Toledo Speedway

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 17, 2011) - A crisp, clear and cool night greeted a large crowd for the re-scheduled Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.  The event was delayed by a week due to rain.  The fans were treated to an action-packed night of entertainment.  Billy Earley topped the School Bus race, Dan Ford Jr. won the Street Stock main event, Jeff Metdpenningen scored the 250 lap Enduro win and Brad Turner sealed the 2011 Jeff’s Collision 4 Cylinder title with his win.  Each winner received a case of bbq sauce from Griller’s Select.

Not one, but count ‘em, three rollovers with the school buses gave the fans what they came for!  Danny Gaddis started it when Dennis Whisman slammed into Gaddis at the intersection, knocking Danny on his side.  The bus was righted, Danny jumped in and joined in on the fun again.  Within 2 laps, Gaddis went over again, much to the delight of the roaring crowd.  Several intersection hits had the fans cheering and the noise got louder when Gary Cronenwett rolled his bus over at the intersection.  In the end, Billy Earley was the winner.  Ray Gaddis, Rich Frantz, Cronenwett, Danny Gaddis, Whisman, Gary Majchrzak and Jack Franzil were the other contestants.  Bus sponsors were Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce, Global Pawn of Monroe, Suburban Oil of Taylor, Sportway of Brownstown and Westland, Sterling Printing and Graphics of Sterling Heights, Glass Unlimited of Westland, Parts Galore of Flat Rock and Detroit, Marco’s Pizza of Rockwood and Vokally Brothers Racing.

A total of 21 Street Stocks were on hand for a non-point race.  The field ran a progressive show with no time trials.  The heat race finishes and an inversion determined the lineups for the night.  Dan Ford Jr. jumped back into his Street Stock ride from last year and won the 25 lap contest in the car that was piloted by Tadek Stadniczuk this season.  Dan took the lead from Jimmy Rae on his way to the win.  Clyde McKee used the outside lane and moved up through the field to take second, Landon Schuster was third, Scot Bunge fourth and Rae fifth, followed by Dave Tanner, Lonnie York, Eric Fitzpatrick, Matt Bunting and Jeff Luttermoser.  The race was stopped in the early stages when Rich Frantz got tagged and his car turned head-on into the back-stretch wall.  Rich was ok but his car sustained heavy damage.  Schuster, Billy Cronce and Tanner took the heat wins.

Race number 3 of the Flat Rock Enduro Series was filled with spins, accidents and some great racing for the lead.  Current point leader Jeff Metdpenningen and 2-time champ Jeff Maran exchanged the lead nearly a dozen times during the 250 lap race.  At lap 200, the duo ran side by side, making it 3 wide at times as they put on a great display of driving for the crowd.  Metdpenningen took the checkered flag for his second win of the season, with Maran, Derrick Sheppard, Rick McColl, Bobby Hugo, Troy Brehmer, Marc Ortega, Craig Lange, Tom Sprotberry and Matt Ringger the top ten finishers in the 31 car field.  The 300 lap championship race is set for Saturday, October 8 at 6 p.m.

Brad Turner racked up his 6^th win of the season and the 2011 Flat Rock crown in the 25 lap ARCA Jeff’s Collision 4 Cylinder feature race.  Turner battled early on with Mike Bershback, but Brad stayed on the outside groove and took the lead on lap 10 on his way to the victory.  Bershback, David Katafiasz, Katie Coseo, Billy Cronce, David Price and Scott Marshall trailed the winner.  Turner set fast time at 14:696.

Flat Rock Speedway has a flea market and one race remaining on the 2011 schedule of events.  Sunday, October 2 is the Flat Rock Historical Society Flea Market from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission to the grounds is free.  For table rental information, call the Historical Society at 734-782-5220.

The final race of the season is set for Saturday, October 8 at a special start time of 6 p.m.  The wives and mechanics races will take place, followed by the 300 lap Championship race for the Enduro cars.  For more information, log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com