Toledo Speedway

Flat Rock, MI (6-6-09)--  Second-generation driver Billy Earley jumped behind the wheel of Rob Martel’s car after his ride encountered engine trouble, and piloted the machine to the win in the 50 lap ARCA Figure 8 feature event Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.  Tim Moore, James Rae and Brad Turner also scored wins on Allen Chevrolet/Cadillac Family Night/Racing Fan Club Night at the track.  Tom Allen presented trophies to the winners.

The first extra-distance race of 2009 for the Figure 8 class saw 19 cars in competition.  Earley, who already had 1 win to his credit this season, suffered engine woes after last Saturday’s event.  Long-time car owner Rob Martel, who fields cars for Robbie Loving, gave Earley a call Wednesday and offered up the car to Billy and his father, former Figure 8 driver Gary Earley.  The win by Billy gave Martel 2 wins on the weekend, as Robbie scored the win at Toledo Friday night.

 

At the start, rookie Chris Cox jumped into the lead, with Jerry Lee taking over the point on lap 2.  With an 11 car inversion, action was fast and furious throughout the contest.  Earley got by Lee on lap 13 and kept a comfortable margin over Greg Studt for the rest of the way.  Studt would close in on several occasions but had to settle for second.  Earley shot the gap between cars in the intersection lap after lap to keep his lead, including the final circuit coming down to the checkered flag.  Studt was next, with Loving third, Dennis Whisman fourth and Jeremy Miller fifth.  Jeremy Vanderhoof, Lee, Gary Cronenwett, Anthony Terris and Scott Apperson completed the top ten finishers in the event, which saw 15 cars still on the track at the conclusion of the race.  There were plenty of close calls at the intersection in the 50 lap race, including several harmless spins at the after contact.  Whisman set the Loving Auto Care quick time at 20:487.  Cronenwett, Lee and Sam Hall took the heat races.

 

Tim Moore scored a victory in the 25 lap ARCA Street Stock A Main feature event, holding back a last-lap bid by Chad Guinn and Rich Frantz.  Moore led every lap as he outgunned Guinn, behind the wheel of Bill Meade’s #86, on the start.  Chad tucked in on the bumper of Moore early on, but Moore built up a cushion as Guinn battled with Dan Ford Jr., who used the outside lane to move up.  As the race wore on, Ford Jr. dropped back a bit and Frantz went to the low lane.  With 2 to go, the lead trio hit lapped traffic, giving Guinn and Frantz a shot at the win.  Moore had enough and made the right move to hit the line first over Guinn, Frantz, Ford Jr. and a fast-closing Randy DeMaggio, who moved up from 9^th to fifth spot at the finish.  Dave Tanner, Dennis Strickland (who will fill in for Pastor Danny Slater), David Kind, Derek Wiley and Clyde McKee were next in line to round out the top ten. 

 

A caution-filled 15 lap B Main finally concluded with James Rae notching the win over Rayce Metdepenningen, Carl Dickie, Billy Cronce, Alan Beno, Michael Phillips, Jim Stocker, Chris Diovardi, Anthony Camilli and Darrell Krause.  Strickland set fast time at 13:314 for the 39 car field.  Diovardi led the B field at 14:209.  Scott Selmi, Jim Alvis, Lonnie York, Krause and Cronce took the heat race wins.

 

A sensational 4 car battle in the 20 lap ARCA 4 Cylinder feature went without a yellow flag and right to the stripe as Brad Turner nipped Matt Brazeau by inches to take a thrilling win.  Brazeau quickly jumped into the lead and had the company of David Price, Shawn Bershback and Turner.  With 8 laps to go, the top 4 ran in tight formation.  Turner then went to the outside groove and picked off Bershback and Price.  Brad stood on the gas coming out of turn 2 on the final lap, pulled even with Brazeau and had just enough to score the win as the crowd rose to its feet and cheered.  Price had a well-deserved third place run, much needed after a tough start to the season.  Bershback was fourth and Michael Marlow fifth.  Perry Marlow, Jennifer Cronce, Tony Thomas and Dave Stadniczuk followed.  Turner set a new track record in time trials with a lap of 15:169.  Bershback took the heat race win. 

 

The Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club (MARFC) presented a duffle bag to Figure 8 car owner Joe Whisman in pre-race festvities.  The Dayton, OH Auto Racing Fan Club (DARF) awarded t-shirts to the feature winners.

 

Saturday, June 13 Marco’s Pizza presents the wild and crazy School Bus Figure 8 races at Flat Rock Speedway!  In addition to the bus event, the Michigan Legends Cars, the Toledo Speedway ARCA Factory Stocks and the 4 Cylinders will also be in competition, with a Rollover contest also slated!  ALL general admission and children’s tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. next Saturday.  Some reserved seating still remains and those tickets can be obtained in advance by calling the track office at 734-782-2480.  Race time is 7 p.m.