It's Only Fair in Miller Lite Glass City 200
It's Only Fair in Miller Lite Glass City 200
TOLEDO OH (9-20-08) - He's led in his last four attempts without a victory, but that all changed Saturday at Toledo Speedway where Harold Fair Jr. made his statement early and sailed away to win the 20th Anniversary of the Miller Lite Glass City 200. Results
The 2008 edition of the event was a 150 lap classic, witnessed by a good crowd on a perfect night for racing. Ron Soto of Metropolitan Beverage and Miller Lite presented the 5 foot trophy to Harold in the New Glass Bowl Lanes Winner's Circle.
A total of 37 Late Models were on hand and by the end of time trials, 31 cars were ready to race. Joe Bush grabbed the $500 Kayo Lumber/Royal Truck and Trailer fast time award with a lap at 15:091, just nipping Fair Jr. Bush drew the 10 pill for the inversion for the feature race.
Outside pole sitter Jake Francis grabbed the lead on the start, with the first segment set for 76 laps, with a break for 20 minutes. The youngster was strong out front as he built up a sizable lead as the rest of the pack settled in and things remained calm. Several yellows slowed things, mostly for 1 car incidents. By lap 44, Fair was on the move and got to 33rd spot from his 9th starting position. Brent Jack and Dave Kuhlman battled for 2nd early on until Fair Jr. motored by. At lap 58, Mike Luberda's car came to a stop in turn 4, bringing out the yellow. Fair charged by Jack and zipped past Francis with a burst of speed on lap 63 to grab the lead as he moved on to the $100 Performance Images Half-Way Leader Award at the break. Fair Jr., Francis, Jack, Kuhlman, Johnny Belott, Brian Campbell, Ron Allen, Steve Sauve, Bush and John Doering were the top ten at the lap 76 mark. 19 of 31 cars were ready for the second portion of the contest. 
After the 20 minute break, Fair Jr. checked out on the field as the race resumed. On lap 95, Kuhlman and Jack tangled in turn two, bringing out the yellow and took Bush with them in the process. Kuhlman took the blame and Jack got his spot back, 3rd position. With relatively few incidents in the second half of the race, Fair Jr. was able to stretch his lead. By lap 98, Campbell was on the move and got by Jack for third, with Allen following suit. Campbell, the defending race winner, began to challenge Francis for 2nd by lap 118 and finally got by him on lap 132. Fair Jr. had checked out and his lead was never challenged as he grabbed the big victory, worth $5850 in cash and a bunch of contingency awards. Campbell came home second, Francis third, Allen fourth and Doering Jr. fifth, with Sauve sixth, all on the lead lap. Brett Jursik was 7th and Dennis Strickland eighth, both a lap down. Gary Sherman came from 30th to 9th in a great run, earning him the $250 Burge Wrecking Hard Charger Award bonus. Jack was credited for 10th spot, with open-wheel driver Brian Lay 11th in his first stock car ride. Fair Jr. also will take home 2 round-trip tickets from Toledo to Orlando, Florida from Allegiant Air, and the following product certificates; $250 Penske Shocks, $100 Holley Carb, $100 Aero Wheels and $100 Earl's Fittings. Strickland and 12th place finisher Harold Fair Sr. won the $100 All Star Performance certificates. Other product certificate winners were Jack for 10th, $100 Holley Carb; Doering Jr., 5th, $100 Aero Wheels and Joe Ellert, 20th, $100 Earl's Fittings. The LV Alliance $200 Champions Bonuses went to Fair Jr.(Toledo), Strickland (Flat Rock), Jack (Angola), Mike Root (Dixie) and Rick Sibila (Main Event). Port City Racecars, DTS Drive Train Specialists, Bazell Fuels and Sunoco Race Fuels also served as sponsors for the 20th Anniversary Glass City 200.
The ARCA Sportsman class ran the R & M Recycling 35 lap contest, with Ron Allen posting the victory. Rick Sheppard took the lead on the start and held it for 6 laps until Allen motored by and posted the win over Sheppard, Jim Froling, Gary Denis, Howard Kelley Jr., Art Rozane, Joe Coursen, John Kasmierski, Lou Hill and Tom O'Leary IV. Froling led the 28 car field in time trials at 17:377.
AJ Padgett snared top honors in the 15 lap Factory Stock Figure 8 feature race over Eric Huston, Alan Bland Jr., Ramon Ortiz, Mike Hassen, Art LaFreniere, Don Cox, Dave Arnold Jr. and Kevin Little.
Race fans took part in a fundraising drive for 8 year old Ryan Gibson, son of Terry Gibson who lost his life this season in a Super Modified race at Toledo. A total of $2525 was raised at the track. Race fans also took part in an autograph session with the Late Model drivers prior to the start of the 150 lap feature. Guests included 1976 Glass City winner Ed Cooper.
Toledo Speedway has 1 more race on the 2008 calendar; the ARCA National Championship Weekend. The ARCA RE/MAX Series and ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will each crown their champs at Toledo Saturday and Sunday, October 11/12. Practice, qualifying and the K-100 lap feature presented by Champion Credit Union is set for Saturday afternoon for the Truck Series. Sunday an on-track autograph session goes at noon and the Hantz Group 200 presented by Belle Tire and Federated Car Care for the ARCA RE/MAX Series gets the green flag at 2 p.m. A 2-day ticket is just $25 and are now on sale by calling the track at 419-727-1100.