Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH (8-1-2008)--  John VanDoorn grabbed the checkered flag after he tangled with Scott Hantz on lap 97 to win the CRA Super Series Late Model feature Friday night at Toledo Speedway.  Dave Arnold Jr., Amanda Bland and Matt Brazeau also were victorious on a very humid evening.  A large group of kids enjoyed Kid’s Night, which provided free admission to kids age 14 and under and a free hot dog, chips and drink, courtesy of 7-Up of Toledo and Seyfert’s Snacks.

A stout 30 car field made the trip to Toledo for the CRA’s annual stop at the Glass City oval, with JR Roahrig grabbing the lead at the green.  With a 6 car inversion, JR and fellow front row starter VanDoorn sped away from the pack for the first half of the contest.  At the lap 70 mark, VanDoorn, at the wheel of Tim Steele’s #16, got by Roahrig while Hantz was on the fly.  The Pleasant Lake, IN native worked his way up to the front of the pack and challenged John for the lead.  Hantz caught the leader with 10 to go and the battle was on.  Hantz slid to the inside on lap 97 and took charge, but VanDoorn came back and tapped Hantz going into turn 3.  In perhaps the save of the year, Scott hung on as his car darted to the wall.  Hantz dirt-tracked his car through turn 3 and 4 and continued on his way, dropping behind the leader VanDoorn and Roahrig.  At the checkered flag it was VanDoorn, Roahrig, Hantz, Boris Jurkovic, Aaron Pierce, Zach Taylor, Jeff Lane, Rick Turner, Jack Landis and Tim Curry.  NASCAR driver David Stremme was an early threat in the event, running in the top 3, but mechanical woes ended his evening before the lap 50 mark.  Turner posted the fast time at 15:665 to lead the field in time trials.

Dave Arnold Jr. steadily moved his way to the front, got by race leader Landon Schuster on lap 11 and scored the win in the 20 lap ARCA A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stock main event.  Great racing took place throughout the pack the entire distance.  After Arnold Jr. took control, fast qualifier Eric Huston, moving from his 8^th starting spot, challenged Dave for the lead.  Looking high and low, Huston dipped under Arnold with 2 to go as the duo raced clean to the flag.  Arnold Jr. had just enough to take the win over Huston, Cory McCaughey, Schuster, Brian Ringger, Mike Hassen, Matt Bunting, AJ Padgett, Don Cox and Gary Cronenwett.  The fan favorite, Amanda Bland, led all 10 laps enroute to victory in the B Main.  Kent Jones, Kevin Little, Dennis Futrel, Mike Hacker, Randy Padgett, John Rabideau, Brian Moore and Anthony Camilli trailed the winner.  Huston’s quick lap was 11:891.  Josh Bunting, Ramon Ortiz and Randy Padgett took the heat races, while Cronenwett took the last-chance race honors.

A new winner made a trip to the New Glass Bowl Lanes Winner’s Circle as Matt Brazeau powered his way to his first-ever win in the 20 lap ARCA David’s Jewelry 4 Cylinder contest.  Moving from his 8^th starting spot, Matt became the 3^rd different leader of the all-green flag race.  Eric Padgett led the first lap until David Price slid into the lead.  Price held on until Brazeau got to the point on lap 13 and on to the victory.  Michael Marlow made a late-race charge to take second, Brad Turner was third, Perry Marlow fourth and Padgett fifth, followed by Price, Jimmy Little, first-time racer Brandon Brazeau and Mark Davis.  The winner also set fast time at 13:127.  Eric Padgett captured his first-ever checkered flag by taking the heat race win.

Friday, August 8 Toledo Speedway will host the return of the ARCA Allegiant Air Gold Cup Late Models.  A 50 lap feature is on tap, along with a full race card for the ARCA National City Bank Sportsman and the ARCA A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stock division.  A racer’s reunion is also planned.  The gates open at 5 and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.