Toledo Speedway

(MASON, Michigan - June 30, 2013) - Steve Cronenwett Jr. took care of his car, charged into contention by the half-way mark and took the lead with 37 laps to go on his way to a huge victory in the Charlie Ryan Jr. Memorial 100 for the ARCA Glass City Gold Cup Late Model Series Sunday night at Spartan Speedway.  A large group of members of the Ryan family were on hand to present Steve with the Gold Cup and a plaque to commemorate his win.

Despite 11 yellow flags for mostly 1 car spins, the 100 lap contest was extremely competitive and very entertaining throughout the event.  The lead group seemed to always have a battle for the top spot.  Fast qualifier Mike Root (12:546), pulled an 11 for the inversion, putting Jimmy Gallagher and Jimmy Thiel on the front row.  That duo swapped the lead and pressured each other for the first 20 laps of the race.  Thiel held the point for 16 circuits, then Gallagher grabbed the lead on lap 17.  Second fast qualifier Dakota Carlson looped his machine in turn 3 on lap 18, but rejoined the field and would make a charge to the front in the late stages.  The duo of Gallagher and Thiel tangled on lap 20, bringing out the yellow and both drivers went to the tail of the pack.

Brent Jack and Scott Hantz, along with Harold Fair Jr. moved up through the pack, with Fair picking up the lead on lap 21. The tough-luck Fair had a tire go down on the restart, sending him to the pits and giving Jack the lead.  Jack, Hantz, Nick Bailey, Craig Everage and Dave Stehouwer were the top 5 at the lap 25 mark.  Root also had to pit, putting him several laps down.

Hantz would take over the top spot on lap 31 and stay there for 10 laps until Jack regained control on lap 42.  The Indiana duo rubbed and traded paint during much of this time, with Hantz nosing back out front on lap 47 as that pair stretched their advantage on the rest of the field.  Cronenwett, starting 13^th, began to nose his way up to the front, using both grooves to move into the top 5 by lap 50.  The running order at the half-way mark was Hantz, Jack, Bailey, Cronenwett Jr. and Everage.

In the next 10 laps, Cronenwett had moved to third and was closing in on the lead two when more contact between Hantz and Jack on a lap 63 restart brought out the yellow flag, causing damage to both cars. However, the Hoosier state drivers would both remain in the field.  Cronenwett now had the lead, with a very fast Bailey in second spot.  Root was the benefactor of the “Lucky Dog” 4 times, giving him a lap back each time and putting him back on the lead lap for a period of time. 

Bailey tried to zip under Cronenwett on the lap 63 restart and got crossed up in the backstretch, sending him to the rear of the field.  Steve Jr. began to put a little distance on the pack, but Carlson started his way to the front and got to second at the lap 75 mark, setting his sights on Steve.  With 7 to go, the final yellow of the night came out, giving Carlson 1 more shot at the fleet Cronenwett.  Steve had enough to stay out front and score the big victory.  Carlson was second, Eric Lee was third, Tim Ryan fourth and Craig Everage fifth.  Hantz, Scott Pemberton, Justin Claucherty, Brent Jack and Nick Bailey rounded out the top 10.  Derek Wiley, Paul Pelletier, Jeff Vrsek, Jimmy Alvis, Stehouwer, Root, Fair Jr., Thiel, Josh Spragg, Gallagher and Bryan Clay rounded out the finishing order.

Up next for the ARCA Glass City Gold Cup Series is round number 3 at Flat Rock Speedway, Saturday, July 6.  The Diamond Racing Products Joy Fair Memorial 100 is set, which is the re-scheduled date from the June 22 rainout.  The race is part of the track’s 60^th Anniversary celebration.  The Figure 8’s and Street Stocks will run heats and 60 lap features, with a huge fireworks display all set to conclude the special night.  Race time is 6:30 p.m.