Griffith out battles Shaffer for Fremont FAST win

Saturday, June 8, 2013
By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio – While he is only 25 years old Caleb Griffith of Sandusky has been racing a long time. He would be the first to admit when he was younger and things didn’t go his way, he would lose his cool and it would have an impact on how he finished races. However, on Saturday at Fremont Speedway, he showed his racing maturity, not losing his cool when he was passed for the lead and then stormed back around four time UNOH All Star Champion Tim Shaffer with four laps to go to claim the 410 sprint feature win.

Griffith’s first 410 win at Fremont Speedway came on Vision Quest Hall of Fame Night. Prior to the racing, 12 individuals were inducted into the track’s hall of fame.

Griffith jumped into the lead early with Shaffer taking over on the second circuit. But then on lap 9 Griffith would blast under Shaffer and execute a slide job in turns three and four to regain the lead. As he raced into lapped traffic, Shaffer would use one of the back markers as a pick to regain the lead on lap 19, but Griffith didn’t give up and executed another slider for the lead on lap 26 and went on to his fourth career Fremont win. It was the first victory for Griffith in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints and gives him valuable points as he chases the Kistler Racing Products FAST (Fremont Attica Sprint Title) Championship Series title and its $10,000 reward.

“I got a good start…the first lap was decent. I rolled it down in this end and it was way loose and I about blowed it off the end. I was like ‘yeah we’re done.’ So Byron (Reed) gets by me and it takes a little while for me to get calmed down. I have the winged yanked back early and I’m thinking ‘this isn’t good.’ I looked at Tim’s (Shaffer) wing under the caution and he hasn’t even moved it yet. He’s running the bottom and I’m not real good off the one and two end but I just keep waiting and it got to the point where I could slide him and he passed me back. I was like ‘shoot…keep your mo(mentum) up, keep your mo up don’t get flustered.’ I’ve been there before and blew it off the end. I don’t know how close the slider was but I was going for the win,” said Griffith in the Engine Pro Victory Lane beside his Al Davis Carpet/Crown Battery/McDonald’s Restaurant/Young’s Batter Mix/Griff’s Engines backed machine.

“I have to thank Al Davis, Vic…they stuck with me last year when I got hurt. They had to take Chris (Bell) down to Little Rock and race a little bit to get their fix. I have to thank all the sponsors. I know everyone says it, but we really couldn’t do this without their help and support,” added Griffith beside the Tackle Box 2/Meggitt Farms/E-Z Shop/B&L Heating/Fremont Roofing/Fremont Athletic Supply/Ross’ Lawn care backed sprinter. “I’ve been waiting for this since 04. For a long time I’ve had a love hate relationship with this place…I just loved to hate it but this makes up for a lot that.”

Not to be outdone, the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints also put on a tremendous show on a JLH General Contractors FAST points night. Jason Keckler led early but rookie T.J. Michael raced him hard the first eight laps before taking over the top spot on lap 9. Michael could not shake Keckler and a closing Nate Dussel and on a restart on lap 13, Dussel would take the lead. Michael would not give up and continually raced under Dussel and would lead lap 15 but the caution would fly. On the restart Dussel shot back into the lead but a caution and another restart would see Michael regain the top spot. Another caution and another restart would find Dussel back into the lead. Once the race got going, Dussel would pull away for his fourth win of the season at Fremont and the 11th of his career at the track.

“I could see I needed to get around him (Michael) on top cause I could see the top was starting to go away in just a matter of laps. I got lucky and got around him and got to the bottom. He did a hell of a job for his first year in a sprint car. It took everything I had to get around him,” said Dussel in the Engine Pro Victory Lane beside his Berrier Fabrication/Kylynn Manufacturing/Gressman Powersports/Dussel Welding/Conrad Transport backed #1. “This is the first time my big sponsor, Kylynn and Tommy and Dawn Dussel and my buddy Kevin who says he comes all the time and I don’t win got to see this.”

In the AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Trucks, Jeff Ward would lead the first 7 laps before John Ivy would jump into the top spot and go on to his fifth feature win of the season in the division. Ivy also has a pair of 305 sprint victories at Fremont this season and his career total now stands at 43 at the track, just one away from tying Wayne Maffett Sr. for 7th on the track’s all-time win list.

“This is a whole lot of fun. I have to thank Charlie and Craig…Kelsey (John’s daughter) kind of hurt this thing last night (at Attica) and they busted their butts all day to get it ready. And all they asked me to get it up on the front straight away,” said Ivy beside his Level Performance/Diversified Machine and Welding/Sonny’s Machine Shop/Vision Quest backed #00. “I would have liked to have gotten the double tonight (win the 305 sprint and truck features) for the hall of fame deal since Sonny (Conger) was inducted. Sonny’s helped us out a lot. He’s been a big inspiration to me and if it wasn’t for him we probably wouldn’t be racing.”

In the Surfin’ Sweepstakes Sports Compacts, Brandon Leighton would lead early before Andrew Schroeder would take over on lap six. Schroeder would hold off several challenges from Tyler Sherman to claim his first ever Fremont victory.

“We’ve been working hard all week getting this car ready. I’m so excited,” said Schroeder beside his Matt Tille Enterprises/MRZ Inc./Northwest Tire/Design Graphics Group/Schroeder’s Outdoor Services/Gail’s Party Shoppe backed machine.

Griffith and Justin Henderson would bring the field to the green in the 30-lap feature for the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints with Griffith getting the advantage as third starter Tim Shaffer would drive into second. Shaffer would race under Griffith for the lead on the second circuit as Byron Reed moved into third with Henderson, Paige Polyak, Cap Henry and D.J. Foos in pursuit. Chris Andrews would spin on lap 4 to slow the race pace with the running order Shaffer, Reed, Griffith, Henderson, Polyak, Henry, Foos, Brian Smith, Craig Mintz and Greg Wilson. When the green reappeared, Shaffer would stick to his bottom groove as Griffith pulled his top wing back and shot to the outside of Reed for second.

On lap seven Smith would tangle with Henry, with Smith flipping in turn one, but exiting his broken machine without injury. On the restart Griffith raced to Shaffer’s outside but couldn’t complete the pass for the lead. But on the next lap Griffith blasted in under Shaffer in turns three and four and slid up in front to take the lead. Griffith could not shake Shaffer as Reed, Foos, Henderson and Wilson gave chase. At the half way point, Griffith continued to lead with Shaffer and Reed within striking distance as Foos was starting to close.

Griffith raced into lapped traffic on lap 19 and Shaffer quickly moved in and used a back-marker as a pick to drive into the lead. Shaffer would continue to lead as Griffith calmly worked his way through traffic with Reed, Foos, Wilson, Mintz and Holtgraver trying to stay close. With five laps to go Griffith was right on Shaffer’s rear bumper and again would execute nearly an identical move as he did prior to take the lead in turns three and four. Griffith was able to hold off Shaffer for the win Foos taking third on the last lap while Reed and Wilson rounded out the top five.

Keckler and Alvin Roepke would bring the 305 sprint field to the green for their A-main with Keckler gaining the advantage with third starter Michael taking second with Roepke, Dustin Dinan, Paul Weaver, Dussel and Bobby Clark in pursuit. Dinan’s motor would expire on lap three, bringing out the caution. On the restart Michael would race under Keckler as they battled for the lead. The pair raced side by side over the next five laps before Michel took the top spot on lap 9.

Meanwhile Dussel had worked his way to third with Roepke, Weaver, Clark and John Ivy giving chase. Michael would pull away slightly as Keckler now had his hands full with Dussel. Dussel would move into second on lap 12 as the caution would fly for a Bobby Clark spin. On the restart Dussel would drive to Michael’s outside to grab the top spot, but Michael would not give up, racing to his inside each of the next three laps. Michael would lead lap 15 by a nose, but the caution would fly for a Matt Merrill incident. A lap and another caution for Seth Schneider. A lap and another yellow for Tyler Gunn.

When the green came back out Dussel drove around Michael for the lead and immediately went to the bottom groove. That move would break Michael’s momentum and Dussel drove to the checkers over Michael, Roepke, Keckler and Jordan Ryan.

In the 20-lap feature for the dirt trucks, Jeff Ward and Brad Mitten brought the field to the green with Ward taking the top spot. Mitten, Cory Ward, Shawn Valenti, Matt Foos and Dustin Keegan gave chase. Mitten would hound Keckler over the first six laps before eighth starter Ivy would move in to make it a three truck battle. Ivy took second on lap 7 and a lap later drove into the lead. Following a caution for an Andrew Lutman spin, Ivy would pull away with Ward trying to hold off Mitten, Cory Ward, Valenti and Daniel Roepke Mitten would spin on lap 10 with the running order now Ivy, Jeff Ward, Cory Ward, Dustin Keegan, Valenti and Kent Brewer. Keegan would move into third on lap 16 as the caution flew for another Lutman spin on lap 17.

A restart with two laps remaining after Jeff Ward spun would see Ivy pull away for the win while Dustin Keegan, Cory Ward, Brewer and Valenti rounding out the top five.

Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, June 15 as Crown Battery Presents Bike Night. The paved parking area off of the Rawson Avenue entrance to the fairgrounds – adjacent to the fairboard office – will be designated parking for motorcycles. Every motorcycle rider who parks there will receive a general admission coupon to get into the races for just $10. The 410 and 305 sprints, dirt trucks and compacts will be in action.

