Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Contact: Brian Liskai
liskai2x@cros.net]

FREMONT, Ohio - Dale Blaney took a giant step toward his third O'Reilly All 
Star Circuit of Champions title Saturday at Fremont Speedway. The Hartford, 
Ohio driver took the lead on lap 44 and went on to score his 67th career All 
Star victory on Ohio CAT Night at "The Track That Action Built."

"George Fisher makes this thing so easy to drive...I'm just the lucky guy 
that gets to sit behind the wheel," said Blaney.

"Craig (Mintz) was good on the high side and I could get to him and show him 
my nose but I couldn't get by him. I had to search around the track the 
entire race before I finally found a groove late in the race and was able to 
slip under him. I thought Craig would move down...that's the advantage to 
running second, you can move around and the leader has to pretty much stay 
his groove," added Blaney on his ninth career Fremont Speedway victory.

Blaney came into Saturday's race with a slight point advantage over Lance 
Dewease for the $50,000 All Star title. Dewease qualified poorly while 
Blaney set quick time which put him in the dash for more of those valuable 
points. After an early race spin, Dewease came from the tail to finish 
eighth in the feature, setting up a dramatic end-of-the-year race for the 
championship at Lawrenceburg Speedway.

In the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 sprints, Kevin Lee became the 14th 
different feature winner in 14 A-mains in 2008 at Fremont Speedway. His win 
tightens the championship race at Fremont for the 305 sprints. Lee came in 
14 points behind Stuart Brubaker who flipped in his heat, brought a back-up 
car out for the B and failed to transfer. However, Benny Bowman allowed 
Brubaker to drive his A-main qualified car in the feature where he came from 
the tail to finish ninth.

"Finally...we got a little luck and were there to take advantage of it," 
said Lee, who was running a distant second to leader Steve Rando when his 
left front wheel broke at the half-way mark of the feature.

"The car was just great tonight, especially on longer runs," continued Lee 
in the Engine Pro Victory Lane beside his JD Automotive, Papa Jimmy's Pizza, 
Humbert Trucking backed sprint car. "This really helps us in the 
championship hunt...we just need to stay consistent."

Tiffin, Ohio's Art Ball matched his age with his 69th career feature - the 
most in the history of Fremont Speedway - in the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks.

"I knew on the second lap when I took the lead I was not going to move off 
the bottom of the track. I have to give credit to Andy Maynard, he raced me 
hard and clean and made me work for it tonight," said Ball beside his Magers 
Lumber, Chaney Roofing backed truck.

After catching on fire in the dash and burning his foot, Mintz' crew 
replaced fuel lines and he jumped into the lead at the drop of the green in 
the 50-lap All Star feature. While Mintz pulled away, Lee Jacobs, Tim 
Shaffer, Rob Chaney and Byron Reed waged a torrid battle for second. Mintz 
hit lapped traffic by the 10th circuit allowing Jacobs to close. But Jacobs 
soon found his hands full with Reed who moved under him into the runner-up 
spot on lap 11.

Just as Mintz hit heavy lapped traffic on lap 16, the caution flew for a 
Dewease spin. The running order was Mintz, Reed, Jacobs, sixth-starting 
Blaney, Chaney and 12th starter Jody Keegan. Two laps later Jacobs would 
drive around Reed to regain second. Following a lap 21 caution for a Keegan 
spin, Mintz would again build his lead with a clean track ahead.

Another yellow on lap 26 for a Dean Jacobs spin continued to help and hurt 
Mintz at the same time. While giving him a clear track, it kept the rest of 
the pack on his bumper. Blaney moved under Jacobs and into second on the 
restart and began to close on Mintz. On lap 33, Blaney was racing side by 
side with Mintz while Jacobs stayed close. The car on the move was Randy 
Hannagan who started 11th but fell back early in the race after getting into 
another car and having his nose wing collapse, and had charged back to 
fourth.

Another caution on lap 36 would again keep Mintz in clean air, but with 
Blaney on his tail he could not relax. The next seven laps the pair would 
race side-by-side with Blaney attempting several slide jobs only to see 
Mintz drive back by. Blaney would finally take the lead on lap 44 with an 
inside pass exiting turn two. Mintz now had his hands full with Jacobs who 
found some speed late in the race.

The final caution would fly on lap 46 just after Jacobs took second and was 
beginning to put pressure on Blaney in lapped traffic.Blaney would hold off 
one last challenge for Jacobs for the win with Mintz  - who lead the first 
44 laps - coming home third, Hannagan fourth and Shaffer fifth.

"Second again...that's the third straight runner-up finish. I just can't be 
disappointed with that. I knew I'd have a good car late...that's what Andy 
Potter sets it up to do and no one does it better. I've said it before, but 
this is an incredible opportunity and I'm making the most of it," said 
Jacobs beside his Southern Crane and Tractor backed sprint car.

