by Jacob Hord, @HordRaceWatcher
It’s a couple days late and I’m a few dollars short, but let me live my life. Let’s talk about last weekend.
Another Attica Thriller: Craig Mintz took the AFCS win at Attica on Friday night. He snagged the lead with about five laps left, sliding race-long leader Greg Wilson in turns three and four. Wilson had nothing to counter Mintz and Mintz cruised to his first win of 2024. Although he came up a spot short, it was good to see Wilson up front and leading laps. Perfect timing coming into an Outlaw invasion. Mintz, Wilson, Cap Henry, Zeth Sabo and DJ Foos rounded out the top five.
Feels like the First Time: It was a long time coming for Trey Jacobs, not only for a Fremont win, but a win in general. Jacobs started on pole of the AFCS 410 feature and led all 30 laps enroute to his first career Fremont Speedway win. Trey joins his father Dean, Uncle Kenny, and cousin Lee as winners at Fremont with the last name Jacobs. Kalib Henry, Zeth Sabo, Cale Thomas, and Sean Rayhall rounded out your top five.
Points Check in: Another AFCS weekend in the books, lets take a look at their 410 points. Cale Thomas (712 points) leads Zeth Sabo by 27 points. Third place Cap Henry spun out at Fremont and lost some ground, and is nine points back of Sabo. Kalib Henry and Tyler Street round out the top five with 644 and 639 points respectively. DJ Foos, Trey Jacobs, Sean Rayhall, Mike Keegan, and Stuart Brubaker round out the top ten.
Triple Crown Watch: After last weekend, Cale Thomas now leads the points at Attca, Fremont, and the AFCS. Thomas is up by 16 points on Trey Jacobs at Attica, and holds a two point lead over Cap Henry at Fremont, with Kalib Henry only eight back of Thomas. Could we see two triple crown winners in two years?
I Got Lost: Obviously Fremont didn’t rain out on Saturday, but I still went race-chasing. I ended up in the late model capital of America: Fairbury Speedway. The Lucas Oil Late Models were in town for the finale of a rain-shortened Illinois Speedweek. Forty-Seven of the nations best late model drivers were in attendance, and they, as well as the Speedway, did not disappoint. Qualifying was spectacular, the heat races made me want to move to Fairbury, and the Feature hadn’t been ran yet! The atmosphere was similar to the Kings Royal, building up to the 60 lap, $30,000 to-win Feature. Devin Moran led the first few laps, but was passed by Jason Feger, looking for his first career Lucas Oil Late Model win. Feger pounded the top as Moran stayed patient on the bottom. Moran’s patience won out, as he got back around Feger and held off Ricky Thorton Jr. for the win. When can I get back to FALS?
Mother Nature: It wouldn’t be a race weekend without Mother Nature’s interference. Wayne County, Sharon, and Skyline all lost their 410 shows on Saturday due to the rain. I’m going to ignore the forecast for this weekend.
305 Roundup: Jamie Miller did Jamie Miller things on Friday Night at Attica, charging from sixth to the win. Dustin Stroup led laps 1-9, but then was overtaken by John Ivy, who led laps 10-19, enter Jamie Miller, and he led laps 20-25 to take another win at Attica. Bryan Sebetto and Paul Weaver rounded out the podium. Saturday night, Sebetto was one spot better, topping Miller and Stroup. Miller leads both the Fremont and AFCS points, while Steve Rando leads the Attica 305 points.
Outlaw Invasion: The World of Outlaws visit the Buckeye State once again this weekend, with stops at Attica on Friday night, and Sharon on Saturday night. Donny Schatz swept this weekend last year, and could certainly do it again. David Gravel leads Schatz by 58 points coming into this weekend. That isn’t the only Outlaw race in Ohio this week, as The World of Late Models invade Raceway 7 on Thursday night before heading off to Pennsylvania for the rest of the weekend.