Toledo Speedway

The Glass City Gold Cup Series returned to Toledo Friday night. The race was to be race four, but last week’s race rained out at Flat Rock. For the first time in five years there has been two first time winners in the series ... race two Stevie Cronenwett won and this week Steve Needles finally got his first Gold Cup win. The prior two late model races at Toledo Needles has been leading late in the race and had some misfortune befall him.

Needles was leading the last Toledo Gold Cup race when it appeared he had engine problems (but it was a pinhole in the intake). This race he started outside the front row and once he got around Scott Hantz for the most part it was smooth sailing all race long. At times he had over a straightaway lead over eventual second place finisher Harold Fair Jr. and over a half lap lead over the third place car. Fair Jr. did pass Needles, but the caution came out and Steve got the lead back. The only problem for Steve seemed to be that the transponder died on the car and they had to take the one off of Don St. Denis’ (who dropped out) car. “That was a long time coming,’ said the St. Joseph, Mich., driver. “We’ve been snake bit here the last few races. The car was awesome tonight and this is a big win for our team. I’d like to thank TA Gentry Supply Co., Weller Auto Parts, Crown Motors, AllStar Performance, Baker Engineered Race Engines, JRI Shocks and Senneker Performance.

Needles is the 6th different winner on the series in the last six races (Needles, Stevie Cronenwett, Scott Hantz, Johnny VanDoorn, Mike Root, Harold Fair Jr.).

The two Steves (Needles and Cronenwett) are back to back first time series winners. The last time that happened was in 2008 when Harold Fair Sr. and Brent Jack completed the feat.

Harold Fair Jr. finished second. “We developed a miss late in the race and were down about 600 PRMs. It was a lot of fun, even on seven cylinders. As always it was an awesome field of cars,” said the driver of the Royal Truck and Trailer, Performance Engine. Senneker Performance #71.

Third place went to Dennis Strickland, who returned after missing the last race at Spartan. “I messed up and pushed high after passing Harold (Fair Jr.), but third is still a good night. The ignition was missing with about 50 laps to go. I like the new tires, their not as fast as the ones we ran last year, but they don’t fall off. We just need some more cars here,” said the driver of the he Computer Store (formally known as Strategy One), Trenton Forging, and Victory Christian fellowship. By Saturday night the team had diagnosed the problem as being bad fuel in the car.

Fourth went to Brent Jack. “We had our problems ... we lost the power steering with about 30 laps to go. Thank to my crew and sponsors Butler NAPA, Krieger Racing Engines, FBR Chassis, Butler One Stop, G. Scott Louderback DDS, Hartman Auto Body and Sebert Oil,” said the Auburn, Ind., driver.

Jake Francis finished fifth, “We had a pretty good car and did our best to come home fifth. Sometimes this track is good to me. I want to thank my dad, and my sponsors the HABCO Tool, Francis Engineering, Bonner Farms, S.B. Cox, Schaeffer Feed and Supply, Midco Manufacturing, Sommers Marine,” said the Leroy, Ohio driver.

For the first time in the series 62 races we had a car that did not have GM, Ford or Chrysler product body. JR Karl made his first trip to Toledo Speedway and his car is a Toyota Camry. It’s the first one that anyone in the pits had seen as an outlaw car. JR is a engineer for Toyota and flew in from Detroit Friday morning to race. Unfortunately his new car retired early in the race and he finished 13th.

Sam Coulter finished in eighth, his career best in the series.

Don St Denis’ Churchill Transport #20 dropped out with a broken driveshaft (and in hot laps the starter fell off after breaking the bell housing).

Scott Pemberton had a flat tire early in the race and later had engine problems.

Dakota Carleson went into the race leading points but got caught up in the accident when several cars spun in Pemberton’s oil. He retired with a broken A-frame.

Brent Jack takes over the points lead, the third different leader this season. Scott Hantz and Carleson are tied for second, 20 points behind; Harold Fair Jr. is fourth 50 points behind; former two time Gold Cup champion, Mike Root is fifth 60 points back. Nick Bailey is sixth 95 points back and Scott Pemberton is 105 points behind. They are the only seven drivers that have competed in all three races this year. Jake Francis, Dennis Strickland and Steve Needles (all who raced in two events this year) round out the top 10.

Flat Rock Triple 60’s.

Eric Lee won his third feature of the season. The former Super Late Model champion said after the race, “What a great year we are having, to get our third win tonight is really awesome.  This was the first time I’ve won with my kids here to watch, they loved coming out on the track and getting their pictures taken.   I have to thank my dad and my crew Joe, Ron, Rob and Adam for all of their help and also my sponsors, Action Drywall, Lee Motorsports, Arrow Uniform, D&E Landscaping and Powertran Transformers.”

We have a new driver in the late models, 16-year-old Josh Spragg. Josh is the grandson of former Late Model driver Ed Hage. As far as I know at Flat Rock, Josh is the youngest driver. Guy Fire, who drives in Street Stocks, is our other teenager, at 17 years old.

Ron Allen ran his first race of the season last night at Toledo. Tonight he was in a new ride ... I’m sorry lost the name of the fellow that bought the car from Dan Ford Jr. Allen finished 5th tonight.

Clyde McKee drew the pole position and won his third race of the season. “ I appreciate the 84 (Guy Fire) tapping out ... not quite sure what happened there. I want to thank my sponsors Trailer Connection, Faline Trailer Repairs, Mac’s Towing, Patrick Seigns, SP Guns N Ammo, Madco Truck Plaza, B & F 4x4 and Leppen’s Chiropractic.”

Rookie Corey Duane, matched his career best finished second. “I just wanted the win. Didn't want to take it with my bumper. Trying to gain some respect. Want to thank my wife Lindsay Duane and dad Mick Duane for all there help. Paul Pelletier for all his help and advice. Paul's spent countless hours letting me annoy him with questions. And the Limelight crew for there help. It's been a blast. Ready for a win.”

Congratulations to Jeremy Vanderhoof who won the Figure 8 feature and also to Craig Lang who won the Street Stock B division feature.

And from the Email... Remember you can send me whatever you want and I’ll put it in the column.

Howard Kelley Jr. won the Sportsman feature. I’m sorry I lost his sponsors, but I’ll try to get them later.

Mike Young qualifies on pole - Jeff Jr. leads a feature race for the first time, finishes 5th. First ever Sportsman Flat Rock Saturday.

Jeff Myers Jr. led his first career feature in the Sportsman race, which ran with the Gold Cup race. He led several laps before Kelley Jr. passed him. Jeff finished a career high fifth.

Teammate Mike Young was going to run the Gold Cup race but didn’t get the car done in time. He set fast time this week, his first of the season. For Mike it’s been feast (finishing in the top three in races he completed) or famine and tonight was one of those famine nights. He was caught up in an accident early in the even.