"We put a soft tire on...I was hoping to build a big lead with some lapped 
cars between us. Those cautions really hurt us. But hey, after catching on 
fire, to get a top three with the All Stars is great. I have to thank my mom 
and dad for all the sacrifices they have made for me to race and my crew for 
all the hard work tonight," said Mintz beside his Erie Shore Propane, Keller 
Chevrolet backed machine.

In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, Steve Rando was the class of the field 
early, building a substantial lead untl a lap seven caution. He would pull 
away again on the restart with a tremendous battle behind him between Todd 
Heuerman, Kevin Lee and Bobby Clark.

Disaster struck for Rando on lap 13 when his left front wheel broke off, 
handing the point to Lee with Heuerman and now a closing Chad Wilson in tow. 
The car on the move was rookie D.J. Foos who moved from his 14th starting 
spot into fifth by lap 14.

It was now Lee's turn to check out as Heuerman, Wilson, Clark and Foos 
battled hard for second. With four laps to go, Lee held a nine car advantage 
over Heuerman who had pulled away from the rest of the pack. A great battle 
was going on for third between Wilson, Clark and Foos.

At the checkered it was Lee getting his second career Fremont Speedway win 
with Heuerman, Clark, Foos and Wilson rounding out the top five.

Loren Schwochow led the first lap of the dirt truck feature, but Ball would 
drive under him a lap later. Kent Brewer would apply the pressure first to 
Ball until Andy Maynard moved into second on lap 13. Maynard would then race 
side by side with Ball the remaining seven laps.

Ball would take the checkered by less than a truck length over Maynard, with 
Brewer, Bob Dible and Jim McGrath rounding out the top five. McGrath 
continues to hold a slim lead in the point standings over Cory Ward who 
finished sixth.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, Sept. 13 as the Sunoco 
American Late Model Series come to town to decide their point championship 
on Ludwig Propane Night. The 305 sprints and dirt trucks are also in action.

For more information log onto www.fremontohspeedway.com
 
 
 

Fremont Speedway (09-06-08)
Ohio CAT Night
O'Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions
Qualifying - Kistler Engines
1. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.349; 2. 5B-Chad Blonde, 12.461; 3. 59-Lee Jacobs, 
12.462; 4. 1X-Randy Hannagan, 12.523; 5. 5R-Byron Reed, 12.585; 6. 27-Scott 
Euler, 12.586; 7. 7K-Blake Feese, 12.605; 8. 24H-Rob Chaney, 12.627; 9. 
83A-Tim Shaffer, 12.655; 10. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.662; 11. 60-Jody Keegan, 
12.685; 12. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr., 12.706; 13. 75-Dean Jacobs, 12.709; 14. 
22-Cole Duncan, 12.722; 15. 6-Mike Dussell, 12.728; 16. 15C-Chris Andrews, 
12.730; 17. O2-Brian Smith, 12.753; 18. 12-Caleb Griffith, 12.753; 19. 
20E-Brian Ellenberger, 12.807; 20. 55-John Ivy, 12.837; 21. 11N-Ed 
Neumeister, 12.837; 22. 30C-Lance Dewease, 12.851; 23. 11B-Brock Mayes, 
12.870; 24. W20-Greg Wilson, 12.871; 25. 9X-Phil Gressman, 12.890; 26. 
16X-Bryan Sebetto, 12.945; 27. 312-Mike Linder, 12.960; 28. 8-Mike Lutz, 
12.962; 29. O-Brandon Wimmer, 12.963; 30. 11M-Brandon Martin, 12.993; 31. 
5T-Travis Philo, 12.998; 32. X-Mark Keegan, 13.068; 33. D4-Danny Holtgraver, 
13.085; 34. 10-Dave Harrison, 13.088; 35. 1XL-Matt Linder, 13.092; 36. 
14H-Todd Heller, 13.133; 37. B20-Butch Schroeder, 13.141; 38. 16-Lee Stark, 
13.161; 39. 56-Ryan Myers, 13.166; 40. 7T-Troy Vaccaro, 13.232; 41. O4-Cap 
Henry, 13.417; 42. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 13.454; 43. 48-Mike Burkin, 13.477; 
44. 47-Caleb Helms, 13.608; 45. 10S-Roger Shammo, 13.632; 46. 11-Josh 
Harrison, 13.883; 47. 15-A.J. Sleek, 14.025; 48. 14-Willie Keegan, 14.195; 
49. 26-Cody White, 14.248

