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Fremont Pit Notes
Story by:
By Brian Liskai
06/25/2001:
Brock Mayes picked up his first career 305 sprint feature win at Fremont Speedway Saturday with a little help from 410 sprint driver Rodney Morgan who was turning the wrenches on the #11B.
Craig Mintz, 15-year-old driver of the #09 305 sprint wears the wildest looking shorts to the races - orange with blue flowers. He compliments(?) the ensemble with a bright orange team 09 shirt. Fremont Speedway announcer Brian Liskai commented recently that Mintz should have two pairs of those shorts. Well, Mintz presented a pair to Liskai this past week. Liskai said he couldn't wear them with his Fremont Speedway staff shirt because it might scare someone.
Dick Liskai, driver of the #6 410 sprint, has yet to compete in 2001 as he is fighting cancer. Liskai said he has one more chemo treatment to go and hopefully that will take care of the cancer. Prior to his diagnosis, Liskai had put together a brand new Gambler. He has been attending the races and has helped Craig Mintz and the #09 305 sprint team, including allowing them to use his trailer.
Roger Shammo, driver of the #10 305 sprinter, always seems to have a Klondike bar available for certain Fremont Speedway personnel after the races. Shammo, along with Jody Keegan, driver of the K60 410 sprint, were the guests on Monday night's "The Last Lap" on WFRO AM900 - FM99.1.
The Gibsonburg Homecoming will host a racer's exhibition at Williams Park, just east of St. Rt. 300 on Wednesday, June 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Any race teams - go-karts, 305 sprints, 410 sprints, dirt trucks, street stocks - are welcome to bring their racers out along with any t-shirts or stickers to sell.
John Wisbon, driver of the #16 410 sprint car, and Fremont Speedway announcer Brian Liskai have a side deal going. Liskai told Wisbon if he wins a feature in 2001, he would do two cart-wheels on the front stretch. Liskai has been working out and stretching in preparation.
T.J. Buffenberger, web master for the Fremont Speedway web site and the t.j.slideways.com web site, used a nickname ESPN 2 had used on Open Wheel Wednesday several years ago for John Ivy, driver of the #20 410 sprint. The nickname "Poison" Ivy was used in a story after watching John race without a wing Wednesday. So, Fremont Speedway announcer Brian Liskai used the moniker Saturday, much to the dislike of Ivy's wife. So, Liskai is considering a new nickname such as John "Wild" Ivy or John "Mighty" Ivy.
Speaking of nicknames, Jeff Dougherty, driver of the #4J dirt truck, carrys the moniker "Doughnut". His brother, Bill, former crew chief for Frankie Kerr, had started the season working on Sammy Swindell's sprint car crew. He was recently released from his duties, or as Bill puts it, "placed on waivers." He said he has been contacted from several teams and is weighing his options.
Dicky Gaines Jr. put on a great show at Fremont Speedway Wednesday in the Jack Hewitt Non-Wing Challenge. The youngster carries the #11, same as his legendary father. Fremont Speedway announcer Brian Liskai, offspring of long-time sprint car driver Al Liskai, told Gaines that his dad, Dick, and Liskai's dad, Al, finished 1-2 in a 100-lap feature in 1972 at Limaland Speedway.
Bobby Foster picked a great time to win a feature on Wednesday as several of his sponsors were in the stands. Pete Callaghan of GGJ Engineering Services, a sponsor, was attending his first sprint car race at Fremont and got to get his picture taken in victory lane with Foster. Incidently, Callaghan, along with his three brothers, own Gazette Publishing Company of Bellevue where Fremont Speedway announcer Brian Liskai has worked for over 13 years.
Alvin Roepke, driver of the #99 410 sprint, started the evening off on the right foot Saturday by posting fast time. Unfortunately, he suffered steering box problems throughout the rest of the night, retiring to the pits shortly after the start of the feature.
Ron Bordner, driver of the #29 305 sprint car, has really pitched in at Fremont Speedway, helping to finish the pit bleachers recently. He and his wife, Buffy, driver of the #31 dirt truck, also supplied a beautiful etched mirror that was presented to Jack Hewitt Wednesday.
Fremont Speedway promoter Jim Ford and his wife, Joanne, celebrated their wedding anniversary this past Monday, June 25. Incidently, it was also Joanne's birthday.
After posting his best run at Fremont on Wednesday with a third place showing, Jamie Miller, driver of the #4M 305 sprint, took a nasty flip down the front stretch Saturday. After the races, Miller quipped that was a wild ride, much like a roller coaster. His dad, former sprint driver Skip Miller, said it costs a whole lot more, and as you get older it's not as "fun" and it takes you longer to recouperate.
The Tackle Box II Bar and Grill in Fremont has been a gracious sponsor of bicycles that are raffled off to youngsters at Fremont Speedway this year. This past Saturday, Kaleb Genzmen won the bike.
K&S Sales and Service is sponsoring a unique fan give-away this year. At certain races this year, Frizbees are tossed into the stands, each with a number on the back. The lucky persons who catches them have that number as the designated starting spot in a particular division's A-Main that night. Whatever number the driver that wins starts from matches that number on the back of the Frizbee, that lucky fans wins $50.
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