By Bob Cundiff

May 4, 2005 - What in the name of Frosty is going on? One weekend snow is the only winner in Ohio and the very next; the big winner is a "Snowman". In this case however the Snowman was behind the wheel of the Burmeister Water Hauling #16. Lee Jacobs got the name "Snowman" from his buddy AJ Sleek, the reason being that Lee spent so much time in Jim Fords soft walls that the styrofoam looked like snow flying. But Saturday night, with temperatures cold enough to sustain a real snowman, Lee battled his father Kenny (finished third), and uncle Dean (led 17 laps before blowing a motor), and then held off a fast closing Greg Wilson to win his second career 410 feature event.

For the Burmeister family, it was their first 410 win and being from the Fremont area, they were thrilled that it came at "the track that action built". Another thrilling aspect of the win was that Lee didnt have to phone his dad from victory lane like he did a couple of years ago when he won his first 410 feature. As Lee so aptly put it, "Im so glad my dad was here to see me win, and he had a great view, from behind me!"

Nice to see both the Jacobs and Burmeisters have some good fortune after a rough off season and opening weekend with the All Stars at Attica.

While Lee was openly exuberant in victory lane, the 305 winner was somewhat less animated. Bill Kraylik did manage was a quick thrust of his arms into the air, which he seemed almost embarrassed to do. While perhaps a man of little action in victory lane, his actions on the track spoke volumes. 

In absolutely dominating fashion, the soft-spoken Kraylik owned the bottom of the track and led throughout the 25 lap main event. He was so good that he nearly lapped the field as only six other cars joined him on the lead lap and the only ones close to him were those next few about to be lapped.

This night was quite a reversal in fortune from his last time on the track at Attica on April 16th when he clipped an inside tire marker. The result of that faux pas broke the front end of his #71 and sent him helpless up the track and into the path of Brad Keckler who t-boned him. The result of that accident proved costly to both car and body. While a trip to the emergency room found no major damage, a chipped bone and sprained wrist would have kept him out of action last week and forced him to wear a brace while racing this week. I doubt he would want to go through another rough ride like that, but at least there was some payback for him this week. Another case of good things happening to good folk.

Thinking out loud usually gets me into trouble, but.

It took a little luck and a lot of efforts to even get the races in on Saturday night. Friday showers and a miserable week prior shut down most everywhere else. I even went through a small shower on the way to the track from my home in Bucyrus. But somehow they got the race in and 37 410s and 40 305s filled the pits. Sharon, KC, Limaland and Mercer did not fare as well. 

Attica tried to make a go of it on Friday night. I would have thought it wasnt possible, but again, an obvious abundance of work got the track ready. The surface was fast and racy and the field of cars in the pits was outstanding. Forty-three 410s and 31 305s were on hand including such travelers as Craig Keel, Jack Sodeman Jr, Corey Bevard, and Cameron Dodson. A number of All Stars were on hand as well with the traveling series being off this weekend. Rob Chaney, Brock Mayes and Kenny Jacobs proved the power of the All Stars with heat wins and heat four was rolling along just fine until a series of wrecks slowed down the pace in heat four. The worst of the three was a big nasty taken by Doug Stanley who got into Ron Blair and went a flipping down the front stretch. While they cleaned up from the last red flag period, the rains started to fall and forced a cancellation. 

Eldora managed to get their USAC event in on Saturday as well, and they too were fortunate because a rain shower hit the area just prior to racing. Action was good there and Jay Drake garnered a win but on the way to the gold, he had a slide job go astray and destroyed Charlie Browns 99 car. The driver Todd Kane apparently broke his hand as well. Another local, Jimmy Stinson, wound up bringing out a red as well. 

Hats off to the likes of Rob Chaney who won a heat at Attica on Friday and then finished second at Eldora Saturday night after starting tenth in the feature. A tip of the cap to Cameron Dodson as well. Dodson ran at Attica on Friday night and then towed to Farmington, MO for their Saturday show. That is some 575 miles from Attica. 

Speaking of Farmington, they were supposed to host an All Star show on Saturday night but Guy Webb of the All Stars postponed that show until August 20th. I cant speak for Webb, but can only assume that in addition to a dismal forecast, the failure to book a second show in the area for his troops to run had to play roles in the postponement. The new date is a better one anyhow, coming on the heels of the Thunder through the plains.

While we are on the All Star subject. A couple of changes in their schedule find Wayne County without a date for this years Speedweek. Originally there were to be two All Star shows at Wayne County with the first on May 28th being a date that Webb was leasing the track I believe. Well, something fell apart there, and now the Monday Speedweek show is at Zanesville rather than Wayne County. Thats gonna make it tough for this old timer who is trying to work and do all of Speedweek. Zanesville is 50 miles further from home than the Orrville oval. Also, the Muskingum Speedway is notorious for dragging out shows. Please, no more than one support division during Speedweek. They typically run five divisions at Muskingum.

Craig Keel was in town for the two northern Ohio shows from his Weedsport, NY home. He came to the area to pick up some motor work from Fremont miracle worker, Paul Kistler.

Rodney Duncan made his season debut, driving the De Genzman owned #53. Rodney was last seen turning wrenches for Cameron Dodson at Attica. Chad Levingston made his season debut as well.

Does anyone else remember what Dean Jacobs had to say when he won the dash during Speedweek at Fremont? Remember how he talked about not liking Fremont because he likes the fast tracks and Fremont is not fast, according to Dean. He was soundly booed that night and got the same treatment this past weekend. Fremont fans are rabid about their track and when the announcers were going through the "who do you think is gonna win" routine, when Deans name was spoken, the crowd jeered! Then for 17 laps Dean led at Fremont Saturday night. While I was happy to see Lee win, wouldnt it have been interesting to hear what Dean would have had to say, and how the fans would have reacted to a Dean win? Just a thought.

The weekend upcoming should be awesome for racing with comfortable temperatures for a change. Attica, Sharon and KC will be running their regular shows. Limaland will be paying out a little bonus for their 360s with the "Run for the Rabbitt", a $2,000 to win NRA event. The All Stars are back in action, as they will be heading to Fremont on Saturday night. The SODbusters will open their season at high speed Hartford and then off to Crown Point for a first ever appearance. The World of Outlaws are at Lake of the Ozarks and then at Granite City, Illinois. USAC meanwhile, will be in Wisconsin. 

Ill be doing Attica and Fremont myself, hope to see you at a track somewhere, say hello, and if youre from the Toledo area, tape the replay of the Fremont races on BCSN for me. Ill make it right by you.