FREMONT, Ohio — A unique double feature format produced some exciting racing at Fremont Speedway Presented by Gill Construction Saturday, May 17.
Murphy Tractor Double Down Throw Down Night produced some familiar and some not so familiar faces in the Beaverdam Fleet Services Victory Lane.
The format included qualifying for the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprints, the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints and the Burmeister Trophy Dirt Trucks. A dice role then indicated the inversion for the first of two feature events for each division. There were no heat races, just double features for each class. Following the first feature the winner rolled the dice again for the inversion for the second based on the finish of the first feature.
In the first 410 20-lap feature outside front row starter Kasey Jedrzejek grabbed the lead and never looked back on route to his first ever division win at “The Track That Action Built.” His second overall win at Fremont came over Seth Sabo, Darin Naida, Bryan Sebetto and D.J. Foos.
“I have won here since about three years ago for the 305 fair race. We’ve been goods here all year. I felt really confident coming into the night and John, Kent, Jason really do a great job giving me the opportunity,” said Jedrzejek.
In the second 410 20-lap feature Sean Rayhall grabbed the lead from the start but it was defending track champion Kalib Henry who drove into the lead a lap later. Following a caution on lap four, Cap Henry took the lead for two laps with Kalib Henry battling right beside him and regaining the top spot on lap seven. Kalib Henry then pulled away but disaster struck during a caution on lap 14 when Kalib’s right rear tire went down, handing the lead to Cap Henry. Cap drove away for his 22nd career Fremont win over Foos, Rayhall, Naida and T.J. Michael. It was his second win of the weekend having one the previous night at Attica. It was also redemption as Cap spun on the opening lap of the first feature.
Henry will pad his point lead as he looks to capture another All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group title.
“I don’t know who was driving this thing the first race….we fired him he was terrible. We got lucky. Everyone who watched that race knew Kalib Henry was going to win that race. I saw him hit the front stretch wall pretty hard and I don’t know if that’s what cut that tire. We’ll take it. Zack (Myers, crew chief) threw some Hail Marys at it and we were better. Everyone has been working so hard,” said Henry.
In the first 15-lap 305 sprint feature Jimmy McGrath jumped into the early lead but by lap six he had company from Jamie Miller who scored the feature win at Fremont the previous week. Miller grabbed the lead on lap seven but couldn’t shake McGrath and the pair battled through lap 12 before Dustin Stroup took over the runner-up spot to challenge Miller. Miller held on for the win over Stroup, McGrath, Blayne Keckler and Brenden Torok.
Miller, who won the previous night at Attica, extends his lead in his quest to repeat as the Real Geese Decoys/Real Capz Attica Fremont Championship Series champion.
In the second 15-lap feature outside front row starter Seth Schneider grabbed the lead at the drop of the green. He steadily pulled away and drove to his third career victory at Fremont over Miller, Keckler, Matt Foos and Tyler Shullick.
“This is awesome. I have a bad ass team and we’re having a good time. I think I’ve given up about three wins at Attica and were really bad here last week. Kevin (Schlachter, owner) went crazy changing everything and the car was on fire for this second feature,” said Schneider beside his Josh Kromers Seamless Gutters, Commercial Glazing Systems, Overwatch Precision, Level Performance, Level Utilities, Sandusky Bay Remodeling, RCF Chassis backed #36.
A familiar face double downed in the twin 12-lap dirt truck features. Fostoria, Ohio’s Shawn Valenti took the lead from Dustin Keegan on lap four in the first feature and drove to the win over Jamie Miller, Keegan, Kent Brewer and Keith Sorg. In the second feature Valenti took the lead from Brewer on lap two and survived many cautions to score the sweep and earn the bonus. Valenti now has 85 career Fremont wins and remains undefeated at Fremont for 2025.
