Eight contestants took on the Tender Takedown challenge on Saturday, September 9 at the Fremont Speedway. (Photo by Dione Schaffner)

FREMONT – FriendShip Kitchen brought food, fun, and a little friendly competition to Fremont Speedway Saturday with its free Fan Experience, highlighted by Tender Takedown 2, an amateur FriendShip Famous Chicken eating competition.

Eight contestants took on the Tender Takedown challenge, racing against the clock to eat as much FriendShip Famous Chicken as possible in 10 minutes.

When the final tender was counted, Bobby Good was crowned the 2026 Tender Takedown Champion after eating just shy of 46 ounces–or 2 and 7/8 pounds–of FriendShip Famous Chicken in 10 minutes. The champion took home $1,000 and the Tender Takedown Championship Belt.

Michael Cook finished second and received $500, while last year’s champion Abe Tawil took third place and received $250.

The competition was the centerpiece of an afternoon that brought race fans, families, and community members together ahead of Saturday night’s Jim Ford Classic racing at Fremont Speedway.

Following Tender Takedown, professional competitive eater Molly Schuyler took center stage for a special eating exhibition, showing the crowd how a professional takes on FriendShip Famous Chicken. Molly’s husband Dan Kennedy, who is also a professional eater, made a surprise appearance and wowed the audience with his speed eating prowess.

Tender Takedown 2 champion, Bobby Good, left, stands with last year’s champion, Abe Tawil, who took third place in this year’s event. (Photo by Mark Schaffner)

Throughout the afternoon, guests met All Star Circuit of Champions and Fremont Speedway drivers and teams, sampled free FriendShip Famous Chicken, enjoyed music, and competed for prizes through Toss for Tenders and FriendShip Lucky Drop. Guests also had the opportunity to join FriendShip Rewards for a chance to win one of four $50 FriendShip gift cards.

“Fremont is home for us, so it was great to see people come together, have some fun and enjoy FriendShip Famous Chicken during one of the biggest racing weekends of the year,” said Tam Mettler of FriendShip Kitchen. “Tender Takedown is meant to be fun, but it also gives us another way to bring people together around something we’re very proud of, Ohio’s Tastiest Chicken.”

Tender Takedown returned for its second year after debuting in 2025 at the Strongman Competition in Sandusky. This year’s competition was part of the Fremont Speedway Fan Experience presented by FriendShip Kitchen during the annual Jim Ford Classic weekend.

The top Tender Takedown finishers were recognized on the front stretch during Saturday night’s opening ceremonies. FriendShip Kitchen also joined the race-night festivities with giveaways and other fan activities.

Trina Depew, left, and Maria Colatruglio serving up samples of FriendShip Famous Chicken with their new Frizzle sauces. (Photo by Dione Schaffner)

“The Jim Ford Classic is always a special weekend at Fremont Speedway, and the Fan Experience added another way for fans and families to enjoy the day,” said Shelly Farmer of Fremont Speedway. “We appreciate FriendShip Kitchen helping us create an experience that goes beyond the racing and gives our community even more reasons to be part of the weekend.”

FriendShip Kitchen’s connection to Fremont runs deep. Parent company Beck Suppliers was founded in Fremont in 1950. Today, FriendShip Kitchen operates exclusively in Ohio and is 100% employee-owned.

FriendShip Famous Chicken, the company’s signature food offering, is fresh, never frozen, double hand-breaded, and cooked fresh in small batches.

About FriendShip Kitchen

FriendShip Kitchen is an Ohio-based convenience store and foodservice company operating exclusively in Ohio. FriendShip is 100% employee-owned and committed to investing in the Ohio communities where its employee-owners live and work. FriendShip Famous Chicken, known as Ohio’s Tastiest Chicken, is fresh, never frozen, double hand-breaded and cooked fresh in small batches.