Tyler Gunn Gets First 410 Sprint Win

By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio – Tyler Gunn gave his mom a great birthday present Saturday – his first career 410 sprint car feature win.

Gunn, from Napoleon, Ohio , would lead all 30 laps to score the win in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints at Fremont Speedway. It wasn’t easy for the 19-year-old rookie. Fellow rookie T.J. Michael actually had passed Gunn for the lead on lap three but a caution put Gunn back to the point. Then, he would jump the cushion in turn four with three laps to go and made heavy contact with the front stretch wall but was able to continue and drove to the victory on Kistler Engines Night.

“I was driving it hard and I knew Dean Jacobs and T.J. Michael was behind me and them are good guys too…I just wanted to sit here on the front stretch. This is amazing. I want to thank Rich Farmer for letting me use his car. We finally have a straight race car. And all the guys on my crew. It sucks my dad’s not here tonight because he had knee surgery yesterday. This is for him and my mom…it’s her birthday today and I’m glad she can enjoy it in victory lane here with me,” said Gunn beside his Gunn’s Auto Service, Gressman Powersports, Moore’s Plumbing, World Class Collision, Henry County Chamber of Commerce, A.J. Hillis, Napoleon Physical Therapy, Premier Patching, American Freedom Sales backed #68G.

Byron Reed would finish third and increase his lead in the $10,000 to win Kistler Racing Products Fremont Attica Sprint Title (FAST) Championship Series Presented by KS Sales and Service. Only two races – next Friday at Attica Raceway Park and Saturday at Fremont Speedway – remain in battle for the Kistler Cup as Reed looks to become the series first three time champion.

Delta, Ohio’s Ky Harper took the lead from Chester Fitch on lap five and drove away to his second win of the season in the McCullough Industries 602 Late Models.

“They are all about even and everybody is fast and I’m just out here to have fun. My buddy Tyler Gunn won the 410 feature and I said it would be pretty cool if we both won tonight. I have to thank my parents, my wife’s uncle Scotty for buying the car and letting me drive it. And Tiffin Paint and Body and Central Collision and everyone that works hard on it and my grandpa and grandma and my wife and son and my brother,” said Harper in the Engine Pro Victory Lane .

Bobby Clark would drive into the lead from his third starting position on the opening lap and never looked back as he recorded his fifth win of the year in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints at Fremont . It was a sweep of the weekend for the Fremont , Ohio driver as he won Friday at Attica . He has eight total wins in 2015 and now has 34 career wins at Fremont to tie Al Franks for 11th on the track’s all-time win list.

“I was good early but later I knew I was getting slower and worse at the end. Lapped traffic was terrible…I was ready to start pushing people. Every time I moved up I couldn’t gain much ground. I knew before the race started it would probably be those two (Jamie Miller and Paul Weaver) up top. But, I didn’t see anybody so I really didn’t have to changed anything,” said Clark beside his Fremont Fence, Nagy Equipment, Big D’s Pizza, Kear’s Speed Shop, B&L Plumbing and Heating, Miller Rigging, Shelluke’s Bar, Willey’s Towing, Kistler Engines, Schiets Motorsports backed machine.

Clark heads into the final weekend of the JLH General Contractor FAST 305 Sprint Series Presented by Engine Pro with all the momentum.

“We hope to just be consistent next weekend. We’re running good right now and if we can just stay out of trouble we’ll be in good shape. I’m glad to get a win on Kistler Engines Night. We appreciate everything Paul does for us,” added Clark .

Fremont’s Matt Foos took the lead from Steve Endicott on lap three and survived numerous cautions to score his second win of the season in the AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Trucks. It was his fifth overall win of 2015 (he has three at Attica) and was his fourth career win at Fremont . The victory was special as well for Foos as his dad, Dave, is the crew chief for Bobby Clark.

“That first caution (on the start of the race) we took the green and I don’t know if a chunk of mud came up and took the belt off but I lost power steering about five laps in and oh my God. This is pretty awesome. My dad swept the weekend and we swept the weekend,” said Foos beside his Fremont Fence, Automatic Fire Protection, M&L Excavating, Pit Stop Convenience Stores, CA Kustoms, D&R Transmissions, Level Performance backed #2.

Gunn and Stuart Brubaker brought the field to green for the 30-lap 410 sprint feature with Gunn gaining the advantage over T.J. Michael, Brubaker, Gary Taylor, Craig Mintz, Caleb Griffith, Byron Reed and Brian Smith. Gunn and Michael would battle for the lead with Michael actually pulling in front down the back stretch on lap three, but a caution for a Cap Henry would negate the move.

On the restart Gunn would pull away from Michael with Brubaker, Mintz, Taylor and Griffith giving chase. Gunn would hit lapped traffic by the ninth circuit but Michael could not close with Brubaker, Mintz, Griffith, Reed, Smith and Dean Jacobs in tow.

With 13 laps scored Mintz would drive by Brubaker into third. The fight for third would heat up by the half way point between Mintz, Reed and Brubaker as Gunn and Michael had pulled away. The caution would fly for a stalled Todd Heller with 15 laps to go.

With a clear track Gunn would pull away from Michael as the battle for third resumed between Mintz, Reed and Brubaker with Jacobs joining the fun a lap later. On lap 18 Jacobs would catch a rut in turn two and bounce into Brubaker sending him flipping into the soft walls in turn two. Brubaker was unhurt but his night was over.

When the green flew so did Gunn, pulling away from Michael again with Jacobs taking third over Mintz and Reed. Jacobs began closing on Michael when the caution flew for a stalled Nate Dussel with eight laps to go. Gunn showed no signs of nerves on the restart as he again pulled away from a great battle for second involving Michael, Jacobs and Reed.

On lap 24 Jacobs would bobble in turn two and a closing Chris Andrews and Reed would get by. With five laps to go Gunn had a commanding lead over Michael, Andrews, Reed and Mintz. Gunn would avoid disaster with three to go as he jumped the cushion in turn four and made heavy contact with the front stretch wall. He was able to drive away as Michael and now Reed tried to make up ground.

Gunn would drive to the win over Michael, Reed, Andrews and Mintz.

In the 15 lap late model feature Dale Cole and Tim Sabo brought the field to green but it was third place starter and last week’s winner Chester Fitch taking the lead over fourth starter Harper, Tim Sabo, Cole and Jamie Miller. Sabo and Miller would make contact on the front stretch on lap two, with Miller ending up on the wrecker.

Following the only caution of the race, the battle for the lead would heat up between Fitch and Harper with Cole, Tim Sabo, Brandon Perkins, Dustin Keegan in tow. Harper would drive into the lead on lap five and slowly began to pull away.

While Harper and Fitch pulled away the race for third heated up between Cole, Perkins and Tim Sabo. Perkins would take the spot on lap seven.

Harper drove to the victory over Fitch, Perkins, Cole and Tim Sabo.

Jamie Miller and Dan Hennig brought the field to green for the 25 lap 305 sprint feature but it was third place starter Clark who blasted into the lead over Miller, fifth starter Trey Jacobs, Hennig, Paul Weaver and Kyle Capodice.

Clark would pull away while Miller and Jacobs were locked in a tremendous battle for second and behind them Capodice and Weaver racing hard for fourth. Clark would drive into heavy lapped traffic by lap seven with Jacobs and Miller closing.

As Clark struggled in traffic, Jacobs and Miller continued their entertaining battle for the runner-up spot. Miller would hold the spot from lap 11 through lap 22 but neither could catch Clark .

As Clark took the white flag, Jacobs was comfortably in second with Miller and Weaver battling for third. Clark would drive to the checkered for the non-stop feature over Jacobs for his best career finish, Weaver, Miller and Capodice.

Brian Melnek and Gene Potridge brought the field to green for the 20-lap dirt truck feature. However, a multi-truck crash on the opening lap brought about another start. After a lap was completed another multi-truck crash slowed the race with Dustin Keegan leading Foos, Potridge, Cory McCaughey, Steve Endicott, Melnek and Kent Brewer.

Foos would drive into the lead on lap three with Keegan, McCaughey, Potridge, Endicott and Brewer waging a tremendous battle for third. Foos would continue to lead as Keegan, Endicott and McCaughey battled for second.

The caution would fly on lap nine for Brad Stuckey with Foos leading Endicott, Keegan, McCaughey and Brewer. The caution would fly on the restart as Melnek spun. When the green flew again Foos led Endicott, Keegan, Brewer and McCaughey. Brewer took third on lap 12 with McCaughey moving into fourth a lap later.

The final caution would fly on lap 18 for Brad Mitten. Foos would hold off Endicott the final two laps for the win with Brewer, McCaughey and Keith Sorg rounding out the top five.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, Aug. 8 on Miller Rigging Night. A Classic Car meet will be held from 2-4 p.m. by the secretary’s office with prizes being awarded. It will be the championship night for the Kistler Racing Products FAST Championship Series and JLH General Contractor FAST 305 Championship Series. The dirt trucks and late models will also be in action.
Fremont Speedway – 8/1/2015
Kistler Engine Night

Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (20 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Qualifying – Fricker’s Restaurant/Callie’s Performance
1. 19C-Chris Andrews, 12.347; 2. O9-Craig Mintz, 12.553; 3. 1ST-Gary Taylor , 12.556; 4. 16-Stuart Brubaker, 12.646; 5. 68G-Tyler Gunn, 12.677; 6. 33M-Caleb Griffith, 12.686; 7. 8M-Tj Michael, 12.791; 8. 2+-Brian Smith, 12.829; 9. 53-Cap Henry, 12.898; 10. 5-Byron Reed, 12.922; 11. 14H-Todd Heller, 12.940; 12. 97-Dean Jacobs, 12.945; 13. 40DD-Nate Dussel, 13.036; 14. 3T-Tony Beaber, 13.306; 15. 27-Beau Stewart, 13.324; 16. 73-Joe Armbruster, 13.586; 17. 45T-Bob Tucker, 13.695; 18. 96AU-Bruce White, 13.825; 19. 83M-Broc Martin, 13.910; 20. 50B-Mike Burns, 14.143

Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 40DD-Nate Dussel[2] ; 2. 5-Byron Reed[3] ; 3. 8M-Tj Michael[4] ; 4. 16-Stuart Brubaker[5] ; 5. 83M-Broc Martin[7] ; 6. 19C-Chris Andrews[6] ; 7. 73-Joe Armbruster[1]

Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[5] ; 2. O9-Craig Mintz[6] ; 3. 3T-Tony Beaber[2] ; 4. 2+-Brian Smith[4] ; 5. 14H-Todd Heller[3] ; 6. 45T-Bob Tucker[1] ; 7. 50B-Mike Burns[7]

Heat 3 – Hoosier Racing Tires (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 53-Cap Henry[4] ; 2. 97-Dean Jacobs[3] ; 3. 33M-Caleb Griffith[5] ; 4. 1ST-Gary Taylor [6] ; 5. 27-Beau Stewart[2] ; 6. 96AU-Bruce White[1]

Dash – Borer Glass & Mirror (6 Laps, finishing order determined first 6 starting positions of A-feature
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[3] ; 2. 16-Stuart Brubaker[4] ; 3. 8M-Tj Michael[1] ; 4. 1ST-Gary Taylor [5] ; 5. 33M-Caleb Griffith[2] ; 6. O9-Craig Mintz[6]

A-Main – (30 Laps)
1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[1]; 2. 8M-Tj Michael[3]; 3. 5-Byron Reed[9]; 4. 19C-Chris Andrews[11]; 5. O9-Craig Mintz[6]; 6. 97-Dean Jacobs[10]; 7. 33M-Caleb Griffith[5]; 8. 2+-Brian Smith[7]; 9. 83M-Broc Martin[19]; 10. 53-Cap Henry[8]; 11. 1ST-Gary Taylor [4]; 12. 27-Beau Stewart[15]; 13. 73-Joe Armbruster[16]; 14. 3T-Tony Beaber[14]; 15. 50B-Mike Burns[20]; 16. 40DD-Nate Dussel[13]; 17. 16-Stuart Brubaker[2]; 18. 45T-Bob Tucker[17]; 19. 14H-Todd Heller[12]; 20. 96AU-Bruce White[18]
Hard Charger: 83M-Broc Martin[+10]

Fremont Federal Credit Untion 305 Sprints (27 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 39-Jamie Miller[9] ; 2. 22M-Dain Naida[6] ; 3. 32H-Dan Hennig[1] ; 4. 18N-Frank Neill[5] ; 5. 12-Kyle Capodice[2] ; 6. 11G-Luke Griffith[8] ; 7. 27-Cody Gallogly[3] ; 8. 75-Jerry Dahms[7] ; 9. 19R-Steve Rando[4]

Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1W-Paul Weaver[3] ; 2. 77I-John Ivy[2] ; 3. 36-Seth Schneider[5] ; 4. 25-Jason Keckler[1] ; 5. 10X-Dustin Stroup[4] ; 6. 99-Alvin Roepke[9] ; 7. 2-Ricky Peterson[6] ; 8. 7M-Brandon Moore[8] ; 9. 44-Kyle Farmer[7]

Heat 3 – Hoosier Racing Tires (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 1X-Dustin Dinan[5] ; 2. 8-Bobby Clark [3] ; 3. 3J-Trey Jacobs[6] ; 4. 10-Josh Harrison [2] ; 5. 7-Thomas Schinderle[7] ; 6. 77X-Alex Hill[8] ; 7. 87-Brian Gibbs[9] ; 8. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[1] ; 9. 37-Austin Ream[4]

B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 11G-Luke Griffith[1] ; 2. 77X-Alex Hill[3] ; 3. 2-Ricky Peterson[5] ; 4. 99-Alvin Roepke[2] ; 5. 27-Cody Gallogly[4] ; 6. 10X-Dustin Stroup[-] ; 7. 87-Brian Gibbs[6] ; 8. 20I-Kelsey Ivy[9] ; 9. 37-Austin Ream[12] ; 10. 75-Jerry Dahms[7] ; 11. 44-Kyle Farmer[11]

A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 8-Bobby Clark [3]; 2. 3J-Trey Jacobs[5]; 3. 1W-Paul Weaver[7]; 4. 39-Jamie Miller[1]; 5. 12-Kyle Capodice[13]; 6. 36-Seth Schneider[9]; 7. 22M-Dain Naida[4]; 8. 77X-Alex Hill[17]; 9. 18N-Frank Neill[6]; 10. 2-Ricky Peterson[16]; 11. 99-Alvin Roepke[19]; 12. 32H-Dan Hennig[2]; 13. 1X-Dustin Dinan[12]; 14. 10-Josh Harrison [11]; 15. 7-Thomas Schinderle[15]; 16. 11G-Luke Griffith[14]; 17. 27-Cody Gallogly[18]; 18. 25-Jason Keckler[8]; 19. 7M-Brandon Moore[20]; 20. 77I-John Ivy[10]
Hard Charger: 77X-Alex Hill[+9]

AAA Auto Club Dirt Trucks (20 Trucks)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath [1] ; 2. 99X-Gene Portidge[4] ; 3. 22-Brandon Leighton[7] ; 4. 18W-Cory Ward[5] ; 5. 79-Andrew Lutman[2] ; 6. 3-Andy Earnhart[3] ; 7. 8KB-Kent Brewer[6]

Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 17-Steve Endicott[2] ; 2. 7F-Dana Frey[1] ; 3. 4S-Keith Sorg[7] ; 4. 45M-Brian Melnek Jr.[6] ; 5. 37-Eric Devanna[5] ; 6. P51-Tim Baker[4]

Heat 3 – Hoosier Racing Tires (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2-Matt Foos[5] ; 2. 17X-Dustin Keegan[6] ; 3. 36M-Cory McCaughey[2] ; 4. 33-Jeff Ward[3] ; 5. O-Jim Keegan [4] ; 6. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[1]

A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. 2-Matt Foos[9]; 2. 17-Steve Endicott[6]; 3. 8KB-Kent Brewer[19]; 4. 36M-Cory McCaughey[11]; 5. 4S-Keith Sorg[12]; 6. 79-Andrew Lutman[13]; 7. 37-Eric Devanna[14]; 8. 99X-Gene Portidge[2]; 9. 18W-Cory Ward[4]; 10. 3-Andy Earnhart[16]; 11. O-Jim Keegan [15]; 12. 17X-Dustin Keegan[3]; 13. 45M-Brian Melnek Jr.[1]; 14. 85S-Bradley Stuckey[18]; 15. 22-Brandon Leighton[5]; 16. P51-Tim Baker[17]; 17. 5JR-Jimmy McGrath [7]; 18. 7F-Dana Frey[8]; 19. 33-Jeff Ward[10]
Hard Charger: 8KB-Kent Brewer[+16]

McCullough Industries 602 Late Models (11 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – American Power Sports (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 98-Tim Sabo[3] ; 2. 101-Chester Fitch[1] ; 3. 4M-Jamie Miller[4] ; 4. O1-Brandon Perkins[2] ; 5. O4-Jeff Hites[5]

Heat 2 – Kistler Racing Products (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 34-Ky Harper[4] ; 2. 116-Steve Sabo[1] ; 3. 3-Dale Cole[2] ; 4. 17X-Dustin Keegan[3] ; 5. 1-Brian Sabo[6] ; 6. 23-Dustin Sautter[5]

A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 34-Ky Harper[4]; 2. 101-Chester Fitch[3]; 3. O1-Brandon Perkins[7]; 4. 3-Dale Cole[1]; 5. 98-Tim Sabo[2]; 6. 23-Dustin Sautter[11]; 7. 116-Steve Sabo[5]; 8. 17X-Dustin Keegan[8]; 9. O4-Jeff Hites[9]; 10. 1-Brian Sabo[10]; 11. 4M-Jamie Miller[6]
Hard Charger: 23-Dustin Sautter[+5]