Saturday, May 24, 2008

Contact Brian Liskai
liskai2x@cros.net

FREMONT, Ohio - They say luck is defined as when preparation meets 
opportunity. For Greg Wilson the work his team has done over the past few 
weeks paid off when opportunity presented itself Saturday at Fremont 
Speedway. The two-time and defending O'Reilly All Star Champion was handed 
the lead when Dale Blaney got involved in a crash while in lapped traffic, 
and went on to score his second straight win at "The Track That Action 
Built."

Wilson, aboard the All Star Plumbing and Heating sponsored, Verl Warnimont 
owned W20, scored his first All Star win in 2008 and his 22nd victory in the 
series on Kear's Speed Shop Night.

"We have been struggling lately. We dug in and worked harder in the 
shop...my crew has put in a lot of hours and it finally paid off. I also 
talked a lot with my uncle Hamp (Bob Hampshire, former car owner for Wilson) 
and he helped us figure some stuff out and get my head screwed on straight," 
said Wilson in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.

"Also hats off to Andy James and Rich Farmer (Fremont promoters). I was hard 
on them last week about the track conditions and they worked their tails off 
and gave us a fantastic, racey surface tonight. It is so great to win at 
Fremont in front of these great fans," Wilson added.

At the start of the 40-lap feature, Dean Jacobs bolted into the lead with 
Blaney and Kenny Jacobs right on his bumper, however it was for naught as 
Mike Linder, John Ivy and Mark Keegan got together in turn one for a 
caution. On the restart, Dean Jacobs would grab the lead again on the 
restart, but it was short-lived, as Blaney would dive to the bottom exiting 
turn two to grab the lead on the second lap.

Blaney began to pull away while the Jacobs brothers would battle for second 
with Wilson staying close. Action would grind to a half on lap 10 as Byron 
Reed took a tumble just as Blaney was about to enter lapped traffic. When 
the green flew again, Blaney set sail, , with Wilson using the high line to 
move around both Jacobs into second by lap 12.

Blaney looked in command with Wilson comfortably in second while Dean Jacobs 
and Brock Mayes battled for third. However, disaster struck for Blaney on 
lap 23. In heavy lapped traffic, he was attempting to get around Craig Mintz 
and Rob Chaney when they made contact on the front stretch, collecting 
Blaney. Blaney would go pitside for repairs, giving Wilson the lead, with 
Dean Jacobs, Mayes, David Harrison and Kenny Jacobs rounding out the top 
five.

Wilson looked very smooth in the top spot with the real battle being waged 
for second between Dean Jacobs, Mayes, Harrison and 10th starting Brandon 
Martin. Wilson would hit lapped traffic by lap 36, allowing Jacobs and Mayes 
to close. Martin's great run would end on lap 37 with a broken drive shaft. 
Mayes would drive under Jacobs on the white flag lap to take second.

At the checkered it was Wilson, Mayes, Dean Jacobs, Harrison and Randy 
Hannigan rounding out the top five.

"We really needed this. We have tried everything to get this thing turned 
around...we've gone through some changes in help...heck, I've even showed up 
to the track by myself. But we have Daniel Smith helping us and we're 
getting somewhere," said Mayes of his second place run beside the J&F 
Constructioned backed car.

For Dean Jacobs, a third place run at Fremont was a lot of fun.

"I screwed up in lapped traffic. I just couldn't get off turn two like 
everyone else. But hey, we'll take a third here. It's really fun to come to 
Fremont and run well," said Jacobs beside his American Architectual Glass 
sponsored car.

Long-time sprint car racer Willie Keegan battled with rookie Nate Dussell 
through much of the 25 laps in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 sprints' 
feature before claiming his 7th career win at the historic speedway.

Risingsun, Ohio's Steve Endicott made it look easy in the Fremont Fence Dirt 
Trucks, leading all 20 laps for his first win of the season at Fremont 
Speedway.

"It's been a long, long, long, long time since I won a race," said an elated 
Keegan beside his Fremont Overhead Door, Abdoo Home Improvement, Valley 
Electric backed, Jay Kiser owned sprinter.

