FREMONT — Genoa’s Brian Lay has learned to be patient. The former asphalt racer has paid his dues in dirt track sprint car racing, and it showed Saturday on Crown Battery Night at Fremont Speedway.
Lay passed Chris Andrews with seven laps to go in the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature and went on to score the second win of his career and the season at Fremont. Lay won earlier this year on a heavy track and showed his versatility on a slick racing surface Saturday.
“When I came to this sport, they said a pavement guy would never do anything,” Lay said. “Well, that patience came from the pavement. You just gotta keep control of it and keep the car under you.
“The track kept getting slicker and slicker. Toward the end of the race (Andrews) couldn’t hold that bottom, and I was getting a half a car and then three quarters of a car. Be patient. We’re coming. And sure enough, we’re here.”
Lay is the first repeat feature winner in the eight FAST series events this year.
Andrews finished second, Brian Smith third, Brandon Wimmer fourth and Rob Chaney fifth.
Craig Mintz came into the weekend leading the points at Attica Raceway Park, Fremont Speedway and FAST, but he injured his back in a crash Friday at Attica and was forced to miss Saturday’s race. That should propel Andrews into the FAST point lead.
In the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints, Bobby Clark wanted to give his dad a nice Father’s Day present. He did just that, leading all 25 laps to record his first Fremont win of 2014 and the 28th at the track for his career, moving him into 14th on the track’s all-time win list.
Clark’s team had to pull the engine from his car, which Mark Keegan drove to a Legends race victory two weeks ago, after Friday’s racing to get it repaired. But, the long day and hard work paid off.
“The way the track was I knew if I could keep it on the tires I was going to make him earn it,” Clark said of Nate Dussel, who finished second. “We got a good race car but have had horrible luck. We made some changes, and they were all in the right direction.”
Jordan Ryan finished third, John Ivy fourth and Steve Rando fifth.
It also was a JLH General Contractors FAST Championship Series event and the points battle will tighten up there as Steve Rando came in with an 11-point advantage and finished fifth in Saturday’s feature. Clark is the sixth different FAST winner in six events.
Cory Ward has had a fast dirt truck all season, but the former track champion captured his first AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Trucks victory of the season Saturday. Ward took his 23rd career Fremont victory, moving him into a tie for 20th on the track’s all-time win list.
“You start wondering what can go wrong next,” Ward said. “We finally got running good and finished it off.”
Dave Blaney and Caleb Griffith were scheduled for the front row of the 30-lap 410 feature. However, Blaney, who easily won the Alex Burkett Memorial Australian Pursuit and its $1,000 payday, took the Baumann Auto Group Big Bucks Bump and went to the tail with the opportunity to win an extra $5,000.
Blaney’s bump bid took him from 21st to a 12th-place finish, with double the money because of the challenge. Blaney’s payday was as if he finished fourth.
Ward and Cory McCaughey were scheduled for the front row of the 20-lap dirt truck feature. However, McCaughey also accepted the bump challenge and doubled his finish money.
Shawn Valenti finished second, Jimmy McGrath Sr. third, Jimmy McGrath Jr. fourth and Art Ball fifth.
Fremont Speedway will host the UNOH All Stars during Speedweek on June 26 and the finale on June 28.
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