Toledo Speedway

First I have a correction. Eric Lee’s sponsors are: Fraza Forklifts, Dusty's Collision, Exotic Automation, First Impressions Cement, ABC Plumbing, Berringer Law, Duane's Roadrunner's ... I had them wrong after the Spartan race.

Dennis Strickland won his first feature of the year. “We had worked all week trying to get the car back to where it was before the race at Spartan, up late every night. Both quarter panels were replaced as well as the front filler panel. Tina cut all the vinyl up and had it ready sitting on the counter in the garage. We have a new puppy (Missi) and you would think we would know better than to leave the vinyl UNattended. But here it was 9:30 in the morning of the race and Tina had to re-cut almost all of it. Some we put on with tooth marks and all. On the way to Flatrock, I said you know with all the bad luck we have had lately maybe we will win tonight, and we did. First time ever I won the heat race and the feature!” said Dennis in an email... His sponsors are: Canton Tree Cement, Strategy One Computers, Trenton Forging, Victory Christian Fellowship Church and Giles Auto Body.

Fast qualifier, Derek Wiley finished second. I think this is either a career best or ties a career best.

Paul Pelletier: “We drew 10th for a starting position and by lap 30 we were up to fourth. The power steering hose came out of the fitting on the pump and we lost the power steering. I hung on for the last 20 laps and finished fourth. After the race I could hardly feel his arms after the race ... so all in all it wasn’t to bad a night,” said the driver of the Fraza Forklifts, Dusty's Collision, Exotic Automation, First Impressions Cement, ABC Plumbing, Berringer Law, Duane's Roadrunner's #44.

Tim Moore has had a thoroughly lousy season so far ... but it took a turn for a better with a win Saturday night (June 2). “First I have to thank my dad for getting the engine done quick. We have had an engine problems since day one and it never got better. We had to pull the engine out and completely rebuild it, again. Also thanks to Darrell for helping me pull the engine out ... thanks to my crew for sticking there with me through all the bad luck. Thanks too my sponsors Northend Scrap Metal, A-lot Sealcoating and Striping, Jay-T Motorsports, Yost Collision... And most of all Dow engines. Hopefully our bad luck is gone and we can just go have fun for once.” And the better luck continued last week with a fifth place finish

Clyde McKee finished second (June 2), his third top 2 this season. He continued his top five finishes last week with his second fifth place finish of the season. The only down point so far was a disqualification after his second win for a part that didn’t match ARCA’s specifications.

Rich Frantz was the Street Stock A division fast qualifier. “After a couple disappointing finishes and solving some mechanical/chassis issues, we have the car back where we want it. We were fast qualifier for the first time this year, and backed it up with a top 5 finish in the feature, which got us back in the top 5 in points. Gotta thank my crew for their hard work - Ron, Nick, Shannon, and Shawn, Dave and Dave Jr. from Arnold Motorsports, along with my sponsors - Playoffs Sports Bar & Grill, Eagle Graphics & Design, Roses Head & Engine, and Quality Clutches. We are very optimistic about the rest of the season.”

And he was right to be optimistic in his first email. Rich won his first A division feature in about XX years. “Very big win Saturday for our family. We lost my father shortly before the season began, and it took the wind out of our sails a bit, but this win was very emotional and I know he was with me. It’s still early, but I think we might have a shot at this championship, Tadek and Frank are very good this year, so we have to stay on our game from here on out. I also need to thank my crew and sponsors (see above).” It was his fourth feature win at Flat Rock and seventh ARCA win (three at Toledo).

Thanks for the emails Rich!

Rick Bennett won his second Street Stock B division feature on June 2. He has won both B division features run this season. I’m not sure when the last time a rookie won two races in their rookie season. “I haven’t lost in the B main yet this year. It was a lot of fun. I want to thank my sponsors PASI and E & F Auto.”

Rich Abel won the Street Stock B division feature on June 6.

Both Rick Bennett and Rich Abel had a provisional for the A division feature but declined it to run the B division feature instead.

Dennis Whisman won the Figure 8 feature on June 2. “Robbie (Loving) got me in the 50-lapper, so I’m still 30-laps behind him. Thanks to my sponsors Affordable Transmission, Leppen Chiropractic, Mike’s Barber Shop, Quality Clutches. Also I want to thank my brother Joe and Howard Kelley Jr. redid my car after the heat and did a great job.