Heat 1 - All Pro Heads (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 83A-Tim Shaffer; 2. 11N-Ed Neumeister; 3. 2-Dale Blaney; 4. O2-Brian 
Smith; 5. 5R-Byron Reed; 6. O-Brandon Wimmer; 7. 75-Dean Jacobs; 8. 
B20-Butch Schroeder; 9. O4-Cap Henry; 10. D4-Danny Holtgraver; 11. 10S-Roger 
Shammo; 12. 26-Cody White; 13. 9X-Phil Gressman

Heat 2 - Engler Machine & Tool (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 30C-Lance Dewease; 2. 12-Caleb Griffith; 3. O9-Craig Mintz; 4. 
11M-Brandon Martin; 5. 22-Cole Duncan; 6. 10-Dave Harrison; 7. 16X-Bryan 
Sebetto; 8. 27-Scott Euler; 9. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 10. 11-Josh Harrison; 11. 
5B-Chad Blonde; 12. 16-Lee Stark

Heat 3 - Hoosier Tire (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. 11B-Brock Mayes; 2. 6-Mike Dussell; 3. 20E-Brian Ellenberger; 4. 59-Lee 
Jacobs; 5. 312-Mike Linder; 6. 60-Jody Keegan; 7. 1XL-Matt Linder; 8. 
48-Mike Burkin; 9. 15-A.J. Sleek; 10. 5T-Travis Philo; 11. 7K-Blake Feese; 
12. 56-Ryan Myers

Heat 4 - Hank's Performance Products (10 laps, top 5 transfer to A-Main)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 15C-Chris Andrews; 3. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr.; 4. 
24H-Rob Chaney; 5. 55-John Ivy; 6. X-Mark Keegan; 7. 14H-Todd Heller; 8. 
1X-Randy Hannagan; 9. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 10. 14-Willie Keegan; 11. 47-Caleb 
Helms; 12. 8-Mike Lutz

Dash - O'Reilly Auto Parts
1. 83A-Tim Shaffer; 2. 2-Dale Blaney; 3. 24H-Rob Chaney; 4. 59-Lee Jacobs; 
5. 15C-Chris Andrews; 6. O9-Craig Mintz

C-main - Outerwears Racing Accessories (12 laps, top 2 transfer to B-Main)
1. B20-Butch Schroeder; 2. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 3. O4-Cap Henry; 4. 16-Lee 
Stark; 5. 56-Ryan Myers; 6. 15-A.J. Sleek; 7. 48-Mike Burkin; 8. 91-Aaron 
Middaugh; 9. 14-Willie Keegan; 10. 11-Josh Harrison; 11. 47-Caleb Helms; 12. 
10S-Roger Shammo

B-main - University of Northwestern Ohio (15 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 1X-Randy Hannagan; 2. 60-Jody Keegan; 3. 75-Dean Jacobs; 4. 16X-Bryan 
Sebetto; 5. 5B-Chad Blonde; 6. 7K-Blake Feese; 7. O-Brandon Wimmer; 8. 
10-Dave Harrison; 9. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 10. 27-Scott Euler; 11. 9X-Phil 
Gressman; 12. B20-Butch Schroeder; 13. 8-Mike Lutz; 14. D4-Danny Holtgraver; 
15. 5T-Travis Philo; 16. X-Mark Keegan; 17. 14H-Todd Heller; 18. 1XL-Matt 
Linder

A-main - MSD Ignition, 50 laps, Starting Position 

1. 2-Dale Blaney[6]; 2. 59-Lee Jacobs[3]; 3. O9-Craig Mintz[2]; 4. 1X-Randy 
Hannagan[11]; 5. 83A-Tim Shaffer[1]; 6. 24H-Rob Chaney[4]; 7. 5R-Byron 
Reed[5]; 8. 30C-Lance Dewease[19]; 9. O2-Brian Smith[14]; 10. W20-Greg 
Wilson[21]; 11. 15C-Chris Andrews[10]; 12. 11M-Brandon Martin[24]; 13. 
6-Mike Dussell[9]; 14. 16X-Bryan Sebetto[22]; 15. 22-Cole Duncan[8]; 16. 
11B-Brock Mayes[20]; 17. 55-John Ivy[17]; 18. 12-Caleb Griffith[15]; 19. 
20E-Brian Ellenberger[16]; 20. 60-Jody Keegan[12]; 21. 75-Dean Jacobs[13]; 
22. 312-Mike Linder[23]; 23. 11N-Ed Neumeister[18]; 24. 23JR-Jack Sodeman 
Jr.[7]
 

Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints
Heat 1 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 19R-Steve Rando; 2. 14-Chad Wilson; 3. 29-Chris Lang; 4. 65-Mark Lang; 5. 
39-Matt Merrill; 6. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 7. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 8. 2-Tim 
Kern; 9. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 10. 71-Bill Kraylek

