Toledo Speedway

SOUTHGATE, Michigan (November 6, 2009)--Race teams, officials, family and friends met Friday evening for the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways banquet, held at the elegant Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Southgate, MI. The evening was hosted by track announcer Gary Lindahl. All the track champions received their championship jackets as ARCA President Ron Drager led the toast to the champions.

Flat Rock's ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Models saw second-generation driver Eric Lee claim his second Flat Rock Late Model crown in a row and his third over-all. Eric and his car owner, his father Steve, who also is a past Flat Rock Late Model champ, accepted the championship trophies and a check for $2000. 2007 champ Dennis Strickland, Ron Allen, Paul Pelletier, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Dick Barker, Stan Yee, Chris Benson, Joe Hawes and Dan Trosen Jr. rounded out the top 10 point men for 2008. Kevin Butzin was the Rookie of the Year, while Trosen Jr. notched Sportsmanship honors. Pat Moran of Moran Chevrolet presented the trophies and checks to the drivers.

Dennis "The Rebel" Whisman and Billy Earley were crowned co-champions of Flat Rock's Figure 8 division in 2009.  For Earley, the title was his first-ever, while Whisman notched his 5^th Flat Rock belt.  Jeremy Miller, Greg Studt, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Robbie Loving, Gary Cronenwett, James Rae, Sam Hall and Chuck Pankow were next in line in the final standings.  The Sportsmanship Award went to a pair of car owners who continually assist fellow racers---Rob Martel, who owns Loving's # 16 and provided a car to champ Earley after his car was wrecked, and Joe Whisman, the brother of Dennis and the owner of the car driven by Anthony Terris.  Cronenwett was named Rookie of the Year.

The ARCA Street Stock class is divided up into A and B divisions by qualifying each race night.  Dan Ford Jr. made it 4 championships total and 2 in a row by capturing the A Main title, topping Randy Demaggio for the crown.  Dave Tanner, Tim Moore, Derek Wiley, Jeff Kurzyniec, Tadek Stadniczuk, Clyde McKee, David Kind and Rob Moore completed the top ten point finishers.  Rookie Anthony Camilli notched his first-ever championship by grabbing the B Main title over Billy Cronce, Chris Diovardi, Jimmy Little, Jim Stocker, Rich Abel, Carl Dickey, Lonnie York, Darrell Krause and James Rae.  Stadniczuk was the A Main Rookie of the Year, with the B Main Rookie award going to Camilli.  Sportsmanship honors went to Abel.

The Toledo awards began with the Hantz Group/Allegiant Air Glass City Gold Cup for the ARCA Late Models.  The traditional championship Gold Cup for the 5 race series went to Grand Rapids, MI driver Mike Root. The 2009 series featured 3 races at Toledo and 2 at Flat Rock.   2-time Gold Cup champ Harold Fair Jr. was second in the final point tally, followed by Dennis Strickland, Ron Allen, Paul Pelletier, Scott Hantz, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Jeff Bailey, Chris Benson and Eric Lee.  The top 3 also received 2 round-trip tickets from Toledo to Florida, courtesy of Allegiant Air.  Aaron Thierry of the Hantz Group presented checks and Gold Cups to the top five.

Robbie Loving notched his 2^nd Figure 8 title at Toledo Speedway for the Figure 8 crown.  Loving edged Dennis Whisman by 45 markers for the championship.  Jeremy Vanderhoof, James Rae, Chuck Pankow, Tom O'Leary Jr., Scott Apperson, Anthony Terris, Stephanie Bradley and Tim Murphy completed the top 10 in points.  Rae was the Rookie of the Year.

The ARCA Sportsman division saw Amherstberg, Ontario driver Terry Jones capture his first-ever ARCA title in the ½ mile division at Toledo.  Jones edged out Ron Allen by 20 points, completing a very competitive season for the group.  Art Rozane, Howard Kelley Jr., Tom O'Leary IV, Jim Froling, Norm Lewallen, Scott Lockenhour, Kenny McKay Jr. and David Frantz filled out the top ten.  McKay Jr. was Rookie of the Year, with Sportsmanship honors to Froling.

2009 FLAT ROCK/TOLEDO BANQUET, PAGE 2

The Toledo ARCA Speedway Tire and Auto Factory Stock division crowned Eric Huston the 2009 champ, his second title in 3 seasons, just nosing out Cory McCaughey by a scant 5 markers.  Landon Schuster, Josh Bunting, Dave Arnold Jr., Matt Ringger, Tim Shine, Brian Ringger, Craig Osenbaugh and Amanda Bland also received trophies and checks from Mike Mills of Speedway Tire and Auto.  Mike Hammer and TJ Miller were named co-Rookies of the Year while Archie Padgett Jr. took the Sportsmanship award. 

The ARCA 4 Cylinders saw 20 year-old Brad Turner repeat as the division champion.  The 4 Cylinder crown combines points for the 2 tracks for the year.  Michael Marlow and Perry Marlow followed Brad, with Matt Brazeau, Dave Stadniczuk, David Price, Shawn Bershback, Tony Thomas, Nick Walentowski and Jennifer Cronce completing the top ten.  Price garnered Sportsmanship honors.

The Flat Rock Speedway Enduro class saw Jeff Maran capture the 2009 title over Jeff Metdepenningen, Rick Johnson, Robb Remick and 2-time Enduro champ Michael Dailey in the 4-race series at the 1 /4 mile paved oval.  Bob Hochradel, Tristan Dupuis, Derrick Sheppard, Brian Ringger and Matt Ringger were next in line for the top 10 in points.

Root, Strickland and Allen received product certificates from Penske Shocks for their Late Model accomplishments.  Street Stock champ Ford Jr. and Sportsman champ Jones also received $500 product certificates, courtesy of ARP Race Car Bodies. 

Several random drawings were also held for the drivers during the evening.  Jimmy Little, Lonnie York, Tom O'Leary III and Jones won $500 product certificates from 5 Star RaceCar Bodies, while Ray Coop and Rich Abel were winners of a $500 product certificate from ARP Race Car Bodies.  Lincoln Welders awarded welders to a pair of drivers present at the banquet; Street Stock driver Darrell Krause and Sportsman/Late Model driver Ron Allen.

Point fund and contingency award sponsors for 2009 include Moran Chevrolet, Miller Brewing, O & W, Inc., Speedway Tire and Auto, ARCA, ARP Race Car Bodies, B & H Race Parts, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Hoosier Tire, Lincoln Welders, Penske Shocks, Bazell Race Fuels, Sunoco, Allegiant Air and the Hantz Group.

The Flat Rock office is now closed for the winter.  All calls should go to the Toledo office at 419-727-1100 during the winter months.  Flat Rock kicks off the 2009 season Saturday, April 24, while Toledo opens its 2009 Friday night weekly racing April 30.

Season tickets, $25 gift cards, DVD's, jackets and hats are available just in time for the Christmas season.  The order form may be downloaded from the website or call the Toledo office at 419-727-1100.