Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011
By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio – Bryan Sebetto had a dream season in 2011. He capped it off Saturday by being crowned the champion of the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints at Fremont Speedway during a gala banquet. Fremont’s Stuart Brubaker earned his third track championship in the last four years in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints, and the track’s all-time winningest driver, 73-year-old Art Ball of Tiffin, picked up the Fremont Fence Dirt Truck championship.

Sebetto, the 2011 Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title (FAST) champion, was one of two drivers to compete in all 18 A-mains at Fremont in 2011. He posted 13 top 10 finishes and 10 top five runs. He scored four wins in 2011 – April 30, June 4, Sept. 10 and the Jim Ford Classic on Sept. 17 – and now has 17 career Fremont victories. Bryan opened the year strong, not finishing worse than 7th through May 29. Besides his wins, he recorded three runner-up finishes and scored a third against the World of Outlaws. Bryan’s average A-main finishing position was 7th.

“I’m so happy I could give the Burmeister family their first Fremont championship. They have put so much into this sport over the past 50 plus years and they deserve this. I have to thank my crew, especially Mikey Sommers…he is the best crew chief in the pits,” said Sebetto, who also thanked his sponsors JLH General Contractors, Schiets Motorsports, Steven Mapus Tools, R&R Auto and Kistler Engines. 

“We bought a new Maxim today at Kear’s and won a $1,000 off…we are ready to repeat next year,” added Sebetto.

Brubaker was one of only two drivers to compete in all 17 A-mains in the 305 sprints in 2011. He posted an incredible 13 top 10 finishes and 8 top five runs. He posted wins on June 25 and Sept. 10 and now has 6 career victories at Fremont. Stuart also posted a pair of runner-up finishes and three third place runs. >From opening night through June 25, Stuart’s worse finish was a 12th on April 30. Stuart’s average A-main finishing position was 7th.

“I have to thank mom, dad, my wife and my crew, especially Donnie Lyons for all the hard work. I would have never thought I could win one championship, let alone three. We have bought a 410 motor and going to give that a try next year,” said Brubaker, who also thanked his sponsors, J. Lynn Abstracting, Advanced Industrial Services and his Aunt Dru.

For Ball, who wrapped up his 50th season of racing, the 2011 Fremont dirt truck championship is his third at the track, having scored late model titles in 1973 and 1975. He competed in all 16 A-mains in 2011, scoring an incredible 13 top 10 finishes and 10 top five runs. In fact, from the beginning of the year through Oct. 8, Art’s worse finish was a pair of 11 place runs. Art scored his 71st career win at “The Track That Action Built” on May 29. He also posted three runner-up finishes and a pair of third place runs. Art’s average A-main finishing position was 6th. 

“I have to thank Keith Pierce and his family and all my crew who work so hard on this. I want to thank my wife and my family for putting up with this for 50 years,” said Ball, who thanked all his sponsors, including Chaney Roofing, Kear’s Speed Shop, Magers Lumber and Faber Sub-Contracting. “We will be back in 2012.”

Also honored were rookies of the year Brad Haudenschild (410 sprints); Jordan Ryan (305 sprints) and Dan Roepke Jr. (dirt trucks).

Following is the rest of the top 10 in points for 2011:

Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints

10. Duane Zablocki, Tiffin. Duane competed in 11 of the 18 A-mains at Fremont in 2011. He recorded a season-best eighth place finish on June 11 and July 2. His average A-main finishing position was 15th.

9. Jody Keegan, Fremont. Jody competed in 13 of the 18 A-mains in 2011, recording a pair of top 10 finishes, including a season best runner-up on Sept. 10. Jody’s average A-main finishing position was 15th.

8. Brian Smith, Fremont. Brian competed in 14 of the 18 A-mains in 2011, scoring 9 top 10 finishes. He scored two fifth place finishes as his season-best. Bryan, the 2004 Fremont 305 sprint champion, had an average A-main finishing position of 11th.

7. Mike Linder, Fremont. Mike competed in 17 of the 18 A-mains in 2011, missing only the April 30 feature. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes and four top five runs. July and August were very good to Mike, as he never finished out of the top 6. Mike scored his 12th career feature win at Fremont on Aug. 13. Mike’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.

