Toledo Speedway

A look back at the Glass City 200:After 10 years of trying to win Toledo Speedway's Glass City 200, Dave Kuhlman finally triumphed. Kuhlman retook the lead on lap 177 when then leader Scott Hantz pitted.

After pulling into Victory Lane as is customary when Dave wins a feature, he kissed the track. "Finally ... After some of the bad luck we've had in this race, I know how Scott (Hantz) feels because I've led a lot of laps only to have something happen. The track owed me one. We were not the best today ... and that showed in qualifying (he started 14th). The car raced really, really good. It wasn't as good as Scott ‘s (Hantz) car. I Finally Won the Glass City!" said the driver of the Giles Auto Body, Zeiller's Market, Pro Shocks, 5 Point Embroidery #24.

Tonight was Kuhlman's first time at Toledo in 2009 and only his second race of the year. His best finish in the Glass City was third in the 2003 edition of the race. The Howell, Mich., driver led twice for race high 91 laps. Tonight's race is Kuhlman's third 200-lap race win at Toledo, his other coming in the now defunct Iceman Series in 1996 and 1998.

Ron Allen finished second ... his career best finish in the Glass City. "I would like to thank Butch and Henry Giles and Jack Burnett for giving me the chance to drive their car. We had a great car all weekend, with and the Earl Bonner Ford engine, we had plenty enough power. The plan was to be there at the end and go for the win. The car was a little tight in the second hundred but got better towards the end of the race. We were running Kuhlman down but a late race caution hurt us ... we were better the longer it stayed green. Second place in that race for me was like a win but just not. Congrats to the Kuhlman Racing Team ... Dave is a great racer and making the finish one two for Butch and Earl that's great. I would also like to thank the crew for all their hard work and the sponsors Giles Auto Body and Gonyea Auto Supply," said Allen via email.

Ron Allen had a terrific night ... second in the Glass City and his win in the the 35-lap Sportsman race was his 50th career Sportsman win, according to the the ARCA program. Allen's win total is nearly three times that of driver second in race wins, Howard Kelley Jr. who has 16 wins. Ron's Sportsman car is sponsored by Royal Truck and Trailer, S&J Asphalt, National Machine Engine, and Worthington Poured Walls.

Engine builder Earl Bonner had a great night building the engines for first and second place and also eighth place Stevie Cronenwett.

John Doering Jr. won a rain-shortened Glass City race in 2005 and finished third in what will be his final career race. "There was a lot going out there tonight. I want to announce this is my final race. I'm retiring after a 34-year racing career ... I promised my wife this would be my last race. Car owner Larry Zent and Crew Chief Dean Hudson have been the greatest car owner and crew chief I could ever ask for. I've driven the last six years for them and I'm happy I could end my career with a good run," said the driver of the Summit Waste, Hot Rod Harley Davidson, West Michigan Auto Auction, and I-94 Auto Auction #5. Doering over his 34-year racing career racked up 143 feature wins.

Johnny Belott finished fourth tonight, his best finish since the race in 2001 when he finished third. "I'm glad to finish. Congratulations to Dave (Kuhlman) on his win. What a race, I want to thank my crew and family. And my dad because without him none of this would happen," said the driver of the Dixie Collision, Al Bourdan, AP Engines and Baker Race Cars #0.

Dennis Strickland rounded out the top five finishers. "I'm fairly happy with the finish. I looked after the race and the rear cover is off on the rear end. I'm probably really lucky just to make it to the end. It must've came loose when I spun late in the race. I'm really pleased with finishing fifth," said the driver of the Strategy One Computers, MichWiFi.net, Pete's Garage, Stoney Creek Auto Parts and The Super Health Store.com, Complete Batteries #90.

Fast time went to Scott Hantz, but a sweep of Toledo's LM races was not in the cards this year. He tangled with Jake Francis while lapping him and had to make repairs during the caution to the left rear of the car. Then in the second half his car started smoking and officials sent him to the pits to check it out. He stopped at the end of pit road but returned to the track just as the leaders were coming down to restart the race. He stayed out in front of the leaders but eventually pulled into the pits for good on lap 184.

Four cars had problems i during Friday's practice. Jay Sommers' throttle stuck in his Gall Motorsports, Western Reserve Asphalt, Habco Tool, Francis Engineering #29. From what people said that witness the crash about the only thing that probably could be saved was the seat, steering wheel, gauges and mirror. The rest was destroyed.

~Bill Litogot had engine problems; Chad Finley dragged a hole in his oil pan and Jimmy Theil had a panard bar that broke and caused other damage.

Saturday was relatively quiet, until the consi. There were 32 cars in the pits and eight started the B main, with six cars transferring. Claude Plante Jr., led the entire distance followed by Don Burkhart, Terry Jones, Brian Norton, Jason Burkhart, Scott Pemberton, Corey Whitely and Justin May.

May and Jones tangled with the passenger side of May's #69 hitting the foam barrier protecting turn one of the fifth mile short track. Foam flew everywhere and May's car sustained considerable damage. The Indiana driver was unhurt in the incident. Jones suffered slight sheet metal damage and a flat tire and went on to transfer to the feature where he finished 19th.

Whitely also had a hard hit in the B main sustaining right front suspension damage after he hit the backstretch wall.

Pemberton transferred to the feature but was unable to start the 200 lap feature because of mechanical problems.

Mike Hammer won his first career Factory Stock A main.

News... Street Stock driver Jimmy Alvis is moving up to Late Models next season. He told me he's planning on buy Ron Allen's late model. Chris Diovardi is planning on buying Jimmy's Street Stock.

Several drivers went over and ran the Super Shoe at Kalamazoo Speedway. The race qualified 200 plus cars. Seven of our local Flat Rock drivers tried their luck. Only Street Stock drivers Clyde McKee (who finished 14th in the B main) and Justin Boatman (22nd in the D main) made their respective races via qualifying. Greg Studt transferred to the B main out of a last chance race and finished 15th. Other drivers that didn't transfer: Stan Yee Jr. (12th A main last chance), Tadek Stadniczuk (eighth B main last chance), Lonnie York (13th C main last chance). 2009 B main champion, Anthony Camilli (D main 19th last chance) started last in his feature made it to the lead by about halfway ... he was passed on lap 17 and got black flagged on the final lap for speeding (Anthony thanks for the email on your race). It looks like everyone finished on the lead lap of their respective race.

And the weekend after the Glass City ... Harold Fair Jr. and Paul Pelletier made their way to the Main Event at Columbus (Ohio) Speedway. Harold finished ninth and Paul finished 16th. Each driver finished one position higher than they qualified (10th and 17th respectively). The event was won by Terry Senneker and the only other driver in the pits that raced at the Glass City was Jack Landis (finished 24th).