Wilson breaks into win column for All Stars at Fremont; Willie Keegan takes 305 win; Endicott romps to truck victory
Contact Brian Liskai
liskai2x@cros.netThey say luck is defined as when preparation meets
opportunity. For Greg Wilson the work his team has done over the past few
weeks paid off when opportunity presented itself Saturday at Fremont
Speedway. The two-time and defending O'Reilly All Star Champion was handed
the lead when Dale Blaney got involved in a crash while in lapped traffic,
and went on to score his second straight win at "The Track That Action
Built."
Wilson, aboard the All Star Plumbing and Heating sponsored, Verl Warnimont
owned W20, scored his first All Star win in 2008 and his 22nd victory in the
series on Kear's Speed Shop Night.
"We have been struggling lately. We dug in and worked harder in the
shop...my crew has put in a lot of hours and it finally paid off. I also
talked a lot with my uncle Hamp (Bob Hampshire, former car owner for Wilson)
and he helped us figure some stuff out and get my head screwed on straight,"
said Wilson in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.
"Also hats off to Andy James and Rich Farmer (Fremont promoters). I was hard
on them last week about the track conditions and they worked their tails off
and gave us a fantastic, racey surface tonight. It is so great to win at
Fremont in front of these great fans," Wilson added.
At the start of the 40-lap feature, Dean Jacobs bolted into the lead with
Blaney and Kenny Jacobs right on his bumper, however it was for naught as
Mike Linder, John Ivy and Mark Keegan got together in turn one for a
caution. On the restart, Dean Jacobs would grab the lead again on the
restart, but it was short-lived, as Blaney would dive to the bottom exiting
turn two to grab the lead on the second lap.
Blaney began to pull away while the Jacobs brothers would battle for second
with Wilson staying close. Action would grind to a half on lap 10 as Byron
Reed took a tumble just as Blaney was about to enter lapped traffic. When
the green flew again, Blaney set sail, , with Wilson using the high line to
move around both Jacobs into second by lap 12.
Blaney looked in command with Wilson comfortably in second while Dean Jacobs
and Brock Mayes battled for third. However, disaster struck for Blaney on
lap 23. In heavy lapped traffic, he was attempting to get around Craig Mintz
and Rob Chaney when they made contact on the front stretch, collecting
Blaney. Blaney would go pitside for repairs, giving Wilson the lead, with
Dean Jacobs, Mayes, David Harrison and Kenny Jacobs rounding out the top
five.
Wilson looked very smooth in the top spot with the real battle being waged
for second between Dean Jacobs, Mayes, Harrison and 10th starting Brandon
Martin. Wilson would hit lapped traffic by lap 36, allowing Jacobs and Mayes
to close. Martin's great run would end on lap 37 with a broken drive shaft.
Mayes would drive under Jacobs on the white flag lap to take second.
At the checkered it was Wilson, Mayes, Dean Jacobs, Harrison and Randy
Hannigan rounding out the top five.
"We really needed this. We have tried everything to get this thing turned
around...we've gone through some changes in help...heck, I've even showed up
to the track by myself. But we have Daniel Smith helping us and we're
getting somewhere," said Mayes of his second place run beside the J&F
Constructioned backed car.
For Dean Jacobs, a third place run at Fremont was a lot of fun.
"I screwed up in lapped traffic. I just couldn't get off turn two like
everyone else. But hey, we'll take a third here. It's really fun to come to
Fremont and run well," said Jacobs beside his American Architectual Glass
sponsored car.
Long-time sprint car racer Willie Keegan battled with rookie Nate Dussell
through much of the 25 laps in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 sprints'
feature before claiming his 7th career win at the historic speedway.
Risingsun, Ohio's Steve Endicott made it look easy in the Fremont Fence Dirt
Trucks, leading all 20 laps for his first win of the season at Fremont
Speedway.
