Wilson hopes Speedway win brings smiles on dreary dog days
There’s nothing like home cooking.
The Seeling Motorsports team and driver Greg Wilson needed a win Saturday at Fremont Speedway to ease the tensions of struggle. Wilson took the lead with just nine laps to go and drove to his third 410 sprint win of the season at Fremont Speedway.
It was the Benton Ridge driver's 16th career win at Speedway, on Iron Works Local 55/Terra State Community College Night.
“It’s been a tough week at the 97 shop," Wilson said. "We’ve been struggling and everybody gets a little irritated. We want to win. We come home to Fremont and you get a win like this, means so much. I want to thank the fans for making Fremont Speedway what it is.
"I say that every time I get lucky enough to be up here. Fremont is a racing town, always has been and when you are here you feel like you are some place special. Also, Joe and Diane (Seeling) are pretty attached to their dogs and they lost one and it’s a part of the family so it’s been pretty sad around there.
"Hopefully this makes them smile a little bit."
Wilson wasn't planning to be in Ohio.
“I was supposed to be in Charlotte (North Carolina) to do a deal for Hercules Tire but a hurricane came through and wiped that out," he said. "I came in pissed off at the world to prove a point so maybe I could teach my daughter something about intensity.
"My kids didn’t get to see me in the prime of my career so hopefully they can see me win some more races. Hopefully we have a little something for the Ford Classic later."
Lemmore, California’s Cole Macedo wrapped up the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products Attica Fremont Championship Series title.
“I’m so happy for this team," Macedo said. "They pour their hearts and souls into this deal and do it out of the kindness of their hearts. We came out this year to win all three championships but I had commitments to go to Knoxville and that hurt that, but I’m glad we got the other two done.
"Thanks to Ray Brooks for taking a chance on us and let us have fun and hopefully we’re making him proud."
After suffering through a bout of COVID-19 last week, Fremont’s Paul Weaver stormed back with a vengeance Saturday. Taking the lead from Matt Foos with four laps to go, he drove to his fourth 305 sprint win of the season at Fremont.
The three-time Fremont 305 track champion scored his 68th career win at the track, placing him third on the all-time career win list. He sealed his third straight NAPA of Bryan Attica Fremont Championship Series title.
“On that restart (with five laps to go), Matt went to the bottom and I found some moisture in the middle and was able to move around him," Weaver said. "I want to thank Duane Hancock for all the extra money he got out throughout the year through the AFCS.
"It really helps keep us racing. Also thanks to Bob Hampshire and Steve and Pam Brown of B&B Drain Service. I would have probably retired if it wasn’t for their help."
The Burmeister Trophy Dirt Trucks had two features to run – the regular event and a make-up feature from August 13.
In the make-up feature, Fostoria's Shawn Valenti held off numerous challenges from Jamie Miller to score his fourth truck win of the season and 73rd career victory at the track, moving him to just three from tying hall of famer Art Ball atop the all-time win list.
“Hats off to my crew and owner Jeffrey Babcock," Valenti said. "They had a lot of work to do on the engine this week and we had some issues at the track as well, but we were able to overcome them."
The truck feature was a barn-burner that saw only one caution in the 20-lap affair and featured Jeff Babcock and Ben Clapp swapping the lead several times over the last 15 laps. Babcock was able to hold on for his third win of the season and fourth of his career at the track.
“This America 25 was pretty good in the slick," Babcock said. "Ben was there and under that caution I could see my crew waving me to go to the bottom because he was definitely there. It was a lot of fun and good hard clean racing."
Wilson pulled his top wing back and closed to drive under Sabo on Lap 22 in the 30-lap, $5,000 to win Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature. Zeth Sabo was second in the nonstop race, followed by Travis Philo, Macedo and Craig Mintz.
Foos was second in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint feature, followed by Dustin Stroup, Alvin Roepke from 14th and Tyler Shullick.
Clapp was second in the 20-lap dirt truck regular feature, followed by Jamie Miller from 16th, Valenti and RJ Cornett.
Speedway is host Saturday to 410 sprints, trucks and steel block late model series.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Macedo, Valenti, Wilson earn wins at Fremont Speedway
