By Andrew Barman

Fremont, Ohio (June 8th)-June 7th saw over 120 cars pack the pit area at Fremont Speedway for Crown Battery Night. A lot of things happened on the track but here's what happened back in the pit area where a lot of fans might not know what went on. 

-There were a lot of new faces in the pit area. Making their first appearance at Fremont Speedway for the 2003 season in the 410s was Todd Kane in the #78, Mike Bretch in the #20, Jeff Williams in the #5w, Mark Imler in the #40, Tim Hunter in the #2H, Ronnie Beale in the #3B, and coming out of a 10 year retirement from sprint car racing Shane Helms in the #40. In the 305s Jeremy Keegan got the 24K back out on the 1/3-mile track. There's another rookie at Fremont Speedway this year in the 305s. Chris Gilbert from Fremont is in Brian Smith's old 2+ car.  Jeremy Cogar, who drives the #24c dirt truck made his initial appearance at Fremont Speedway.

-Chris Lang was back at "The Track That Action Built" after blowing 2 motors at Fremont in the 305 Econo Sprints. 

-410 sprint driver Lee Jacobs from Fremont, stepped into A.J. Sleeks 305 sprint down at Lakeville Speedway on Friday night. He finished 3rd behind Daniel Smith, who picked up his first ever sprint car feature win and Scott Miller. He said it was a big difference but he enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, Lee might have won the feature had the car not jumped out of gear. Also, Lee has moved from Holmesville to Fremont at his sponsor's place, S&S Builders and Excavators.
 

-Bryan Sebetto has a new 2001 Eagle Chassis in the 305 Econo sprints. Keep an eye on that team they will be one to contend with week in and week out.

-Brotherly love showed Saturday night at Fremont as Keith Whaley let his brother Mark Whaley borrow his power steering. Keith is not racing do to a hurt motor. 

-In dirt truck hot laps, #92B J.D. Brewer cooked his motor going into turn 3. He was done for the night.

-In the 305 heat races, Jamie Miller in the 4M had heavy smoke from his power plant. Apparently it wasn't anything serious as he was able to pick up the 305 feature event. Unfortunately, when Jamie was on his cool down lap when he thought the motor blew. It was just a rocker and push rod.
 
-We had a first time flipper in the 410s on Crown Battery Night at Fremont Speedway.  The 1a of Matt Lucuis flipped in turn 1 and 2. After he got out of the car he told a corner worker, "That's not fun!"

-Also in the 410 heats, #18 of Phil Gressman had a oil line come loose on that car. 

-Former late model driver and father of Bobby Clark, Kenny Clark should be in a dirt truck in the next few weeks. He bought Jeff Daugherty's old truck who now has moved on to the 305 sprint in Jim Moore's #4J.

-Next week will be one that you don't want to miss. There will be an old time grudge match between 3 time Little 500 Winner Darl Harrison and track promoter Jim Ford. The two were on the Last Lap on Monday night and it wasn't pretty. The two were going at one another like it was a weigh in for a boxing match. No doubt about it you don't want to miss this. 

Next Saturday will be Burger King Night at "The Track That Action Built." Gates open at 4:30 and first race at 7:30. 

Sprint driver John Ivy celebrates a birthday Thursday.
 
A.J. Sleek's sister, Mandy, is a member of the three-time state champion Gibsonburg Lady Golden Bear softball team.
 
Sprint driver Andy James was in a lot of back pain Saturday, and even asked Mark Keegan to drive the car if he got it in the show. He also asked Fremont legend Jim Linder, who polietly refused.
 
Crown Battery handed out a lot of loot Saturday. Any driver who had a Crown Battery on their racer - whether it was a 410 sprint, 305 sprint or dirt truck, would earn $250 if they won a heat and $1,000 if they won the feature. Well, in the heats, Rob Chaney collected the $250 and $1,000 for winning the 410 feature. It's not known if any of the 305 sprints had Crown stickers, but, Gregg Summit took $250 in the dirt trucks for a heat win and $1,000 in the feature...with his purse money, he took home $1,550!. Also, Bobby Davis was a truck heat winner for $250 (rumor has it he ditched the post-race hamburgers for steak).
 
410 sprint rookie Craig Mintz now has Mopar power under the hood of the Dick Sabo 8s.
 
After crashing a new car at Attica a couple of weeks ago - his second car in as many weeks - it was thought Alvin Roepke would sit out awhile and get his 410s fixed and let his hurt leg heal. However, after tearing the Maxim apart last Sunday, the crew spliced a piece of new tubing in the lower left frame rail and was back in action Saturday.
 
Tim Wyckoff, driver of the #3A 305 sprint - a rookie - was the announcer at Lorain County Speedway.
 
Mike "Squeak" Riehl, driver of the #81 305 sprint - a rookie - was a former wrench man on cars driven by Fred Linder when Fast Freddy drover the #3x for Harold Kemenah (father of All Star champion Chad Kemenah).
 
Joe Laugherty, driver of the #27J 305 sprint, is set to get married soon to Pam Young. Pam is the daughter of long-time race fan and sponsor Frank and Kathy Young of Tiffin. Frank, owner of a car repair shop in Tiffin, used to sponsor cars driven by Al Liskai.
 
Mike Dukeshire, driver of the #20 dirt truck, showed his class Saturday by letting defending track champion Steve Sabo race his truck in the A-main after mechanical problems kept Sabo's #16 out of the race.