"I kept waiting for them to drive around me, but the car was just so good on 
the bottom. Those last few laps, you start wondering what could go wrong. I 
just tried to concentrate on hitting my marks," added Keegan in the Engine 
Pro Victory Lane.

"The truck was just so easy to drive. Starting up front, I knew all I had to 
do is be smooth and we'd be there," said Endicott of his fourth career 
Fremont victory aboard the Endicott Trucking, Stylecrest Products, Bob's 
Machine Shop backed truck.

Dussell grabbed the early lead in the 305 sprint feature, but Keegan ran 
under him lap after lap. The two would trade the lead back and forth all 
around the track over the first 10 laps. Keegan would grab the lead for good 
on lap 11 and go on to the win. Dussell would hold on to second, with a fast 
closing Kevin Lee third, Duane Zablocki and Josh Muntz rounding out the top 
five.

While Endicott was on cruise control in the 20-lap truck main, the battle 
behind him was exciting between Jimmy McGrath Jr., Dwight Waltermeier, Steve 
Sabo, Jim McGrath and Cory Ward. Sabo would make contact with Ward on lap 
15, sending Ward spinning and brining out the caution. On the restart, 
Endicott again assumed control, with Sabo, Waltermeier, and the McGraths in 
tow. Following Endicott across the finish line was Waltermeier, Dave Brewer, 
Jim McGrath and Jimmy McGrath Jr., as Sabo's truck lost power on the last 
lap.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 31 for Hillside 
Billards/Underground Utilities Inc. Fan Appreciation Night featuring the 
Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints, Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks and the 
Attica Late Models.

For more information log onto www.fremontohspeedway.com

Fremont Speedway (5-24-08)
Kear's Speed Shop
O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 83-Phil Gressman, 12.357; 2. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.364; 3. 20X-Brian Smith, 
12.430; 4. 7K-Dean Jacobs, 12.525; 5. 59-Kenny Jacobs, 12.649; 6. O-Paul 
McMahan, 12.668; 7. 6-Mike Dussel, 12.679; 8. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.689; 9. 
11B-Brock Mayes, 12.692; 10. 5-Byron Reed, 12.738; 11. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 
12.787; 12. 10-David Harrison, 12.804; 13. 20E-Brian Ellenberger, 12.822; 
14. 55-John Ivy, 12.893; 15. 1W-Paul Weaver, 12.899; 16. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 
12.959; 17. O9-Craig Mintz, 13.038; 18. 48S-Andy Shammo, 13.071; 19. 
12-Caleb Griffith, 13.075; 20. X-Mark Keegan, 13.092; 21. 56R-Ryan Myers, 
13.095; 22. 30C-Lance Dewease, 13.108; 23. 11M-Brandon Martin, 13.112; 24. 
1-Doug Berryman, 13.148; 25. 24H-Rob Chaney, 13.155; 26. 10S-Roger Shammo, 
13.167; 27. 16S-Lee Stark, 13.174; 28. 16-Lee Jacobs, 13.184; 29. 15C-Chris 
Andrews, 13.188; 30. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.235; 31. 312-Mike Linder, 13.289; 
32. 63-Roddy Bellbowen, 13.317; 33. 60-Jody Keegan, 13.345; 34. 27-Scott 
Euler, 13.355; 35. 59J-Kirk Jefferies, 13.358; 36. 22-Cole Duncan, 13.547; 
37. 14H-Todd Heller, 13.680; 38. 48-Mike Burkin, 13.713; 39. 97-Todd King, 
13.743; 40. 11-Josh Harrison, 14.091; 41. 9X-Kevin Huntley, 14.159

Heat 1 - All Pro Heads
1. O9-Craig Mintz; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes; 3. 59-Kenny Jacobs; 4. 20E-Brian 
Ellenberger; 5. 24H-Rob Chaney; 6. 83-Phil Gressman; 7. 56R-Ryan Myers; 8. 
14H-Todd Heller; 9. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 10. 15C-Chris Andrews; 11. 60-Jody 
Keegan

