Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 13, 2011) - Speed51.com, the largest pavement short track website in America, will provide coverage of the 23^rd running of the Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200, set for Saturday, October 1 at Toledo Speedway.  Over $50,000 in cash has been posted for the event, which includes features for the Figure 8’s, Street Stocks and Sportsman classes. 

Speed51 will provide at-the-track updates for the prestigious event, adding the Glass City 200 to their impressive list of events that are featured on the Speed51.com website such as the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, FL, the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Beach, FL, the Kalamazoo Klash, the Winchester 400 and many more.

“We are extremely pleased to announce that the Glass City 200 will become a part of Speed51.com’s extensive list of short track race programs,” noted Ron Drager, owner and promoter of the Glass City oval.  “Bob Dillner and his staff provide race fans across the nation with excellent coverage of these events and enhance the prestige of a race such as the Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200.”

Bonus awards that have been posted will push the total payout to nearly $57,000.  The weekend begins on Friday, September 30 with an optional practice session from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Francis Engineering of Leroy, OH will sponsor a dinner for all pit pass purchasers on Friday, consisting of BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, cole slaw and potatoes. 

The dinner will be served from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Speedway Bar and Grille, located on the grounds of the track.  Additional dinners will be available for purchase.  At 9 p.m., the popular “Basement Dawgs” band will invade Toledo Speedway for the first time.  The band is widely-known in Southeastern Michigan racing circles and is led by racer Matt Schindenwolf. 

Race day on Saturday will see practice beginning at noon, time trials are at 3 and racing begins at a special time of 5 p.m.  Sunday, October 2 will serve as the rain date for the event.

The Glass City 200 was born in 1968, the idea of the late John Marcum, president of ARCA and the promoter of many short tracks and events in that era, including Toledo and its sister track, Flat Rock Speedway.  The race became a part of Late Model short track racing lore in the Midwest.  When Toledo was sold in 1978, the event was discontinued, but was then re-introduced in 1999 when Ron Drager, the grandson of Marcum, and his business partner Roy Mott purchased Toledo from the late Sonny Adams.

The past winners list reads like a who’s who of Midwest short track stock car racing.  The legendary Joy Fair captured the inaugural 200 in 1968, with Joe Ruttman the 1969 winner.  Bob Senneker ventured over the west side of Michigan to Toledo and won the 1970 classic and duplicated his victory in 1971.  Danny Byrd (1972), Ruttman (1973) and the late John Anderson (1974) followed with victories.  Ohioan Jim Bickerstaff took the 1975 event, while Ed Cooper captured the race in 1976.  Senneker became the first 3-time winner with his win in 1977. 

With the Toledo track back in Drager’s hands, the Glass City 200 was put back on the schedule.  Tim Felver took the checkered flag in 1999, with Tim Ice taking the 2000 event.  In 2001, Canadian legend Jr. Hanley was crowned the winner.  For the next 3 years, an incredible feat was accomplished by Saginaw, MI driver Steve Sauve, as he racked up 3 Glass City wins in a row-2002, 2003 and 2004.  John Doering Jr. broke Sauve’s streak with his win in 2005.  Jack Landis won the 2006 edition, and Brian Campbell put his name in the record books with his 2007 victory.  Harold Fair Jr., after many close but no cigar races, captured the 2008 title.  Another driver who came close so many times grabbed his first win in the event-Dave Kuhlman.  Fair Jr. made it number 2 in the records by taking last year’s 200 lap race.

The entry blanks for both the 200 and the support divisions may be downloaded from the track’s webpage.  It is located under forms.  To join the list of sponsors, including lap sponsors, for the event, please call the Toledo track office at 419-727-1100.  Stay up to date on all the racing information by logging onto www.toledospeedway.com