FREMONT, Ohio — They say luck is defined as when preparation meets opportunity. For Greg Wilson, the work his team has done over the past few weeks paid off when opportunity presented itself Saturday at Fremont Speedway.
The two-time and defending O’Reilly All Star Champion was handed the lead when Dale Blaney got involved in a crash while in lapped traffic, and went on to score his second-straight victory at the third-mile oval, but his first All Star triumph of the year.
Wilson, aboard the All Star Plumbing and Heating sponsored, Verl Warnimont-owned No. w20, scored his 22nd victory in the series.
“We have been struggling lately. We dug in and worked harder in the shop...my crew has put in a lot of hours and it finally paid off,” Wilson said. “I also talked a lot with my uncle Hamp (Bob Hampshire, former car owner for Wilson) and he helped us figure some stuff out and get my head screwed on straight.”
Dean Jacobs took the early lead in the 40-lap event, but after a yellow flag with one lap complete, Blaney grabbed the point on lap two.
Wilson worked his way past Kenny and Dean Jacobs to ride second after 12 laps. Blaney appeared on cruise control ahead of the field when he was attempting to pass Craig Mintz. Mintz made contact with Rob Chaney and the melee collected Blaney.
Wilson inherited the lead and kept ahead of the field to the checkered flag, with Brock Mayes outlasting Dean Jacobs for third. D. Jacobs, David Harrison and Randy Hannagan completed the top five.
The summary:
Fast Time: Phil Gressman, 12.357 seconds (41 cars).
First Heat: Craig Mintz, Brock Mayes, Kenny Jacobs, Brian Ellenberger, Rob Chaney, Phil Gressman, Ryan Myers, Todd Heller, Kevin Huntley, Chris Andrews, Jody Keegan.
Second Heat: Andy Shammo, Lance Dewease, Byron Reed, John Ivy, Dale Blaney, Paul McMahan, Travis Philo, Scott Euler, Roger Shammo, Mike Burkin.
Third Heat: Caleb Griffith, Brandon Martin, Randy Hannagan, Mike Dussel, Mike Linder, Brian Smith, Kirk Jefferies, Lee Stark, Todd King, Paul Weaver.
Fourth Heat: Mark Keegan, David Harrison, Greg Wilson, Dean Jacobs, Lee Jacobs, Cole Duncan, Doug Berryman, Roddy Bellbowen, Aaron Middaugh, Josh Harrison.
Dash: D. Jacobs, Wilson, Mayes, Blaney, Reed, K. Jacobs.
B Main: Gressman, McMahan, Smith, Andrews, Duncan, R. Shammo, Heller, Myers, Euler, Huntley, King, Philo, Keegan, Bellbowen, Jefferies, J. Harrison, Burkin, Stark, Berryman, Middaugh.
Feature: Wilson, Mayes, D. Jacobs, D. Harrison, Hannagan, Smith,              L. Jacobs, K. Jacobs, Dewease, Blaney, Keegan, McMahan, A. Shammo, Dussel, Andrews, Ellenberger, Martin, Ivy, Mintz, Chaney, Griffith,         Reed, Linder.