For more information go to www.fremontohspeedway.com

Fremont Speedway – 6/8/2013

Vision Quest Night

Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints (29 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Qualifying – Fricker’s Restaurant/Callie’s Performance

1. 40-Caleb Helms, 13.037; 2. W20-Greg Wilson, 13.097; 3. 45-Danny Holtgraver, 13.142; 4. 54-Cap Henry, 13.158; 5. O9-Craig Mintz, 13.210; 6. 16-Chris Andrews, 13.277; 7. 5R-Byron Reed, 13.298; 8. 27P-Paige Polyak, 13.317; 9. 83-Tim Shaffer, 13.323; 10. O-Justin Henderson, 13.332; 11. 40DD-Caleb Griffith, 13.400; 12. 53-DJ Foos, 13.443; 13. 2+-Brian Smith, 13.501; 14. 5T-Travis Philo, 13.658; 15. 7C-Max Stambaugh, 13.693; 16. 55-Brad Bowman, 13.721; 17. 45L-Brian Lay, 13.780; 18. 14H-Todd Heller, 13.842; 19. 9Z-Duane Zablocki, 13.860; 20. 83M-Broc Martin, 13.864; 21. 312-Mike Linder, 13.940; 22. 46AU-Stuart Williams, 13.998; 23. 9-Dean Jacobs, 14.002; 24. 60K-Jody Keegan, 14.206; 25. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton, 14.508; 26. 7-Troy Kingan, 14.530; 27. 96M-Josh Mohr, 15.336; 28. 35-Stuart Brubaker, 99.000; 29. 24H-Bryan Sebetto, 99.100

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 2+-Brian Smith[2] ; 2. 55-Brad Bowman[1] ; 3. O-Justin Henderson[3] ; 4. 54-Cap Henry[5] ; 5. 5R-Byron Reed[4] ; 6. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[7] ; 7. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton[9] ; 8. 46AU-Stuart Williams[8] ; 9. 35-Stuart Brubaker[10] ; 10. 40-Caleb Helms[6]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 45L-Brian Lay[1] ; 2. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[3] ; 3. 5T-Travis Philo[2] ; 4. O9-Craig Mintz[5] ; 5. 27P-Paige Polyak[4] ; 6. W20-Greg Wilson[6] ; 7. 9-Dean Jacobs[8] ; 8. 83M-Broc Martin[7] ; 9. 7-Troy Kingan[9]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 7C-Max Stambaugh[2] ; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer[4] ; 3. 53-DJ Foos[3] ; 4. 45-Danny Holtgraver[6] ; 5. 60K-Jody Keegan[8] ; 6. 16-Chris Andrews[5] ; 7. 312-Mike Linder[7] ; 8. 96M-Josh Mohr[9] ; 9. 14H-Todd Heller[1]

B-Main – Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps – Top 5 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. W20-Greg Wilson[2] ; 2. 16-Chris Andrews[3] ; 3. 40-Caleb Helms[1] ; 4. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[5] ; 5. 9-Dean Jacobs[9] ; 6. 83M-Broc Martin[6] ; 7. 14H-Todd Heller[4] ; 8. 46AU-Stuart Williams[8] ; 9. 35-Stuart Brubaker[13] ; 10. 312-Mike Linder[7] ; 11. 22T-Miranda Throckmorton[10] ; 12. 7-Troy Kingan[11] ; 13. 96M-Josh Mohr[12]

A-Main – (30 Laps)

1. 40DD-Caleb Griffith[1]; 2. 83-Tim Shaffer[3]; 3. 53-DJ Foos[9]; 4. 5R-Byron Reed[5]; 5. W20-Greg Wilson[12]; 6. O9-Craig Mintz[6]; 7. 45-Danny Holtgraver[8]; 8. 54-Cap Henry[7]; 9. O-Justin Henderson[2]; 10. 55-Brad Bowman[16]; 11. 40-Caleb Helms[11]; 12. 45L-Brian Lay[17]; 13. 9Z-Duane Zablocki[18]; 14. 27P-Paige Polyak[4]; 15. 16-Chris Andrews[13]; 16. 9-Dean Jacobs[19]; 17. 5T-Travis Philo[14]; 18. 7C-Max Stambaugh[15]; 19. 60K-Jody Keegan[20]; 20. 2+-Brian Smith[10]

Hard Charger: W20-Greg Wilson[+7]

Fremont Federal Credit Untion 305 Sprints (21 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 8M-T.J Michael[1] ; 2. 8I-John Ivy[4] ; 3. 4K-Bobby Clark[7] ; 4. 1W-Paul Weaver[5] ; 5. 10-Josh Harrison[2] ; 6. 48-Mike Burkin[3] ; 7. 26-Al Liskai[6]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 68G-Tyler Gunn[2] ; 2. 25-Jason Keckler[6] ; 3. 10S-Roger Shammo[1] ; 4. OO-Alvin Roepke[7] ; 5. 5R-Jordan Ryan[5] ; 6. 1M-Mike Moore[3] ; 7. 7P-Brandon Moore[4]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 1-Nate Dussel[1] ; 2. 6-Dustin Dinan[2] ; 3. 22D-Dan Hammond[7] ; 4. 36-Seth Schneider[5] ; 5. 8J-Jess Stiger[3] ; 6. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[4] ; 7. 39M-Matt Merrill[6]

