By Andrew Barman and Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio (July 27th)- Kids had all the fun at Fremont Speedway Saturday, July 26 - whether you actually were one or acted like one! Not only did you have the best Saturday night racing in northwest Ohio, but you also got a carnival type atmosphere. There where clowns, balloons, giveaways, and a lot more....including great racing. A total of 111 race cars where in the pit area ready to do battle on the 1/3-mile of Fremont Speedway, including 39 410-sprint cars, 35 305 Econo Sprints, and 37 dirt trucks. If you weren't able to come to the track that night here's some of the stuff that you might of missed from the pits and more.

-Once again Fremont Speedway saw new drivers sign into the pits. Making his first appearance of the 2003 racing season was 305 driver Andy Stout in the 11s from Gibsonburg, Ohio. Andy bought one of current 305 points leader Roger Shammo's motors. Wilding, West Virginia's Mike Young showed up for the first time at Fremont Speedway in the #5M 305 sprint - about a four and half hour drive. Mike runs down in southern Ohio with another 305 division. The 410's had a new face in the pits. Adam Strausser from Piketon, Ohio made his only fourth sprint car start and it was his first start in a 410. He usually runs a 305 down in southern Ohio. He was running a steel block engine and his head wrench was former sprint car driver Charlie McCann. Charlie won a lot of races down at KC Raceway in Chillicothe when it was known as Atomic Speedway back in the 1970s. Charlie's son, Steve, ran sprints in the '80s...he is a high school principal now, but Charlie said he still has the bug to race.

-The Tackle Box II in Fremont sponsored the more and more popular bike giveaway. It was a little different this time though. They usually only give away one bike, but on Kids Night they gave 10 kids a night present. The ages of the kids varied from 8 months old to 11 years old and they where all happy they came to the races that night. The bike winners were: Ashley Reed, Austin Radtke, JustiN Zamora, Joann DeVine, Eric Klisz, Melissa Walker, Samantha Johnson, Emma Rice, Cheyanne Goolsin and Chelsea Davidson.

-ATTENTION ALL BUSINESS'S for $150 you can buy a soft wall at Fremont Speedway to keep the drivers safe and save the teams money. If you are interested in buying a soft wall for the track call Jim Ford or talk to Joanne Ford at the main ticket booth. You can get your business's name on the soft wall. It makes for great advertisement if you don't want to buy a full sized billboard. Paul Hemrick, Jr. and his sponsor  Walleye's RV Park was the first to buy a soft wall. 

-305 econo sprint driver, Calab Griffith was injured before he even fired the motor. He was reaching for something in his trailer and when he came down his leg caught the corner of their generator. Calab made a quick trip to the local hospital for some stitches and was back at the races.

-We would like to wish Aaron Hammer crew chief on the #2J of Lee Jacobs a happy 22nd birthday.

-We would also like to say good-bye to 305 driver Joe Laughtery. Joe raced his last race of the season Saturday night. Don't worry he's not retiring! He's  going out west to Iowa to help and learn on the #24 which is driven by T-Mac himself Terry McCarl. Good Luck to Joe out west! Joe is also planning to get married later this fall to Pam Young, whose father Frank runs Young's Auto Repair in Tiffin, a long time racing supporter.
 
- Kevin Shammo of KS Sales and Service - a lawn mower repair shop and Whiteout Door Products distributor - put some fun in the races for the fans. Frisbees were thrown out before each of the three divisional A-mains with numbers on the back. The winning driver's starting spot matched the number on a fan's Frisbee, that fan took home $50.
 
- Dan Hammond, driver of the #22d 305 sprint will celebrate a birthday on July 30.
 
- The sound of racing motors actually made one fan richer Saturday. The gentleman who won the $1,288 prize for the 50/50 was staying at the Comfort Inn outside Fremont as he was attending the shooting matches at Camp Perry in Port Clinton. He heard the roar of the engines and being a race fan, followed it to the track. He said he had a great time and the racing was fantastic...he'll return sometime. He also donated $100 to the little girl who pulled his winning 50/50 number so she could buy a bike.
 
- Andy James, who drives the #72 410 sprint and also owns Mike Linder's sprint, was running late Saturday night getting to the races because his business - Beaverdam Construction - is very busy. Veteran Jim Linder was in uniform and sitting in the car getting ready to hot lap it when James showed up. His crew chief Cody White has been firing the car to warm the engine. In related news, Cody is also working for 410 sprint driver Alvin Roepke at his Vision Quest apparrel and sign lettering shop.
 
Race drivers Alvin and Danny Roepke, Andy and Roger Shammo and Craig Mintz will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Suburban Press newspaper.
 
- John Ivy's car, which he flipped Saturday, was a brand new Eagle chassis...word has it the frame was not hurt in the crash.
 
- Andy Potter, crew chief on Kenny Jacob's ride, was helping Bobby Clark Saturday. Potter was waiting for J&J chassis company to build two new cars for Jacobs and the upcoming Knoxville Nationals.