UNOH All Stars and tough Fremont regulars ready to “kick-it” up in Memorial Day weekend double-header
Sunday, May 19, 2013
By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio – After the fantastic racing at Fremont Speedway the last two weeks, you know when the University of Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions come to “The Track That Action Built” for a Memorial Day weekend double-header, there will be plenty of excitement.
The action kicks off on Kear’s Speed Shop Night, Saturday, May 26 and continues Sunday on Budweiser Beer Night featuring a $10,000 to win A-main. There is a rain date for the Sunday show set for Monday, May 27. The two events mark the 106th and 107th visit by the All Stars at the historic Fremont Speedway, second only to Eldora Speedway.
“Any time the All Stars come here they know they will have a battle on their hands with our tough weekly competitors. The track has been very racy and I think we’re going to have one hell of a weekend for the fans,” said Fremont Speedway Promoter Rich Farmer.
UNOH All Star competitors have had success at Fremont already this year. Four-time and defending series champion Tim Shaffer, who now has 9 career All Star wins at Fremont and 13 overall at the track, scored a win on opening night. Not to be outdone, two-time series champion Greg Wilson has two wins this season at Fremont to run his career total to 11 at the track. The last win, this past Saturday, was a dandy as he came roaring from 18th starting spot. Cap Henry, who cut his racing teeth at the one-third mile oval, scored an exciting win two weeks ago at Fremont.
Current UNOH All Star point leader Dale Blaney is looking to add to his series win total as well. “The Low Rider” has 16 career wins at Fremont, 11 of those being All Star victories to lead all drivers in series’ wins at the track. Blaney swept the Memorial Day weekend at Fremont last season.
Don’t count out Danny Holtgraver who picked up the UNOH All Star win this past Saturday at I-77 Raceway. Holtgraver has an open win at Mercer Speedway and Attica Raceway Park this season as well.
“Winning at Fremont was one of my goals this year. I really want to get one there bad. The competition is as good as any where we race,” said Holtgraver.
Then throw in the tough weekly competitors like defending and two-time track champion Craig Mintz, Chris Andrews, three time track champion Byron Reed, Brian Smith, rookie sensation D.J. Foos who is coming off a second place run this past weekend and others like Brian Lay, Jody Keegan, Caleb Griffith, Dean Jacobs, Duane Zablocki, Brandon Martin, Stuart Brubaker and rookie Paige Polyak. Polyak is the first female to win a sprint car race at Fremont Speedway, having competed in the tough 305 sprint ranks. She is coming off a second place run with the UNOH All Stars at I-77 speedway.
Also, in a fun event for everyone, there will be special kick ball tournament benefitting the Kick-It Foundation to raise funds for childhood cancer research. There are currently 9 teams signed up to participate including a drivers’ team, crew team, speedway team, a couple of corporate teams and fan teams. The tournament will get underway at the fairgrounds around 10 a.m. and there will also be an auction. To find out more look up the 2nd Annual Fremont Speedway Kick It Event on Facebook or go to www.fremontohspeedway.com. To make a donation to your favorite team or player go to http://www.kick-it.org/events/2nd-annual-fremont-speedway-event.
The 305 sprints and dirt trucks will also be in competition both nights.
Gates will open at 4 p.m. with racing underway at 7 p.m. both nights.