Toledo Speedway

FLAT ROCK MI (4-20-08)--A busy practice day Saturday afternoon at Flat Rock Speedway saw 72 cars hit the track in anticipation of the Quality Clutches Season Opener April 26. The partly sunny afternoon at the ¼ mile oval brought out a host of ARCA Late Models, Figure 8's, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders and Enduro cars.

Defending champions Dennis Strickland (Late Models) and Robbie Loving (Figure 8) were both on hand and shook down their machines for the first time this year.  4 Cylinder champ Bill Litogot has moved up to the Late Model ranks, behind the wheel of Bob Ward's number 6.  Bill also took his initial laps of the year to prepare for next Saturday's first race of the season.  Street Stock champ Regan Ford will return but at the wheel of Bill Meade's #86 in 2008.  Street Stock B and C Main titlists Bob Swanson and James Stocker, respectively, also hit the track for practice. 

The track has 1 more open practice prior to Saturday, and that's set for Wednesday, April 23 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The pit area will open at 4 p.m.

Saturday's opening day schedule will see the pit area opening at 1 p.m., practice begins at 3, with the front gates also opening at that time.  Time trials are set for 5 and the first green flag of 2008 at Flat Rock flies at 7 p.m. sharp.  The ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Models, Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8's and the Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stocks make up the Saturday night race program.  Racing continues every Saturday through September 13.

Toledo Speedway also held a practice session Sunday afternoon, April 20.  A handful of teams took the opportunity to take laps at the Glass City oval on a cool, dry day.  Glass City Gold Cup Late Model champion Harold Fair Jr. was on hand, along with 2007 Factory Stock champ Eric Huston and Sportsman king Ron Allen. 

Toledo opens its Friday night racing cards May 2, with the Speedway Tire and Auto opener including ARCA National City Bank Sportsman, Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8's, A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stocks and the David's Jewelry 4 Cylinders.  The pit gates open at 3 May 2, practice begins at 4:30 (front gates also open at 4:30), time trials are set for 6:15 and racing begins at 7:30 p.m. 

Season tickets are now on sale for both tracks, as well as advance tickets for several special events at both venues.  The track also now accepts American Express, VISA and Mastercard for ticket purchases at the ticket office on race nights.

Flat Rock Speedway is on Telegraph Road, 1 mile south of Flat Rock and 5 minutes from I-75 or I-275, while Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border.  Flat Rock's phone number is 734-782-2480; Toledo's number is 419-727-1100.

For up to date information, check out http://www.flatrockspeedway.com/ or http://www.toledospeedway.com/.  This takes you to the ARCA website homepage; simply click on the track logo to arrive at their respective sites.