Photo Credit: Bill Griffith on the track at Montpelier Motor Speedway
By: Ron Burt
Fremont Speedway (The Track That Action Built) just released their 2023 season schedule and it’s a good one for the drivers and race fans. This is the 72nd anniversary of this historic racetrack. Weekly Saturday night shows are normally 410 Winged Sprints, 305 Winged Sprints and Dirt Trucks. The season kicks off Saturday, April 15 on Johnny Auxter Opening Night, paying tribute to the hall-of-famer who competed at the track in 1951 and attended racing at the Sandusky County Fairground oval through the 2022 season. The Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions will make three appearances at Fremont Speedway including Ohio Sprint Speedweek on Saturday, June 10 and the traditional Jim and Joanne Ford Classic, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16. The Kistler Racing Products /All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads 410 Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group will hold nine events at Fremont Speedway while the NAPA of Bryan 305 AFCS presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales will battle in nine events as well. The Great Lakes Traditional Sprints (non-wing) series will be part of an all-sprint car event with the 410 and 305 sprints on May 27 and will make a second appearance with the 410 sprints and dirt trucks on July 1. The Great Lakes Super Sprints (360 sprints) will come to Fremont as part of another all-sprint night on July 29. On June 17 the USAC D2 Midgets will join the dirt trucks and the Steel Block Late Model Series at Fremont Speedway. The Fremont Speedway Hall of Fame induction will take place prior to racing action on June 3. The dirt trucks will be in action 16 times in 2023 while the 305 sprints will compete in 18 events including the fair race on Monday, Aug. 21.
News this week from Larry Boos at Gas City I-69 Speedway ended up leaving media, drivers, and racing fans with many questions about the 2023 racing season and this great track. Quote “Regarding the 2023 season, Gas City I-69 Speedway will shift away from a weekly Friday night format. This move was not taken lightly, and many factors were taken into consideration; all of which can, and will be, debated as to tradition, pros, cons, etc. Nonetheless, the quality of racing will not be affected. We will continue to whet the appetite of race fans with excellent programming highlighted by non-winged sprint cars and multiple divisions”. I have reached out to Larry for more information. My concern as a racing fan, shifting away from Friday night how will this affect car counts since Kokomo races Non-Winged Sprints on Saturdays and Montpelier races UMP type Modifieds. Racing fans are loyal and follow their favorite drivers and attend tracks they’re used to attending on traditional racing rights.
Many of you have reached out to me about Attica Raceway Park and Oakshade Raceway. I haven’t received any information from these two tracks about their 2023 schedules. I will be doing driver interviews coming up on my Facebook blog, Ohio Sports Blitz with drivers from both tracks. I hope to also reach out to several Outlaw Asphalt Late Model and Supermodified drivers. It’s going to be a very busy February and March. I’m sorry I can’t always answer your questions, but I do my best. Until next week, keep your wheels down! Ron Burt [email protected]
