Fremont Speedway Preview: Big events, Title Chase, storylines to follow in 2020

By Jacob Hord

FREMONT SPEEDWAY

Location: Sandusky County Fairgrounds, 712 North State St, Fremont, OH 43420

Phone:419-334-6990. Size: 1/3^rd-mile oval. Owner: Sandusky County Fairgrounds. Operator: Ryan Schiets.

Big Events: April 18: Season Opener. May 2: Open Wheel Shootout (AFCS 410’s, NRA 360’s vs. 305’s, BOSS Non-Wing Sprints). June 18: Ollies Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions Speedweek ($5,000 to-win). June 27: AFCS 410’s, NRA 360’s, AFCS 305’s. July 4: Ollies Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Campions ($5,000 to-win). August 25: Sandusky County Fair 305 Race. September 12: AFCS Championship night ($5,000 to-win). September 18-19: Jim and Joanne Ford Classic ($3,000 and $10,000 to-win, respectively).

Title Chase: Last year, it was Buddy Kofoid who denied DJ Foos the Ohio Triple Crown title, in a title chase that came down to the last few laps on Season Championship night. With Kofoid running the Keith Kunz midget full-time, a repeat is very unlikely. That opens the door back up for the locals. Foos will be tough to beat in the Burmeister No. 16 machine. Cap Henry was able to rack up four wins at the tight track in 2019, and if he and Lane Racing commit to Fremont on Saturday’s, they could make a serious run at the title. Someone that could make some noise is Nate Dussel. Dussel had a few podium runs in 2019, including a strong third place in the Jim and Joanne Ford Classic Saturday night race. If Dussel can finish off a couple nights and build off of his momentum, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

Storylines to Follow:

Always a threat: Much like the Attica Raceway Park Preview, it was tough to not include Craig Mintz and Byron Reed in the title chase. Mintz has committed to running the AFCS schedule, but it is unknown whether he and Reed will run the full Fremont schedule. Nonetheless, don’t be surprised to see Mintz and Reed in victory lane in 2020. They have 10 Fremont Championships between them and know how to get around the facility.

The All Stars Back Again: After a three-year hiatus (and three-hour rain delay), the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions returned to Fremont Speedway in 2019, a race won by Aaron Reutzel. The All Stars will be back twice in 2020; once during Speedweek, and again on July 4th. This gives the locals two more chances to go up against the All Stars in their backyard, and they could serve as a tune-up for locals and invaders for the season ending Jim and Joanne Ford Classic.

Speaking of… The Jim and Joanne Ford Classic ends the season in grand fashion. The $10,000 to-win Saturday night attracts big names, and it’s where Christopher Bell got his first win in his own operation in 2019. Tim Shaffer has had good success at the show, as well, with multiple wins. One thing is for sure, it is a big way to end the season that the fans and drivers support in a big way.

Track Prep: In years prior, Fremont was known to be rough, heavy, and fast. Last year, Fremont was smooth, slick, and slow. It catered to drivers who could finesse the throttle and adapt to changing track conditions. With the same track prep crew, headed by Roger Campbell, the drivers could expect more of the same.

305 Round Up: With John Ivy going 410 racing again, that leaves the door open for a new 305 champion. Jamie Miller would be hard to choose against, as he has been one of the fastest, hardest-driving 305 drivers anywhere in the nation. Paul Weaver had a strong season, as well, picking up three wins in 2019 but was relegated to sixth in the points after missing some shows. If Weaver and Miller run all the Fremont shows, it should be a tight battle between them. Don’t be surprised to see some up-and-comers like Kyle Capodice, Brandon Moore, and Chris Verda to improve and put together some strong runs.