Swanson takes Buckeye Machine BOSS "Hensel Memorial" and $5k

By Brian Liskai

FREMONT, Ohio – Kody Swanson gave his grandfather a wonderful birthday present Saturday. The Kingsburg, California driver scored the $5,000 top prize at Fremont Speedway to open the Buckeye Machine BOSS Series 2014 season.

There were 40 cars signed in to compete in the non-wing event on Smith Family Foods Night. The 33-lap feature was run in honor of the late Mike Hensel whose race cars carried that familiar number.

Swanson battled with fellow Californians Thomas Meseraull and Robert Ballou from lap 10 on until taking the lead for good on lap 24. He had to not only battle Meseraull and Ballou, but heavy lapped traffic to score the Mike Hensel Memorial 33-lap win on Smith Family Foods Night.

“What a phenomenal handling race car. Everyone who works on this did an outstanding job. What an opportunity for me to drive. I feel so lucky and happy to be here. I have to thank the DePalma family. One of their boys is getting married today and that’s why they aren’t here. Also thanks to Radio Hospital and I have to give a shout out to my grandfather at home. It’s his birthday today,” said Swanton beside his Hampshire Engines/K&N Filters backed #63.

“Thanks to the Hensel family for putting this on. It was pretty hairy out there. There was times when Robert and Thomas and I were three wide for the lead with a lapped car and everyone was touching wheels. It was a great view for a minute but I sure as heck wanted to get out of there,” added Swanson.

Tyler Gunn, a regular with Fremont Speedway’s winged 305 sprints who was making his non-wing debut, and Mike Galajda paced the field of 24 cars to the green in the feature. Gunn would lead the first lap as third place starter Meseraull grabbed second with Galajda, Chad Boespflug, Ballou and seventh starter Swanson in tow. Meseraull would slide into the lead on the second circuit, bringing Boespflug into second with Gunn, Ballou and Swanson staying close.

Action would grind to a halt on lap four as Fremont 410 winged regular Chris Andrews would take a wild ride down the back stretch. He would exit the machine unhurt. On the green Meseraull would continue to lead as Ballou drove into second with Gunn and Swanson battling for third. Andre Layfield would spin on lap six to bunch up the field.

When the green reappeared Meseraull and Ballou battled side by side with Gunn joining the fray on lap eight. Gun would slide off the high side of turn one a circuit later, losing a couple of positions as Swanson moved into third with Todd Keen taking fourth.

By lap 14 Swanson’s tire choice began to kick in as he reeled in Meseraull and Ballou. That trio then had the crowd on their feet as they raced three wide at times, rubbing wheels. The leaders caught lapped traffic by the 18th circuit but that did not slow their tremendous battle. On lap 24 Swanson dove under both Ballou and Meseraull and took the lead. Meseraull and Ballou stayed close over the next handful of laps but after clearing lapped traffic Swanson began to pull away.

Swanson would take the checkered for his first career Fremont win while Meseraull, Ballou, Michael Fischesser and Scotty Weir rounded out the top five. Fremont 410 winged sprint regular Brian Smith would charge from his 19th starting spot to finish sixth and earn a $333 hard charger bonus from the Hughes Racing in memory of Mike Hensel. Mike Miller, Gunn, Dustin Smith and Bryan Sebetto (up from 20th starting spot) would round out the top 10.

The series now moves on the the fabled Wayne County Speedway this Saturday night May 10th. The Orrville, Ohio facility has been like home to the Buckeye Machine BOSS tour. Promoters Jason and Kristin Flory always have a great surface prepared and the action at times has been indescribable.

Last nights complete results:

Fremont Speedway - 5/3/2014

Buckeye Machine B.O.S.S 410 Sprints (40 Cars)
[#]-Starting Position

Heat 1 - Burdette Builders (Sunman, IN): (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 63-Kody Swanson[2] ; 2. 2-Mike Galajda[8] ; 3. 16-Chris Andrews[1] ; 4. 21-Andre Layfield[6] ; 5. 32M-Derek Hastings[7] ; 6. 3-Joe Butera[4] ; 7. 91X-Aaron Middaugh[5]

Heat 2 - Lias Tire/American Racer (Indiana, PA): (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 9N-Luke Hall[3] ; 2. 18K-Todd Keen[5] ; 3. 2M-Logan Hupp[2] ; 4. 24M-Adam Miller[6] ; 5. 33M-Bryan Sebetto[4] ; 6. 48-Mike Burkin[8] ; 7. 3T-Tony Beaber[1] ; 8. 8-Lewie Christian[7]

Heat 3 - Fast Signs (Dayton, OH): (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 12-Robert Ballou[2] ; 2. 77-Dustin Smith[1] ; 3. 18W-Scotty Weir[6] ; 4. 31-Chuck Wilson[4] ; 5. 57B-Brandon Spithaler[3] ; 6. 14-Chad Wilson[8] ; 7. 7R-Nick Daugherty[7] ; 8. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[5]

