By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio (Saturday, April 29, 2006) - It was a night of firsts at Fremont Speedway, as Todd Heller picked up his first career Fremont win in the make-up Fort Ball Pizza 410 sprint feature and Matt Merrill scored his initial victory in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 sprint feature. But, it was also a night of experience, as 2005 Fremont track champion Mike Linder picked up a 410 sprint win in the regular portion of the show, Bryan Sebetto notched a win in the make-up 305 sprint main and veteran Coors Light Dirt Truck driver Danny Roepke scored a victory.

In the Snyder's Floor Covering make-up 410 feature - from April 22 rainout - Troy Vaccaro jumped into the early lead with Mike Linder giving chase. The caution would fly after only one lap, and Linder went pitside when a fuel nozzle came off. On the restart, Byron Reed made heavy contact with the soft walls in turn 2 to bring out the red. He was unhurt and would make repairs to compete in the regular program.

Heller executed the slide job on Vaccaro in turn three to take the lead on lap 6. The leaders hit lapped traffic on lap 10 with Heller holding the advantage over Vaccaro and Bryan Scott. Heller survived cautions on lap 11, 15 and with just two laps remaining to score the win over Vaccaro and Scott.

"I never thought we'd see this...we've had a lot of seconds and thirds here," said Heller beside his GL Heller Co. #14h. "In hot laps we hurt the motor...I think we were only turning around 6,500 RPM, but it got us here. I have to thank my parents, my crew and my son who all work so hard on this thing."

In the make-up Snyder's Floor Covering 305 sprint main, Bryan Sebetto changed from his normal high line to the bottom to score his fifth career Fremont victory over A.J. Sleek and Paul Weaver.

"I don't ever race on the bottom, but it felt good down there so I just kept the car straight and it was a rocket ship," said Sebetto beside his Madison St. Tavern, Abdoo Wrecking #01.

In the Willies Sales & Service-Torro Lawn Mower 410 feature, Linder and Craig Mintz would battle for the lead at the drop of the green, with Linder sliding off the high side of turn 2 and nearly into the wall. Mintz would lead over Caleb Griffith and Brandon Martin as Linder slid back to fourth. By lap four, Mintz still lead with Griffith second and now Linder third. Four laps later, Linder would move into second behind Mintz and would take the lead on lap 10 by rim-riding through turns three and four. By the half-way mark, all eyes were on Greg Wilson who was up to 4th from his 10th starting spot.

On lap 17, Linder held the point, with Wilson now into second, Mintz at third and Byron Reed into fourth. The action would come to a halt on lap 21 for a tip-over by Cory Bevard. Linder had a lapped car between he and Wilson on the restart with Mintz and Reed still in tow. Linder would move the wing back and set sail around the rim of the track to take his eighth career Fremont victory.

"Boy, to go from leaving a nozzle off in the first feature to almost blasting the softwall to winning...someone was looking out for us tonight," said Linder beside his Wollenslagel Moving/Beaverdam Contracting #3. "On the red, Steven (his crew chief and brother) told me the W20 was coming and coming fast. So I moved the wing back and told myself not to get lazy."

In the Willies' 305 sprint feature, Steve Rando jumped into the early lead with Merrill in tow. The red would fall on lap 6 for a multi-car flip in turn three involving Chris Andrews, Craig Kays, Willie Keegan and Jeremy Durst. Everyone was okay, and two laps after the restart, A.J. Sleek bolted around Rando for the lead. By lap 10, Sleek and Merrill battled side by side for the lead, with Rando in third, Kevin Lee and Paul Weaver in tow. Merrill would rocket off the bottom of turn 4 on lap 16 to take the lead and go on to his first ever feature win over Sleek and Paul Weaver.

"This is truly amazing...I never thought I'd see this day," said Merrill beside his Kash Kow sponsored #39. "My dad and everyone has worked so hard and given up so much to get us here. On that red, we tightened the car up a little and it was just awesome on the bottom."

In the Coors Light Dirt Truck feature, the action heated up on lap 10 with. Cory Ward, Roepke and Dwight Waltermeier going three wide for the lead. Roepke would get the top spot the next lap and go on for his 22nd career Fremont win over Waltermeier and Ward.

"That was good racing...there are so many good drivers in this division," said Roepke beside his Village Inn, Adler's Transmission sponsored #53.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 6 with Pepsi Night featuring the All Star Circuit of Champions along with the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 sprints and Coors Light Dirt Trucks.

