Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH  (5-15-09)--  With the thoughts of his uncle Terry Gibson riding along with him, Zach Gibson put on a show for the fans Friday night at Toledo Speedway.  Zach powered his way to the win in the 30 lap Buckeye 305 Super Sprint feature Friday night on Western Lake Erie Insulation Industry-Local 45 Night in front of a good crowd, despite another Friday night of rain and threatening weather.  The show was halted for about 20 minutes while the track dried, but the rain held off long enough to complete the race card.  All kids to age 14 were admitted free and received a free hot dog, chips and a drink, courtesy of Sherwood Foods, Seyfert’s Potato chips and the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group.

The young Gibson has taken a liking to Toledo as he duplicated his win of 2008 at the fast ½ mile paved oval.  A lap 2 red flag appeared when Joey Wykoff tagged the turn 2 wall after losing a wheel, destroying his machine.  Joey was ok.  The restart of the 30 lap main event gave Zach a chance to patch a hole in his radiator, return to the tail of the field and steam his way to the front.  As the laps wound down, it appeared the race leader Mike McVetta would not be denied a victory.  But on lap 23, McVetta’s engine soured, giving Gibson, who had flew back up to third spot, a chance at victory.  On the re-start, Gibson wasted no time, darting by leader Ryan Gillenwater as he zipped to the win.  Zach stopped his car in turn 1, the location of his uncle Terry’s fatal accident in a Super Modified event last season, and knelt to the track surface before returning to the Glass Bowl Lanes Winner’s Circle.  Third went to Chris Michael, fourth was Tyler Dunn and fifth went to Tim Buchanan, followed by Todd Buchanan, