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Dale Blaney is nicknamed the "Low Rider", but I think a better handle would be "Cool Hand" or "Smooth Operator". Blaney is having a tremendous run right now and the stars seem to align just for him. He was one of the early cars out to qualify on a windy evening that saw the track slick off through 3 and 4 not long after qualifying started. After setting quick time, he advanced through the heat race and developed a slightly smoking engine in the process. An ominous sign of bad luck coming Dale's way? Nah, just tighten the valve covers or put the oil cap on tighter. It was just a matter of time before Dale took the checkered flag in the big feature. He was clearly the class of the field on this chilly night.
If you have never been to Fremont Speedway, you need to visit the place. It is a cozy little track situated in the middle of a fairgrounds and it features a covered grandstand up close to the racing action. There is not a bad seat in the house, very little dust, and the pushtrucks are johnny on the spot to keep things moving. Worth mentioning, one of the fourth turn infield tires was busy eating front wheels and axles during the evening. Unfortunately, the tire bit Lee Jacobs ending his 3rd place run in the feature...Greg Wilson managed to smack that tire as well but somehow avoided serious damage on his way to a 4th place run from near the back of the field. Adding to the excitement of the evening was Cap Henry flipping end over end on the front straight in the feature, and Caleb Helms truning over in turn 4 during qualifying, sending a shower of broken glass skyward, I'm guessing from the track's signal light.
Fremont Speedway is full of history, and it is really neat that they have a racing museum there at the track.....In addition to the restored sprint cars and other items on display there....it was nice and warm inside!
You never know who you could meet when you go to a race. Last summer, when I made the trip to Fremont to see a FAST race, I had the pleasure of meeting George Nicholson, who has owned many of Rick Ferkel's cars over the years. What a nice man and what a thrill to talk with him for a little bit about racing. Well, Saturday night, while getting ready for the A-main to push out, a young man appeared and asked if anyone was sitting in the top row behind us. I noticed his video camara and asked if he was the guy who films the Fremont races that I watch on the internet? He said he was and that he has a website, DIRT RACING REPORT. Well, I go to his site all of the time to view videos of the races... good stuff!. His name is Brian and I had to tell him that he is much better following the action than the MAV TV camera guys!
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