Jerry Lee Jr. won his first career feature at Toledo on Friday night. He followed that up with a feature win the next night at Toledo. “Last night I forgot to thank my brother Richie, and Chris Cox and my son Jakob. People might not know that Richie built engines for my car, Dennis Whisman, Robbie Loving, Jeremy Vanderhoof and built Billy Earley, and Scott Apperson’s car. Those are all top teams.” After winning on Saturday, “We lucked out a little bit ... starting on the front row. We put new skins on it and the car ran great.” Jerry Lee’s sponsors are Affordable Transmissions and Robert A. Mucha Attorney at Law.

Nick Shanks would like to welcome two new sponsors to his team, Salon Europa and Giles Auto Body.

Troy Brehmer had carburetor problems in hotlaps and was unable to qualify.

June 2 was the first race in 15 seasons for Dan Doyle ... arriving just before the start of the B division feature ... this week he made the A division feature but had problem in his heat. Thanks for the email Dan! “It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I broke an exhaust valve but I should have it out for next week. It just sucks when you build engines for a lot of other racers out there and they don’t have any problems but you do one for yourself and a store bought part fails. I was blessed with some great sponsors who all want to jump in and help. Michigan Motor Exchange (where I work and do the machine work on the engines), Jorgensen Ford, First Catholic Federal Credit Union (the girls that work there are the BEST), Engine Pro, Monkey Business Custom Body and Paint (I’ve known owner Andy Bowman Jr. since he was a little kid), Apollo Broach (belongs to my better half, Sheri Ahlgren and her brother Ken (The Bandit #69 from Figure 8 fame)), Macs Towing (Clyde McKee and I grew up in the same neighborhood and I’ve done his engines and crewed for him for a bunch of years now). So you can see I am truly blessed with good sponsors and great friends. I need to get a shout out to my son Dan Jr. and my daughter Kelly for all the help they have been giving me. Dan jr. will probably take over the driving chores when I finally realize I’m 57 and getting to old for this sh** --stuff. But for right now I’m having fun and I'm not ready to let Clyde and Arnold be the only "Old Guys" out there. This years opening day was my 57th opening day at Flat Rock. I was born in February 1955 and in May that year I went to my first race to watch my Dad. Don’t remember that one but I was there in the back stretch watching.”

And about his car, which is interesting how he got it. Think his car came the farthest (other than the car Darrell Howard drove for a while that was driven by a Flat Rock driver, went to Florida and returned to Flat Rock with Darrell)... Dan’s car came from Massachutes. “I bought the car in February 2008 off EBay. It was built by a company called B&F Fabrication out of Whately, Mass. The owner Bob Fill has built track championship cars all over the northeast. I saw the car on E-Bay kept my eye on the auction, put in the winning bid with 10seconds to go and got it. I wanted it ‘cause it was built on a Ford chassis and it fit our rules with minor changes. Now it’s pure Ford with a 351 Ford motor and a 93 Mustang body.”

And another driver returned to the track. Pat Haener was back. It’s been 15 years since he raced and 17 years since he ran at Flat Rock. He originally bought the car ... Lonny York’s old #25 ... for his son to drive. When his son lost interest, he decided he might as well drive it himself. The #06 is sponsored by Progressive Sweeping, Contractors Inc., and 1-800-SWEEPER. The sponsorship was a surprise for the owner of the three companies, Mike Lucht, who was beyond surprised to see his sponsors on the car.

Terry Lilley won his heat. His sponsors are Dave Kensler Racing, BP Gas Station (in White Lake Township, Mich.) and Joy Fair.

And for those of you that weren’t at the track but heard about the wreck, you can watch it at this link. Thanks Mike for the link!  Flat Rock’s A division Feature June 9  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETbtlBuP-i4&feature=plcp

And finally our update on our 15-year-old rookie, Jeff Myers Jr. Thanks Jeff Sr. for the update!

As per the rookie rule, he’s starting at the rear instead of where he qualified, this week he started 19th. He quickly moved up to mid-pack, avoided the wrecks and ran in the top 10 the rest of the night. He had a loose car, but manage to stay on the lead lap and finished seventh. Jeff said it was the best racing he's had in a long time. Fun stuff! We tweaked on the car set-up this week with some help from #23, Paul and Mike Young. Jeff absolutely was comfortable in the car last night. Dave Miller has done a fantastic job with the engine and spotting for Jr. - we're still battling an overheating problem - hope to have that solved by next race. The Sportsmen division has had three races, Jeff Jr. didn’t start one and finished in the top 10 in the other two. His sponsors are: Sidelines Sports Eatery and Pub

Debra Reiner Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, Advanced Accounting, LLC.