also, the 410 and 305 sprints will have one lap qualifications. Then, the fastest eight qualifiers who transfer to the A-main from their heats, will be matched up in special two-car, two-lap King of the Hill races until there is one champion who will get to pick inside or outside front row starting spot in the feature.

And, footballs autographed by the race drivers will be tossed into the stands, with special cash prizes awarded to the fans holding the footballs signed by the feature winners.

For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com

Fremont Speedway – 5/4/2013

Smith Foods / Mike Hensel Memorial Night

Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (40 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 37-Dustin Smith[1] ; 2. 32-Chase Stockton[8] ; 3. 4M-Jamie Miller[2] ; 4. 9-Dean Jacobs[7] ; 5. 3J-Johnny Beaber[4] ; 6. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[5] ; 7. 14-Chad Wilson[6] ; 8. OO-Joe Irwin[3]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 4H-Tracy Hines[2] ; 2. O-Steve Irwin[3] ; 3. 57B-Brandon Spithler[5] ; 4. 82-Miker Miller[8] ; 5. 16-Chris Andrews[7] ; 6. 10S-Roger Shammo[4] ; 7. 48-Mike Burkin[6] ; 8. 44-Tom Davies[1]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 54-Matt Westfall[8] ; 2. 40-Gary Taylor[4] ; 3. 9X-Mike Brecht[1] ; 4. 3T-Tony Beaber[6] ; 5. 2-Mike Galajda[3] ; 6. 41F-Randy Fink[5] ; 7. 55-Matt Phillips[7] ; 8. 26-John Watson[2]

Heat 4 – (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 5-Robert Ballou[2] ; 2. 40X-Scotty Weir[6] ; 3. 91X-Aaron Middaugh[4] ; 4. 83-Adam Cruea[5] ; 5. 31-Chuck Wilson[1] ; 6. 82L-Nick Landon[8] ; 7. 35-Stuart Brubaker[3] ; 8. 24M-Addam Miller[7]

Heat 5 – Nitro Black Performance by Engine Pro (8 Laps – Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 39-Levi Jones[3] ; 2. 41-Landon Simon[8] ; 3. 59J-Kirk Jefferies[2] ; 4. 10X-Dustin Stroup[6] ; 5. 4-Michael Fischesser[7] ; 6. 91-Mark Cassela[4] ; 7. 1M-Mike Moore[5] ; 8. J1-Mark Shultz[1]

B-Main #1 – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 3J-Johnny Beaber[1] ; 2. 10S-Roger Shammo[4] ; 3. 14-Chad Wilson[6] ; 4. 82L-Nick Landon[5] ; 5. 1M-Mike Moore[8] ; 6. 24M-Addam Miller[10] ; 7. 4-Michael Fischesser[3] ; 8. 55-Matt Phillips[7] ; 9. 44-Tom Davies[9] ; 10. 2-Mike Galajda[2]

B-Main #2 – Computer Man Inc. (12 Laps – Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 16-Chris Andrews[1] ; 2. 26-John Watson[9] ; 3. 31-Chuck Wilson[2] ; 4. 48-Mike Burkin[6] ; 5. 41F-Randy Fink[4] ; 6. 91-Mark Cassela[5] ; 7. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[3] ; 8. OO-Joe Irwin[8] ; 9. J1-Mark Shultz[10] ; 10. 35-Stuart Brubaker[7]

A-Main – (30 Laps)

1. 5-Robert Ballou[6]; 2. 39-Levi Jones[2]; 3. 32-Chase Stockton[9]; 4. 40X-Scotty Weir[1]; 5. 16-Chris Andrews[22]; 6. 40-Gary Taylor[3]; 7. 54-Matt Westfall[7]; 8. 41-Landon Simon[10]; 9. 57B-Brandon Spithler[12]; 10. 4M-Jamie Miller[11]; 11. O-Steve Irwin[4]; 12. 10X-Dustin Stroup[20]; 13. 9-Dean Jacobs[16]; 14. 3T-Tony Beaber[18]; 15. 82-Miker Miller[17]; 16. 9X-Mike Brecht[13]; 17. 91X-Aaron Middaugh[14]; 18. 59J-Kirk Jefferies[15]; 19. 83-Adam Cruea[19]; 20. 26-John Watson[24]; 21. 10S-Roger Shammo[23]; 22. 37-Dustin Smith[8]; 23. 3J-Johnny Beaber[21]; 24. 4H-Tracy Hines[5]

