9/28/2013
Kears Speed Shop
T.J. Michael Scores First 305 Feature Win
The Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 Sprints and AAA Ohio Auto Club Dirt Trucks ran in feature events only and rookie T.J. Michael would score his first sprint victory with Shawn Valenti taking his four win of the year in the trucks.
Michael would hold off Nate Dussel for the win while Valenti battled side-by-side with Daniel Roepke throughout the feature before securing his ninth career Fremont win.
“I thought about going up top to try and block Nate but I wasn’t good up there. I let the car drift up on the restarts to block his momentum,” said Michael of Plano, Texas.
“I have to thank Kenny and Karen Clark, Advanced Cast Stone, The Little Bar on the Prairie, B&L Plumbing, Miller Rigging and everyone who helps on this,” added Michael. “I hope to come back and do this again next year.”
“This has been just a fantastic year. I have to thank Jeff Babcock for giving me this opportunity to come out and have fun. To get a win in front of such a huge crowd is pretty awesome,” said Valenti.
Griffith and Pittman would bring the field to green for the 40-lap World of Outlaws feature. But, before a lap could be recorded Cole Duncan would spin in turn four. On the second attempt at a green Steve Kinser would spin in turn three. On the third try Griffith would bolt into the lead over third starting Sebetto with Pittman, Schatz and Christopher Bell in tow. Griffith would pull away slightly as Sebetto and Pittman battled for second.
Just as the leaders were ready to hit lapped traffic on the fourth circuit, Sammy Swindell would coast tot a stop in turn three to bring out the yellow. On the restart attempt Kinser would stop in turn two after making contact with another car. This would necessitate a single file restart rather than the double-file attempt.
Again Griffith would pull away from Sebetto, Pittman, Schatz, Bell and Sheldon Haudenschild. Bell’s fantastic run would come to an end on lap six when he spun in turn three. The restart order was Griffith, Pittman, Sebetto and Schatz. When the green flew Pittman slipped back as Schatz and Sebetto battled hard for second with Sheldon Haudenschild in tow.
Schatz would dive under Griffith in turn three on lap nine to take the lead. The caution would again fly on lap 10 when Byron Reed suffered a flat left rear tire and came to a stop. This would bring about an open red with the running order Schatz, Griffith, Sebetto, Pittman, Sheldon Haudenschild and Greg Wilson.
On the double-file restart, Pittman would blast into second while Griffith and Sebetto were locked in a torrid battle for third with Sheldon Haudenschild, Jac Haudenschild and Paul McMahan in tow. While Schatz ran about three car lengths ahead, Griffith would reel in Pittman for second and would regain the runner-up spot on lap 13 only to see Pittman drive back around the following circuit.
Cap Henry would coast to a stop in turn four on lap 14 and on the ensuing double-file restart Pittman and Sebetto would make contact with Pittman spinning. Now the restart order was Schatz, Griffith, Sebetto, Sheldon Haudenschild, Jac Haudenschild, McMahan, Craig Kinser and Dale Blaney, up from his 15th starting spot.
As the field raced to the half-way mark Schatz held a five car length lead over Griffith who had his hands full with Sebetto, followed by the son and father Haudenschild duo. Just as Schatz started to draw near heavy lapped traffic, which was allowing Griffith and Sebetto to close, the caution would fly for seventh running Kraig Kinser who spun in turn two.
When the green reappeared Sebetto used the double-file restart to blast into second with Sheldon Haudenschild taking third. Griffith would rebound to retake third on lap 25. The car on the move was Blaney who raced into fourth with 15 laps remaining.
Action would grind to a halt on lap 28 when Henry took a tumble in turn two. He was okay but his night was finished.
The restart order was Schatz, Sebetto, Griffith, Blaney, Jac Haudenschild, McMahan, Sheldon Haudenschild and Tim Shaffer, up from his 24th starting spot. The caution would fly a lap later when Jason Sides spun in turn two. On this restart Schatz would pull away slightly as once again Sebetto and Griffith waged war for second with Jac Haudenschild taking fourth from Blaney.
Griffith would take the runner-up spot with nine laps to go but couldn’t hunt down Schatz as Sebetto, Jac Haudenschild and Blaney rounded out the top five. With four laps to go, the battle was for third between Sebetto, Haudenschild and Blaney.
Schatz would catch the back of the back with two laps remaining, but worked his way through perfectly. The Fargo, North Dakota driver would take the checkered over Griffith, Sebetto, Blaney and Jac Haudenschild.
In the 25-lap 305 sprint feature, Tyler Gunn and T.J. Michael would bring the field to green with Michael gaining the upper hand. Nate Dussel, Jordan Ryan, Paul Weaver, Jason Keckler and John Ivy would give chase. Michael would continue to lead Gunn, Dussel, Ryan and Weaver through lap 14 when they would catch lapped traffic.
Dussel would take second on lap 14 and closed on Michael as they battled in traffic. Dussel would drive around Michael for the lead on lap 22 but Steve Rando would take a tumble for the first race stoppage, negating the move. On the ensuing restart Jeremy Duposki would stop in turn one to bring out the caution and on the next green Ivy would make contact with the front stretch wall for another caution.
With Michael back in the point, he would make his machine wide, holding off several challenges from Dussel over the least four laps. Michael would take the checkered over Dussel, Ryan, Gunn and Weaver.
Submitted By: ANN TUSING