Heat 2 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 2. 11-Shawn Colvin; 3. 15-A.J. Sleek; 4. 80-Jake 
Trevino (R); 5. 1-Nate Dussel (R); 6. 22D-Dan Hammond; 7. 3X-Brad Keckler; 
8. 36X-Dustin Keegan; 9. 49-Coty Runion; 10. 24X-Tom Nichols

Heat 3 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. 3J-Kevin Lee; 3. 28-Shaun Valenti (R); 4. 25P-Mark 
Pridemore; 5. 67M-Matt Ferrell; 6. 61L-Adam Thacker (R); 7. 66L-Brad Bowman; 
8. 27-Paige Polyak; 9. 9-Jimmy Colvin (R); 10. 83X-Nate Reeser

Heat 4 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 18-Todd Heuerman; 2. 55-Benny Bowman; 3. 10-Brad Haudenschild; 4. 
11F-D.J. Foos (R); 5. 5-Dustin Dinan; 6. 44-John Ivy; 7. 82-Travis 
Hoffbauer; 8. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh; 9. 26-Zack Moore

B1 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-main)
1. 1-Nate Dussel (R); 2. 39-Matt Merrill; 3. 8K-Zack Kramer (R); 4. 3X-Brad 
Keckler; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond; 6. 71-Bill Kraylek; 7. X-Dustin Stroup (R); 8. 
36X-Dustin Keegan; 9. 2-Tim Kern; 10. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 11. 49-Coty 
Runion; 12. 24X-Tom Nichols

B2 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 5-Dustin Dinan; 2. 9-Jimmy Colvin (R); 3. 82-Travis Hoffbauer; 4. 
67M-Matt Ferrell; 5. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh; 6. 61L-Adam Thacker (R); 7. 
26-Zack Moore; 8. 44-John Ivy; 9. 83X-Nate Reeser; 10. 27-Paige Polyak; 11. 
66L-Brad Bowman

A-main (25 laps) Starting Position 

1. 3J-Kevin Lee[6]; 2. 18-Todd Heuerman[4]; 3. 40-Bobby Clark[3]; 4. 
11F-D.J. Foos (R)[14]; 5. 14-Chad Wilson[7]; 6. 80-Jake Trevino (R)[12]; 7. 
28-Shaun Valenti (R)[8]; 8. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5]; 9. 35-Stuart Brubaker[20]; 
10. 1-Nate Dussel (R)[17]; 11. 39-Matt Merrill[19]; 12. 15-A.J. Sleek[10]; 
13. 5-Dustin Dinan[16]; 14. 25P-Mark Pridemore[15]; 15. 9-Jimmy Colvin 
(R)[18]; 16. 10-Brad Haudenschild[2]; 17. 19R-Steve Rando[1]; 18. 29-Chris 
Lang[9]; 19. 65-Mark Lang[13]; 20. 11-Shawn Colvin[11]
 

Fremont Fence Co. Dirt Trucks
Heat 1
1. 5-Jim McGrath; 2. 20-Andy Maynard; 3. 16-Steve Sabo; 4. 18W-Cory Ward; 5. 
39-Dwight Waltermier; 6. 23M-Brad Mitten; 7. 30-Dave Gibbs; 8. 71-Craig 
Holland; 9. 4J-Josh Lazono

Heat 2
1. 33-Brian Arnold; 2. 8-Steve Endicott; 3. 92-Loren Schwochow; 4. O-Jim 
Keegan; 5. 4X-Dave Brewer; 6. 32H-Dan Hennig; 7. 62-Dave Severs

Heat 3
1. 5JR-Jim McGrath Jr.; 2. 8K-Kent Brewer; 3. O1-Art Ball; 4. 17-Bob Dible; 
5. 88-Brian Sorg; 6. 52-Will Tezak; 7. 91-Rick Potts

A-main (20 laps) Starting Position 

1. O1-Art Ball[2]; 2. 20-Andy Maynard[7]; 3. 8K-Kent Brewer[4]; 4. 17-Bob 
Dible[6]; 5. 5-Jim McGrath[11]; 6. 18W-Cory Ward[12]; 7. O-Jim Keegan[8]; 8. 
39-Dwight Waltermier[13]; 9. 4X-Dave Brewer[14]; 10. 16-Steve Sabo[9]; 11. 
92-Loren Schwochow[1]; 12. 88-Brian Sorg[15]; 13. 33-Brian Arnold[3]; 14. 
30-Dave Gibbs[18]; 15. 71-Craig Holland[20]; 16. 91-Rick Potts[19]; 17. 
8-Steve Endicott[10]; 18. 5JR-Jim McGrath Jr.[5]; 19. 52-Will Tezak[17]; 20. 
23M-Brad Mitten[16]