Toledo Speedway

SOUTHGATE MI (7-2-08)--Brent Jack had a time of it the last Gold Cup race at Toledo... all kinds of mechanical gremlins were challenging the team. This race, it was the opposite.

Brent took over the lead on lap 21 and never looked back. "I didn't want to push it with the lapped traffic at the end of the race. There's no sense in doing that. The car worked well all race long," said the driver of the Hartman Auto Body, Brent's Auto Repair, Worker's World, Vano TV-Appliance, Sebert Oil Co. #41. It was his first win in almost two years at Toledo, his last win being Aug. 26, 2005. The win moved Brent into second place in points, five points behind leader Harold Fair Jr.

Second place went to polesitter, Paul Pelletier, who led the first 20 laps of the race. It was the first time the 2006 Flat Rock Super Late Model champion has ever led at Toledo and was his career best finish.

Also having a career best finish was third place Justin Schroeder. His previous best was in race #1 when he finished fifth. The podium finish moved him into third place in points, 10 points behind Fair Jr.

Harold Fair Jr., who won the first race, had a lousy night. He tangled with another car and messed up the front end of this #7. The team tried to repair the car, but Fair Jr. had to park the car a couple laps later and he finished last. It may have been one of the few times having a small field was a good thing as he didn't lose as many points if it would've been a full field.

Steve Sauve made his first appearance of the year at Toledo. Fans at Toledo probably didn't recognize him because he was not in his familiar orange car. The number was his, but he's driving for Dr. Bob Ducharme (who usually drives #22). He did well, finishing fourth.

The top six in points are within 45 points. Fair Jr., Jack and Schroeder are the first three ... fourth place is Dennis Strickland (who finished fifth in the race) 20 points back and tied for fifth is Pelletier and Joe Hawes 45 points back.

Ron Allen won the Sportsman feature... his third of the 2008 season and 44th of his career. "These wins never get any easier. These guys I race against make you keep working. I got a great car build Dillion," said Allen.

Eric Huston won his fourth career Factory Stock A main at Toledo. "Good race. The car went away at the end but I held onto it. Got a bit harried out there at the end."

Congrats to Brad Turner who won the 4 cylinders and Mike Mills who won the Factory B main.

Did anyone else notice Mark Davis' #07 4-cylinder lifting it's rear tire up in it's heat as he went around the corners. I have seen many cars lift their first tires, but think this is the first car I've ever seen lift it's left rear tire.

For the second Saturday in a row, Flat Rock's 150 lapper rained out. So what do the drivers do when your home track is cancelled, you find somewhere else to run. Paul Pelletier and Jeremy Vanderhoof traveled to Owosso and finished seventh and tenth respectively. Four Toledo/Flat Rock drivers drove about five hours to Lake Erie Speedway in Pennsylvania: Dennis Strickland finished 10th, Chris Benson 11th, Harold Fair Jr. 15th (he led about 20 laps before suffering engine problems), Jared Allison 18th (he was in the #81, and was involved in an accident, also while leading).