Toledo Speedway

The Gold Cup Series began its 17th season at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway on Sunday afternoon. Terry Senneker won his second career Gold Cup race, his first coming in May 2008 (also the opening race of the series).

Four of the top five finishers had to be glad that the race only went 100 laps, as they were sitting in the tech barn afterwards with various problems. The only one without any problems was race winner Senneker.

“The car was on rails and was great. I still had a little left if someone caught us,” said the driver of the Zent Motorsports, Senneker Performance, Oetman Exchavating, Enterprise Iron & Metal, Baker Engines #37.

Steve Needles finished a career best, second place. He starts the parade of drivers that were really happy to see lap 100. In the tech area it was found the car had an oil leak. Steve’s sponsors are, T.A. Gentry Supply, Crown Motors, Weller Auto Parts, All Star Performance and Joe Gibbs Racing Oil.

JR Roahrig set fast time for the event. He was running second when the car started a cycle of shutting off and coming back to speed. “I have no idea what is wrong with the car, maybe ignition or fuel pickup. It would go, then stop, then start up again. I had an easy second place before that all started,” said the driver of the All Star Performance, Lane Automotive, AP Race Engines, Midnight Blue Towing, Landrum Srpings, Wildwood, Sweet Manufacturing, Senneker Performance #16.

2009-2010 champion, Mike Root, finished third, but suffered a dead battery sitting on the frontstretch after the race. He was the first finisher of the drivers planning on running the full Gold Cup season.

Dakota Carlson, who is also planning on running the full season, finished fifth. “We broke a right front shock after the caution about midway. And then we had some motor issues, but that didn’t hurt the performance much.”

Only 10 of the 22 starters finished. No one dropped out because of accident, only from various mechanical problems.

Marcus Malcuit was to start on the pole after drawing that position (the top 10 drew for position) but the car would not start in the pits and he was unable to compete.

No you weren’t seeing a ghost from the past, Paul Pelletier was driving a green #6, reminiscent of Tracy Leslie’s late model from the 1980s. Pelletier came out for the feature but battery problems put him in the infield before green flag. (and if you were around for the ARCA/CRA race, there was a blue #84 that looked like Bob Senneker’s ASA car).

And the weird sort of problems continued for sixth place Dennis Strickland, the defending series champion. “We had handling problems. When we got the car home some bolts came loose on the axle tube that hold the suspension tight, that’s what made the car so loose, that and all the junk on the racetrack. You would not believe the pile of rubber we knocked off it!”  Thanks for the email!

Sponsors: Canton Tree & Cement, Strategy One Computers, Trenton Forging, Victory Christian Fellowship Church, Giles Auto Body, Complete Battery Source.

"We had 2 fast cars for today, really thought we had a shot at the track record after how fast our warm up lap was with the OUTLAW, just got way to loose comin out of 2 but it was fast, just kept getting caught up in someone else's mess, but what can you do. We'll just put em back together and go for it next time." said a disappointed Scott Hantz who dropped out of the event.

ATTENTION DRIVERS, CREWS, FAMILY MEMBERS: I am going to have a ‘mailbag’ section. Any emails or messages on Facebook I get I will put them in the article. There’s too many of you to talk to everyone... and because of work I’m unable to make Toledo. So if you want to send me something, I’ll be happy to put it in the article. My email is: icechips@hotmail.com and my Facebook page is under my name. Look forward to getting tidbits from everyone. I especially would like to get at least your sponsors after your win. Thanks a bunch!