Saturday, May 23, 2009

By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio - Danny Smith has won a lot of races over his long career. He 
used that experience to his advantage, holding off a big challenge from 
Brock Mayes and Lee Jacobs following a lap 36 caution to claim the O'Reilly 
All Star Circuit of Champions feature at Fremont Speedway Saturday on Kear's 
Speed Shop Night.

"This was an old man's track tonight...I ran the bottom. We ran a set-up 
I've haven't ran for 20 years and it worked...it just goes to show you 
anything is possible," said Smith beside his Doug Williams Trucking, Kiger 
Signs, Indy Screen Printing backed sprint car.

It was Smith's second career All Star victory at Fremont and his third 
overall career win at "The Track That Action Built. And despite starting on 
the pole, it wasn't easy for the Chillicothe, Ohio resident as he had to 
hold off several challenges from Brock Mayes and Tim Shaffer and then, in 
the closing four laps, a tremendous charge by Lee Jacobs.

"Where's that little girl that drew me a #1 starting spot. I owe her a pop," 
joked Smith in the Engine Pro Victory Lane. Turning to his new fan, he 
added, "Come over to the trailer and I'll give you a free t-shirt."

Lee Jacobs put on a tremendous charge following that lap 36 caution to come 
home in the second spot in his Southern Crane and Tractor Supply mount.

"I screwed up in lapped traffic...lapped traffic really hurt us. I think we 
had the car to beat. On that last caution I saw Andy (Potter, crew chief) on 
the back stretch telling me to get my butt to the top and it was a kind of a 
last desperation move. I pulled my wing back and it really went around there 
well. I wish this was a 50-lap race...might have had something for them," 
said Jacobs. "I wonder how many times you have to run second in one of these 
All Star shows before you get to win one. I've got to be getting close."

Had his front wing not broken the last portion of the feature, Brock Mayes 
may have found himself in victory lane. But, the feature winner at Fremont 
two weeks ago, settled for third.

"Danny was running where everyone wanted to. I wanted to move up on that 
last caution, but my front wing broke with about 15 laps to go and it was a 
handful.I wanted to try what Lee did...I didn't come here to run second," 
said Mayes beside his J&F Construction, Kinn Brothers Heating and Cooling, 
Mortiz Concrete backed sprint car. "I wanted to let it rip and it was going 
to be the win or the softwall. I just didn't feel comfortable when it broke. 
I started blocking the last 10 laps...because that front wing made it hard 
to drive. Before that happened I was licking my lips...thought we had 'em,

Smith jumped into the early lead of the 40-lap All Star feature with Mayes, 
David Harrison, Jody Keegan and Jacobs in tow. Jacobs would move into third 
on lap three, while Mayes stayed right on Smith's rear bumper. The caution 
would fly on lap six for a Mike Linder and Phil Gressman spin. With a clear 
track, Smith would pull away while Mayes and Jacobs raced each other hard 
for second. Meanwhile, seventh place start Tim Shaffer had worked his way up 
to fourth and was closing in on the leaders.

Jacobs would grab the runner-up position on lap nine as the race would stay 
green all the way until the 36th circuit. Smith hit lapped traffic on the 
13th lap and Jacobs used the opportunity to apply pressure while Mayes and 
Shaffer battled for third. Smith and Jacobs would race side-by-side, making 
daring moves in traffic over the next five laps. However, this allowed Mayes 
and Shaffer to close, and Mayes slid under Jacobs for second on lap 18, 
while Shaffer grabbed third at the halfway mark. Mayes would get to Smith's 
rear bumper by the 23rd lap as the two raced hard among the lapped machines.

The running order stayed Smith, Mayes, Shaffer and Jacobs while Cap Henry, 
Dale Blaney and Kenny Jacobs battled hard for fifth. As the race stayed 
green, Smith was able to put a little daylight between himself and Mayes 
whose ill-handling car allowed Shaffer to pressure him for second.

On lap 36, the caution flew for a stalled Greg Wilson, setting up an 
exciting finish. As the green flew, Smith could not shake Mayes or Shaffer, 
but Lee Jacobs found new life on the high side and moved into third on lap 
38 and into second a lap later, but it was too little, too late. Smith took 
the victory while Jacobs, Mayes, Shaffer and 14th starting Dale Blaney 
rounded out the top five.

Smith said the win was even more special as it was Kear's Speed Shop Night. 
The Tiffin business began 40 years ago under Chuck and Shirley Kear.

"When I was a kid working in my dad's speed shop, Kear's Speed Shop used to 
buy their tires - back in the Firestone days - from my dad who was the 
Firestone distributor. I remember in the late '60s labeling those tires and 
sending them to Kear's Speedshop...here we are 40 years late in victory 
circle with Shirley and her family," said Smith.

What a weekend for Shelby, Ohio's Brad Bowman. He put Bryan Sebetto in his 
car at Attica and Friday and they won the feature. Bowman got behind the 
wheel of the car at Fremont and promptly led all 25 laps to take the Fremont 
Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint A-main.

