By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, OHIO (Nov. 7, 2003) - Fremont Speedway crowned its three divisional champions at a gala banquet recently, attended by over 400 drivers, owners, crews and fans.

Over $15,000 in cash and trophies were handed out to the top 10 in points in the 410 sprints, 305 sprints and dirt truck divisions.

Monclova, Ohio's Byron Reed took home the 410 sprint track title. The 2003 Attica Raceway Park track champion as well, Reed competed in 17 of the 18 winged sprint car A-mains at Fremont in 2003, missing only the June 14 show after crashing hard in his heat.

Incredibly, Reed only finished outo f the top 10 once in 2003, that a 23rd place finish during the July 1 All Star Sprint Speedweek show. Byron picked up a pair of feature wins in 2003; on opening night, April 19, and coming back from two hard crashes to score a victory on June 28. He picked up 16 top 10 finishes, including a remarkable 11 top five showings. Reed's average A-main finishing position was an unbelievable 5.7.

Reed was unsure if he would be back to defend his title in 2004, depending on some of the traveling organizations. But, he said he would pit Fremont's weekly competitors against any organization in the country.

"Week in and week out, Fremont had some of the toughest competition you could find anywhere. Just ask the All Stars and some of the drivers who came from out of town. I'd put this group of guys up against anyone," said Reed.

Finishing second in the 410 sprint point standings was 2001 and 2002 track champion John Ivy, who fell just nine points behind Reed. Ivy was the only driver to compete in all 18 winged A-main features at Fremont in 2003.

Ivy scored one win during the season and picked up an astounding 13 top 10 finishes including seven top fives. Ivy's average A-main feature finish at Fremont was 8th.

Co-rookie of the year Brock Mayes from Bucyrus, Ohio,\ finished third in the standings, followed by Alvin Roepke, who scored two feature wins; eight time track champion Mark Keegan and the other rookie of the year Craig Mintz tied for fifth; Most Improved Driver Lee Jacobs, who scored a feature win and set a new qualifying track record at 11.732, was seventh; David Harrison who posted a feature win was eighth; Fremont's Mike Linder was ninth; and rookie Scott Kraylek of Fostoria rounded out the top 10.

In the 305 sprints, 15-year-old Caleb Griffith of Castalia, followed up his Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 by claiming the 2003 track championship. The Rookie of the Year in 2002 at Attica Raceway Park, he also scored the track title there as well.

Though he did not pick up a feature win at Fremont during 2003, his consistent charges from the back of the back to the front garnered him the top point spot. He was one of three drivers in the 305 sprints to make all 18 A-main features in 2003, recording an amazing 14 top 10 finishes. Griffith, who plans to drive a 410 sprint in 2004, along with some pavement racing, finished in the top five in half of the features he ran at Fremont, including a pair of runner-up finishes. His average feature finishing position in 2003 was 7.2.

Gibsonburg, Ohio's Roger Shammo finished second in the points, and was another of the three drivers to make all 18 A-mains during 2003. He scored an incredible 14 top 10 finishes and posted two victories during the season. His average feature finishing position was 7.7.

Fostoria, Ohio's Bill Kraylek, who posted 15 top 10 finishes including two feature wins, was third in the points, followed by Fostoria's Jamie Miller, who led the division in feature wins with five, finishing fourth; Millberry's Andy Shammo, who scored two feature wins, fifth; Most Improved driver Brian Sebetto, who picked up his first career sprint feature win; sixth; Scott Miller, who won the richest 305 sprint feature in the country - the Baumann Auto Group 305 Sprint Invitational, finishing seventh; Fremont's Ryan Lowe was eighth; Fremont's Matt Merrill was ninth; and Fostoria's Mark Lang rounded out the top 10.

The 305 sprint Rookies of the Year were Matt Ferrell and Clyde's Mike Riehl.

Carey, Ohio's Greg Summit posted four feature wins during 2003 to claim the dirt truck track championship. of the 16 features he competed in, he scored 13 top 10 finishes and 11 top fives. Summit, who is moving into the 305 sprint division in 2004, recorded an average feature finishing position of 5.4.

Second in the dirt truck points went to the 2001 and 2002 track champion, Fremont's Steve Sabo. Sabo scored four feature wins during 2003 while making all 16 A-mains. He finished in the top 10 in all by three features and in the top five 10 times. His average A-main feature finishing position was 5.5.

The Most Improved Driver Rex Wright of Fostoria, who scored a feature win during the season, was third in the points, followed by Fremont's Bobby Davis, who picked up a win during the season, in fourth; Fostoria's Bob Dible in fifth; Tiffin's Brian Arnold in sixth; Gibsonburg's Andy Maynard in seventh; Fremont's Rich Farmer, who is also moving into the 305 sprints in 2004, in eighth; and a tie for ninth between Lindsey's Steve Rando and Wayne's Dwight Waltermeier.

The Rookies of the Year for the Dirt Trucks were Brian Michael and Cory Ward.

Besides the point fund monies, Action Photos, the official track photographers of Fremont Speedway, handed out $750 in cash to four drivers chosen by pill draw from among the top 10 in points in each division. Also, The Blade motorsports correspondent C.J. Landry gave out $50 fuel gift certificates to the drivers finishing in fourth place in the point standings in each division. Brodix Heads also gave out $1,000 in gifts.

Fremont Speedway Promoter Jim Ford announced the opening date for 2004 as April 24. He said the All Star Circuit of Champions would pay a visit four times during the season, including two Ohio speedweek shows. He also announed the 305 sprint invitational would be back, as would the fair race for the dirt trucks, as well as two appearances by the AMLS late models. The Computer Man will sponsor a special dash each week comprised of the winners of each of the 305 sprint heats. Points will be kept from the dashes for a $3,500 point fund. Ford also announced there would be a modest purse increase for 2004.