Heat 2 - Engler Machine & Tool
1. 48S-Andy Shammo; 2. 30C-Lance Dewease; 3. 5-Byron Reed; 4. 55-John Ivy; 
5. 2-Dale Blaney; 6. O-Paul McMahan; 7. 5T-Travis Philo; 8. 27-Scott Euler; 
9. 10S-Roger Shammo; 10. 48-Mike Burkin

Heat 3 - Hoosier Tire
1. 12-Caleb Griffith; 2. 11M-Brandon Martin; 3. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 4. 6-Mike 
Dussel; 5. 312-Mike Linder; 6. 20X-Brian Smith; 7. 59J-Kirk Jefferies; 8. 
16S-Lee Stark; 9. 97-Todd King; 10. 1W-Paul Weaver

Heat 4 - Hank's Performance Products
1. X-Mark Keegan; 2. 10-David Harrison; 3. W20-Greg Wilson; 4. 7K-Dean 
Jacobs; 5. 16-Lee Jacobs; 6. 22-Cole Duncan; 7. 1-Doug Berryman; 8. 63-Roddy 
Bellbowen; 9. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 10. 11-Josh Harrison

Dash - O'Reilly Auto Parts
1. 7K-Dean Jacobs; 2. W20-Greg Wilson; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes; 4. 2-Dale Blaney; 
5. 5-Byron Reed; 6. 59-Kenny Jacobs

B-main - University of Northwestern Ohio
1. 83-Phil Gressman; 2. O-Paul McMahan; 3. 20X-Brian Smith; 4. 15C-Chris 
Andrews; 5. 22-Cole Duncan; 6. 10S-Roger Shammo; 7. 14H-Todd Heller; 8. 
56R-Ryan Myers; 9. 27-Scott Euler; 10. 9X-Kevin Huntley; 11. 97-Todd King; 
12. 5T-Travis Philo; 13. 60-Jody Keegan; 14. 63-Roddy Bellbowen; 15. 
59J-Kirk Jefferies; 16. 11-Josh Harrison; 17. 48-Mike Burkin; 18. 16S-Lee 
Stark; 19. 1-Doug Berryman; 20. 91-Aaron Middaugh

A-main - MSD Ignition  Starting Position [#]
1. W20-Greg Wilson[6]; 2. 11B-Brock Mayes[5]; 3. 7K-Dean Jacobs[2]; 4. 
10-David Harrison[9]; 5. 1X-Randy Hannagan[8]; 6. 20X-Brian Smith[12]; 7. 
16-Lee Jacobs[22]; 8. 59-Kenny Jacobs[4]; 9. 30C-Lance Dewease[19]; 10. 
2-Dale Blaney[1]; 11. X-Mark Keegan[18]; 12. O-Paul McMahan[13]; 13. 
48S-Andy Shammo[16]; 14. 6-Mike Dussel[3]; 15. 15C-Chris Andrews[23]; 16. 
20E-Brian Ellenberger[10]; 17. 11M-Brandon Martin[20]; 18. 55-John Ivy[14]; 
19. O9-Craig Mintz[15]; 20. 24H-Rob Chaney[21]; 21. 12-Caleb Griffith[17]; 
22. 5-Byron Reed[7]; 23. 312-Mike Linder[24]

Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints
Heat 1 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. M28-Josh Muntz; 2. 1-Nate Dussel (R); 3. 66L-Brad Bowman; 4. 71-Bill 
Kraylek; 5. 14-Chad Wilson; 6. 9-Jimmy Colvin (R); 7. 47-Josh Burdette; 8. 
83X-Nate Reeser; 9. 24X-Tom Nichols

Heat 2 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 5-Dustin Dinan; 2. 80-Jake Trevino (R); 3. 3X-Brad Keckler; 4. 35-Stuart 
Brubaker; 5. 39-Matt Merrill; 6. O4-Cap Henry; 7. 72C-John Bartlome; 8. 
22D-Dan Hammond; 9. 596-Zack Ames (R)