"Bryan Sebetto put a lot of pressure on me...if I didn't win this thing I 
would have gotten a lot of crap from a lot of people. I have to thank Jeff 
Elliott..it's his motor in the car. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be 
racing," said Bowman in the Engine Pro Victory Lane beside his Advantage 
Motors, Innovative Graphics backed sprint car.

"I also have to thank the guys that did the motor work at Advantage... we 
put everything together in our garage. That makes it so much more special 
when you can win doing that. Thanks to Daniel Smith who helped me a lot on 
set-ups. Also want to thank my dad (Benny) and David Wheeler who works his 
tail off on this," said Bowman of his fifth career Fremont victory, adding 
it was the first time he has won and been able to enjoy it with his son 
Blaine.

The 25-lap feature got off to a slow start as first a yellow for outside 
front row starter D.J. Foos followed by a red for an up-side-down Tim Kern. 
When the race finally got going, Bowman bolted into the lead with Jake 
Trevino, Chad Wilson, Josh Muntz and Todd Heuerman in pursuit. The final 
caution would fly on lap four for a spinning Muntz.

Bowman would set sail on the restart while Trevino had his hands full with 
Chad Wilson, Heuerman and John Ivy. While Bowman cruised around the bottom, 
Ivy was on the move, grabbing third on lap nine. Bowman hit lapped traffic 
on lap 12, but worked his way through perfectly as Ivy pressured Trevino for 
second. Trevino and Ivy would battle side-by-side for the runner-up spot 
until Ivy snuck by on lap 20.

However, Bowman cruised to the victory while Ivy, Trevino, Wilson and 13th 
starter Paul Weaver would round out the top five.

Chuck Wilson, who spun prior to the feature getting underway for the 305 
sprints, was awarded an Engine Pro Gift Certificate.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 30 as Underground 
Utilities Inc. presents Fan Appreciation Night with the Sunoco American Late 
Model Series paying a visit. General admission is just $10 for adults with 
all students from Gibsonburg, Woodmore, Clyde, Fremont and Bellevue getting 
in free.

For more information log onto www.fremontohspeedway.com

Fremont Speedway - 5/23/2009
Kears Speed Shop Night

Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints
Qualifying -
1. 4-Danny Smith, 12.494; 2. 25-Kenny Jacobs, 12.566; 3. 59-Lee Jacobs, 
12.595; 4. 11B-Brock Mayes, 12.621; 5. 10-David Harrison, 12.672; 6. 60-Jody 
Keegan, 12.680; 7. 6R-Ryan Bunton, 12.696; 8. 7K-Rob Chaney, 12.732; 9. 
9X-Phil Gressman, 12.771; 10. 83-Tim Shaffer, 12.777; 11. 15C-Chris Andrews, 
12.788; 12. O4-Cap Henry, 12.802; 13. X-Mark Keegan, 12.841; 14. D4-Danny 
Holtgraver, 12.865; 15. 2-Dale Blaney, 12.873; 16. 312-Mike Linder, 12.888; 
17. 16-Bryan Sebetto, 12.913; 18. 12-Caleb Griffith, 12.939; 19. 78-Todd 
Kane, 12.969; 20. 97-Dean Jacobs, 12.978; 21. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.994; 22. 
14H-Todd Heller, 13.045; 23. 27-Scott Euler, 13.047; 24. W20-Greg Wilson, 
13.052; 25. 5R-Byron Reed, 13.055; 26. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.083; 27. 
11M-Brandon Martin, 13.139; 28. 20X-Craig Keel, 13.159; 29. 51-Kaley Gharst, 
13.174; 30. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 13.186; 31. 53-Cole Duncan, 13.186; 32. 
3J-Kevin Lee, 13.199; 33. O-Brandon Wimmer, 13.202; 34. 7AU-Roddy Bellbowen, 
13.219; 35. 48S-Andy Shammo, 13.264; 36. 40-Mark Imler, 13.299; 37. 92-Daron 
Clayton, 13.300; 38. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.385; 39. 56R-Ryan Myers, 13.725

Heat 1 -  (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. O9-Craig Mintz; 2. 4-Danny Smith; 3. 16-Bryan Sebetto; 4. X-Mark Keegan; 
5. 10-David Harrison; 6. O-Brandon Wimmer; 7. 5R-Byron Reed; 8. 51-Kaley 
Gharst; 9. 92-Daron Clayton; 10. 9X-Phil Gressman

Heat 2 - Bell Racing Products (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 14H-Todd Heller; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer; 3. 12-Caleb Griffith; 4. D4-Danny 
Holtgraver; 5. 60-Jody Keegan; 6. 25-Kenny Jacobs; 7. 2+-Brian Smith; 8. 
7AU-Roddy Bellbowen; 9. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 10. 5T-Travis Philo

Heat 3 -  (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. 2-Dale Blaney; 2. 59-Lee Jacobs; 3. 27-Scott Euler; 4. 78-Todd Kane; 5. 
6R-Ryan Bunton; 6. 11M-Brandon Martin; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews; 8. 56R-Ryan 
Myers; 9. 53-Cole Duncan; 10. 48S-Andy Shammo

