Flat Rock Champs Crowned
Flat Rock Champs Crowned
FLAT ROCK, MI: (9-5-09): The Diamond Racing Products Season Championships Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway saw Eric Lee, Dan Ford Jr., Dennis Whisman-Billy Earley and rookie Anthony Camilli claim their respective track titles. Feature winners for the night were Ricky Kargel, Dennis Strickland, Greg Studt and Lonnie York. A fantastic fireworks display by the Volcano Fireworks Company concluded the evening.
The ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite 50 lap Late Model event saw Eric Lee just 20 points ahead of Dennis Strickland going into the main event. Strickland darted into the lead on the green and held the point for the first 10 circuits. Paul Pelletier slipped by Dennis when he slipped up the track entering turn 1, allowing Paul to take charge. Ricky Kargel shadowed Paul for the remainder of the contest, which saw just 2 yellow flags. With just 2 laps to go, Pelletier tangled with Kevin Butzin coming down the front stretch. The pair slid across the Figure 8 track and infield grass as the field scattered to miss the incident. Kargel now had the lead and zipped to the win at the flag over Strickland, Lee, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Steve Cronenwett Sr., Ron Allen, Jimmy Thiel, Stan Yee Jr., Keith Nelson and Chris Benson. Lee grabbed his 3rd Flat Rock title and his second in a row. Steve Cronenwett Jr., making his return after a hard crash back in July, set quick time at 11:820 for the 22 car field. Strickland, Allen and Brian Norton were the heat race winners.
Strickland, continuing to pull double duty, drove Pastor Danny Slater's #3 to the win in the 30 lap ARCA Street Stock final race of the year. Dennis moved to the outside lane and got by Randy DeMaggio and leader Tim Moore and set sail. He had company, however, as Chad Guinn followed in Strickland's tire tracks and ran strong in the front of the pack. Dan Ford Jr. joined the lead duo in the final 5 laps to battle for the win, with Strickland just 2 cars lengths up on Guinn at the stripe. Ford Jr., DeMaggio, Tim Moore, Regan Ford, Dave Tanner, Rich Frantz, David Kind and Tadek Stadniczuk completed the top ten. Ford Jr. claimed his second title in a row for the class, giving him 4 Flat Rock crowns, the most Street Stock titles of any driver since the inception of the class in 1977.
Rookie Anthony Camilli had an insurmountable point lead going into the final event, giving him the Street Stock B Main championship honors. His father, Tony, and brother, Jimmy, also compete in the class. In the 20 lap finale, Lonnie York won his second event in a row by topping Rich Abel, Darrell Krause, Troy Brehmer, Camilli, Kyle Metdepenningen, James Pankow, Carl Dickey, Chris Diovardi and Billy Cronce. Ford Jr. led the 38 cars with a lap of 13:355 in time trials, while Michael Phillips led the B field at 14:028. Heat race winners were Derek Wiley, Rob Moore, Ray Coop, Rich Abel and Metdepenningen.
Greg Studt slid by Dennis Whisman on lap 19 and powered his way to his second win in a row in the 25 lap ARCA Figure 8 championship race. A pack of 6-8 cars were battling for position when Greg slid under Whisman at the start-finish line. Tim Murphy ended up sideways in turn 1 of the Figure 8 course and got tagged by several cars. Whisman and Billy Earley, the top 2 point men for the track title, made contact trying to miss the incident. Both were able to keep going. Studt stayed out front on the restart to take the victory over Whisman, Earley, Robbie Loving, Jeremy Miller, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Jerry Lee, Gary Cronenwett, James Rae and Chuck Pankow. Whisman and Earley ended up in a tie, making them co-champions of the division for the 2009 season. Robbie Loving set the Loving Auto Care fast time at 20:614 for the 15 car Figure 8 field. Whisman and Miller topped the heat race events.
