MAUMEE, OH (4-29-13) by Bryan Autullo – F.A.S.T. Public Relations
The Kistler Racing Product Fremont/Attica Sprint Title (F.A.S.T.) presented by KS Sales & Service has put the first two weekends of the 2013 season in the record books. With a rainout at Attica on the opener on April 20th, this was the first full weekend of sprint car racing in Northern Ohio. Tim Shaffer invaded the Fremont, Ohio clay oval on April 21st to take the win and left runner-up Craig Mintz sitting in the top spot in F.A.S.T. Series points heading into this weekend. Nate Dussel picked up where he left off in 2012 in the 305 division and claimed the win and the lead in the JLH General Contractors F.A.S.T. 305 Championship Series points.
With the weather finally cooperating for a two day run from Attica to Fremont, the car counts were up and the fans came out to support local dirt track racing and were treated to some of the most competitive racing action in recent memory.
Attica Raceway Park welcomed the F.A.S.T. Championship Series for the first time in 2013 with 29 cars signed in ready for action. Former F.A.S.T. Champions Craig Mintz, Byron Reed, and Bryan Sebetto were thought to be the favorites for the night, but when the dust settled it was “Mr. Determination” Brian Smith who would rise to the occasion getting the popular win after a hard fought 30-lap feature where he stuck to his low line and methodically picked off front runners Mintz, Reed and Dean Jacobs while holding off Greg Wilson. The win marked Smith’s second career feature win at “Ohio’s Finest Racing” speed plant with the first coming during the Fremont/Attica Sprint Title debut in 2009. To top off the memorable win, Smith exited his racecar, ran down the horse track to ultimately do a front flip into a large mud puddle and make muddy “snow angels.”
As the series rolled into Fremont Speedway on Saturday, 33 cars were on hand to take on “The Track That Action Built” for the second F.A.S.T. event of 2013 at that venue. With the new track configuration opening up the entry to turns 1 and 3, the action has gotten more intense giving the drivers a better opportunity to pass. Greg Wilson used that opportunity to come from his 8th starting spot to take the win with a last lap pass of Cole Duncan in what was virtually a non-stop race with just one caution slowing the action. Craig Mintz, D.J. Foos, and Brian Smith rounded out the Top 5.
Mintz landed his 3rd podium finish of the season and has himself positioned at the top of the F.A.S.T. Kistler Cup Point Standings with 430 points. After posting a win and a top-5 finish over the weekend, Brian Smith jumped into second place just 34 markers back. A poor qualifying effort for the B&S Racing #5R buried Byron Reed at the start of the feature on Saturday, but the “Monclova Missile” climbed ten spots to earn a top-10 finish and now sits just 40 points behind the leader in 3rd place. A solid weekend aboard the family owned #22 for Cole Duncan moved the Lockbourne, Ohio native into fourth place. Chris Andrews sits in fifth position just 52 points out of first place.
The Fremont/Attica Sprint Title will take a short break this weekend while the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series invade the Buckeye State at Eldora Speedway. Action resumes for both the 410 sprints and 305 sprints on Friday, May 10th at Attica Raceway Park and then on Saturday, May 11th at Fremont Speedway.
Want more information about the Kistler Racing Products Fremont/Attica Sprint Title presented by KS Sales & Service and the JLH General Contractors F.A.S.T. 305 Championship Series? Visit www.fastondirt.com, like us on Facebook at fb.com/fastondirt or follow @FASTseries on Twitter.
Kistler Racing Products F.A.S.T. Championship Series presented by KS Sales & Service Point Standings:
After: 4/27/13
CAR # DRIVER POINTS BACK
1 O9 Craig Mintz 430
2 2+ Brian Smith 396 -34
3 5R Byron Reed 390 -40
4 29 Cole Duncan 387 -43
5 16 Chris Andrews 378 -52
6 9 Dean Jacobs 362 -68
7 40DD Caleb Griffith 358 -72
8 55 Brad Bowman 357 -73
9 53 DJ Foos 351 -79
10 9Z Duane Zablocki 344 -86
Kistler Racing Products F.A.S.T. Championship Series presented by KS Sales & Service Quick Results:
Night #3: Attica Raceway Park – 4/26/13 – 410 Sprints
[#]-Starting Position
1. 2+-Brian Smith[4]; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[6]; 3. 5R-Byron Reed[2]; 4. W20-Greg Wilson[11]; 5. 14H-Todd Heller[8]; 6. 55-Brad Bowman[13]; 7. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[12]; 8. 9-Dean Jacobs[3]; 9. 22-Cole Duncan[5]; 10. 9X-Brandon Martin[10]; 11. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[19]; 12. 5T-Travis Philo[20]; 13. 97-Phil Gressman[1]; 14. 16-Chris Andrews[18]; 15. 46AU-Stuart Williams[7]; 16. 23-Jimmy Light[17]; 17. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[9]; 18. 2M-Dallas Hewitt[15]; 19. 35-Stuart Brubaker[14]; 20. 45L-Brian Lay[16]
Hard Charger: 9Z-Duane Zablocki[+8]
Night #4: Fremont Speedway – 4/27/13 – 410 Sprints
[#]-Starting Position
1. W20-Greg Wilson[8]; 2. 22-Cole Duncan[4]; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[2]; 4. 53-DJ Foos[7]; 5. 2+-Brian Smith[3]; 6. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[14]; 7. 16-Chris Andrews[17]; 8. 14H-Todd Heller[6]; 9. 55-Brad Bowman[11]; 10. 5R-Byron Reed[20]; 11. 9-Dean Jacobs[5]; 12. 27P-Paige Polyak[9]; 13. 5T-Travis Philo[15]; 14. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[16]; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[13]; 16. 2M-Dallas Hewitt[10]; 17. 9X-Brandon Martin[12]; 18. 60-Jody Keegan[18]; 19. 83M-Broc Martin[19]; 20. 24H-Bryan Sebetto[1]
Hard Charger: 16-Chris Andrews[+10]