Toledo Speedway

Johnny Benson Enters ISMA Portion of Event
TOLEDO, OH (6-10-08): Toledo Speedway's track surface is one of the finest in the nation; ultra-smooth, consistently fast and with plenty of grip. Lap times for every type of race car that has competed on the ½ mile paved oval so far in 2008 has a common element-FAST! And with the fastest race cars on the planet making the trip to Toledo this Friday for the "Fastest Short Track Show in the World", chances are the incredible 1 lap track record may be rewritten.

The annual event features the winged, ground-pounding ISMA Super Modifieds and the big-winged, ultra fast AVSS Super Sprints.  Each group stages their own race card on this night, and Toledo Speedway was the first track to bring these 2 groups together on the same race card.  The evening is sponsored by All American Coach of Sylvania, OH, Super Fitness of Toledo and Hemelgarn Racing.  A racer's reunion for former open-wheel drivers is also part of the evening's festivities.  Several classic race cars will also be on display behind the grandstands this Friday night.

The 1 lap mark was set by Cameron Dodson in Dick Myers AVSS Super Sprint at an unreal, on-the-gas the entire lap of 12:902, set on June 16 of 2006, a mark that still stands going into the 2008 event.  The ISMA mark is held by defending ISMA champ Chris Perley at 13:116, which he set last June. 

ISMA's program calls for no qualifying for a large majority of their events, but the group agreed to the 2 lap qualifying when this event was created by Toledo track management.  So now it's a battle of pride and bragging rights for an entire year!  In 2007, Perley's mark was the fastest lap of the night, giving the ISMA boys the upper hand until this year's edition of the race will give the AVSS teams another shot to regain the status of being the fastest race car in the world!

The qualifying session has become an exciting tradition, filled with excitement and anticipation.  Track announcer Gary Lindahl, who has witnessed hundreds of racing events in his career, still get chills when it's time to run against the clocks for this event.  "This is perhaps the most exciting qualifying event in the country at a short track, year in and year out," noted the veteran race-by-race commentator.  "The absolute speed and power of both of these types of cars is unreal and when they fly by you and don't lift off the throttle going into the corner, well.....that says it all."

Former NASCAR Nationwide Series and current Craftsman Truck Series driver Johnny Benson has entered for the ISMA Super Modified portion of the night.  Benson, a native of Grand Rapids, MI has competed at Toledo prior in a Super and is expected to challenge Perley and the rest of the ISMA regulars this Friday.  The AVSS group is led by 2007 champ Jason Blonde and local favorite Jimmy McCune, a Toledo resident.

The front gates open at 3 p.m.  Practice begins at that time, while the much-anticipated time trial session is set for 5 p.m.  Race time is 7:30 p.m.  Reserved seating tickets are now on sale by calling the track at 419-727-1100.  Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border.