The "New" Fremont Speedway

The Fort Ball Pizza 410 Super Sprints (Make-up for 4-22 Rain-out)
A-main  (30 laps) Starting Position []
1. 14H-Todd Heller[5]; 2. 7T-Troy Vaccaro[4]; 3. 37Z-Brian Scott[8]; 4. 2G-Caleb Griffith[17]; 5. K-Andrew Palker[7]; 6. 8S-Craig Mintz[9]; 7. 10-David Harrison[14]; 8. 7B-Jamie Miller[10]; 9. O-Ben Rutan[20]; 10. 98-Bruce Robenalt[15]; 11. 10S-Roger Shammo[16]; 12. 16-Lee Jacobs[11]; 13. 31-Chuck Wilson[12]; 14. 99-Alvin Roepke[1]; 15. 97S-Aaron Shaffer[13]; 16. 53-John Ivy[18]; 17. 27-Scott Euler[19]; 18. 5R-Bryon Reed[6]; 19. 3L-Mike Linder[3]; 20. 55-Brian Smith[2]

Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints (Make-up for 4-22 Rain-out)
B2 Main (10 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver; 2. 39-Matt Merrill; 3. 49-Coty Runion; 4. 22D-Dan Hammond; 5. 3X-Greg Summit; 6. 14-Chad Wilson; 7. 34-Mark Whaley; 8. 18C-Jason Crispen; 9. OO-Jay Kiser;

A-main (25 laps) Starting Position []
1. O1-Bryan Sebetto[4]; 2. 15-A.J. Sleek[2]; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[18]; 4. 3J-Bobby Foster[17]; 5. 18-Todd Hierman[15]; 6. O7-Scott Mominee[5]; 7. 15C-Chris Andrews[9]; 8. 5D-Willie Keegan[7]; 9. 71-Bill Kraylek[19]; 10. 39-Matt Merrill[20]; 11. 9-Craig Kays[10]; 12. 48S-Andy Shammo[1]; 13. 21-Scott Kraylek[13]; 14. 5-Dustin Dinan[6]; 15. 35-Stuart Brubaker[8]; 16. 19R-Steve Rando[3]; 17. 29-Chris Lang[16]; 18. 27-Jeremy Durst[11]; 19. 55B-Brad Bowman[12]; 20. 66L-Ryan Lowe[14]
 

The Fort Ball Pizza 410 Super Sprints (April 29 program)
Qualifying
1. 5R-Bryon Reed, 12.48; 2. K-Andrew Palker, 12.56; 3. 37Z-Brian Scott, 12.59; 4. X-Mark Keegan, 12.61; 5. 11M-Brandon Martin, 12.64; 6. 2G-Caleb Griffith, 12.66; 7. 3L-Mike Linder, 12.76; 8. F1-Jon Finsel, 12.96; 9. 8S-Craig Mintz, 12.97; 10. 5B-Chad Blonde, 13.01; 11. 99-Alvin Roepke, 13.01; 12. 7T-Troy Vaccaro, 13.02; 13. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.02; 14. 14H-Todd Heller, 13.03; 15. 53-John Ivy, 13.07; 16. 8C-Bobby Clark, 13.13; 17. 1R-Phil Gressman, 13.15; 18. 4N-Niel Shepard, 13.17; 19. 10-David Harrison, 13.21; 20. 8B-Cory Bevard, 13.30; 21. 97S-Aaron Shaffer, 13.39; 22. O-Ben Rutan, 13.45; 23. 27-Scott Euler, 13.45; 24. 31-Chuck Wilson, 13.49; 25. 16-Lee Jacobs, 13.52; 26. 48-Mike Burkin, 13.59; 27. 91-Aaron Middaugh, 13.60; 28. 71-Aaron Warnock, 13.63; 29. 7B-Jamie Miller, 13.67; 30. 21-Rodney Morgan, 13.67; 31. 2H-Tim Hunter, 13.71; 32. 48B-Bill Shaw, 13.80; 33. 98-Bruce Robenalt, 14.01; 34. 10S-Roger Shammo, 14.05; 35. 55-Brian Smith, 14.26; 36. 41-Randy Tusing, 16.22

Heat 1 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. W20-Greg Wilson; 2. 11M-Brandon Martin; 3. 8S-Craig Mintz; 4. 16-Lee Jacobs; 5. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 6. 7B-Jamie Miller; 7. 5R-Bryon Reed

