Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH (9-5-2008)--  A huge crowd piled into Toledo Speedway Friday night for the Burge Wrecking Night of Destruction, and it was just that.  As the featured School Bus Figure 8 race was coming down to the white flag, one of the buses lost both its brakes and steering, sending the bus through the front stretch wall.  The catch cables and the wall did their job, despite the wall breaking on impact.  No one was injured and the bus did not get into the grandstands.

Chief inspector Jack Franzil captured the win in the School Bus Figure 8 contest.  He battled with Dennis Whisman, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Troy Herrmann, Joe Koester, “Doc”, Ron Allen and Dennis Stilwell for the win.  Herrmann got over on his side, bringing out the red flag.  Troy climbed from his bus to the cheers of the crowd.  “Doc” had the steering/brake failure on his bus coming to the white flag when the wall pounding took place.  That ended the night and the race, giving Franzil the win.  Sponsors of the buses were Burge Wrecking, PB Fabrication, Crossroads Community Church, Quality Collision, RE/MAX Preferred, Mayfly Tavern/Monroe Asphalt, R & M Recycling and the Avenger Motorcycle Club.

 The Figure 8 Train race 15 lap event saw a record 10 trains in competition, with youngsters Tom O’Leary IV and Adam Plonski picking up the win and $750 for their efforts.  The action was wild right from the start, with early leaders Tom O’Leary III/Howard Kelley getting tangled up with lapped trains and getting stuck down in turn 4 of the Figure 8 track.  Joe Whisman/Tom O’Leary Jr. were second, Mark Davis/Ken Davis third, Jim Chinavare/Mario Eritano fourth and Darren Koester/Kelly Koester fifth, followed by Dan Ford Jr./Donnie Lane, Al Denis/John Reece, O’Leary III/Kelley, Lonnie York/Dennis Whisman and Paul Duffin/Jerry Eritano.

Mike Hassen captured the 15 lap Factory Stock Figure 8 race, eluding the intersection traffic on his way to the win.  Kevin Little, Dennis Whisman, AJ Padgett, Anthony Terris, Art LaFreniere, Don Cox, Tim Barrie, Randy Padgett, Amanda Bland and Eric Huston were next in line at the finish.

Cox also captured the Race Car Bowling event and the Plywood race, with Huston sailing to the win in the Back-up race and Dennis Whisman topped the Boat Figure 8 race.  Defending boat champ Bill Carberry lost his boat and trailer and it rolled up into turn 1 of the ½ mile, only to roll back down into oncoming race traffic and down the Figure 8 track!  Boat sponsors were Curves of Point Place, Akron Tire and Lee Williams House of Meats. 

Lonnie York rolled his machine 3 ½ times to win $500 and the Rollover contest title, much to the delight of the crowd. 

The 24 Hours of “Lemons” race takes place next Saturday/Sunday, September 13/14 at Toledo Speedway.  The non-stop race features cars of less than $500 in value using a portion of the ½ mile, ¼ mile and the pit road to create a “road course”.  California resident Jay Lamm and his group are renting the track for this unique event.  The race begins at 3 p.m. Saturday.  Admission is just $5 for the 24 hour contest.