Travel with Me | Fremont Speedway
Destination: Fremont Speedway | Fremont, Ohio
Gas: $110
Miles: 854.1
Tolls (EZ Pass):
Food/Drink: $50
Sights: Fremont Speedway | Fremont, Ohio
Cedar Point Beach | Sandusky, Ohio
If there’s one thing I have learned in the almost 29 years of my life, is to travel on a budget. Traveling as a photographer is the best thing you can do for yourself, brand, and overall work. The challenges you are faced with when traveling, especially alone, can transition you into a more independent and educated person overall. I’ve learned that experiencing different race tracks also helps me see what different styles of shooting can do for me as a creative. Not just going to the track, but also, experiencing what else is around the towns I’m traveling to.
Two words led me to the Buckeye State in June.
Ohio. Speedweek.
Ohio Speedweek is a grueling 9 day of 8 races, traveling to 7 different race tracks in the beginning of June. Ohio Speedweek is presented by the All Star Circuit of Champions, and competes at various Ohio dirt tracks such as; Attica Raceway Park, Fremont Speedway, Wayne County Speedway, Sharon Speedway, Atomic Speedway, Eldora Speedway, and finishing at Portsmouth Raceway Park. With various large payouts ranging from the $6,000-to-win to the Ohio Speedweek finisher $22,554-to-win, it draws cars and drivers from various outside areas.
Previously, my schedule never aligned for me to go, and in 2023, I was making it happen. One way or another. I always wanted to travel to see at least one of the Ohio Speedweek races, and this year I made sure to put one on my schedule. Like some teams, my schedule has kind of been a modge-podge of races, or a pick-and-choose schedule, unlike the previous years following one team and operating their social media for several years.
Enough about the why. Let’s get into the trip itself.
I started by traveling to Sandusky, Ohio. The drive was about 5 and a half hours from Hanover, Pennsylvania. I turned on DirtVision (World of Outlaws at Knoxville) and FloRacing (for All Stars at Attica) along the drive. To my surprise there wasn’t that much traffic on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for a Friday night drive. I was able to stay on my overall projected arrival time, even with making a few stops along the way.
Saturday, June 10th
I began my weekend, by stopping at a Starbucks, for my favorite drink, a Strawberry Acai Refresher with lemonade. Perfect amount of sugar to kick off my busy day. I clocked into work at 6AM and worked some overtime for my full time job. Nothing really happens in the morning of race days anyway for me, so it gave me some down time. I finished working overtime remotely, and decided it was time to head to Cedar Point Beach, about 15 minutes from where I stayed overnight in Sandusky. Sandusky seems like a quiet but busy little town, with a lot of amenities, if you are planning to make the trip to Fremont - I’d recommend staying in Sandusky, Ohio; with various food places and hotels, Lowes, Walmart, Starbucks, a mall, etc.
The Racing
Fremont was a very unique track. The only tracks I could really compare to it, was smaller scale Grandview, but a large leveled off “over hang” at the top, between the track, and the wall providing some very unique angles for photographers. I also noticed that as even a spectator in the pits, you have a great vantage point to watch the race, from the guardrail between you, a foot from the fence. The outside was a tad dusty, but I was able to get quite a few useable shots for what I wanted. The Fremont surface definitely was tricky for some drivers to navigate. A hole in the entry to turn 1, providing photographers with some drivers hitting it just right offsetting the attitude of the car.
I got to watch one of the best features in recent Fremont Speedway history, coming down to a last lap pass by Danny Dietrich for the PA Posse win in the last turn over Cap Henry. Danny had a remarkable race, drawing the worst pill to start his evening. Followed by having to restart dead last in his heat race due to hitting a tractor tire in the infield, to finishing his heat race in a spot for the Dash. He would get stuck starting 9th in the dash, and working his way for the win. Overall a great and fun night for the Pennsylvania Posse, getting off the porch.
See full gallery from event: 6.10.2023 - All Star Sprints -Fremont Speedway All photos are available for purchase.
Next Adventure: Race 4 The House at Maple Grove Raceway, in Mohnton PA.
About the All Star Circuit of Champions:
All Star Enterprises, LLC, wholly owned by Tony Stewart, d/b/a the All Star Circuit of Champions, is a winged sprint car series. The All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car Series is one of the oldest traveling 410 sprint car organizations and is a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. Formed in 1970 by Bud Miller, the series has largely been considered the first 'outlaw' Sprint Car organization of the modern era. Motorsports entrepreneur Tony Stewart agreed to terms with Guy Webb to become the sole owner of the original winged sprint car tour in January of 2015.
About Nicole Signor:
Nicole Signor is a graphic designer, photographer and social media content creator/manager in the Motorsports industry. Working for several different drivers, teams, series, and businesses, Nicole is no stranger to providing high-quality work and professional content for the open-wheel racing industry, from raceday schedule graphics, professional imagery or video, to social media content and management.
Contact: Nicole Signor
Nicole Signor Creative
nsignorcreative@gmail.com
nicolesignor.com
