By: Ron Burt
While we wait on local tracks to open, let me introduce you to maybe the fastest girl in N.W. Ohio. Ottoville’s Abby Hohlbein is getting ready to start her 8th year of racing. Currently Abby sits behind the wheel of a D2 Midget, powered by a Honda motor on a Hawk Chassis. She doesn’t have a home track. She races in the Midwest Thunder Series and occasionally the IMRA D2 Series in Illinois. This means at every track her car has a different set up. Two of her favorite tracks are Ohio’s Atomic Speedway, and Kokomo Speedway in Indiana but Spoon River and Macon Speedway in Illinois are also a couple of tracks at the top of her list. When it comes down to it, this teenager likes whatever track her car is on. What most people don’t realize is this young lady mainly races against adult men.
Abby’s love for racing started by watching her father race his modified. She knew from an early age that’s what she wanted to do. This teen has raced Snowmobiles, Quarter Midgets, Go-Karts, Thunder Stocks, Dirt Track Trucks, 600 Micro Sprints (winged and non-winged) and her D2 Midget. She has several impressive wins in her young career, but I think her biggest accomplishment is being a good role model for young women and youth that follow her, proving it’s not just an adult man’s sport. She already has a large fan following. From the list of wins, I think her most impressive was the 2021 USAC Regional Midget Kokomo Clash XV Feature Winner (9th woman to ever win a USAC Regional Midget Race). This summer watch for Abby when the D2 Midgets race at Limaland, Fremont, Eldora, Gas City, Kokomo, and other area tracks. I will update you throughout the season on her accomplishments and you can follow her on social media and the USAC Midwest Thunder Midgets Facebook page.
Fremont Speedway and Attica Raceway Park announced all 410 AFCS Sprint Series events will pay at least $4000.00 to win, with the season championship night paying at least $5000.00 to win. All 305 AFCS Sprint Series events will pay at least $1000.00 to win, with 4, $1200.00 to win events booked already. Getting all these events to pay at least 4k for the 410s and 1k for the 305s was a collaboration between the AFCS Sprints Series and both tracks, Fremont, and Attica Raceway Park where the cars run Friday nights.
Keeping with the 305-Winged Sprints that race both tracks. After talks with suppliers and the tracks, and only being days away from Attica opening and a few weeks until Fremont opens, it has been determined wing sliders won’t be allowed for 305s once again in 2023. The tracks both investigated it during the off season. Being close to the start of the season, a rule change can’t be fairly made at this time. The tracks will look deeper into and discuss it more but a rule change to be made fairly for everyone involved would need to happen as the season ends, going into the following year. With the ever-rising cost of tires, near $365 a tire now, and other essential parts rising in cost significantly again this season, it absolutely makes zero sense to add additional expenses to the 305s this season. This is a smart move by both tracks to help race teams with expenses. Until next week, keep your wheels down. Ron Out! ohiosportsblitz@yahoo.com
