Toledo Speedway

A first time winner in the series graced victory lane for the second leg of the Allegiant Air Gold Cup Series race that was held at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway Friday night. JR Roahrig led only the final six laps in route to the victory.

The second Gold Cup race went off without a hitch, completing the race without a single caution flag. Other than the leader who spent the majority of the race over a straightway ahead, the remainder of the field ran together. What adjective to use ... astonishing, extraordinary, mind-boggling, amazing, rare. It was, of course, a new track record for a 100 lap race with the distance being completed in 27 minutes, 34 seconds. (the 100-lap record wasn’t in the program but in relation, the 50 lap record was 13 minutes, nine minutes and 59 seconds by Don St. Denis in August 2000). And no one can seem to remember the last time a 100-lap race was run without a caution. My records go back to the late 1980’s and all I could find was an Iceman Series race that had a single caution on June 16, 1996.

Joe Hawes started on the pole and led the first 10 laps before Harold Fair Jr. passed him. Fair Jr. had pulled out to about a half straightway lead in the five laps he led before retiring to the pits with a broken panard bar. Hawes resumed the lead and led the next 69 laps, leading over a straightway over Stevie Cronenwett who held second for the first half the race. Dennis Strickland finally caught and passed Hawes on lap 85, and Strickland was passed 10 laps later by the eventual winner, JR Roahrig.

Hawes finished sixth after leading a race high 80 laps, A combination of the tires and driver giving up at the end of the race. His hands went numb during the race and he also burned his leg and ankle during the race.

JR Roahrig, who has several wins in the CRA Series division at Toledo, was the fast qualifier at 15.026. He started 10th and probably at one time was a half lap behind leader Hawes. “The beginning of the race was a little free and the leader got away from me. The longer the car went the better it got. I looked up at the scoreboard and could see that the 88 (Steve Cronenwett) was second and 53 (Joe Hawes) was leading. I could see the 88 ahead of me, but couldn’t even see the leader so I knew he was way ahead of me. I asked Bobby Blount (owner) who was spotting for me, ‘Don’t they ever have cautions’. When I finally got to the 90 (Dennis Strickland) I knew I had a chance. We saved the tires earlier and I changed my line. Much of the time I had my tires in the dirt in three and four, I was running so low. I don’t think I got that much better, think we stayed pretty even and everyone else backed up to us,” said the driver of the Lane Automotive, AP Racing Engines, Sweet Manufacturing, Ryman Design Dodge.

There was but two Dodges in the field, and they swept the night. Roahrig’s #16 Dodge won the race and was fast qualifier; Joe Hawes’ Dodge led the most laps. Chevrolet led the other 15 laps (Dennis Strickland 10 and Harold Fair Jr., 5)

Winner of the first Gold Cup race, Dennis Strickland led the second highest amount of the race, nine laps and finished second. “I looked up towards the end and thought, this could go caution free. Hope it was an entertaining race for the fans,” said the driver of the Strategy One Computers, MichWiFi.net, Victory Christian Fellowship, Trenton Forging #90.

Dakota Carlson finished a third, a career high in the Gold Cup and at Toledo. “We had a good car but burnt the tires coming through the pack. Hit the wall towards the end and messed up the tow-in. The car was really good and thought we had a car to win,” said the drivers sponsored byUniversal Graphic Solutions (UGS), LeClair Fuels.

Scott Hantz got as high as third but had to settle for a fourth place finish. “The car was fast on the short run, we were wrecking loose on the long haul, it’s not too often a race here goes with no caution, but we’ll work on it and get ‘em at the next one,” said the disappointed driver of the EMF Corporation, and Race Tech Engineering #72.

Fifth went to the 2009 and 2010 champion of the Gold Cup Series, Mike Root. “It was a pretty decent run. We were stuck back in the pack for a while. A few cautions would’ve been nice, said the driver of the, “Universal Graphic Solutions (USG), Creatingaccents.com, Renegade, Amsoil, Ace Auto Body, Extreme Images and Buck the Dog #9.

The other leader of the race was Harold Fair Jr., who has to have some of the worse luck of the series regulars. He had an A-frame bracket and ignition switch break in practice, then the power steering went and the final stroke was a broken panard bar on lap 14.

Also not finishing the even was Steve Peters (brakes), Keith Nelson II and Howard Kelley Jr.

Flat Rock

A driver returns to victory lane, and another continues his winning ways.

Dan Ford Jr. returned to Late Model competition after several years running the Street Stock division. Tonight’s win was his first in the LM division since May 2006. “Wanna thank my team for putting a great setup together, everyond worked hard to get here. Ricky (Kargel) was really quick. Everyone (Paul Pelletier and Kargel) raced real clean. Hope to do this again,” said the driver of the Remerica Country Homes, Baker Performance #20.

The first lap there was a pair of accidents, happening on opposite end of the track. Rookie Jeff Plumb spun in turn two. The big melee in turn four saw six cars involved. Rookie Derek Wiley spun and those drivers directly behind him tangled. Ron Allen, rookie Terry Bogus and Greg Studt (in Dick Barker’s car) all retired. Dennis Strickland, Nick Grodi and Eric Lee were also involved. Lee dropped out a couple laps later, Grodi made it lap 27 and Strickland finished seventh. Bogus retired with broken panhard bar axle mount.

And the streak continues on. Scott Selmi racked up his fourth Street Stock A division win in a row. This is an uncommon feat, the last time it happened was in 2004 when Regan Ford accomplished it. “I am not one to brag about the wins I am just happy to finally have my car running well enough to win. I find it amazing that I have won 4 in a row after not being able to catch a break for so many years things appear to be going my way,” said the driver of the #24.

Rich Abel won the Street Stock B division and he’s probably happy it was only a 15-lap race and not a 16-lap race as the car erupted in a cloud of smoke as it sat in victory circle. “I want to thank God for keeping me healthy and safe... and keeping the engine together,” said the driver of the West Door Signs, Utility Trailers and Tony Tires #50.

Welcome back to two drivers. Terry Humphrey’s back after a three year absence. “We’re still running the tires from the last time I race. We broke a clutch line, so hope we can get out to race.” He made it out and finished 14th.

Also back is Greg Harlow who used to run Late Models. “We tried to make it out last year, but someone stole my trailer just about when I was coming back and then when I got a trailer, the engine blew up.” Troubles continued and he finished last in the B division feature.

Aaron Greathouse finished a career high third in the B division feature.

Robbie Loving won the Figure 8 feature. “I want to thank my crew for all their hard work. We’ve been working on the street stock, and the night didn’t go the best there. We won at Spartan last week and didn’t even unload the car. I really wanted to get the Budweiser Trophy. I almost got it about 10 years ago, but Parker Wade beat me out,” said the driver of the R.J.S. Racing Equipment, Marlow’s Sports Bar and Grill, Blossom Florist, Flo Air #16. Robbie also won his heat in the Figure 8 and Street Stock division tonight.

Eric Huston won his second Street Stock feature of the year at Toledo on Friday.

“That was two in a row for the car (Landon Schuster won last time the Street Stocks raced at Toledo). It’s my second win of the season and I want to thank my wife and family for their support, Jeff Maran, TJ Miller, Kyle Huston for helpin’ out in the pits … and my sponsors A@D Auto Parts, Reason Signs, and Jeff Maran Racing,” said the driver of the #26.

Don’t forget if you want to send me something I’ll be happy to put it in the column ... especially drivers from Toledo. I only get there a few times a year when the Late Models are there and don’t want to leave you out when you win. Contact me icechips@hotmail.com or send me a message on Facebook.