Heat 3 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 19R-Steve Rando; 2. 49-Coty Runion; 3. 23-Willie Keegan; 4. 10-Brad 
Haudenschild; 5. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 6. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 7. 28-Shaun 
Valenti (R); 8. 26-Zack Moore; 9. 24-Josh Mcafee

Heat 4 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. 3J-Kevin Lee; 3. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 4. 25P-Mark 
Pridemore; 5. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 6. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 7. 11F-D.J. Foos 
(R); 8. 67M-Matt Ferrell

B1 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-main)
1. 39-Matt Merrill; 2. 14-Chad Wilson; 3. O4-Cap Henry; 4. 72C-John 
Bartlome; 5. 9-Jimmy Colvin (R); 6. 22D-Dan Hammond; 7. 47-Josh Burdette; 8. 
24X-Tom Nichols; 9. 596-Zack Ames (R); 10. 83X-Nate Reeser

B2 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 2. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 3. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 4. 
11F-D.J. Foos (R); 5. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 6. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 7. X-Dustin 
Stroup (R); 8. 26-Zack Moore; 9. 24-Josh Mcafee

A-main (25 laps) Starting Position [#]
1. 23-Willie Keegan[1]; 2. 1-Nate Dussel (R)[2]; 3. 3J-Kevin Lee[5]; 4. 
9Z-Duane Zablocki[4]; 5. M28-Josh Muntz[6]; 6. 5-Dustin Dinan[10]; 7. 
49-Coty Runion[7]; 8. 35-Stuart Brubaker[14]; 9. 10-Brad Haudenschild[15]; 
10. 3X-Brad Keckler[12]; 11. 25P-Mark Pridemore[16]; 12. 39-Matt 
Merrill[17]; 13. 80-Jake Trevino (R)[11]; 14. 71-Bill Kraylek[13]; 15. 
82-Travis Hoffbauer[18]; 16. 14-Chad Wilson[19]; 17. 19R-Steve Rando[3]; 18. 
8K-Zack Kramer (R)[20]; 19. 40-Bobby Clark[9]; 20. 66L-Brad Bowman[8]

Fremont Fence Co. Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 (7 laps, top 10 transfer to A-Main)
1. 18W-Cory Ward; 2. 5-Jim McGrath; 3. 16-Steve Sabo; 4. 5JR-Jim Mcgrath 
Jr.; 5. O1-Art Ball; 6. 4X-Brian Sorg; 7. 62-Dave Severs

Heat 2 (7 laps, top 10 transfer to A-Main)
1. 8-Steve Endicott; 2. 32H-Dan Hennig; 3. 22-Paul Brown Jr.; 4. 56-Alex 
Wiechman; 5. 6-Linda Sabo; 6. 30-Dave Gibbs; 7. 23M-Brad Mitten

Heat 3 (7 laps, top 10 transfer to A-Main)
1. 20-Andy Maynard; 2. 17-Bob Dible; 3. 88-Dave Brewer; 4. 39-Dwight 
Waltermier; 5. 91-Rick Potts; 6. 14-Scott Beard; 7. 8K-Kent Brewer

A-main (20 laps) Starting Position [#]
1. 8-Steve Endicott[2]; 2. 39-Dwight Waltermier[4]; 3. 88-Dave Brewer[8]; 4. 
5-Jim McGrath[7]; 5. 5JR-Jim Mcgrath Jr.[3]; 6. 17-Bob Dible[10]; 7. O1-Art 
Ball[13]; 8. 20-Andy Maynard[1]; 9. 8K-Kent Brewer[21]; 10. 32H-Dan 
Hennig[9]; 11. 6-Linda Sabo[14]; 12. 18W-Cory Ward[6]; 13. 30-Dave 
Gibbs[17]; 14. 4X-Brian Sorg[16]; 15. 23M-Brad Mitten[20]; 16. 62-Dave 
Severs[19]; 17. 16-Steve Sabo[5]; 18. 14-Scott Beard[18]; 19. 91-Rick 
Potts[15]; 20. 56-Alex Wiechman[11]