YOUNG, VANDERHOOF, RINGGER TOLEDO CHAMPS; BUSES CRASH THEIR WAY TO CHECKERED FLAG!

YOUNG, VANDERHOOF, RINGGER TOLEDO CHAMPS; BUSES CRASH THEIR WAY TO CHECKERED FLAG!

Toledo, Ohio—August 28, 2015:  Mike Young, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Matt Ringger were crowned 2015 track champions in their respective classes Friday night as part of Toledo Speedway’s LKQ Pick Your Part “Night of Destruction”.  The evening was capped off with four “fun” events, including the grand finale’, the School Bus Figure 8 race!  Plenty of bone-crunching hit thrilled the large crowd and Terrible Terry Smith ended the night by putting his bus over on its side!

Second-generation driver Mike Young had a comfortable margin in the 2015 title chase for the ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman division heading into Friday night.  But Mike, his car owner-father Paul, and the rest of the #23 crew sweated it out as Mike encountered a sour engine in the 40 lap championship race.  Up front, Ron Allen led the first 15 laps until Jim Froling zipped by Ron in lapped traffic to take the lead.  The duo jumped out to a sizable lead over the field, but on lap 24, the lead duo tangled, sending Froling in a backwards slide the entire distance of the front straight and down the pit road entrance.  Jim spun the car in a complete 360 and motored away down the pit lane as the yellow flew.  Allen accepted the responsibility for the incident and Froling returned to the number 1 spot.  On the restart, Jim zipped away to grab the victory over Tommy O’Leary IV, Allen, who charged back to take third at the stripe, Andy Harding’s great run gave him fourth and Kenny McKay Jr. took fifth spot.  Young’s 6th place finish netted him the 2015 track championship.  Dan Grigsby, Chad Stilwell, Craig Osenbaugh, Dave Frantz, David Hinjosa, Greg Stilwell, Norm Lewallen, Gerald Wheaton and Joe Rozek were next in line at the finish.  Greg Stilwell and Lewallen captured the heat races.  Allen set quick tine for the 17 car field at 17:319.

Robbie Loving grabbed the lead at the start and zoomed away to win the 25 lap ARCA Praxair Figure 8 Championship race.  Robbie took the win over rookie Dennis Whisman Jr., Race Loving (Robbie’s son), Scott Apperson, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Dennis Whisman.  Archie Padgett and Jacob Lee did not start the feature after having mechanical issues in the heat race, which was won by Dennis Whisman.  Vanderhoof notched the 2015 Figure 8 title at Toledo with his 5th place run.

Make it 2 in a row for Craig Osenbaugh as he grabbed the 20 lap ARCA Factory Stock Season Championship event.  The race ran without a yellow, as Craig took control from the green and stayed in command to the finish to grab his victory.  Rick Bennett, Jeff Metdepenningen, Matt Ringger and Robb Remick completed the top five.  Nolan Padgett, Mike Miller, Jesse Carillo, Randy Padgett Jr. and Cory McCaughey were next in line to fill in the top 10.  Ringger took the heat race win and for his Friday night effort was crowned the 2015 Factory Stock champion.

A wild Figure 8 Train race saw a new winner emerge after the teams of Tommy O’Leary IV/Joey Whisman and Kevin Stepinski/Erich Heuschele tangled with 2 laps to go.  17-year olds Travis Earley and John McKenney motored by and took the big win.  Stepinski/Heuschle recovered to take second, O’Leary IV/Whisman took third, fourth was Kenny McKay Jr./Adam Plonski and fifth spot went to Trina Apperson/Anthony Snorf.

A wild and very entertaining Flag Pole race was won by Cory McCaughey, who avoided spinning cars and stalled cars to secure the win. Dennis Whisman, Mike Miller, Dennis Whisman Jr., Jacob Thomas, Travis Earley, Trina Apperson, Randy Roberts Jr., Nolan Padgett, Race Loving and Scott Apperson trailed the winner.

The Figure 8 boat race started with a bang as Randy Padgett Jr. lost his boat and trailer in turn 1 on the first lap.  The trailer/boat sailed off the track, stopping just short of a flatbed wrecker!  Nolan Padgett dumped his cargo on the next lap and Cory McCaughey stood on the gas to get his trailer righted after going over on its side, only to have the boat and trailer sail away from his car.  Archie Padgett slammed past the boats that became obstacles to take the win.

The final event of the night was filled with some loud, crunching hits as the School Bus Figure 8 race took the green.  Jacque’ Franzeel plowed into Dennis Whisman and put the back end of Whisman’s  bus up on the ¼ mile wall.  Several other buses piled into the mess, pretty much blocking the track and bringing out the red flag.  Whisman had his bus lifted off the wall and continued, but Franzeel and Awful Knawful Koester were done for the night.  Several times the busses got up on 2 wheels but would not go over.  Terry Smith took a big shot at Archie Padgett and the loud slam had the crowd cheering for more.  Terry took a couple more nose to side of bus hits and finally, all by himself, his bus rolled on its side as the crowd roared its approval.  The checkered flag waved with Padgett the winner over Smith, Mike Young, Whisman, Vanderhoof, Franzeel and Awful Knawful. 

Bus sponsors were LKQ Pick Your Part, Central Avenue Truck Parts, Stevens Disposal, PB Fabrication, Tarp Stop, Fisher Yacht Sales and Marine, R & M Recycling and Mayfly Tavern.

Toledo Speedway will be dark next weekend for the Labor Day holiday. Just 2 races remain on the 2015 schedule.

Toledo will try again as the re-scheduled All American Coach/Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness “Fastest Short Track Show in the World” starring the MSA Winged Super Modifieds and the winged Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Super Sprints (AVBBSS) takes place Friday, September 11.  The original date of June 12 fell victim to the weather.  A rain date of Saturday, September 12 has also been established if needed.  Race time is 7:30 p.m.

The final race of the season is the 27th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, set for Saturday, September 19 at Toledo Speedway.  A rain date of Sunday, September 20 has been established. Presenting sponsors for the race include the Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express, along with Central Transport. Race time is 5 p.m.

Associate sponsors and special award sponsors that have signed on for the 200 include Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, DTS Drive Train Specialists, PASSTIME, R & M Recycling, Penske Shocks, First Care Ambulance, Cassens Transport and Chuck Burge.

Fans can save $5 on advance tickets for either race by calling the track at 419-727-1100.  The advance sales will end the night before the race at 5 p.m.

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