Max Stambaugh earns Great Lakes victory leading race all 25 laps at Speedway
Fans at Fremont Speedway were treated Saturday to fantastic finishes in an all-sprint car night of racing.
Waterville's Travis Philo banged wheels with Cap Henry coming to the checkers of the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature on Northern Ohio Trailer Sales Night to claim his second career win at Fremont. Henry’s second-place finish increases his point lead in the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series.
Cale Thomas, Nate Dussel and Stuart Brubaker rounded out the top five in a 30-lap feature that did not see a caution until 10 laps to go. A caution with three laps remaining set up a dramatic finish with Philo winning by .123 seconds
“We didn’t need those yellows," Philo said. "That last lap was definitely my worst lap of the race. Hat's off to my guys. We have a really fast car right now."
Elida's Max Stambaugh led all 25 laps on the Great Lakes Super Sprints (360 sprints) feature, but former Fremont track champ Nate Dussel made it exciting. The duo raced side by side to the finish and Stambaugh got the win by .004 seconds for his first career victory at the track.
Jared Horstman, Phil Gressman and Brandon Moore rounded out the top five.
“This place beats me up," Stambaugh said. "Hat's off to my race team. It’s a hot day out and they worked really hard and it paid off. I got a little lackadaisical there, Nate is a really good racer and to hold him off. We’re getting to crunch time with our group and it’s going to be fast.
"I need to thank Smith Motorsports, they give me an opportunity to race. I have a really good group of people around me."
Dustin Stroup jumped into the early lead in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint feature, before eighth-place starter Paul Weaver, a four time and defending Speedway champion, used lapped traffic to catch and pass Stroup for the lead on Lap 15. In the nonstop 25 lap affair, Weaver drove away for his third win of the season at Fremont.
Stroup, John Ivy, Jamie Miller and Logan Riel rounded out the top five.
It's Weaver’s 74th career victory at Speedway, tied for second all-time and two away from Art Ball. The victory pads Weaver’s lead for a fourth straight NAPA of Bryan Attica Fremont Championship Series.
“We had all kinds of problems at Attica this year," Weaver said. "It’s like going from zero to hero when we come to Fremont. It was a real racy track. I’d rather have this than a wide open no passing track. The rear-end in this car came from Jimmy Colvin, who hasn’t raced in six or eight years.
"The chassis is a 2009. The right rear tire I bought from my nephew Jason Keckler, who hasn’t raced in four or five years. I have to thank Bob Hampshire, Pam and Steve Brown and my great crew."
Speedway is host to a doubleheader Friday and Saturday, with AFCS 410 and 305 sprints and dirt trucks. The pit booth opens Friday at 4 p.m., pit gates half an hour later and the grandstand at 5 p.m. Racing starts at 7:45 p.m.
The pit boot opens Saturday at 3 p.m., pit gates half an hour later and general admission gates at 4 p.m. Racing starts at 7 p.m.
A classic car drive-in at the campground, with games is planned Saturday, in addition to racing.
As a result of support from area businesses and individuals, money has been added to the purses both nights.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Travis Philo captures second Fremont Speedway race victory