Heat 4 -  (10 Laps - Top 5 Transfer)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 312-Mike Linder; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes; 4. 97-Dean 
Jacobs; 5. O4-Cap Henry; 6. 3J-Kevin Lee; 7. 7K-Rob Chaney; 8. 20X-Craig 
Keel; 9. 40-Mark Imler

Dash -  (6 Laps - Top - Transfer)
1. 11B-Brock Mayes; 2. 59-Lee Jacobs; 3. 4-Danny Smith; 4. 6R-Ryan Bunton; 
5. 83-Tim Shaffer; 6. 2-Dale Blaney

B-Main -  (12 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 7K-Rob Chaney; 2. 25-Kenny Jacobs; 3. 9X-Phil Gressman; 4. 5R-Byron Reed; 
5. 11M-Brandon Martin; 6. 2+-Brian Smith; 7. O-Brandon Wimmer; 8. 51-Kaley 
Gharst; 9. 15C-Chris Andrews; 10. 92-Daron Clayton; 11. 3J-Kevin Lee; 12. 
7AU-Roddy Bellbowen; 13. 40-Mark Imler; 14. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 15. 5T-Travis 
Philo; 16. 56R-Ryan Myers; 17. 48S-Andy Shammo; 18. 20X-Craig Keel

A-Main -  (40 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 4-Danny Smith[1]; 2. 59-Lee Jacobs[5]; 3. 11B-Brock Mayes[3]; 4. 83-Tim 
Shaffer[7]; 5. 2-Dale Blaney[14]; 6. O4-Cap Henry[8]; 7. 6R-Ryan Bunton[6]; 
8. 97-Dean Jacobs[19]; 9. X-Mark Keegan[9]; 10. O9-Craig Mintz[20]; 11. 
5R-Byron Reed[24]; 12. 60-Jody Keegan[4]; 13. D4-Danny Holtgraver[10]; 14. 
25-Kenny Jacobs[11]; 15. 7K-Rob Chaney[12]; 16. 16-Bryan Sebetto[16]; 17. 
10-David Harrison[2]; 18. 78-Todd Kane[18]; 19. 9X-Phil Gressman[13]; 20. 
14H-Todd Heller[21]; 21. 12-Caleb Griffith[17]; 22. W20-Greg Wilson[23]; 23. 
27-Scott Euler[22]; 24. 312-Mike Linder[15]
 

Fremont Federal Credit Union - 305 Sprints
Heat 1 -  (8 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 3J-Kevin Lee; 2. 1-Nate Dussel; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver; 5. 
36X-Dustin Keegan; 6. 9-Jimmy Colvin; 7. 83X-Nate Reeser; 8. 3B-Tim Bottles

Heat 2 - Bell Racing Products (8 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 40-Bobby Clark; 2. M28-Josh Muntz; 3. 80-Jake Trevino; 4. 28-Shawn 
Valenti; 5. 39-Matt Merrill; 6. 2P-Jerrid Potter

Heat 3 -  (8 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 19R-Steve Rando; 2. 18-Todd Heuerman; 3. 14-Chad Wilson; 4. 49-Coty 
Runion; 5. 3X-Josh Burdette; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 7. 10X-Dustin Stroup

Heat 4 -  (8 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 94-John Ivy; 2. 51-Brad Bowman; 3. 11F-D.J. Foos; 4. 31-Chuck Wilson; 5. 
71-Bill Kraylek; 6. 2-Tim Kern; 7. 41-Dustin Dinan

B-Main -  (10 Laps - Top 4 Transfer)
1. 3X-Josh Burdette; 2. 39-Matt Merrill; 3. 71-Bill Kraylek; 4. 9-Jimmy 
Colvin; 5. 2-Tim Kern; 6. 2P-Jerrid Potter; 7. 83X-Nate Reeser; 8. 35-Stuart 
Brubaker; 9. 3B-Tim Bottles; 10. 36X-Dustin Keegan

A-Main -  (25 Laps) [#]-Starting Position
1. 51-Brad Bowman[1]; 2. 94-John Ivy[6]; 3. 80-Jake Trevino[4]; 4. 14-Chad 
Wilson[3]; 5. 1W-Paul Weaver[13]; 6. 18-Todd Heuerman[9]; 7. 71-Bill 
Kraylek[19]; 8. 19R-Steve Rando[8]; 9. 1-Nate Dussel[7]; 10. 3J-Kevin 
Lee[12]; 11. 40-Bobby Clark[10]; 12. 11F-D.J. Foos[2]; 13. 22D-Dan 
Hammond[11]; 14. 49-Coty Runion[15]; 15. 39-Matt Merrill[16]; 16. 9-Jimmy 
Colvin[18]; 17. M28-Josh Muntz[5]; 18. 28-Shawn Valenti[14]; 19. 3X-Josh 
Burdette[17]; 20. 2-Tim Kern[20]