6. Brad Haudenschild, Fredericksburg, Ohio. The 2011 Fremont Rookie of the Year competed in 14 of the 18 A-mains in 2011. He recorded eight top 10 runs and 4 top fives. He scored his first career 410 sprint win on Aug. 13 and also added a pair of runner-up finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 11th.

5. Phil Gressman, Fremont. Phil competed in 16 of the 18 A-mains in 2011, missing only the June 25 speedweek show and the World of Outlaws feature. He recorded 10 top 10 finishes and four top fives. Phil, the 1995 305 sprint champion at Fremont, scored his 11th career Fremont victory on July 2 and had a runner-up finish against the All Stars on May 29.

4. Craig Mintz, Gibsonburg. The 2010 Fremont champion and 2009 FAST champion was one of two drivers to compete in all 18 A-mains in 2011. He recorded 11 top 10 finishes and three top fives including a season best second on July 30. Craig’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.

3. Byron Reed, Monclova, Ohio. A three-time Fremont champion and the 2010 FAST champion, Byron competed in 17 of the 18 A-mains in 2011, missing only the championship night feature on Oct. 8. Byron started the year strong, finish no worse than eighth through July 4. He recorded 13 top 10 finishes and 9 top five runs. He scored wins on May 14, June 11 and July 30 and now has 23 career victories at the track. 

2. Dean Jacobs, Wooster, Ohio. The 2011 Attica champion finished just 11 points away from the Fremont title. He competed in 16 of the 18 A-mains, missing only the Sept. 17 All Star main and the World of Outlaws event. He recorded 13 top 10 finishes and an incredible 11 top five runs. He posted a remarkable four runner-up finishes. In fact, from June 4 through Aug. 13. Dean’s worse finish was a fifth during the Ohio Sprint Speedweek event. Dean’s average A-main finishing position was sixth.

Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints

Rookie of the year – Jordan Ryan, Castalia. The 15-year-old competed in 14 of the 17 A-mains in 2011. He posted five top 10 runs, including a season-best fourth on Sept. 10. Jordan’s average A-main finishing position was 13th.

10. John Ivy, Fremont. John, the 1994 305 track champion and three time 410 track champion, competed in 14 of the 17 A-mains in 2011. John recorded 11 top 10 finishes and three top fives, including his 31st career Fremont win on Oct. 15. John’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.

9. Jimmy Colvin, Bellevue. Jimmy competed in 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2011, missing only the April 30 and Aug. 13 events. He recorded 10 top 10 finishes and 9 top five runs. He scored his second career Fremont win on July 9. He added a pair of runner-up finishes and a pair of third place runs. Jimmy’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.

8. Jason Keckler, Fremont. The 2010 Fremont rookie of the year competed in 16 of the 17 A-mains in 2011, missing only the May 29 show. He scored five top 10 finishes and earned his first career win on Sept. 17. Jason’s average A-main finishing position was 12th.

7. Bobby Clark, Fremont. A two-time 360 sprint champion at Fremont, Bobby competed in 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2011, missing only opening night and the July 9 event. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes and five top five finishes. He scored wins on May 29 and July 30 and now has 26 career victories at Fremont. Bobby also scored three runner-up finishes. His average A-main finishing position was 10th.

6. Dustin Dinan, Clyde. Dustin competed in 15 of the 17 A-mains in 2011, missing only the Aug. 13 305-360 challenge and Oct. 8 championship night. He recorded. 9 top 10 runs and scored a pair of fourth place runs as his season’s best. Dustin opened the year strong, finishing no worse than 12 through July 2. Dustin’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.

5. D.J. Foos, Fremont. D.J. was one of only two drivers to compete in all 17 A-mains at Fremont in 2011. He recorded 9 top 10 runs and 7 top fives. He posted his first career wins at Fremont on April 23, May 14 and Oct. 8. D.J. opened the year strong, finishing no worse than 10th through May 29. D.J.’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.