A-Main – (25 Laps)

1. 1-Nate Dussel[7]; 2. 8M-T.J Michael[3]; 3. OO-Alvin Roepke[2]; 4. 25-Jason Keckler[1]; 5. 5R-Jordan Ryan[14]; 6. 8I-John Ivy[8]; 7. 1W-Paul Weaver[6]; 8. 4K-Bobby Clark[5]; 9. 22D-Dan Hammond[11]; 10. 68G-Tyler Gunn[9]; 11. 48-Mike Burkin[16]; 12. 10S-Roger Shammo[12]; 13. 8J-Jess Stiger[15]; 14. 36-Seth Schneider[10]; 15. 13D-Jeremy Duposki[18]; 16. 10-Josh Harrison[13]; 17. 1M-Mike Moore[17]; 18. 7P-Brandon Moore[20]; 19. 26-Al Liskai[19]; 20. 39M-Matt Merrill[21]; 21. 6-Dustin Dinan[4]

Hard Charger: 5R-Jordan Ryan[+9]

AAA Auto Club Dirt Trucks (21 Trucks)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. D1-Dustin Keegan[2] ; 2. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[6] ; 3. P51-Willie Keegan[4] ; 4. 95-Keith Sorg[1] ; 5. 37-Eric Devanna[5] ; 6. 99X-Gene Potridge[7] ; 7. 18R-Duffy Rubel[3]

Heat 2 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 2-Matt Foos[6] ; 2. 18-Jeff Ward[2] ; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[3] ; 4. 7-Dana Frey[5] ; 5. 36M-Cory McCaughey[7] ; 6. 3G-Dave Gibbs[4] ; 7. 79-Andrew Lutman[1]

Heat 3 – (8 Laps – Top 10 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 7B-Shawn Valenti[1] ; 2. 8KB-Kent Brewer[2] ; 3. OO-John Ivy[6] ; 4. 23M-Brad Mitten[5] ; 5. O1-Art Ball[4] ; 6. 99H-Art Howey Jr.[7] ; 7. 115-Ben Good[3]

A-Main – (20 Laps)

1. OO-John Ivy[8]; 2. D1-Dustin Keegan[5]; 3. 18W-Cory Ward[3]; 4. 8KB-Kent Brewer[10]; 5. 7B-Shawn Valenti[4]; 6. 88-Dan Roepke Jr.[7]; 7. P51-Willie Keegan[11]; 8. O1-Art Ball[15]; 9. 95-Keith Sorg[9]; 10. 7-Dana Frey[12]; 11. 36M-Cory McCaughey[14]; 12. 99H-Art Howey Jr.[18]; 13. 115-Ben Good[21]; 14. 3G-Dave Gibbs[17]; 15. 18-Jeff Ward[1]; 16. 99X-Gene Potridge[16]; 17. 23M-Brad Mitten[2]; 18. 37-Eric Devanna[13]; 19. 79-Andrew Lutman[20]; 20. 18R-Duffy Rubel[19]; 21. 2-Matt Foos[6]

Hard Charger: 115-Ben Good[+8]

Surf’n Sweepstakes Compacts (13 Cars)

[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 – (4 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 5-Tyler Sherman[2] ; 2. 32-Brandon Myers[4] ; 3. 22-Brandon Leighton[1] ; 4. PI-Erik Paulson[5] ; 5. 34S-McKenzie Biddle[6] ; 6. 85-Andy Earnhart[7] ; 7. 711-Taylor Holland[3]

Heat 2 – (4 Laps – Top 8 finishers transfer to the A-feature)

1. 23-Andrew Schroeder[2] ; 2. 14-Amanda Shammo[6] ; 3. 29-Chevy Farmer[5] ; 4. 7P-Evan Patynko[4] ; 5. 99-Eric Pocock[3] ; 6. 92-Kyle Farmer[1]

A-Main – (12 Laps)

1. 23-Andrew Schroeder[6]; 2. 5-Tyler Sherman[5]; 3. 14-Amanda Shammo[7]; 4. 22-Brandon Leighton[2]; 5. 7P-Evan Patynko[4]; 6. 85-Andy Earnhart[11]; 7. 34S-McKenzie Biddle[9]; 8. 99-Eric Pocock[10]; 9. PI-Erik Paulson[3]; 10. 29-Chevy Farmer[1]; 11. 32-Brandon Myers[8]

Hard Charger: 23-Andrew Schroeder[+5]