Toledo Speedway

This is the fourth of our monthly off-season bulletins.  It will be posted here on the webpages and emailed to our members who have provided email addresses.  If you would like to be added to that list, email your address to Sherry at smiller@arcaracing.com.  These bulletins will not be mailed. 

Please direct any calls to the Toledo office during the winter months; the Flat Rock office is closed.  The Toledo phone number is 419-727-1100.

 DAYTONA 500 PARTY!  Tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 26 at Toledo Speedway Bar/Grille!  Doors open at Noon, over $1000 in prizes to be given away-pad rentals, track rentals, tickets and more!  Join us!!!

DIVISION SPONSORS:  Moran Chevrolet (FR Late Models), R & M Recycling (Toledo Street Stocks), Parts Galore (FR and Toledo Figure 8’s) and DTS Drive Train Specialists (FR Street Stocks) and Allegiant Travel (Late Model Gold Cup) return for 2012.  We hope to have more announcements soon.  Please be sure to thank these great sponsors and send business their way! FASTIME RACING ENGINES AND PARTS returns as Fast Qualifier sponsor for the Flat Rock Street Stocks and the Late Model Gold Cup Series.  Awards will be given out as gift cards this year.  Our thanks to Clayton and Christine Smith! 

SUNOCO RACING FUEL:  Corrigan Oil (Flat Rock) and Bazell Race Fuels (Toledo) return and will once again post a $50 cash bonus in random drawings for those of you that purchase fuel at the track on race day, and will award cash bonuses at the banquet for the 2012 season! 

TIRE/FUEL AVAILABILITY:  We will post this on the website as to when these items will be available, along with 2012 pricing in next few weeks. 

WHAT’S NEW FOR 2012:  Beginning at practices, you will be asked to fill out a bio sheet.  We want the fans to know you better and this gives us a chance to promote you.  Casey Wagner, our assistant GM, will become the 2^nd announcer and will be going through the stands doing giveaways, trivia contests and anything to engage the race fan (we are taking a page from Minor League baseball).  Fan interaction is VERY important!  We will be asking you to go in the stands with us, greet the crowd (and not just your family members) and more!   

CONSTRUCTION UPDATES:  The Toledo grandstand project is slow, but looks to move quickly in the next week or so.  We will also create an Autograph Alley.  The new stands will start just west of the light pole by the cross-over gate, which will give us much more room.  The winners will go here after a quick interview and trophy presentation, then to the Alley.  In some cases, we may send you to tech first.  And….plans are now in the works to replace the experimental lighting in the turns and backstretch at Toledo with 4 light poles and traditional lighting!  More on this later. At Flat Rock, the 2 small grandstands by the pit walkway have been removed.  We will also be creating an Autograph Alley behind where those stands once stood.  This will give fans a chance to be a part of Victory Lane at both tracks.  We will take a quick photo with the sponsor down on the track, do an interview, send you to the tech barn and a paved drive will be put in to lead to Autograph Alley. 

FLAT ROCK LATE MODELS:   A meeting will be held in late March regarding the tire “management” program.  You will be contacted.  This program will rely on you the racer----all tires will be purchased from ARCA, all tires will be scanned, and it is up to you to have those tires on for the selected event.  ARCA reserves the right to check any and all tires at any time.  No extra rims, no dismounting of tires will be necessary.  Penalty for infraction will be loss of points and money for that race and a suspension of a minimum of five (5) races.   

4 CYLINDER DIVISION:  We will now allow drivers from other classes to compete in this division. You will be required to run the raceceivers or scanners in 2012.  The raceceivers may be purchased from the track after March 1. 

MINORS RELEASES, ETC:  For 2012, BOTH parents and/or guardians will be required to sign the minor’s release waiver.  15 year olds will also now be permitted to compete in the Sportsman class, as well as SS, F8, 4 Cylinder and Enduro.  ALL drivers younger than 16 will have a set of requirements to meet, which is outlined below:  Personal meeting with ARCA officials; background profile/resume, private on-track test session with observers on hand, restrictive/probationary status for designated period of time.  Please contact the track if you have a driver under the age of 16 that will be competing next season. 

OUTSTANDING BALANCES DUE:  Any balances due to ARCA, Flat Rock and/or Toledo, must be paid before a 2012 license is issued or a pit pass is sold to you.  Contact Scott if you have questions. 

MEMBERSHIPS:  The excess medical amount is now $500,000, up from $300,000 in 2011.  There is no cost increase in memberships for 2012.  Memberships have been mailed to 2011 driver/owner list.  IF you need a membership earlier, call Sherry at 734-847-6726. 

TRANSPONDERS:  In the past year, we have had more problems with transponders coming off of cars and then getting destroyed.  In 2012, a fee will be charged when a unit comes off a car that has not been in an accident that would have caused it to fall off.  We have had to stop races to pick them up off the track, etc.  The new units are $400 each……simply, be sure your transponder is secured! 

Flat Rock will have open practice Saturday, April 21.  The first race is Saturday, April 28 with Figure 8’s, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders and a 250 lap Enduro race.  The Late Models will have their first race of the season May 5.  The CRA Super Series will visit Flat Rock Saturday, September 8. 

Toledo:  Open practice is Sunday, April 22; Toledo opens with a Twin 100’s show Sunday, April 29 with the ARCA/CRA Super Series and the ARCA Late Model Gold Cup.  There will be an open practice Saturday, April 28.  The first weekly Friday night show is Friday, May 4.  

LATE MODEL GOLD CUP:  Sunday, April 29-Toledo; Saturday, June 23-Flat Rock; Friday, July 6-Toledo; Saturday, July 28, Stan Yee 150, Flat Rock; Friday, August 17-Toledo, in conjunction with the Main Event Racing Series.  Kevin Jaycox has purchased the Main Event and has adopted the Alliance body measurements.  More details on August 17 will be available at a later date.

 PAD RENTALS:  Forms are posted under forms on the webpages…no forms will be mailed out.  Download the form, fill out and send in with payment before April 20 to avoid a late fee.  

SAFETY EQUIPMENT REMINDERS:   The 2012 season is the final year for helmets dated Snell 2000.  A reminder that the dating on seat belts is 3 years maximum (to the month); check all your equipment--driver’s suit, too! 

CAR NUMBERS:  At the short track level, we no longer require an owner’s membership to hold a car number.  We will hold your number from 2011 for the first 2 weeks of the season.  If you have an issue, need a new number or are changing your number, call Scott at the Toledo office.   

 Speedway Bar and Grille Dates to Remember!Saturday, March 17:  Racer’s Reunion from Noon to 5, Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club meeting at 5:30 (time change, please note), followed by St. Patrick’s Day Party (which is really all day) 

Check the website frequently for updates, the Late Model tire meeting, sponsor announcements and more!  Get ready early, get through tech at the practices and it will make things much easier for you!  We have much more we are working on…and we need your help to get schedules out, talk about the great races you put on and the fun place that both tracks provide for families.  We’re going to hit the ground fast………questions on anything, call Scott at 419-727-1100.