Toledo Speedway

Flat Rock, MI (5-30-09)-- It was Saturday night short track racing at its finest---battles for the lead, side by side, paint-swapping, fender banging action all night long. And that’s what occurred at Flat Rock Speedway for the Valvoline Instant Oil Change-sponsored night. Justin Schroeder came out ahead in a wild final 5 laps to win the Late Model event, Randy Cornett returned from a year and a half absence to hold back Randy DeMaggio for the Street Stock win, Lonnie York prevailed in a last-lap 3-wide finish in the B Main, while Jeremy Miller zipped in and out of intersection traffic to grab the Figure 8 victory in front of a large contingent of Scouts on hand for Scout Night and the Autograph Night promotion.

The 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Models started things out with a great 3 car battle for the win. Ron Allen took the lead at the green as he beat fellow front row starter Royce Cornett to turn 1. Eric Lee, starting in 6^th spot, quickly moved to the point and steamed by on the outside lane to take control on lap 5, with Steve Cronenwett Jr. in tow. Justin Schroder, making his first Flat Rock start of the season, followed suit and the trio stretched their lead over the remainder of the 21 car field. Cronenwett took a shot at the number 1 spot as he climbed up on the outside groove to battle Lee for the lead. Eric was able to withstand the challenge and held on to the lead, while a pair of yellow flags assisted Schroeder in his charge to the front. With 10 laps to go, Justin got under Cronenwett Jr. for second and caught Lee, staying glued to the bottom while Lee rode the high side. The duo ran side by side lap after lap, with Lee just edging out front each time. On lap 45, the pair reeled in a lapped car and Schroder shot between the lapped machine and Lee, grabbing the lead and holding on for his big win. Lee was second, Cronenwett Jr. third, Dennis Strickland fourth and Chris Benson fifth, followed by Allen, Joe Hawes, Cornett, Steve Peters and Dick Barker. Lee set fast time at 11:591, with heat race wins to Don Burkhart, Brian Norton and Cronenwett Jr.

The 25 lap ARCA Street Stock A Main was marred by a lap 2 incident that took out several cars and sent Pastor Danny Slater to the hospital for a checkup. Danny was released later in the evening. Randy Cornett returned to action at Flat Rock, started on the pole, and held back a spirited charge by Randy DeMaggio on the outside lane to score a big victory, much to the delight of the fans, and breaking Randy’s 3-race win streak. The lap 2 accident saw Slater loop his machine entering turn 1, scattering the 24 car field. Tadek Stadniczuk, Paul Falkenburg and Al Hasenfratz slammed the turn 1 wall, with Tom Freeman Jr. also involved. Slater’s car was hit nearly in the driver’s door, heavily damaging his machine. When the race restarted, several yellows kept things tight as DeMaggio pressured Cornett the rest of the way. Randy had enough to take the win over DeMaggio, Tim Moore, Rob Moore, Dan Ford Jr., Clyde McKee, Dave Tanner, Derek Wiley, Rich Frantz and Regan Ford.

With a yellow flag with just 1 lap to go, the stage was set for the finish in the 15 lap Street Stock B Main. Rich Abel held the lead, but had encountered pressure from Lonnie York on the high side and James Rae down low. With the green and white flags together, York immediately zipped to the door of Abel and when the trio got to turn 4, Rae dipped low as the fans rose to their feet. The three drivers finished door to door, with York just narrowly taking the win over Abel and Rae. Darrell Krause was fourth after running in second for much of the race, with fifth spot to Joe Gramlich. Carl Dickey, Anthony Camilli, Billy Cronce, Mike Hans and Michael Phillips completed the top ten. Ford Jr. set fast time for the 39 car field at 13:427, while Hans led the B cars at 14:048. Wiley, Jim Selmi, Jeff Kurzyniec, Krause and Abel took the heat race victories.

The 19 car ARCA Figure 8 feature was filled with near-misses at the intersection lap after lap. Jeremy Miller pulled through to take the win in the 20 lap main event. Early leader Robbie Loving led an 8 car freight train in the early stages until he and Miller touched, sending Loving into a 360 degree spin. Robbie kept right on going and returned to the battle. Dennis Whisman closed in on Miller in the final 2 laps but settled for second, third was Jeremy Vanderhoof, fourth was Greg Studt and fifth was Jerry Lee. Billy Earley, Loving, Gary Cronenwett, Brice Thomsen and Scott Apperson were next in line to complete the top ten finishers. Studt set fast time on the Figure 8 track at 20:622. Lee, rookie Tim Murphy and Sam Hall notched heat race wins.

The best entertainment value in Southeastern Michigan gets even better next Saturday night, June 6 at Flat Rock Speedway. Allen Chevrolet/Cadillac presents Family Night! 4 tickets, 4 drinks, 4 hot dogs and a program can be purchased for just $25! Any combination of adults/children is welcome, with 1 adult required for purchase of the package. All tickets go on sale at 3:30 next Saturday. The Figure 8’s will battle for 50 laps, with action also slated for the Street Stocks and the ARCA 4 Cylinder class. Race time is 7 p.m.