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Tony Beaber and Dustin Smith moments before the
Eldora feature and the 2012 championship fight.
Luke Hall - Eldora Winner 10/27
Sharon Speedway Winner - Jack Sodeman Jr
Brandon Spithaler - Mercer winner 5/19
Jamie Miller - Fremont winner 5/12
Mike Burkin - Wayne County Winner 5/18
"BOSS 2012 Hard Charger Award Sponsor"
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Ballou Blasts to BOSS Fremont Win
By Brian Liskai
FREMONT, Ohio – Robert Ballou was skeptical when he got to Fremont Speedway
Saturday for the Smith Family Foods/Mike Hensel Memorial Race. He had been
struggling as of late and the track didn’t look like it would suit his
driving style. But, the Rocklin, California native worked with his crew and
the results showed.
Ballou passed six time USAC National Sprint Car Champion Levi Jones on lap
19 of the 33-lap, $3,300 to win Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (BOSS) season
opener and drove to his first win at “The Track That Action Built.”
“That Jeff Walker’s race car with Levi Jones are two of the best guys around
and if you can run them guys down you know you’ve got something. Jeff Walker
is the best mechanic around and Levi has obviously shown it with six
championships with the USAC National Sprint Car series. Last night we
struggled and Ken Baldwin was going to hire someone else…he said we suck on
slick tracks so I had to do something to show these guys. I give it my best
and sometimes it isn’t enough,” said Ballou beside his Baldwin Brothers
Racing/Fox Paving/Hinchman Uniforms/Butlerbuilt/Infinity Shocks/Kercher
Engines/Indy Race Parts backed #5. “I have to thank Derek for sticking with
me night in and night out…he does this for free.”
“This is for this family (the Mike Hensel family)…I’m sorry for their loss,”
continued Ballou about his win in the first ever Mike Hensel Memorial Race
run in memory of the former racer.
In the 33-lap BOSS/MTS feature, Scotty Weir and Levi Jones would bring the
24-car field to the green. But, a multi-car pile-up in turn one involving
Tony Beaber, Aaron Middaugh and John Watson would necessitate a complete
restart.
Jones would grab the lead when the green reappeared over Weir, Gary Taylor,
Steve Irwin and Ballou. The caution would fly after two laps for Tracy Hines
who would retire to the pits. On the restart, Weir would pressure Jones for
the lead with Irwin moving into third. The caution would come out again on
lap 6 for defending BOSS champion Dustin Smith. And when the green flew,
Jones and Weir pulled away slightly from Ballou with Taylor, Chase Stockton,
Irwin and Matt Westfall giving chase.
Just as the leaders were ready to hit lapped traffic, Ballou would drive
into second on lap 12. On lap 15, the caution flew for Dean Jacobs who
clipped an infield tire and spun after having moved from his 16th starting
spot to eighth. On the restart Jones and Ballou pulled away from Weir,
Taylor and Stockton, who would make a fantastic move to drive into third on
lap 17.
Action would grind to a half on lap 18 for a double flip involving Roger
Shammo and Watson with both drivers escaping injury. On the restart Ballou
drove to Jones’ outside and grabbed the lead. Ballou and Jones would rocket
away from Stockton, Weir, Taylor, Westfall and Chris Andrews. Andrews was
making his non-wing debut and had charged from 21st starting spot.
Ballou would enter lapped traffic with six laps to go, but Jones could not
close. Ballou would pick his way through the back-markers while Jones now
faced a challenge from Stockton. Ballou would drive to the checkers ahead of
Jones, Stockton, Weir and Andrews.
“I used to be a live or die by the top guy but in the last year I built my
own race car because my old car owner didn’t want to race. I went to every
race track that we sucked at…every short track is where we struggled. We go
the big tracks pretty much in my pocket. So we went to the tracks I wasn’t
good at and beat it into the ground and finally started winning at those
tracks. I figured it out that if you don’t run the bottom once and awhile it
will cost you races,” said Ballou in the Engine Pro Victory Lane.
BOSS Prepared to
Kick-Off 2013 Campaign
The wingless warriors of the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series are now just days
away from the launch of the 2013 race season. The Ohio based regional
touring series looks forward to a break out season with many new teams and
new sponsors coming on board. The series schedule has expanded to 14 events
on 9 of the midwest's finest dirt racing facilities, while the standard race
purse has increased in both win and start money. The popular open tire rule
remains in affect and the bonus awards program that has been a staple of the
series has also grown in cash awards including heat race payouts.
Defending points champion Dustin Smith of Russiaville, Indiana will be
returning to defend his title aboard the Conaway Motorsports, Lee's
Hydraulics #37 car. Smith narrowly held off a determined Tony Beaber in the
late season points battle back in October. Beaber, of Gibsonburg, Ohio,
will also be returning to shoot for the title aboard the Beaberbuilt #3T.