Two races remain on the 2009 Flat Rock schedule. Next Saturday, September 12 is the date for the Grillers Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races!!! In addition to the buses, a boat Figure 8 contest is on tap, along with racing action including the Michigan Legends Cars, Toledo Factory Stocks and a combined class of the Figure 8's and Street Stocks. A backup race and race car bowling are also part of the race card.
Reserved seat tickets are being sold in advance and may be obtained by calling 734-782-2480. VISA and Mastercard are accepted for phone orders. The pits will open at 3:30, practice is at 4:30, time trials at 5:30 and racing at 7 p.m. ALL general admission tickets and children's tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. race day.
The final race of the year is Saturday, September 26, with a 250 lap Enduro and the 4 Cylinders on the slate. Race time is 7 p.m. The Flat Rock Historical Society Flea Market takes place Sunday, October 4 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. For table rental information, call 734-782-5220.
Strickland, continuing to pull double duty, drove Pastor Danny Slater's #3 to the win in the 30 lap ARCA Street Stock final race of the year. Dennis moved to the outside lane and got by Randy DeMaggio and leader Tim Moore and set sail. He had company, however, as Chad Guinn followed in Strickland's tire tracks and ran strong in the front of the pack. Dan Ford Jr. joined the lead duo in the final 5 laps to battle for the win, with Strickland just 2 cars lengths up on Guinn at the stripe. Ford Jr., DeMaggio, Tim Moore, Regan Ford, Dave Tanner, Rich Frantz, David Kind and Tadek Stadniczuk completed the top ten. Ford Jr. claimed his second title in a row for the class, giving him 4 Flat Rock crowns, the most Street Stock titles of any driver since the inception of the class in 1977.
Rookie Anthony Camilli had an insurmountable point lead going into the final event, giving him the Street Stock B Main championship honors. His father, Tony, and brother, Jimmy, also compete in the class. In the 20 lap finale, Lonnie York won his second event in a row by topping Rich Abel, Darrell Krause, Troy Brehmer, Camilli, Kyle Metdepenningen, James Pankow, Carl Dickey, Chris Diovardi and Billy Cronce. Ford Jr. led the 38 cars with a lap of 13:355 in time trials, while Michael Phillips led the B field at 14:028. Heat race winners were Derek Wiley, Rob Moore, Ray Coop, Rich Abel and Metdepenningen.
Greg Studt slid by Dennis Whisman on lap 19 and powered his way to his second win in a row in the 25 lap ARCA Figure 8 championship race. A pack of 6-8 cars were battling for position when Greg slid under Whisman at the start-finish line. Tim Murphy ended up sideways in turn 1 of the Figure 8 course and got tagged by several cars. Whisman and Billy Earley, the top 2 point men for the track title, made contact trying to miss the incident. Both were able to keep going. Studt stayed out front on the restart to take the victory over Whisman, Earley, Robbie Loving, Jeremy Miller, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Jerry Lee, Gary Cronenwett, James Rae and Chuck Pankow. Whisman and Earley ended up in a tie, making them co-champions of the division for the 2009 season. Robbie Loving set the Loving Auto Care fast time at 20:614 for the 15 car Figure 8 field. Whisman and Miller topped the heat race events.
Two races remain on the 2009 Flat Rock schedule. Next Saturday, September 12 is the date for the Grillers Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races!!! In addition to the buses, a boat Figure 8 contest is on tap, along with racing action including the Michigan Legends Cars, Toledo Factory Stocks and a combined class of the Figure 8's and Street Stocks. A backup race and race car bowling are also part of the race card.
Reserved seat tickets are being sold in advance and may be obtained by calling 734-782-2480. VISA and Mastercard are accepted for phone orders. The pits will open at 3:30, practice is at 4:30, time trials at 5:30 and racing at 7 p.m. ALL general admission tickets and children's tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. race day.
The final race of the year is Saturday, September 26, with a 250 lap Enduro and the 4 Cylinders on the slate. Race time is 7 p.m. The Flat Rock Historical Society Flea Market takes place Sunday, October 4 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. For table rental information, call 734-782-5220.