Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 6, 2013) - When Toledo Speedway swings open its gates for the season-opening 7-Up 150 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series and ARCA Midwest Tour Late Models Saturday, April 20, history will be made as the event will mark the very first time these 2 touring Series will combine forces as one.  The Glass City oval will hold an open practice session Friday afternoon, April 19, with more practice, qualifying and the 150 lap race set for Saturday afternoon, April 20.

For the ARCA Midwest tour, which conducts races mainly in Wisconsin, Minnesota, the upper Peninsula of Michigan and Illinois, the Toledo race will be the first under the ARCA-sanctioned banner.  The two groups came together in December to announce the agreement.  Jonathan Eilen is the defending Midwest Tour champion.

2013 marks the second season for the ARCA/CRA Super Series combination. With races in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio as the base of the Series, Toledo is a centralized location for many of the ARCA/CRA race teams.  Coopersville, MI driver Johnny VanDoorn is CRA’s defending champion. 

With a great deal of work behind the scenes now completed, the combination race for the 2 groups is just weeks away as the 2013 season kicks into gear at Toledo.  The event will be duplicated at the Madison, WI International Speedway August 11.

“We are very pleased to hold the first combination race for these two ARCA-sanctioned template Late Model Series at Toledo,”noted Ron Drager, owner and promoter of Toledo and the President of ARCA, the sanctioning body.  “We are anticipating a very successful event and a large field of cars for the 7-Up 150.  We applaud the efforts of both groups working together and laying the groundwork for this race and for future events.” 

The 7-Up 150 will also be taped by the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) for showing on the “Sunday Night at the Races” show at 9 p.m. on the local cable access channel Sunday, April 21.  The race can also be purchased through BCSN’s video-on-demand programming at bcsn.tv/vod.html.

SPEED51.com will also provide trackside coverage live for all 2013 ARCA/CRA Super Series events, including the 7-Up 150 from Toledo April 20. 

The schedule calls for an optional practice Friday afternoon from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  A bbq chicken dinner will be served to all those who purchase pit passes on Friday at the Speedway Bar and Grille, located adjacent to Toledo Speedway.  Additional dinners for non-pit pass purchasers will be available for $10 per plate.

Saturday’s schedule has practice from 11 a.m. to Noon and from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.  Qualifying is set for 3, with the last-chance race (if necessary) at 5 p.m., followed by an on-track autograph session, driver introductions and the 7-Up 150 lap main event.  The race will include a lap 76 break and will be all-green flag. 

Race fans can save $5 per ticket if purchased prior to race day.  All tickets for this event are general admission seating.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the track at 419-727-1100 or by downloading the ticket order form at www.toledospeedway.com, which is located under tickets.  The form can filled out and sent electronically to the track.

For fans and race teams looking for hotel accommodations, contact the Hampton Inn (419-727-8725), the Holiday Inn Express (419-574-0292) or the Quality Inn (419-476-0170).

Race entry forms will be available from both groups at www.cra-racing.com or http://arcamidwesttour.com/pdfs/entries/13SERIES_SLMtoledoEntry_01.pdf. 

Toledo Speedway is a high-banked, ½ mile paved oval, located on Benore Road at the I-75 Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border.