| New
promotion team in place at Fremont Speedway
By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio (Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007)
- Combine a knowledge of business
and an enthusiasm for racing and what
do you have? The new promoters of the
historic Fremont Speedway.
Fremont businessman Rich Farmer and Ada,
Ohio business man Andy James have
teamed up to take over operations of "The
Track That Action Built" beginning
with the 2008 season.
Farmer owns R&R Auto Wrecking in Fremont,
a vehicle recycling business, and
is the operations manager of Burns Iron
& Metal of Fremont, a buyer and
seller of scrap metals. James owns Beaverdam
Contracting, an excavating
business near the Lima area. This past
summer he was also a partner in
Waynesfield Motorsports park, a quarter-mile
dirt track near Lima.
Both have been long-time race fans and
competitors. Farmer was a former
rookie of the year at Fremont Speedway
in the dirt truck division. He has
since competed in the 305 sprints and
trucks and owns a 410 sprint car
driven by Bryan Sebetto. James has owned
and driven 410 sprints for several
years. He owns the 410 sprint car Mike
Linder has driven the past few years,
including winning the Fremont Speedway
410 track championship in 2005 and
2006.
Farmer and James will take over from the
Jim Ford family which has promoted
racing at Fremont Speedway since 2000.
This past week, the Sandusky County
Agricultural Society unanimously agreed
to Farmer and James taking over
promotions at the race track for at least
the next four years.
"When we heard Jim Ford and his family
wanted to retire, Andy and I talked
and we knew we had to keep this track
going. The Fords have done such a
wonderful job here...they literally brought
the track back from near
extinction. We felt we owed it to the
fans, the teams and the sponsors who
have invested so much in this sport at
this historic place, to continue the
tradition," said Farmer. "We're very excited
about this opportunity. We also
want to thank the fairboard for giving
us this chance and for their loyalty
to the race community here."
"When I first came here to race after Jim
Ford took over, they made me feel
so welcome...they made me feel like I
was a part of the Fremont community
and the Fremont racing family. I want
others to feel like that. This
town...these fans....are so supportive
of this race track. Fremont Speedway
is the capital of racing in Ohio. We have
some big shoes to fill, but with
the help of the fans, teams, sponsors
and the great employees, we will
continue to put Fremont Speedway on the
map," added James.
Both Farmer and James say their job is
easier because of the ground-work
laid by the Ford family. They plan to
continue many of the ideas begun by
the Fords, but add fans can look for a
few changes.
"It's all about entertainment...giving
the fans the most fun for their
hard-earned dollar. We plan to work hard
to accomplish that," said James.
"We have some ideas on scheduling and different
events during race nights.
But, we also realize the 'bread and butter'
of Fremont Speedway is its great
weekly shows with the 410 sprints, 305
sprints and dirt trucks," added
Farmer.
Now the hard work begins for James and
Farmer.
"Now we get to work promoting this historic
race track. We need to get the
word out the excitement our form of motorsports
creates and how much
entertainment value fans get for their
hard-earned dollars," said Farmer.
"We will roll up our sleeves and get to
work on our schedule, contacting
sponsors and teams...April will be here
before you know it," added James.
For more information, log onto www.fremontohspeedway.com
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