Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH (6-20-2008)-- 5-time division champion Ron Allen held back the last-lap challenge of Jim Froling to win the marathon-like ARCA National City Bank Sportsman feature on Wendy’s Autograph Night/Racing Fan Club Night Friday at Toledo Speedway. Danny Hargraves, representing Wendy’s, and Wendy greeted the winners in the New Glass Bowl Lanes Winner’s Circle. The Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club honored Factory Stock driver Kevin Little with a helmet bag, while the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club presented t-shirts to all feature winners.

The 20 car field for the 35 lap Sportsman contest lined up with Greg Stilwell and Chad Guinn on the front row. Running side by side entering turn 3 on lap 2, Stilwell’s driveshaft broke, sending him into a wild spin and collecting Howard Kelley Jr. in the process. Froling went to pit road with some damage during the red flag cleanup period and re-entered at the tail of the field. On the restart, Guinn took off and Allen began to make his move. On lap 6, Ron slid by Guinn to take control and the lead. A scary incident on lap 16 brought out another red when Tom O’Leary III had his engine let go in a ball of flame. Tom was ok, but the track was coated with oil and the track crew went to work to clean up the mess. Allen took off again when the race resumed and was cruising out front as Froling and Carl Bumgardner, in his first appearance of the year, both came from the back of the pack into the top 5. A lap 33 yellow bunched the field and gave Froling a shot at the win. Jim looked high and low but Allen held on for his second win of the season, his 43^rd Sportsman win at the Glass City oval. Froling was next, with Guinn third, Bumgardner fourth and Scott Bross fifth, followed by Jarod MacZink, Chad Stilwell, John Kasmierski, Randy Cornett and rookie Jeff King. Allen set fast time at 17:620, with heat wins going to Guinn, Art Rozane and Tom O’Leary IV. Guinn’s heat race win over Stiwell in the 8 lap contest was perhaps the most competitive heat race in memory, as the 7 car field ran door to door and stayed that way for all 8 laps.

2006 track champ Jeremy Vanderhoof continued his winning ways at Toledo, scoring the win in the 20 lap ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 division feature race. Jeremy Miller dogged Vanderhoof the entire distance as the lead duo dodged several intersection close calls and pressure from third place man Dennis Whisman in the non-stop contest. Robbie Loving was fourth and Jerry Lee fifth, followed by Chuck Pankow, Scott Apperson, Anthony Terris, Brice Thomsen and Randy Roberts. Whisman and Jeremy Miller won the heat race contests.

Rick Cousino Jr.hung on for the win over a hard-charging Cory McCaughey to win the 20 lap ARCA A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stock main event. Tim Shine was in command for 8 laps until Cousino slid under Tim for the lead. McCaughey, working his way from the 11^th spot, caught the leader in the final 3 laps and used the high groove but came up just short in a great drive to the front. Third was Josh Bunting, fourth was Landon Schuster and fifth went to Dave Arnold Jr., followed by Rick Cousino, AJ Padgett, Mike Hassen, Gary Cronenwett and Shine. Don Cox posted his first win in the 10 lap B Main, topping Craig Osenbaugh in a great battle. Kevin Little, Mike Ringger and Art LaFreniere were next in line. In the June 6 make-up B Main, Dennis Futrel was the winner over Little and Kent Jones. McCaughey set quick time for the 24 car field at 11:915. Heat race wins went to Cousino Jr., Brian Ringger and Futrel. Fan favorite Amanda Bland grabbed the last-chance race victory.

The ARCA David’s Jewelry 4 Cylinders competed in 2 main events Friday night, with Brad Turner taking the win in the June 6 make-up race that was rained out. The 12 lap race saw 3 leaders as Jimmy Little led laps 1-3, while Matt Brazeau took control for the next 3 circuits until Turner, using the outside lane, motored by on his way to the win. Brazeau, David Price, Little, Michael Marlow and Eric Padgett completed the finish. In the 20 lap nightcap, a first-time winner emerged as Price edged Turner to score his first-ever feature win.

Darren Koester was in front for 9 laps until Price nosed into the number 1 spot and held on for his big win. Brazeau, Koester, Marlow, Jeff Nickles, Little, Padgett and Mark Davis were next in the running order at the stripe. Marlow posted the heat race win.

Friday, June 27 is the date for the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) 100. The ARCA Allegiant Air Gold Cup Late Models return for a 50 lap feature, in addition to the ARCA National City Bank Sportsman cars, which will also run 50 laps. The Factory Stocks and 4 Cylinders will also be in action. Race time is 7:30 p.m

Coming up Thursday, July 3 is the Cumulus Radio/Toledo Blade “Night of Thrills”, featuring the Imperial Stunt Drivers Thrill Show, Fireworks, carnival rides in the parking lot and a Factory Stock Figure 8, Boat Figure 8 race and the Figure 8 train race! Race time is 7:30, with a rain date of Friday, July 4 at the same times if needed.

The track phone number is 419-727-1100. Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border.