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Fremont
ready to embark on historic 2002 season
By Brian
Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio (Feb. 1, 2002) - Fremont Speedway's 2002 schedule
may be one of the most diverse and entertaining in the 51
year history of "The Track That Action Built."
The aggressive 25-race schedule includes six appearances
by the All Star Circuit of Champions, including two stops
during the annual All Star Sprint Speedweek; the first ever
stop by the Sprint Car Racing Association (SCRA) out of
California; and another unique non-wing night of racing
when the United States Auto Club (USAC) returns with the
sprints and midgets.
"This schedule offers something for all our race fans.
It's an exciting schedule," said Jim Ford, who recently
signed a three-year contract extention to promote racing
at Fremont Speedway.
Fremont Speedway, known as "The Home of the All Stars,"
will host the traveling sanctioning body on six occasions,
beginning with the 2002 season opener on Saturday, April
27. The Budweiser 40 on Saturday, May 25 features the All
Stars, paying $6,000 to win. The All Stars will return to
Fremont on Tuesday, July 2 for the third leg of the All
Star Sprint Speedweek, and will return to the historic dirt
track just two days later on Independence Day for the Miller
Beer $6,000 to win race. The All Stars will wrap up their
2002 appearances at Fremont with a weekend double-header
on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6 and 7. Friday's show is
Auto Value Night, while Saturday's show is the second annual
Chuck Kear Memorial race paying $6,000 to win and features
the popular manufacturer's giveaways.
"The All Stars put on a great show every time they
come to Fremont, and it sounds like this year the drivers
following the circuit will make it even more exciting when
they come to battle our tough weekly regulars," said
Ford. "We purchased the Thursday night Speedweek Show
from Sharon Speedway, which should cut down on the travelling
the teams and fans have to do to follow the seven nights
straight of racing."
Last year race fans got a taste of what non-wing racing
is all about when Fremont brought back the popular format
which featured mud-slinging, back'em in style racing...something
that had not appeared at the track in 20 years.
Well, in 2002, fans will get the opportunity TWICE! The
first occasion will be on Thursday, June 20, when the USAC
non-wing sprints and midgets are set to do battle. USAC
has put together an exciting four straight nights of non-wing
sprints and midget racing at four different Ohio tracks,
with Fremont being the second stop in the "4 For All"
event.
"USAC used to be where the stars of Indy started out
and it looks like that tradition is coming back. Many of
the drivers will compete in both the sprints and midgets.
Who knows, you might see tomorrow's Indy stars at Fremont
Speedway on June 20," said Ford.
The second non-wing event will be on Thursday, Aug. 8, when
the SCRA, which usually conducts races in California and
other western states, makes a swing through Iowa, Ohio and
Pennsylvania. Fremont plays host to the second leg of the
Non-Wing World Championship Series, thanks to sponsorship
by Pepsi. The feature event will be 50 laps!
"We're really excited about this race because there
will be drivers coming from out west that fans around here
don't get the opportunity to see compete," said Ford.
"And, it's always fun to see our regulars take off
their wings and battle it out."
Fremont Speedway will also offer something to late model
fans, with two appearances by the American Late Model Series
presented by Sunoco. Both late model shows are being sponsored
by True Value Hardware of Woodville and are scheduled for
Memorial Day, May 27, and Saturday, Sept. 14.
The 305 sprint division will be highlighted at the Third
Annual Baumann Auto Group 305 Sprint Invitational. The feature
event will pay $2,500 to the winner, one of the largest
payoffs for the 305 sprint division in the country.
Also, Fremont Speedway will bring back many fond memories
of long-time area race fans by conducting a race during
the Sandusky County Fair. The dirt truck division, which
Fremont Speedway formed in 1999, will be featured on Tuesday,
Aug. 20, during the 150th edition of the fair.
"There hasn't been racing at the track during the fair
in over 30 years. We're excited to be working with the fair
board to give fairgoers the extra attraction of dirt track
racing. And, the dirt truck drivers, crews and fans deserve
a night where they get the top billing," said Ford.
Another highlight of the season will be the Fremont 50 sponsored
by Pepsi on Saturday, Aug. 10. The 50 lap feature will pay
the winner $5,000.
Of course, besides the special events in 2002, Fremont Speedway
will offer 410 sprints, 305 sprints and the dirt trucks
nearly every Saturday night this summer. One change this
year, though, is that race time has been bumped up. Gates
will open at 4:30 p.m. with the first race scheduled to
hit the track at 7:15 p.m.
There are also a few rule changes for all three divisions
for 2002, including having mufflers mandatory for all divisions.
Fremont Speedway is located four miles south of the Ohio
Turnpike Exit 91 (6) in the Sandusky County Fairgrounds.
For more information call Jim Ford at 419-862-2206 or e-mail
at ford.j@worldnet.att.net or visit the official Fremont
Speedway website at www.fremontohspeedway.com
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