By Jacob Hord, @HordRaceWatcher
Ohio took a large step towards completing their 410 season over the weekend, Four Crown happened, Wayne County’s Outlaw tuneup, and more on this edition of the Quick Hits
- Starting with Attica because it’s my favorite place to watch a 410 sprint car race, and because I work there. The postponed season championship night took place on Friday night, and it was a doozy. Cap Henry looked well on his way to winning another feature event, and the track championship, but a caution on the last lap would give Kasey Jedrzejek a chance to score his first career 410 win. Jedrzejek didn’t miss his opportunity. He got the Ed Neumeister Racing #11N wound up on the top of one and two, and threw a big ole slider on Henry in turns three and four. The slider stuck, and Henry nearly jumped the cushion, and was unable to cross back under Jedrzejek to drag race the youngster to the line. As mentioned, it was Jedrzejek’s first 410 win. Between his first 305 win at Attica and first 410 win at Attica, Jedrzejek has led for maybe a lap? The kid knows how to win in an exciting fashion. Henry would settle for his ninth second place run of the year, but it was enough to give him another Attica 410 Track Championship over Cale Thomas.
- Northwest Ohio wrapped up the 410 season Saturday night at Fremont Speedway. 20 cars made the call, including the newly-crowned Fremont 410 champion Kalib Henry. Kalib Henry made his way around Trey Jacobs early on in the feature, and seemed to have his sixth win of the season in the bag, that is, until Craig Mintz did Craig Mintz things. Mintz, a former Fremont Champion in his own right, made a last-lap pass on Henry to snag the win, his second of the year. Since P2 and P3 in the Fremont points, Cap Henry and Cale Thomas, went to Sharon on Saturday, Kalib Henry basically just had to show up to win the track championship. Kalib became the second Californian to win a Fremont Championship, the other being Buddy Kofoid in 2019.
- Another rescheduled show was ran on Saturday, the big Lou Blaney Memorial at Sharon Speedway took place, and it ended up being a pretty sentimental night. Thirty-eight cars made the call over near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border for $12,000 to win. After an early battle, with Ryan Smith, Dave Blaney took command of his Father’s Memorial race, and scored the win, holding off a charging Danny Dietrich on the last lap. It was Blaney’s third Lou Blaney Memorial win. In victory lane, Blaney was rather emotional, and for good reason. Blaney retired on the spot. What a way to go out for the 1995 World of Outlaws Champ.
- Wayne County Speedway had 410’s on the card Saturday night as a part of their two-night “Ohio Dirt Blowout” (I was never asked to blow anything out [my puns are bad, I know]). But it also served as the final tuneup before the World of Outlaws Buckeye Brawl on Friday night. When it was all said and done, it was Chris Myers in the Popa 38K car on the front stretch. Myers led all but the first lap, and held off Jordan Ryan at the end to score his first win since 2022 at Wayne County. Like I said, the World of Outlaws visit Wayne County on Friday, September 27 and if Sheldon Haudenschild wins, it will register on a richter scale. The Outlaws head to Sharon the following night.
- Four Crown Weekend was held at Eldora Speedway on Friday and Saturday as well, lots of sprint car action this weekend across the Buckeye State. Justin Peck scored his first win since August of 2023 on Friday night with the High Limit Series, and it was Rico Abreu topping the field on Saturday night. Daison Pursley won the USAC Midget and Sprint Car Features, and Mitchell Moles won his first career USAC Silver Crown race to conclude Saturday night’s action.
- Jamie Miller won the northwest Ohio Triple Crown in the 305 division this season. He topped the Attica and Fremont Track Championships, as well as the AFCS Championship. He’s also been doing some 410 racing in the Meggitt #27 machine. Maybe something to keep an eye on in 2025.
- Bryan Sebetto is also doing more 410 racing in 2025. After a few years of a limited 305 schedule, he’s intending to buy a 410 he’s been renting to get back into the 410 game next season. Don’t be surprised to see some other 305 drivers make the jump to 410s.
- Cap Henry and Cale Thomas choosing Sharon on Saturday over Fremont dropped them from second and third in points, to fifth and sixth respectively. Thomas would end up third in the Lou Blaney Memorial, with Henry right behind in fourth. Third paid $2,500, and fourth was $1,800. I could not find a points payout for Fremont Speedway.
- Eldora took some crap for having a dusty, abrasive surface on Saturday night. I’m not sure what else the track team could’ve done besides make everyone wait two hours while they reworked the track. It hasn’t rained in Ohio in weeks, it was nearly 90 degrees with a blistering sun, and there were 100+ sprint cars on the property. It was a recipe for disaster. The track prep crew was in between a rock and a hard place.
- If you looked in the infield of Attica on Friday night, you would’ve noticed two mounds of clay. That clay is set to be put on the track surface in the coming weeks. There are more mounds outside the pits for future use. This clay is from the same place that had the clay that was put on after the 2023 season. Obviously, the clay worked well and really brought Attica back to life.
- Just a handful of 410 races remain in Ohio for the 2024 season. As mentioned, the Outlaws visit Wayne County and Sharon this Friday and Saturday. Skyline hosts a 410 show on Friday as well. The Night The Stars Come Out featuring High Limit and the Lucas Oil Late Models are at Atomic on October 1st, and then rounds out 410 action in Ohio with the FAST finale on October 12, and a regular 410 show two weeks later on October 26th. There are also a pair of GLSS 360 shows between Waynesfield and Millstream on October 5th and 6th.