Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH (8-15-2008)--  Make it 2 in a row for former champ Howard Kelley Jr. at Toledo Speedway as he scored the win in the 35 lap ARCA National City Bank Sportsman main event on Allen Chevrolet-Cadillac/Qualite Sports Lighting Night.  Tom Allen of Allen Chevy presented trophies to the winners, which also included Dennis Whisman, Josh Bunting and Dennis Futrel making trips to the New Glass Bowl Lanes Winner’s Circle. 

The fans enjoyed Autograph Night with the weekly racers and also gave a hearty welcome to NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Brad Keselowski, who made the trip to Toledo from Michigan International Speedway to sign autographs for the crowd.  The fun-filled night also included the nickel/penny grab for the kids prior to the race card.  The track also hosted a group from the Autism Speaks charity.

Kelley Jr. posted the victory after a tough, tough battle with some great racing within the pack.  Although Howard led every lap, the event was action-packed throughout the contest.  With pressure from Ron Allen, Jim Froling, Rick Sheppard, Gary Denis and Chad Guinn, the 6 and sometimes 8 car train battled back and forth, swapping spots and trading paint.  With just 3 laps to go, Sheppard and Denis got together when a lapped car moved up the track, causing the duo to get together.  Both went to the rear of the field and on the restart, Kelley took off and held on for the victory.  Allen was second at the stripe, Guinn third, Froling fourth and Art Rozane fifth, followed by Scott Bross, Greg Stilwell, Randy DeMaggio, Tom O’Leary IV and Jeff King.  Froling, the current point leader with 1 race remaining in the 2008 schedule, led qualifying at 17:459 for the 19 car field.  Froling and Dave Frantz notched heat race wins.

A wild 20 lap ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 feature saw Dennis Whisman slide to the victory  after a great battle with Jerry Lee and Robbie Loving.  With cars going sometimes 6 wide at the intersection, Lee led the race until lap 13 when he tangled with Anthony Terris, giving Whisman a shot at the point.  “The Rebel” held on as Loving took a shot for the win but settled for second, with third to Jeremy Vanderhoof, fourth was Lee and fifth went to Gary Cronenwett.  Brice Thomsen, Randy Roberts, Terris, Chuck Pankow and Nick Bradley completed the top ten.  Whisman and Vanderhoof took the heat wins.

Toledo resident Josh Bunting led every lap enroute to the win in the 20 lap ARCA A-1Auto Parts Factory Stock contest.  Josh had plenty of company as Dave Arnold, Eric Huston and Cory McCaughey applied the pressure.  Arnold Jr. came home second, with Huston, McCaughey, Landon Schuster, Mike Hassen, Gary Cronenwett, AJ Padgett, Matt Bunting and Tim Shine next in line to complete the top ten finishers in the non-stop contest.  Dennis Futrel took the win in the 10 lap B Main.  Dennis tangled early on with Amanda Bland, with Amanda taking the blame and sending Futrel back to the lead.  Dennis sailed to the win over Kevin Little, Mike Hacker, Bland, Ryan Cronenwett and John Rabideau.  The 25 car field was led by Arnold Jr. with a lap of 11:814.  Heat race winners were Ramon Ortiz, Craig Osenbaugh and Landon Schuster.  Osenbaugh also took the last-chance race win to move to the A Main, along with Jesse Carillo, Matt Ringger and Ortiz.

Next Friday, August 22 will be the last weekly Friday night race card at Toledo Speedway.  The Tim Hortons Season Championship 50 lap Sportsman contest is on tap, with action also provided by the Factory Stocks, 4 Cylinders and the Michigan Legends.  The 2008 Sportsman season champion will be crowned as the season winds down to special events for Labor Day weekend and September and October.  Race time is 7:30 p.m.