By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio (Aug. 17, 2003) - The Fourth Annual Baumann Automotive Group 305 Sprint Invitational will offer one of the biggest purses in the country for the "econo sprint" division. The Friday, Aug. 29 event will pay the A-main winner $2,500!

"We have such a loyal, dedicated, talented group of 305 sprint drivers that support us every week. Just look at our car counts...they average over 40 every Saturday for this division. This is our way of saying thanks and to highlight an exciting division of racing. They have put on some real barn-burners this year," said Fremont Speedway Promoter Jim Ford.

The payoff for the 305 sprint 30-lap event is: 1. $2,500; 2. $1,000; 3. $700; 4.$500; 5. $400; 6. $350; 7. $300; 8. $280; 9. $260; 10. $250; 11. $240; 12. $230; 13. $220; 14. $210; 15. $200; 16. $190; 17. $185; 18. $180; 19. $175; 20. $170; 21. $165; 22. $160.

Not only is the purse exciting - especiallywhen you consider the weekly A-main top prize for this division is $500 - but there are some great contingency awards as well. KOT Trucking of Fremont is posting the $300 Don Eckhardt Memorial Hard Charger Award for the driver who passes the most cars in the A-main. The drivers will qualify for the first time this season, and the Last Lap radio show is putting up $125 for quick time...$200 if the track record is broken! Other prizes include a $100 gas cad from Friendship Food Stores (Beck Oil), and ProShock is going to reward the second, third and fourth place finishers with $300, $200 and $100 gift certificates respectively. Other associate sponsors are Progress Plastic Products of Bellevue (B-main), and the Little Tavern on the Prairie (B-Main)

With that much money on the line, the list of potential winners will grow, as some southern Ohio 305 sprint teams and even some out-of-state teams are expected. Fremont regulars who will be tough to beat include current point leaders Roger Shammo and Caleb Griffith. Shammo has two feature wins recorded at Fremont this season, and even though he has struggled of late, will be tough to beat, as he is the defending invitational champion. Others to watch out for include Jamie Miller, who has notched five feature victories at Fremont this season; Andy Shammo and Bill Kraylek who have each scored a pair of wins this season; Brian Smith, Chad Laux and Chris Lang who all have found victory lane at Fremont in 2003. There are several other drivers who haven't seen the checkered this year, but have been close, including Bryan Sebetto, Scott Miller, Ryan Lowe, Matt Merrill, Mark Lang, Josh Hill and Matt Ferrell to name a few.

Fremont Speedway 305 rules apply for this race with the acception of aluminum wheels being allowed for this race only. This race is only open to 305 sprint drivers.

Besides the 305 sprints, the popular dirt trucks will also be on the racing card, and for the first time in many, many years, the limited late models will be in action.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. with qualifying at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 8 p.m. For more information, call the track office at 419-862-2206 or e-mail Jim Ford at ford.j@worldnet.att.net.