4. Paige Polyak, Tiffin. Paige competed in 16 of the 17 A-mains in 2011, missing only the championship night feature on Oct. 8. She recorded 12 top 10 finishes and 7 top five runs. >From June 4 through Sept. 10, Paige’s worse finish was an 11th. Paige’s average A-main finishing position was 8th.

3. Nate Dussel, Bradner, Ohio. Nate, the 2011 Attica champion, competed in 16 of the 17-A-mains, missing only the last show of the year. He recorded 11 top 10 finishes and four top fives, including his sixth career Fremont win on July 2. Nate’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.

2. Paul Weaver, Fremont. The two-time track champion competed in 16 of the 17 A-mains, missing only the Aug. 13 feature. Paul recorded 12 top 10 finishes and an incredible 9 top five runs. In fact, from Sept. 10 through the end of the year, Paul’s worse finish was an eighth on championship night. Paul recorded his 29th career Fremont win on Sept. 10. Paul’s average A-main finishing position was 7th.

Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks

10. Brian Sorg, Fremont. Brian competed in all 16 A-mains in 2011. He recorded five top 10 runs and scored his first career Fremont win on Oct. 15. Brian’s average A-main finishing position was 12th.

9. Jimmy McGrath Jr., Clyde. Jimmy competed in 14 of the 16 A-mains in 2011, missing the last two shows. He recorded 6 top five runs, including wins on April 23, June 4, and Sept. 17 and now has eight career wins at the track. Jimmy’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.

8. Dan Hennig, Castalia. Dan competed in 14 of the 16 A-mains in 2011, missing only opening night and May 14. He recorded 11 top 10 finishes and 7 top five runs. He scored wins on April 30, July 30 and Sept. 16 and now has 10 career wins at Fremont. During a stretch from May 29 through July 2, Dan’s worse finish was sixth. Besides his three wins, Dan also recorded a pair of runner-up finishes. Dan’s average A-main finishing position was 5th.

7. Art Howey Jr., Fremont. Art competed in all 16 A-mains at Fremont in 2011. He recorded 9 top 10 finishes and three top fives, including a season-best pair of runner-up finishes. Art’s average A-main finishing position was 11th.

6. Dan Roepke Jr., Woodville. The 2011 Fremont Rookie of the Year competed in 15 of the 16 A-mains in 2011, missing only the April 30 show. He recorded 8 top 10 finishes and four top fives. Dan earned the first three wins of his career – Sept. 10 and swept both features on Oct. 8. Dan’s average A-main finishing position was 10th.

5. Kent Brewer, Fostoria. Kent competed in all 16 A-mains at Fremont in 2011. He recorded 11 top 10 runs and 6 top five finishes. His season-best finish was a runner-up on April 30. During a stretch from July 9 through the end of the year, Kent’s worse finish was a 12th on Oct. 8. Kent’s average A-main finishing position was 9th.

4. Bob Dible, Fostoria. The 2011 Attica champion competed in all 16 A-mains in 2011 at Fremont. He recorded an incredible 12 top 10 finishes and 9 top five runs. In fact, from June 4 through the end of the year, Bob’s worse finish was an 11th on July 30. Three races – April 30 through May 29 – probably cost Bob a shot at the track title when he posted a pair of 19th place finishes and a 16th. Bob’s average A-main finishing position was 7th.

3. Cory Ward, Sandusky. Cory, the 2007 Fremont champion, competed in all 16 A-mains in 2011. He recorded a remarkable 14 top 10 finishes and 9 top five runs. Had Cory not started the season slow – a 12th and 11th place finishes – he would have competed for the track title. In fact, Cory’s worse finish of the year was the opening night 12th place run. From May 14 through the end of the year, Cory never finished out of the top 9. He scored his 18th career Fremont win on June 25. Cory’s average A-main finishing position was an 6th.

2. Steve Sabo, Fremont. The 2010 and four-time Fremont track champion competed in all 16 A-mains in 2011. He posted 13 top 10 finishes and 7 top five runs. During a stretch from May 29 through Sept. 17, Steve’s worse finish was a 10th. Steve posted two runner-up finishes and four third place runs. His average A-main finishing position was 7th.

For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com.