Heat 4 - The Bridge Restaurant (Sidney, OH): (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 57-Chad Boespflug[2] ; 2. 68G-Tyler Gunn[3] ; 3. 82-Mike Miller[8] ; 4. 3J-Johnny Beaber[4] ; 5. 67-Chris Durand[7] ; 6. 1M-Mike Moore[1] ; 7. 5-Bob McMillian[5] ; 8. J1-Mark Schultz[6]

Heat 5 - Griff's Engines (Sandusky, OH): (8 Laps - Top 4 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 4-Michael Fischesser[1] ; 2. 41-Thomas Meseraull[2] ; 3. 15-Brandon Whited[3] ; 4. 10S-Roger Shammo[4] ; 5. 2+-Brian Smith[7] ; 6. 7M-Brandon Moore[5] ; 7. 97-Scott Hardman[6]

B-Main #1 - Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps - Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 2+-Brian Smith[3] ; 2. 57B-Brandon Spithaler[2] ; 3. 7R-Nick Daugherty[7] ; 4. 32M-Derek Hastings[1] ; 5. 91X-Aaron Middaugh[6] ; 6. 48-Mike Burkin[4] ; 7. 1M-Mike Moore[5] ; 8. 1J-Jeremy Shambaugh[9] ; 9. 97-Scott Hardman[8]

B-Main #2 - Computer Man Inc. (10 Laps - Top 2 finishers transfer to the A-feature)
1. 33M-Bryan Sebetto[1] ; 2. 14-Chad Wilson[4] ; 3. 67-Chris Durand[2] ; 4. 3T-Tony Beaber[6] ; 5. 7M-Brandon Moore[5] ; 6. 5-Bob McMillian[7] ; 7. 3-Joe Butera[3] ; 8. J1-Mark Schultz[9]

A-Main - (33 Laps) 2nd Annual Mike Hensel Memorial
1. 63-Kody Swanson[7]; 2. 41-Thomas Meseraull[3]; 3. 12-Robert Ballou[5]; 4. 4-Michael Fischesser[6]; 5. 18W-Scotty Weir[13]; 6. 2+-Brian Smith[19]; 7. 82-Mike Miller[12]; 8. 68G-Tyler Gunn[1]; 9. 77-Dustin Smith[9]; 10. 33M-Bryan Sebetto[20]; 11. 15-Brandon Whited[15]; 12. 9N-Luke Hall[8]; 13. 2-Mike Galajda[2]; 14. 10S-Roger Shammo[18]; 15. 14-Chad Wilson[22]; 16. 24M-Adam Miller[17]; 17. 3J-Tony Beaber[23]; 18. 31-Chuck Wilson[16]; 19. 57B-Brandon Spithaler[21]; 20. 18K-Todd Keen[10]; 21. 57-Chad Boespflug[4]; 22. 21-Andre Layfield[14]; 23. 16-Chris Andrews[11]; 24. 7R-Nick Daugherty[24]
Hard Charger: 2+-Brian Smith[+13]

Forgot to post the bonus award winners from last night - special thanks to the sponsors. BOSS charges NO FEES to drivers and likes giving money away so much that we added a new "lucky pill draw" award for a free pit pass and hot dogs for the crew in 2014. Looking forward to Wayne County Speedway next Saturday and of course Eldora Speedway "Family Fun Night" on May 17th.

Event #1 - Fremont - Bonus Award Winners:

The Bridge Restaurant of Sidney, OH - "Hard Charger" - Brian Smith - $333

Hochstetler Truck & Repair of Ashland, OH - "Steel Block Award" - Tyler Gunn - $50

Lynn Cook "a racer's friend" of Dayton, OH - "Hard Luck Award" - Aaron Middaugh - $50

Rusty & Cap McClure of Ashland, OH - "Lucky Pill Draw" - Joe Butera - Free Pit Pass/Hot Dogs for Crew

Lias Tire of Indiana, PA - "American Racer Bonus Award" - Michael Fischesser - Free Tire

Hoosier Tire Midwest - "Hoosier Tire Bonus Award" - Thomas Meseraull - Free Tire

Aaron,

Keep up the good work. A very entertaining evening of racing for the BOSS series. I don't get to see too many of your shows, but the ones I have attended have been excellent. Great car counts with lots of close racing. A wide variety of winners as well.

First time to Fremont for me, first BOSS show I've attended as well. Happy I made the 8 hour trek. What a race between Swanson, T-mez, and Ballou through the middle portions of the race. Made sure I picked up a Paul Hazen 57 years of racing t-shirt as well. Can't wait to wear it in the future to support him and Chad.

1