|
Biggest purse in Fremont Speedway history to close 2007 season
By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio (Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007) - They say "all good things must come to an end." That holds true for the 2007 racing season at Fremont Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 15. However, true to its historic nature, "The Track That Action Built" will close the year out in style - the richest purse in the 56-year history of the Sandusky County Fairgrounds speedplant.
The final race of 2007 - the Chuck Kear Memorial Season Champion Night - also brings to an end the eight-year promotional efforts of Jim and Joanne Ford and their family. The Ford family, which includes sons, Doug and Randy and his wife Deb, and daughters, Vicki, and Becky Kayden and her husband Bob, and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins, literally brought the historic race track from the brink of extinction in 2000.
To "go out in style" the Fords have put together a purse of over $64,000 for five feature events.
"We wanted to say thank you to the race teams, drivers, crews, owners, fans, sponsors...everyone who has made this such a wonderful experience for our family. They have taken us in and made us a part of their lives and we hope they know they will ALWAYS be a part of ours," said an emotional Jim Ford.
"When we took this place over....a lot of people didn't think we could make it work. To be honest, after a few months of getting into this, we had our doubts. But the fans and teams stuck with us and it has been a fantastic ride," Ford continued.
The biggest event in Fremont Speedway's 56-year history is made possible thanks to the sponsors of True Value Hardware of Woodville; Kear's Speedshop of Tiffin; S&S Builders and Excavators of Fremont; B&S Racing; R&R Auto Wrecking of Fremont; Gene Smith; Beverdam Contracting; G.L. Heller Co. of Whitehouse; Fremont Fence Company; Vision Quest of Elmore; Fresch Hair Designs of Sandusky; and the Sandusky County Agricultural Society.
The Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints will run a 50-lap feature paying the winner $15,000! The rest of the pay-off is: 1. $15,000; 2. $5,000; 3. $3,000; 4. $2,000; 5. $1,800; 6. $1,700; 7. $1,600; 8. $1,500; 9. $1,400; 10. $1,300; 11. $1,200; 12. $1,100; 13. $1,000; 14. $900; 15. $800; 16. $700; 17. $675; 18. $650; 19. $625; 20-24. $600. Even the B-main offers some great cash - a$3,050 purse - as the fifth place finisher (the first non-transfer car) will take home $400!
Also, the feature winner takes home a new Revolution XXX chassis and the Hard Charger Award (driver who passes the most cars from his original starting position) gets $100 from Fresch Hair Design.
The format for the 410 sprints is a one-lap qualifying effort with fastest six being inverted in each heat with the top four heat race finishers transfering to the A-main. The rest of the A-main field will be made up of the top four finishers from the B-main, with the final four A-main starters being the drivers in Fremont Speedway points that have not yet transferred.
The always popular Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints and the Fremont Fence Dirt Trucks will each be split into two complete fields based on odds and evens in points (drivers in 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. in one field and drivers 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. in another). There will be no heats for these two divisions...just two big feature events for each division (4 features), each paying $1,000 to win.
Also, the winning driver between the two 305 sprint feature who passes the most cars from his original starting spot, will receive a new Revolution XXX chassis. And, Kear's Speedshop - this race remembers its founder Chuck Kear - and Triple X will be donating two chrome-plated front axles, two rear bumpers and two top wing trees for the second, third and fourth place finishers of the 305 sprint A-main.
And, as if this race couldn't get any bigger....this will be the first time in eight years that the final race will be a true season championship night, as the track champions will be crowned. Currently, 2003 track champion Byron Reed, who recently won his third straight track title at Attica Raceway Park, holds a 75-point advantage over Lee Jacobs in the 410 sprints, with Paul Weaver 107 points back. In the 305 sprints, Andy Shammo, who recently won his second consecutive track title at Attica, holds a 166-point lead over Kevin Lee and is 194 points ahead of Chad Gullett. In the dirt trucks, Cory Ward has a 111-point advantage over Bob Dible with Jim McGrath 120 points back in third.
There is also going to be a battle of the media, pitting Fremont Speedway announcer Brian Liskai against NBC 24 weatherman Norm VanNess and possibly 104.7 WIOT personality Grizzly in school bus action.
With all of this exciting racing and such a big purse, fans will be pleased to know the admission price will only be $20 for adults; $18 for senior citizens; $10 for teens 11-16; and, as always, children 10 and under get in free. Pit passes will be $30.
Gates will open Saturday, Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.
The rain date for this special season-ending event is Saturday, Sept. 22.
Fremont Speedway is located four miles south of Ohio Turnpike Exit 91 (south on St. Rt. 53) in the historic Sandusky County Fairgrounds at the intersection of Rawson Ave. and North Street.
For more information call the track office at 419-862-2206 or log onto www.fremontohspeedway.com
|
|