Other returning drivers include Kirk Jeffries (Westerville, OH), Aaron
Middaugh (Polk, OH), Brandon Spithaler (Evans City, PA), Chuck Wilson
(Perrysburg, OH), Lewie Christian (West Jefferson, OH), Mark Cassella
(Weirton, WV), and Steve Irwin (Fenton, MI).
In addition to the returning BOSS stars, a new brigade of drivers plans to
mount a challenge for the 2013 BOSS championship. New drivers who have
expressed a plan to follow the series this year include Marshall Motorsports
teammates Dallas Hewitt and Derek Hastings, Wapakoneta, Ohio's Mike Miller,
Pennsylvania hotshoes Adam Miller and Skip Dougherty, and second generation
BOSS driver Chad Wilson. A host of other drivers have indicated their
intentions to run most or several events as well.
The standard BOSS purse will now pay $1,400 to win and $250 to start. Every
event will still offer $100 tow money to any driver who attempts to compete,
but fails to start the main event. Several events along the tour will see
increased purses including the season opening "Mike Hensel Memorial" at
Fremont Speedway which will pay $3,300 to win and $300 to start on Saturday,
May 4th. Lawrenceburg Speedway and Pittsburgh Motor Speedway events will
also see increased purse structures.
New for the 2013 season will be heat race bonus money. A total of $100 will
be paid per heat race event run. The top 3 finishers in each heat race will
be awarded $50, $30, and $20 respectively. Underground Professionals
Incorporated have stepped up to be the primary heat race sponsor and heat
races #1 and #2 at each event will now be the "UPI" heat races of the
night. Additional heat races at each event will vary with great sponsors on
board such as S&H Nerfs, Kistler Engines, Indy Race Parts, Superior Tank &
Trailer, Griff's Engines, Ham Signs, Country Time Grocery, E A Home Supply,
K-D Pizza, and 2Grafic Distributions. In order to be eligible for heat race
money, cars must display decals of the nights heat race sponsors which will
be supplied at the BOSS sign-in table.
The trademark of the BOSS
traditional sprint series is that it is perhaps the last true "outlaw"
sprint series. Once again there is no "membership fees" or "registration",
BOSS welcomes all drivers at all events. The primary staple of the series
has been the open tire rule and
that will remain in effect for the season. Tire manufacturers Hoosier Race
Tire Midwest and Lias Tire American Racer have both agreed to return to
sponsor the series in the form of bonus awards. Once again, a certificate
for a free Hoosier tire will be presented to the highest finisher on all 4
Hoosier Tires in the main event. American Racer Tire will be awarding the
highest main event finisher on all 4 of their respective tires a certificate
for $100 toward the purchase of American Racer tires.
With the help of fine sponsors, bonus awards will return again. The Horne
Performance Hard Charger award will be a $50 bonus awarded to the driver who
advances the most positions in the main event from his originally assigned
starting position. The Buckeye Machine and Fabrication Hard Luck Award will
be a $50 prize awarded at each event to a driver who encounters problems.
This award will be voted on by BOSS officials and track officials at each
event and no driver is eligible for the award more than twice per season.
The third and final bonus available is the Ernie's Radiator Steel Block
Award which will supply a $50 bonus to the highest finishing driver in each
main event who is driving a car with a steel engine block. In order to be
eligible for bonus awards, each bonus sponsor's decal must be displayed on
the car. Decals will be avaialble at the BOSS sign-in table.
Watch for more announcements in the coming days including a preview of the
season opening May 4th Mike Hensel Memorial at Fremont Speedway. More
information on the series can be found at www.buckeyesprints.com and
the series owner can be reached atsprinter14@hotmail.com or
phone 740-703-3768.
Heat race sponsorship opportunities are still available at some events and
BOSS is always willing to work with potential sponsors to find a way to
promote their business and offer participating teams more bonus payouts!
BOSS Opener to pay $3300 to win - $300 to start in Hensel Memorial
Fremont Speedway promoter Rich Farmer and the family of former Fremont
Speedway racer Mike Hensel have partnered with the Buckeye Outlaw Sprint
Series to offer $3,300 to win the series opener on Saturday, May 4th at the
"Track That Action Built". Hensel was a local racer who loved competing
without the wings and in honor of his career as car #33, the event will be a
33 lap feature for the $3,300 top prize with $300 to start the 20 car main
event. In addition, $200 is guaranteed to the first car who fails to
transfer out of the B-Main and all drivers who compete in the program are
guaranteed $100 tow money.