"It's been a long, long, long, long time since I won a race," said an elated
Keegan beside his Fremont Overhead Door, Abdoo Home Improvement, Valley
Electric backed, Jay Kiser owned sprinter.
"I kept waiting for them to drive around me, but the car was just so good on
the bottom. Those last few laps, you start wondering what could go wrong. I
just tried to concentrate on hitting my marks," added Keegan in the Engine
Pro Victory Lane.
"The truck was just so easy to drive. Starting up front, I knew all I had to
do is be smooth and we'd be there," said Endicott of his fourth career
Fremont victory aboard the Endicott Trucking, Stylecrest Products, Bob's
Machine Shop backed truck.
Dussell grabbed the early lead in the 305 sprint feature, but Keegan ran
under him lap after lap. The two would trade the lead back and forth all
around the track over the first 10 laps. Keegan would grab the lead for good
on lap 11 and go on to the win. Dussell would hold on to second, with a fast
closing Kevin Lee third, Duane Zablocki and Josh Muntz rounding out the top
five.
While Endicott was on cruise control in the 20-lap truck main, the battle
behind him was exciting between Jimmy McGrath Jr., Dwight Waltermeier, Steve
Sabo, Jim McGrath and Cory Ward. Sabo would make contact with Ward on lap
15, sending Ward spinning and brining out the caution. On the restart,
Endicott again assumed control, with Sabo, Waltermeier, and the McGraths in
tow. Following Endicott across the finish line was Waltermeier, Dave Brewer,
Jim McGrath and Jimmy McGrath Jr., as Sabo's truck lost power on the last
lap.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 31 for Hillside
Billards/Underground Utilities Inc. Fan Appreciation Night featuring the
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints, Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks and the
Attica Late Models.
For more information log onto
www.fremontohspeedway.comFremont Speedway (5-24-08)
Kear's Speed Shop
O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 83-Phil Gressman, 12.357; 2. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.364; 3. 20X-Brian Smith,
12.430; 4. 7K-Dean Jacobs, 12.525; 5. 59-Kenny Jacobs, 12.649; 6. O-Paul
McMahan, 12.668; 7. 6-Mike Dussel, 12.679; 8. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.689; 9.
11B-Brock Mayes, 12.692; 10. 5-Byron Reed, 12.738; 11. 1X-Randy Hannagan,
12.787; 12. 10-David Harrison, 12.804; 13. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 12.822;
14. 55-John Ivy, 12.893; 15. 1W-Paul Weaver, 12.899; 16. 91-Aaron Middaugh,
12.959; 17. O9-Craig Mintz, 13.038; 18. 48S-Andy Shammo, 13.071; 19.
12-Caleb Griffith, 13.075; 20. X-Mark Keegan, 13.092; 21. 56R-Ryan Myers,
13.095; 22. 30C-Lance Dewease, 13.108; 23. 11M-Brandon Martin, 13.112; 24.
1-Doug Berryman, 13.148; 25. 24H-Rob Chaney, 13.155; 26. 10S-Roger Shammo,
13.167; 27. 16S-Lee Stark, 13.174; 28. 16-Lee Jacobs, 13.184; 29. 15C-Chris
Andrews, 13.188; 30. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.235; 31. 312-Mike Linder, 13.289;
32. 63-Roddy Bellbowen, 13.317; 33. 60-Jody Keegan, 13.345; 34. 27-Scott
Euler, 13.355; 35. 59J-Kirk Jefferies, 13.358; 36. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.547;
37. 14H-Todd Heller, 13.680; 38. 48-Mike Burkin, 13.713; 39. 97-Todd King,
13.743; 40. 11-Josh Harrison, 14.091; 41. 9X-Kevin Huntley, 14.159
Heat 1 - All Pro Heads
1. O9-Craig Mintz; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes; 3. 59-Kenny Jacobs; 4. 20E-Brian
Ellenberger; 5. 24H-Rob Chaney; 6. 83-Phil Gressman; 7. 56R-Ryan Myers; 8.