Heat 2 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 14H-Todd Heller; 2. 4N-Niel Shepard; 3. 2G-Caleb Griffith; 4. O-Ben Rutan; 5. 5B-Chad Blonde; 6. K-Andrew Palker; 7. 10S-Roger Shammo; 8. 48-Mike Burkin; 9. 21-Rodney Morgan

Heat 3 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 3L-Mike Linder; 2. 99-Alvin Roepke; 3. 37Z-Brian Scott; 4. 55-Brian Smith; 5. 27-Scott Euler; 6. 2H-Tim Hunter; 7. 53-John Ivy; 8. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 9. 10-David Harrison

Heat 4 (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 8B-Cory Bevard; 2. 8C-Bobby Clark; 3. 31-Chuck Wilson; 4. X-Mark Keegan; 5. 71-Aaron Warnock; 6. 48B-Bill Shaw; 7. 41-Randy Tusing; 8. 7T-Troy Vaccaro

B-main (10 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 5R-Bryon Reed; 2. 5B-Chad Blonde; 3. 53-John Ivy; 4. 2H-Tim Hunter; 5. 10-David Harrison; 6. K-Andrew Palker; 7. 27-Scott Euler; 8. 98-Bruce Robenalt; 9. F1-Jon Finsel; 10. 21-Rodney Morgan; 11. 48-Mike Burkin; 12. 91-Aaron Middaugh; 13. 71-Aaron Warnock; 14. 7T-Troy Vaccaro; 15. 10S-Roger Shammo; 16. 7B-Jamie Miller; 17. 97S-Aaron Shaffer; 18. 48B-Bill Shaw; 19. 41-Randy Tusing

A-main  (30 laps) Starting Position []
1. 3L-Mike Linder[2]; 2. W20-Greg Wilson[10]; 3. 8S-Craig Mintz[1]; 4. 53-John Ivy[12]; 5. 5B-Chad Blonde[8]; 6. 5R-Bryon Reed[7]; 7. 2G-Caleb Griffith[3]; 8. X-Mark Keegan[5]; 9. 99-Alvin Roepke[9]; 10. 14H-Todd Heller[11]; 11. 2H-Tim Hunter[19]; 12. 37Z-Brian Scott[6]; 13. 11M-Brandon Martin[4]; 14. 16-Lee Jacobs[18]; 15. 8C-Bobby Clark[13]; 16. 31-Chuck Wilson[17]; 17. O-Ben Rutan[16]; 18. 4N-Niel Shepard[14]; 19. 8B-Cory Bevard[15]; 20. 55-Brian Smith[20]

Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints
Heat 1 - Riverside Machine & Tool (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 19R-Steve Rando; 2. 5D-Willie Keegan; 3. 39-Matt Merrill; 4. 15C-Chris Andrews; 5. 3J-Bobby Foster; 6. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 7. 65-Mark Lang; 8. 25P-Mark Pridemore; 9. 5JR-Jimmy Mcgrath 

Heat 2 -  R & R Auto Wrecking (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 55S-Benny Bowman; 2. 27-Jeremy Durst; 3. 71-Bill Kraylek; 4. 9-Craig Kays; 5. 18-Todd Hierman; 6. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 7. 12-Brett Lane; 8. 5T-Paul Thrash

Heat 3 -  Gressman Powersports (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 21-Scott Kraylek; 2. O1-Bryan Sebetto; 3. 15-A.J. Sleek; 4. 48S-Andy Shammo; 5. 22D-Dan Hammond; 6. O7-Scott Mominee; 7. 11-Shawn Colvin; 8. 18C-Jason Crispen; 9. 49-Coty Runion

Heat 4 -  Computer Man Inc. (8 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. O2-Kevin Lee; 2. 1W-Paul Weaver; 3. 55B-Brad Bowman; 4. 3X-Greg Summit; 5. 66L-Ryan Lowe; 6. 5-Dustin Dinan; 7. 29-Chris Lang; 8. 34-Mark Whaley; 9. 14-Chad Wilson

Dash - Fremont Floor Covering Outlet (4 laps)
1. 21-Scott Kraylek; 2. 15C-Chris Andrews; 3. 19R-Steve Rando; 4. O2-Kevin Lee; 5. 55S-Benny Bowman 

B1 Main (8 laps, top 2 transfer to A-main)
1. 3J-Bobby Foster; 2. 18-Todd Hierman; 3. 35-Stuart Brubaker; 4. 9Z-Duane Zablocki; 5. 65-Mark Lang; 6. 25P-Mark Pridemore; 7. 12-Brett Lane; 8. 5JR-Jimmy Mcgrath; 9. 5T-Paul Thrash; 10. OO-Jay Kiser 