Hard Charger: 16-Chris Andrews[+17]

Fremont Federal Credit Untion 305 Sprints (20 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 5R-Jordan Ryan[4] ; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver[1] ; 3. 36-Seth Schneider[2] ; 4. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 5. 22M-Dan McCarron[3] ; 6. 10S-Roger Shammo[7] ; 7. 22D-Dan Hammond[6]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 25-Jason Keckler[1] ; 2. 9-Jimmy Colvin[3] ; 3. 1-Nate Dussel[7] ; 4. 8M-T.J Michael[2] ; 5. OO-Alvin Roepke[5] ; 6. 6-Dustin Dinan[6] ; 7. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[4]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 8I-John Ivy[4] ; 2. 4X-Bobby Clark[5] ; 3. 10-Josh Harrison[2] ; 4. 26-Ryan French[6] ; 5. 7P-Brandon Moore[1] ; 6. 34-Eric Duposki[3]

A-Main – (25 Laps)

1. 1-Nate Dussel[7]; 2. 8I-John Ivy[8]; 3. 4X-Bobby Clark[6]; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver[2]; 5. 25-Jason Keckler[3]; 6. OO-Alvin Roepke[14]; 7. 9-Jimmy Colvin[4]; 8. 6-Dustin Dinan[17]; 9. 36-Seth Schneider[10]; 10. 68G-Tyler Gunn[9]; 11. 10-Josh Harrison[11]; 12. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[20]; 13. 22M-Dan McCarron[13]; 14. 8M-T.J Michael[1]; 15. 22D-Dan Hammond[19]; 16. 7P-Brandon Moore[15]; 17. 5R-Jordan Ryan[5]; 18. 34-Eric Duposki[18]; 19. 26-Ryan French[12]

Hard Charger: 6-Dustin Dinan[+9]

AAA Auto Club Dirt Trucks (21 Trucks)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. OO-John Ivy[1] ; 2. D1-Dustin Keegan[7] ; 3. 17-Bob Dible[6] ; 4. 45-Brian Melnek[3] ; 5. 99X-Gene Potridge[5] ; 6. 18R-Duffy Rubel[2]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 18W-Cory Ward[1] ; 2. 7B-Shawn Valenti[2] ; 3. 2-Matt Foos[4] ; 4. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[7] ; 5. 18-Jeff Ward[5] ; 6. 95-Keith Sorg[3] ; 7. 36M-Cory McCaughey[6]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 7 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[1] ; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[2] ; 3. 5-Jim McGrath[7] ; 4. 115-Ben Good[6] ; 5. O1-Art Ball[3] ; 6. 23M-Brad Mitten[4] ; 7. 37-Eric Devanna[5]

A-Main – (20 Laps)

1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[3]; 2. OO-John Ivy[1]; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[8]; 4. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath Jr.[2]; 5. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[5]; 6. 5-Jim McGrath[6]; 7. D1-Dustin Keegan[4]; 8. 17-Bob Dible[12]; 9. 2-Matt Foos[7]; 10. 23M-Brad Mitten[18]; 11. 8KB-Kent Brewer[11]; 12. O1-Art Ball[15]; 13. 115-Ben Good[9]; 14. 95-Keith Sorg[17]; 15. 45-Brian Melnek[10]; 16. 36M-Cory McCaughey[19]; 17. 37-Eric Devanna[20]; 18. 18-Jeff Ward[14]; 19. 18R-Duffy Rubel[16]; 20. 99X-Gene Potridge[13]; 21. 72-Eric Potridge[21]

Hard Charger: 23M-Brad Mitten[+8]