Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH: (9-1-09): Entry blanks are now ready for one of the most prestigious Super Late Model events in the Midwest, the Glass City 200, set for Saturday, October 3 at Toledo Speedway. The race will pay $5500 to the winner, with $1000 earmarked to start the 200 lap classic. With special awards and lap money on the line, a driver could walk away with over $7500 for his efforts.

AP Motorsports, a Jones Group, LTD company, has agreed to become a presenting sponsor for the 21^st running of the event.  Entry blanks will be mailed this week and may also be downloaded from the Forms header at http://www.toledospeedway.com/.

In addition to AP Motorsports, race and award sponsors include Allegiant Air, the Hantz Group, Penske Racing Shocks, DTS-Drive Train Specialists, Sunoco/Bazell Race Fuels, Port City Racecars, All Star Performance, Lane Automotive, R & M Recycling, Burge Wrecking, LV Alliance, Kish Ambulance, Celebrations and Speedway Bar and Grille.

A race fan in attendance at the event will win a pair of round trip tickets, Toledo to Florida, courtesy of Allegiant Air.

Started in 1968 by the late John Marcum, president of ARCA and the promoter of Toledo's big, fast ½ mile paved oval, the Glass City 200 quickly gained prominence as one of the top season-ending Late Model invitational events.  The legendary Joy Fair was the winner of the inaugural race in 1968, with Joe Ruttman capturing the 1969 event.  Another great Michigan short track legend, Bob Senneker, took the win in both 1970 and 1971, and became the first 3-time winner after his 1977 victory.  The Glass City 200 race winners reads like a who's who of pavement short track racing.  Danny Byrd was the 1972 champ, while Ruttman won the 1973 edition aboard Fair's car, after Fair was injured earlier in the season.  In 1974, the late John Anderson piloted Stan Yee's famed #33 to victory lane.  Jim Bickerstaff became the first Ohio driver to win the 200 with his 1975 triumph.  Ed Cooper captured the 1976 race, and after Senneker's 1977 win, the track was sold and the race was halted.

In 1999, Marcum's grandson and current ARCA President Ron Drager and his business partner, Roy Mott, purchased Toledo Speedway and immediately revived the event.  When the gates opened for that '99 Glass City 200, Owosso, MI driver Tim Felver drove the Larry Zent/Dean Hudson #5 to the win, opening up the anticipation for the end of the season classic once again for fans and racers alike.

Tim Ice topped everyone for the 2000 title, while Canadian Jr. Hanley came back to take the 2001 event, after tangling with Felver for the lead in 2000 with just 9 laps to go.  Ironically, the pair were teammates for the race!  The record book added a page and a big star went to the next driver who captured not 1, but 3 Glass City 200's in a row!  Saginaw, MI veteran Steve Sauve wowed the crowd all 3 years as he dominated the trio of races in grand style in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Weather played havoc with the race in 2005, as John Doering Jr. edged Harold Fair Jr. in a battle to the lap 101 mark, making the race official and Doering the winner.  Edgerton, OH driver Jack Landis was a surprise winner in 2006, with second-generation star Brian Campbell the class of the field in 2007.  The race was shortened to 150 laps in 2008, with Harold Fair Jr. claiming the win after a ton of bad luck in previous Glass City events.

The 2009 edition of the Glass City 200 presented by AP Motorsports will see the race return to its 200 lap format.  The ARCA Sportsman division and the Michigan Legends Cars will also compete in the October 3 race card.  A total purse of over $60,000 has been posted for the day.

An optional Friday, October 2 practice session has been scheduled for the teams from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The pit area will open at 1 p.m. for rig parking, tire sales, tech and practice.  At 8 p.m., a pre-race party will be held in the Speedway Bar and Grille, located adjacent to the track.  Drink specials and food will be available.

Saturday, October 3 is race day!  The pits will open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at noon, time trials are set for 3 and racing begins at a special time of 5 p.m.  A rain date of Sunday, October 4 at 1 p.m. has been established if needed.

Lap money is available for sponsorship at just $10 per lap.  To become a lap sponsor, call the track at 419-727-1100.  Reserved seat tickets are now on sale by calling the track office.  Visa and Mastercard are accepted for phone orders.