Defending BOSS champion, Dustin Smith of Russiaville, Indiana will lead a
strong contingent of series regulars into battle including the 2012 top 10
in points, consisting of Tony Beaber of Gibsonburg, Ohio, Landon Simon of
Indianapolis, Indiana, Kirk Jeffries of Westerville, Ohio, Aaron Middaugh of
Polk, Ohio, Brandon Spithaler of Evans City, Pennsylvania, Chuck Wilson of
Perrysburg, Ohio, Lewie Christian of West Jefferson, Ohio, Steve Irwin of
Fenton, Michigan, and Mark Cassella of Weirton, West Virginia. Several new
drivers have indicated their intentions to compete full time with BOSS in
2013 and will be on hand at Fremont including Chad Wilson, Andre Layfield,
Skip Dougherty, Matt Phillips and more.
For the second year in a row, Fremont will kick off the BOSS campaign like
last year the Michigan Traditional Sprint series (MTS) will co-sanction the
opener. 2012 MTS champ Joe Irwin will lead his group into battle including
drivers like Mark Irwin, Joe Bares, Mike Galajda, Nate Bostrom and many
more. Fremont Speedway regulars are also expected to join the field on the
heels of last year's upset victory by local driver Jamie Miller who was
followed by Stuart Brubaker, another Fremont regular.
Watch for more details and big announcements about the 2013 BOSS tour in the
coming weeks. You can follow the news on the series website at www.buckeyesprints.com
For more information on the series, you can contact BOSS at 740-703-3768 or
e-mail sprinter14@hotmail.com
The Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series 2013 schedule is now
official. The series has grown from 12 points events in 2012 to 14 events in
2013. The series will now host a second event at legendary Buckeye ovals of
Fremont Speedway and Sharon Speedway. BOSS officials are also proud to
announce the newest facility to be welcomed aboard, Lernerville Speedway
near Sarver, Pennsylvania. The tour will kick off at Fremont Speedway on
Saturday, May 4th and will conclude on Saturday, October 12th on the
hallowed grounds of the Eldora Speedway high banks.
In other news, the 2013 standard BOSS purse has been increased to $1400 to
win and $250 to start. Some events may see an increase in the win and/or
start money. $100 is still guaranteed to all teams that sign in and attempt
to compete in the program. Once again, the series will have no membership
fees and no entry fees.
Also remaining the same as 2012 will be the open tire rule. With the
landscape ever changing in the sprint car world, BOSS officials will keep a
close eye on the situation during the coming season. However, for 2013, the
tire rule remains open to any commercially produced sprint car tire. Hoosier
Tire Midwest and Lias Tire American Racer have both returned for the 2013
season and will offer a bonus to the highest finisher on all 4 of their
tires at each event.
Horne Performance Motorsports will also return to provide racers with the
"Hard Charger Award" of $50 cash to the driver advancing the most positions
in each feature event. Sponsors are still being negotiated to provide the
"Steel Block" award to the highest finishing steel block competitor and the
"Hard Luck" Award.
The series is also pleased to announce a partnership with Precise Racing
Products near Pittsburgh to provide FREE transponders at 6 events including
Sharon, Pittsburgh, Lernerville and Mercer. Precise Racing products is a
full parts supplier including a Hoosier Tire distributor. Their parts truck
will be servicing the events where they will be provoding transponders.
Watch for more announcements coming soon. A series title sponsor is still
under negotiations along with more possible bonus awards. Details will be
announced following the first BOSS banquet set for Saturday, January 26th at
the Christopher Conference Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. The deadline for
banquet tickets is Wednesday, January 23rd and everyone is welcome to
attend. Tickets are $25 each for adults and $10 for children.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a BOSS bonus award for an event, or for the
entire season, please contact BOSS at (740) 703-3768 or e-mail
sprinter14@hotmail.com. Drivers
who plan to compete in all or most of the 2013 events, please send
biographical information to the same e-mail address along with photos of
your 2012 or 2013 car / driver.
2013 BOSS Schedule
5/4 - Fremont Speedway ; Fremont, OH
5/24 - Wayne County Speedway ; Orrville, OH
5/25 - Mercer Raceway Park ; Mercer, PA
6/8 - Lawrenceburg Speedway ; Lawrenceburg, IN
6/22 - Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway ; McDonald, PA
7/5 - Lernerville Speedway ; Sarver, PA
7/6 - Sharon Speedway ; Hartford, OH
7/20 - Waynesfield Motorsports Park ; Waynesfield, OH
8/3 - Lawrenceburg Speedway ; Lawrenceburg, IN
8/17 - Sharon Speedway ; Hartford, OH
8/24 - Wayne County Speedway ; Orrville, OH
9/28 - Pittsburgh PA Motor Speedway ; McDonald, PA
10/5 - Fremont Speedway ; Fremont, OH
10/12 - Eldora Speedway ; Rossburg, OH
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