Toledo Speedway

Flat Rock, MI (5-9-09)-- Despite plunging temperatures, brisk winds and an early rain shower, Flat Rock Speedway completed its Ray Hunter Florist-sponsored Mother's Day Special event Saturday evening. A brief rain set in at 3 p.m., but track officials decided to march on with the program. The rain stayed to the north of the track and the fans that did brave the elements witnessed an exciting night of racing. Eric Lee, Jerry Lee, Randy DeMaggio and Jim Stocker captured feature wins. Each mom received free admission for the night and a carnation, courtesy of Ray Hunter Florist. After a pair of runner-up finishes to start the season, defending champ Eric Lee made sure the third time was the charm. Lee moved from his 7th starting spot in the 22 car field and sailed past Ron Allen on lap 30 on the way to victory in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Model contest. The division continues to show strength in numbers as 5 drivers made their initial starts of the season at "The Rock". Orlando, Florida resident Jared Allison and Ron Allen brought the field to the green, only to have Keith Nelson drop oil in turn 2, calling the field back for a re-start. Allison, a teammate to Harold Fair Jr., looped his machine in turn 4 after 1 lap was in, moving him to the tail, but his story was not done for the night. Allen assumed the lead and a long stretch of 26 laps of green let the pack battle for position. Steve Peters machine overheated and spun on lap 27, bringing out the yellow flag. A bunch of cars checked up to miss Joe Genise as he dropped to the infield with a flat, resulting in several fender-crunchers and claiming Ricky Kargel with a flat tire while running fourth. Eric had picked his way steadily to the front and by lap 22 was on the bumper of Allen. He took the lead for good on lap 30 and powered his way to the win over Allen, Fair Jr., Steve Cronenwett Jr., Dennis Strickland, Brian Norton, Allison, Chris Benson, Dick Barker and Jeff MacZink. Allison has taken a liking to Flat Rock after just a handful of starts. He jumped to the outside lane and climbed back to 7th at the finish after his lap 1 spin. Lee posted quick time at 11:688. Allison, Joe Hawes and Donald Burkhart claimed the heat race wins.

The 19-car field for the 20 lap ARCA Figure 8 feature kept things exciting the entire distance as Jerry Lee (no relation to Eric Lee) led every lap en-route to his victory. While Jerry led every lap, the pressure was on the entire distance with a 7 car freight train, led by Jeremy Vanderhoof, zipped in and out of intersection traffic the entire distance. Lee held on for win number 1 of the season, followed by Vanderhoof, Dennis Whisman, Billy Earley, Greg Studt, Jeremy Miller, Robbie Loving, Anthony Terris, Jerry Vanderhoof and Brice Thomsen. Whisman clicked off a lap of 20:486 to set the Loving Auto Care fast time. Lee, Gary Cronenwett and rookie Tim Murphy posted heat race wins.

Randy DeMaggio is the only driver at Flat Rock so far this season to have multi-wins, as the Wyandotte resident held back the late charge of Dan Ford Jr. to win the 25 lap ARCA Street Stock A main event. Randy grabbed the lead at the green as Ford Jr. played the patience game. As the laps wound down, Dan went to the high side, made a couple of good moves and found himself setting his sights on DeMaggio for the final 4 laps. The duo ran nose to tail as Ford Jr. took the flag in second spot as Randy notched win number 2 of the season and in a row. Third went to David Kind, with another solid run. Dave Tanner was fourth and Derek Wiley fifth, followed by Regan Ford, Clyde McKee, Danny Slater, Steve Prucnell and Jim Alvis. 2-time C Main champ Jim Stocker won a thrilling side by side duel with rookie Anthony Camilli to win the 15 lap B Main. James Pankow, Jimmy Little and John Huebner Jr. completed the top 5. Ford Jr. set fast time at 13:266 for the 31 car field. Camilli led the B cars at 14:458. Heat wins went to DeMaggio, Wiley, Jim Selmi and Stocker. Rob Moore was a victim of a heat race incident that saw him slam the turn 3 wall. Rob was ok but his car sustained heavy damage.

Race fans are in for a treat Saturday, May 16 when the winged Buckeye Super Sprints make their first-ever appearance at Flat Rock Speedway for UAW Local 3000 Night. The open-wheel machines, powered by 305 cubic inch engines, came to Flat Rock last season and the event was rained out. Before that, the group qualified and Zach Gibson blasted off a lap of 10:629. Gibson and the rest of the group will be shooting for the all-time track record of 10:239, set by Randy Sweet in a winged stock car. The ARCA Figure 8's and Street Stocks will also be in action. Time trials are set for 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m