14H-Todd Heller; 9. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 10. 15C-Chris Andrews; 11. 60-Jody
Keegan
Heat 2 - Engler Machine & Tool
1. 48S-Andy Shammo; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease; 3. 5-Byron Reed; 4. 55-John Ivy;
5. 2-Dale Blaney; 6. O-Paul McMahan; 7. 5T-Travis Philo; 8. 27-Scott Euler;
9. 10S-Roger Shammo; 10. 48-Mike Burkin
Heat 3 - Hoosier Tire
1. 12-Caleb Griffith; 2. 11M-Brandon Martin; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 4. 6-Mike
Dussel; 5. 312-Mike Linder; 6. 20X-Brian Smith; 7. 59J-Kirk Jefferies; 8.
16S-Lee Stark; 9. 97-Todd King; 10. 1W-Paul Weaver
Heat 4 - Hank's Performance Products
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 10-David Harrison; 3. W20-Greg Wilson; 4. 7K-Dean
Jacobs; 5. 16-Lee Jacobs; 6. 22-Cole Duncan; 7. 1-Doug Berryman; 8. 63-Roddy
Bellbowen; 9. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 10. 11-Josh Harrison
Dash - O'Reilly Auto Parts
1. 7K-Dean Jacobs; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes; 4. 2-Dale Blaney;
5. 5-Byron Reed; 6. 59-Kenny Jacobs
B-main - University of Northwestern Ohio
1. 83-Phil Gressman; 2. O-Paul McMahan; 3. 20X-Brian Smith; 4. 15C-Chris
Andrews; 5. 22-Cole Duncan; 6. 10S-Roger Shammo; 7. 14H-Todd Heller; 8.
56R-Ryan Myers; 9. 27-Scott Euler; 10. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 11. 97-Todd King;
12. 5T-Travis Philo; 13. 60-Jody Keegan; 14. 63-Roddy Bellbowen; 15.
59J-Kirk Jefferies; 16. 11-Josh Harrison; 17. 48-Mike Burkin; 18. 16S-Lee
Stark; 19. 1-Doug Berryman; 20. 91-Aaron Middaugh
A-main - MSD Ignition Starting Position [#]
1. W20-Greg Wilson[6]; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes[5]; 3. 7K-Dean Jacobs[2]; 4.
10-David Harrison[9]; 5. 1X-Randy Hannagan[8]; 6. 20X-Brian Smith[12]; 7.
16-Lee Jacobs[22]; 8. 59-Kenny Jacobs[4]; 9. 30C-Lance Dewease[19]; 10.
2-Dale Blaney[1]; 11. X-Mark Keegan[18]; 12. O-Paul McMahan[13]; 13.
48S-Andy Shammo[16]; 14. 6-Mike Dussel[3]; 15. 15C-Chris Andrews[23]; 16.
20E-Brian Ellenberger[10]; 17. 11M-Brandon Martin[20]; 18. 55-John Ivy[14];
19. O9-Craig Mintz[15]; 20. 24H-Rob Chaney[21]; 21. 12-Caleb Griffith[17];
22. 5-Byron Reed[7]; 23. 312-Mike Linder[24]
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints
Heat 1 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. M28-Josh Muntz; 2. 1-Nate Dussel (R); 3. 66L-Brad Bowman; 4. 71-Bill
Kraylek; 5. 14-Chad Wilson; 6. 9-Jimmy Colvin (R); 7. 47-Josh Burdette; 8.
83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 24X-Tom Nichols
Heat 2 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 5-Dustin Dinan; 2. 80-Jake Trevino (R); 3. 3X-Brad Keckler; 4. 35-Stuart
Brubaker; 5. 39-Matt Merrill; 6. O4-Cap Henry; 7. 72C-John Bartlome; 8.
