Fremont Speedway
Missler dominates Fremont for first ALMS victory
By Brian Liskai
Fremont SpeedwayFREMONT, Ohio (July 18) — Outside front-row starter Ryan Missler of Bellevue, Ohio, led all 30 laps at Fremont Speedway to capture the first Sunoco American Late Model Series victory of his career. Missler earned $2,000 in holding off charges from polesitter Ryan Vanderveen of Six Lakes, Mich., for the victory at the third-mile oval.
"I tried to do something different every time so they couldn't get a run on me going into (turn) one. This thing was a handful. ... the track was fast. We got a little motor in here. I can't believe we stayed out in front," Missler said. "I knew there in lapped traffic I screwed up and someone had to be close. I just had to refocus. I have to thank everyone on my crew, Dave Golick and my dad and Jerry Huff and everybody that helps out in the shop."
Missler took command at the outset over Vanderveen, fast qualifier Jerry Bowersock of Wapakoneta, Ohio, Eric Spangler of Lake City, Mich., and Brian Ruhlman of Clarklake, Mich. As the leader negotiated lapped traffic beginning on the eighth lap, Vanderveen, Bowersock, Spangler and Ruhlman mixed it up until a lap-15 caution gave them a break. After more yellows over the next few laps, the second-running Vanderveen headed to the pits with mechanical problems.
Missler edged away from the field the rest of the way, surviving two more restarts and getting a five-length victory over Ruhlman with Ky Harper of Holland, Ohio, finishing third. Bowersock and 13th-starting Kerry Mathew of Rensselaer, Ind., rounded out the top five with Spangler sixth.
Notes: Missler's car is sponsored by Missler Industries, Taze D.J. and Karaoke and Hawk's Auto Reconditioning. ... In a special match race, Fremont Speedway promoters Rich Farmer and Andy James finished first and second in their 305 sprints against Attica Raceway Park promoter John Bores and his son Mike in their Late Models. The second round of the match race moves to Attica on July 31. ... ALMS competitors take a two-week break before a July 31 event at Hartford (Mich.) Speedway Park and an Aug. 1 event at Oakshade Raceway in Wauseon, Ohio.
Sunoco ALMS @ Fremont: (1) Ryan Missler, (2) Brian Ruhlman, (3) Ky Harper, (4) Jerry Bowersock, (5) Kerry Mathew, (6) Eric Spangler, (7) Troy Cattarene, (8) Phil Ausra, (9) Jon Henry, (10) John Mayes Jr., (11) Steve Sabo, (12) Brandon Perkins, (13) Mike Stiltner, (14) Bill Hahn, (15) John Bores, (16) Michael Stiltner, (17) Ryan Vanderveen, (18) Mike Bores, (19) Chuck Roelle, (20) Chris Ross, (21) Tom Sprague. Fast qualifier (among 22 cars): Bowersock, 15.46 seconds. Heat race winners: Harper, Spangler, Missler.