B2 Main (8 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 66L-Ryan Lowe; 2. 5-Dustin Dinan; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond; 4. O7-Scott Mominee; 5. 29-Chris Lang; 6. 11-Shawn Colvin; 7. 14-Chad Wilson; 8. 34-Mark Whaley; 9. 49-Coty Runion; 10. 18C-Jason Crispen

A-main (25 laps) Starting Position []
1. 39-Matt Merrill[3]; 2. 15-A.J. Sleek[5]; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[9]; 4. O2-Kevin Lee[6]; 5. 21-Scott Kraylek[11]; 6. 55B-Brad Bowman[8]; 7. 71-Bill Kraylek[12]; 8. 48S-Andy Shammo[15]; 9. 18-Todd Hierman[19]; 10. 3J-Bobby Foster[17]; 11. 19R-Steve Rando[1]; 12. 66L-Ryan Lowe[18]; 13. 5-Dustin Dinan[20]; 14. 9-Craig Kays[14]; 15. 3X-Greg Summit[16]; 16. O1-Bryan Sebetto[7]; 17. 5D-Willie Keegan[4]; 18. 27-Jeremy Durst[10]; 19. 15C-Chris Andrews[13]; 20. 55S-Benny Bowman[2]
 

Coors Light Dirt Trucks
Heat 1 (7 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 18W-Corey Ward; 2. 20-Darren Dukeshire; 3. 37-Eric Devanna; 4. 34-Aaron Schatzinger; 5. 2R-Ron Kepling; 6. 52-Tim Schatzinger; 7. 8H-Art Howey Jr.; 8. O1-Art Ball; 9. 16-Steve Sabo

Heat 2 (7 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 33-Brian Arnold; 2. 39-Dwight Waltermier; 3. 29-Ron Bordner; 4. 30-Dave Gibbs; 5. 45-Tim Adams Jr.; 6. 8-Steve Endicott; 7. 18-Jim Ward; 8. 4X-Brian Sorg

Heat 3 (7 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 53-Dan Roepke; 2. 69-Mark Warnick; 3. 28-Shawn Valenti; 4. 5-Jim Mcgrath; 5. 98-Craig Hoffman; 6. 19-Jimmy Sebetto; 7. 7C-Codey Renfro; 8. 83B-Jeff Borys; 9. 5W-Jeff Dougherty

Heat 4 (7 laps, top 4 transfer to A-Main)
1. 17-Bob Dible; 2. 55B-Bill Bruen; 3. 21-Fred Guiher; 4. 92B-Jim Brewer; 5. 92-Loren Schwochow; 6. 12-Kyle Dukeshire; 7. 78-Dave Brewer; 8. 22-Todd Keegan

B1-Main (7 laps, top 2 transfer to A-main)
1. 16-Steve Sabo; 2. 2R-Ron Kepling; 3. 45-Tim Adams Jr.; 4. 52-Tim Schatzinger; 5. 4X-Brian Sorg; 6. O1-Art Ball; 7. 8H-Art Howey Jr.; 8. 8-Steve Endicott; 9. 18-Jim Ward

B2-main (7 laps, top 2 transfer to A-Main)
1. 98-Craig Hoffman; 2. 92-Loren Schwochow; 3. 5W-Jeff Dougherty; 4. 7C-Codey Renfro; 5. 12-Kyle Dukeshire; 6. 83B-Jeff Borys; 7. 78-Dave Brewer; 8. 19-Jimmy Sebetto; 9. 22-Todd Keegan

A-main (15 laps) Starting Position []
1. 53-Dan Roepke[8]; 2. 39-Dwight Waltermier[2]; 3. 18W-Corey Ward[1]; 4. 17-Bob Dible[10]; 5. 29-Ron Bordner[7]; 6. 28-Shawn Valenti[4]; 7. 16-Steve Sabo[17]; 8. 69-Mark Warnick[12]; 9. 33-Brian Arnold[3]; 10. 2R-Ron Kepling[19]; 11. 20-Darren Dukeshire[5]; 12. 30-Dave Gibbs[14]; 13. 5-Jim Mcgrath[15]; 14. 98-Craig Hoffman[18]; 15. 34-Aaron Schatzinger[13]; 16. 92-Loren Schwochow[20]; 17. 21-Fred Guiher[9]; 18. 92B-Jim Brewer[16]; 19. 55B-Bill Bruen[11]; 20. 37-Eric Devanna[6]