CAMPBELL, GANUS CAPTURE 7-UP 100’S AT TOLEDO
CAMPBELL, GANUS CAPTURE 7-UP 100’S AT TOLEDO
Toledo, Ohio-April 11, 2015: A good crowd and the Speed51 TV pay-per-view audience saw history made in Saturday’s 7-Up Twin 100’s season opener at Toledo Speedway. Brian Campbell captured the ARCA/CRA Super Series powered by Jeg’s/ARCA Midwest Tour 100 lap contest, the first-ever green-white checkered race in the history of the Series. Jeff Ganus capped off the sunny afternoon of racing at the ½ mile paved oval by taking the win in the ARCA Royal Truck and Trailer Sales Gold Cup 100 lap event, his first-ever Toledo victory. Steve Harsh of 7-Up and his entourage presented the trophies in the 7-Up Winner’s circle festivities.
Campbell was out to repeat his victory in 2014 at the track, and Brian went right to work early in the race, grabbing the lead from Cody Coughlin and setting sail. Campbell’s torrid pace in the caution-free contest allowed the second-generation star to pull away from the 25 car field. Terry Senneker charged up through the field to finish second, rookie Grant Quinlan had a stellar run for third, 2014 champ Travis Braden was fourth, Boris Jurkovic fifth and Eddie Hoffman sixth, all on the lead lap. Rookie Hunter Baize, Coughlin, Wes Griffith Jr. and Joey Miller completed the top ten.
Ty Majeski, Brandon Watson, Matt Hall, Jordan Pruitt, Paul Shafer Jr., Ali Kern, Eddie VanMeter, Mike Stacy, Austin Nason, Mark Lambert, Nick Gullatta, Jim Olson, Mike Litchfield, Brandon Oakley and Rick Turner completed the finishing order. Thomas Woodin was unable to start the contest.
There were 4 different leaders in the 100 lap ARCA Royal Truck and Trailer Sales outlaw-bodied Late Model nightcap, with Constantine, MI driver Jeff Ganus wheeling Brian Short’s #18 to victory and notching his initial Toledo checkered flag. Dennis Strickland, Alex Rosenberry and Nick Bailey were early leaders in the event. Senneker, pulling double duty Saturday afternoon, brought out the yellow on lap 17 when a tire went down, scattering the field in turn 2. Terry dove onto pit road, made repairs and rejoined the field.
Bailey had Ganus glued to his bumper from lap 18, but on lap 32 Jeff sailed by to take the lead and built up a big lead. Jeff continued his rapid pace as the race ran from lap 17 to the finish all-green flag. Senneker steadily worked his way through the field and got to second, with Bailey third, all completing 100 laps. Rosenberry’s great run gave him fourth spot, DTS Drive Train Specialists Fast Qualifier Scott Hantz (15:129) was fifth, followed by Frankie Jiovani, Scott Pemberton, Strickland, Dave Stehouwer and first-time Toledo visitor Lee VanDyk was tenth.
Joe Hawes, Mike Young, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Tim DeVos, Dakota Carlson and Guy Fire were next in line at the finish. A total of 5 cars were not able to make the call for the start. Steve Needles was uninjured in a hard crash in turn one after his qualifying run. Harold Fair Jr., Brent Jack, Brad Riethmeyer and Steve Hawes were the other non-starters.
Toledo will now wait until Friday, May 1 for its next race, as the USAC Silver Crown Cars return to the track for the first time in 3 years for the Rollie Beale Classic. The event will be the first leg of the Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness $25,000 Triple Crown, which will award a driver the $25,000 bonus to win the Silver Crown and the two Winged Sprint shows at Toledo June 12 and June 26.
The USAC HPD Midgets and the Northwest Ohio ¼ Midgets will be in action on the short track. Race time is 7:30 p.m.
Fans can save $5 on the ticket price by purchasing tickets before 5 p.m. Thursday, April 30. Call the track at 419-727-1100 or the order form may be downloaded from www.toledospeedway.com. Log into the website and click on the ticket button.