Fremont Speedway: Henry gets late Fremont sprint win; Miller sweeps 305 weekend

Late in the 2022 season, Cap Henry lost his sprint car ride. The Republic, Ohio driver didn’t know what the future might hold, but a conversation with Jeff Ward of Sandusky, who put together a team a couple of years ago, gave him new life in racing. The new pairing paid off Saturday, May 6 as Henry opened Fremont Speedway’s 72nd year on Johnny Auxter Opening Night – presented by Iron Workers Local 55, Gressman Powersports and Level Performance – with the 410 sprint feature win.
Henry, who started seventh on the feature grid, took the lead from Travis Philo with just four laps to go in the non-stop 30-lap A-main, and drove to his 13th career win at “The Track That Action Built.”
“This definitely means a lot. Last year things were really uncertain, and Jeff Ward took the time and gave me another opportunity. I’m so grateful to have Zack (Myers, crew chief) on board. Just from the get-go, this thing has been really, really good. It’s just made racing a lot of fun again. I know every time I get in the car we’re going to be competitive and we’re just working towards the same goal. So many people came on board to make this happen. Elliott’s Custom Trailers and Carts, the Tony Elliott Foundation, Jeff Ward demolition, Premier Planning Services, Primal Tees….it means a lot,” said Henry.
Fremont’s Jamie Miller started the 2023 racing season off in spectacular style, sweeping the weekend in the 305 sprint division. Miller, who won Friday at Attica Raceway park, held off several challenges from Mike Keegan and a late race restart to score his 39th career win at Fremont, putting him 12th on the track’s all-time win list.
“If you don’t have an RCF Chassis, you might want to order one,” said Miller of his new car. “This thing was locked down.”
“I saw Mike (Keegan) poking around me on the bottom when I was running the middle. I moved down and the car just took off,” added Miller of his Boca Construction, Kenny Kalb Farms, Roberts & Sons Contracting, JLH General Contractor, Tuck Pointing America, Pizza Wheel, Smitty’s Pizza, Queen of Clean, Rohr Total Lawn Care, Crown Battery, Reedtown Tavern, Fostoria Mod Shop, Slade Shock Technology, CA Kustoms, Jamie Miller Trucking, Reliable Spray Foam Insulators, Gill Sawmill backed machine.
The Burmeister Trophy Dirt Truck feature saw Jimmy Holcomb, Dave Gumby Jr. and Dustin Keegan racing three wide to the checkers with Holcomb earning his first ever Fremont win by .025 seconds.
“It was good and hot and I thought, well, if I cook it, we’re going to give it a hell of a ride. I shouldn’t have made it that close – I overdrove it. We had won one opening night when we first built this truck three or four years ago and it haunted us ever since. I want to thank Steve Sabo the owner, Joe Bradford does a lot of the work and obviously my wife – she actually came here tonight. I wish my two boys were here – they’re in the military so they’re gone from home,” said Holcomb.
TJ Michael jumped into the early lead of the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 Sprint feature with Byron Reed, Travis Philo, Chris Andrews and Creed Kemenah in tow. Ten laps in and Philo, who had taken second on lap six, drove into the lead and used lapped traffic to build a two second lead at the half way point over Andrews, Michael and Henry.
Henry used lapped traffic to drive from fourth to second a lap later. Philo maintained a nearly two second lead, but traffic allowed Henry to close with seven laps to go. With four laps to go, Henry drove under Philo in turn two to take the lead and drove away to the win over Philo, Michael, Andrews and Zeth Sabo.
While the final results will show Miller led all 25 laps in the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprint A-main, a hand full of cautions kept the field close and Mike Keegan hounded the leader the entire way. A restart with just four laps to go wasn’t enough, as Miller drove away for the win over Keegan, John Ivy, Paul Weaver and Seth Schneider.
Gumby led the first six laps of the dirt truck A-main before Cory McCaughey took over for a lap and then spun as he and Gumby battled for the lead. Gumby maintained the top spot until heavy lapped traffic came into play and Holcomb took the top spot on lap 15 by a nose.
Holcomb and Gumby battled side by side, with Dustin Keegan joining in the final three circuits. Holcomb edged Gumby and Keegan for the win with Brad Mitten and McCaughey rounding out the top five.
Fremont Speedway will be back in action Saturday, May 13 for Autokiniton Night with the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads/Kistler Racing Products 410 Attica Fremont Championship Series presented by the Baumann Auto Group going for $4,000 to win. The NAPA of Bryan 305 AFCS presented by Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales and the Burmeister Trophy Dirt Trucks will be in action.
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