Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - July 15, 2011) - A nice crowd turned out for Toledo Speedway’s Lakeshore Utility Trailer/Velvet Ice Cream Christmas in July prize giveaway Friday night, with special guest Santa Claus and surprise guest, the Valvoline Grinch.  Dozens of prizes were handed out to fans of all ages, while the Valvoline Instant Oil Change Summer Racing Series race card provided great action and entertainment.

After 9 years of racing, Sam Hall scored his first win in the Parts Galore Figure 8 feature, Jim Froling topped the ACME Dismantling Sportsman event and the duo of Howard Kelley Jr./Tom O’Leary III captured the wild Figure 8 Train race.

The crowd showed its appreciation to the ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 class during driver introductions and then to first-time winner Sam Hall.  Sam led every lap in the 20 lap main, but had plenty of heat from Dennis Whisman and then Jeremy Vanderhoof.  The field diced for position, slid in and out of intersection traffic and Sam held firm as Whisman took one last shot for the win at the stripe, but Sam Hall stayed in front to take the popular win.  Whisman came home second in a great back and forth battle with Jeremy Vanderhoof, who grabbed third, fourth went to Robbie Loving and fifth was Billy Earley, followed by Randy Roberts, Anthony Terris, Jimmy Rae, Greg Studt and Dan Apperson.  Apperson and Loving took the heat race wins.

The 12 car inversion for the 35 lap ARCA ACME Dismantling Sportsman division set the table for good pack racing for much of the event.  On the green flag, Kent McCloskey took the lead until Tom O’Leary IV zipped by to take the point.  Tom built up a sizable lead over Norm Lewellan and Greg Stilwell early in the contest as the rest of the 17 car field settled into 2 wide racing behind the top 3.  The race stayed green until lap 16 when Howard Kelley Jr. looped his car in turn 4, eliminating Tom’s advantage.  O’Leary was able to stay out front on the re-start, but Jim Froling, coming from 16^th spot, and Ron Allen, from 12^th, were on the fly.  Froling made some key moves in race traffic to close in and then set sail for the leader, while Allen broke loose on lap 20 and started gaining ground.  Froling took the lead on lap 22 with Allen closing in and also getting by O’Leary for second spot.  A quick yellow on lap 29 bunched the field and Froling stayed in command for the final 6 laps to grab the win, with Allen tucked in on his bumper for second.  Kyle DeLisle made his move to the front late in the contest and notched third at the checkered flag, Mike Young took fourth and O’Leary IV held on to fifth spot at the stripe.  Greg Stilwell, Norm Lewallen, Kelley Jr., Dave Arnold Jr. and Kenny McKay Jr. completed the top ten finishers.  Allen set fast time at 17:290.  Heat race winners were Kelley Jr., Scott Bross and Chad Stilwell, who nipped Rich Abel by a whisker to start the racing program off on the right note. 

Cars spinning, lead changes and just plain wild action highlighted the Figure 8 Train race.  The field saw 7 teams take the green, made up of 2 cars chained together; the front one with the engine, the back car with the brakes!  While tempers flared after the event, the race was very entertaining as Howard Kelley Jr./Tom O’Leary IV teamed up to grab the win and the $750 top prize.  Tom O’Leary IV/Joe Whisman challenged the leaders in the final 5 laps of the 12 lap contest, along with Adam Plonski/James McClure.  The lead swapped back and forth among those 3 teams at least 4 times over a period of just 2 laps, with Kelley/O’Leary just nosing out Plonski/McClure for the win.  Third went to Tom O’Leary Jr./Jim Brazeau, fourth was O’Leary IV/Whisman, followed by Jeremy Fragassi/Jamie Bussard, Carrie Andrews/Carl Dickey and Trina Apperson/Ron Duvall.

The Valvoline Instant Oil Change Summer Racing Series continues at Toledo Speedway next Friday evening, July 22 with Teamsters Local 20 Night.  Race fans can get their oil changed at any of the 9 Toledo area Valvoline Instant Oil Change Centers and receive a FREE family 4 pak (2 adults, 2 children) of tickets to the Summer Racing Series.

The ARCA R & M Recycling Street Stocks will battle in a special 35 lap contest on the short track, with action also slated for the Jeff’s Collision 4 Cylinder class.  The ACME Dismantling Sportsman division will also return for competition on the big ½ mile paved oval. 

The front gates open at 5 and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.  Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan/Ohio border.  The track phone number is 419-727-1100.  Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for further information.