Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - August 16, 2013) - Brent Jack scored the victory in the Miller Lite 100 for the ARCA Glass City Gold Cup/Main Event Late Model Series feature Friday night at Toledo Speedway.    Scott Hantz, by virtue of his second place run, captured the 2013 Gold Cup championship, while Dennis Whisman and Tommy O’Leary secured the track championships in their respective classes.  NASCAR Talladega 500 winner David Ragan greeted fans prior to the beginning of the race card.

The 100 lap Late Model contest with filled with attrition as just 9 cars finished the event.   Despite that number, a great battle up front for the lead kept things exciting for a better part of the race.  Harold Fair Jr. led the first 4 laps, until Jake Francis grabbed the top spot after a lap 5 restart.  Brent Jack had a fuel leak and that sent 6 cars sliding and spinning down the backchute.  Jack pitted and rejoined the field.  Jake sped away, but a lap 13 red stopped the action when Jeff Ganus had his car catch fire going down the backstretch.  Jeff would return to the race late in the event.  Scott Hantz, the fast qualifier at 15:008 for the 24 car field, took the point on lap 27 from Francis.  On lap 29, Fair darted down pit road with overheating woes. 

The yellow came out again on lap 35 when Steve Needles tagged the backstretch wall, ending his night.  Only 3 laps later, the red appeared at lap 38 when someone Francis had engine trouble, sending sheet metal all over the front straight.  Francis, running a strong second at that point, appeared to cut a tire down and slammed the turn 1 wall hard.  Jake was ok but was done for the night. 

This was Jack’s turn to grab the lead and he did so on the lap 39 restart as he zipped by Hantz on the outside lane.  Hantz continued to shadow Jack, ducking low lap after lap.  At lap 70, Scott got door to door with Brent, but Jack stood on the gas and snared the lead back.  Hantz continued to apply pressure, and now Dennis Strickland and Johnny VanDoorn began to close in.  But by lap 90, Jack was gone as he sailed to victory over Hantz, Strickland, VanDoorn and Ron Allen, all on the lead lap.  Sixth was Billy Roberts, followed by Bud Perry, Ryan McManus, Nick Chemura and Ganus, to complete the top 10.  Mike Mazzagatti, Francis, Nick Grodi, Don St. Denis, John Flynn, Scott Pemberton, Needles, Fair Jr., Marcus Malcuit, Chris Benson, Dave Stehouwer, Drew Charlson and Nick Bailey were next in line at the finish.  Jason LaDuke did not start the event.

Hantz’s finish was enough to capture the ARCA Glass City Gold Cup championship over Brent Jack.  The title is Scott’s first in the Gold Cup Series.

Dennis Whisman made sure he cemented his ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 crown by winning the 25 lap championship event.  Dennis grabbed the lead from Jeremy Vanderhoof with just 7 laps to go and sailed to his title and the race win.  Vanderhoof was second, Dan Apperson third, Jerry Lee fourth and Robbie Loving fifth, followed by Randy Roberts, Stephanie Bradley, Race Loving and Ian Jezylo.  Whisman swept the night as he also won the heat race.

 

 

 

 

While Greg Studt notched the win in the 30 lap ARCA R & M Recycling X Car feature, Tommy O’Leary hung on to capture his first crown at Toledo.  On the original start, O’Leary’s car sputtered and came to a halt.  Tommy receives the points for that car as he took the original green flag.  He then became the relief driver for James McClure, but he had just enough points finishing in the 11^th spot to garner the title.  Studt zipped away to his win over Dennis Whisman, McClure (with O’Leary in

relief), Rick Cousino, Matt Ringger, Jeff King, Craig Osenbaugh, Rich Frantz, Archie Padgett, Kevin Huston and O’Leary.  Studt set quick time at 11:617.  Whisman and Ringger took the heat wins.

Toledo Speedway will be dark next Friday evening (no racing), but Saturday and Sunday, August 24-25 the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience will be at the track!  YOU can ride or drive in a stock car on the big ½ mile paved oval at Toledo!  Please call 855-246-7223 to make your reservation.

The speedway will stage its final Friday night race of the year August 30 as the Wendy’s “Night of Destruction” returns to the Glass City!  The evening includes not only the popular School Bus Figure 8 races, but there’s more action with a Boat Figure 8 Race, Train Figure 8 race and, for the first time with this event, the 40 lap ARCA ACME Dismantling Sportsman championship race!

Tickets are now on sale for August 30 and may be obtained by calling the track at 419-727-1100.  All seating will be general admission, first-come, first-serve, for this event.  Race time is 7:30 p.m.  The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and parking is free on the track grounds.  A rain date of Sunday, September 1 has been set if needed.

Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit (behind Meijer store).  The track phone number is 419-727-1100.  Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for further information, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.