22D-Dan Hammond; 9. 596-Zack Ames (R)
Heat 3 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 19R-Steve Rando; 2. 49-Coty Runion; 3. 23-Willie Keegan; 4. 10-Brad
Haudenschild; 5. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 6. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 7. 28-Shaun
Valenti (R); 8. 26-Zack Moore; 9. 24-Josh Mcafee
Heat 4 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. 3J-Kevin Lee; 3. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 4. 25P-Mark
Pridemore; 5. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 6. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 7. 11F-D.J. Foos
(R); 8. 67M-Matt Ferrell
B1 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-main)
1. 39-Matt Merrill; 2. 14-Chad Wilson; 3. O4-Cap Henry; 4. 72C-John
Bartlome; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin (R); 6. 22D-Dan Hammond; 7. 47-Josh Burdette; 8.
24X-Tom Nichols; 9. 596-Zack Ames (R); 10. 83X-Nate Reeser
B2 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 2. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 3. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 4.
11F-D.J. Foos (R); 5. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 6. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 7. X-Dustin
Stroup (R); 8. 26-Zack Moore; 9. 24-Josh Mcafee
A-main (25 laps) Starting Position [#]
1. 23-Willie Keegan[1]; 2. 1-Nate Dussel (R)[2]; 3. 3J-Kevin Lee[5]; 4.
9Z-Duane Zablocki[4]; 5. M28-Josh Muntz[6]; 6. 5-Dustin Dinan[10]; 7.
49-Coty Runion[7]; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[14]; 9. 10-Brad Haudenschild[15];
10. 3X-Brad Keckler[12]; 11. 25P-Mark Pridemore[16]; 12. 39-Matt
Merrill[17]; 13. 80-Jake Trevino (R)[11]; 14. 71-Bill Kraylek[13]; 15.
82-Travis Hoffbauer[18]; 16. 14-Chad Wilson[19]; 17. 19R-Steve Rando[3]; 18.
8K-Zack Kramer (R)[20]; 19. 40-Bobby Clark[9]; 20. 66L-Brad Bowman[8]
Fremont Fence Co. Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 (7 laps, top 10 transfer to A-Main)
1. 18W-Cory Ward; 2. 5-Jim McGrath; 3. 16-Steve Sabo; 4. 5JR-Jim Mcgrath
Jr.; 5. O1-Art Ball; 6. 4X-Brian Sorg; 7. 62-Dave Severs
Heat 2 (7 laps, top 10 transfer to A-Main)
1. 8-Steve Endicott; 2. 32H-Dan Hennig; 3. 22-Paul Brown Jr.; 4. 56-Alex
Wiechman; 5. 6-Linda Sabo; 6. 30-Dave Gibbs; 7. 23M-Brad Mitten
Heat 3 (7 laps, top 10 transfer to A-Main)
1. 20-Andy Maynard; 2. 17-Bob Dible; 3. 88-Dave Brewer; 4. 39-Dwight
Waltermier; 5. 91-Rick Potts; 6. 14-Scott Beard; 7. 8K-Kent Brewer
A-main (20 laps) Starting Position [#]
1. 8-Steve Endicott[2]; 2. 39-Dwight Waltermier[4]; 3. 88-Dave Brewer[8]; 4.
5-Jim McGrath[7]; 5. 5JR-Jim Mcgrath Jr.[3]; 6. 17-Bob Dible[10]; 7. O1-Art
Ball[13]; 8. 20-Andy Maynard[1]; 9. 8K-Kent Brewer[21]; 10. 32H-Dan
Hennig[9]; 11. 6-Linda Sabo[14]; 12. 18W-Cory Ward[6]; 13. 30-Dave
Gibbs[17]; 14. 4X-Brian Sorg[16]; 15. 23M-Brad Mitten[20]; 16. 62-Dave
Severs[19]; 17. 16-Steve Sabo[5]; 18. 14-Scott Beard[18]; 19. 91-Rick
Potts[15]; 20. 56-Alex Wiechman[11]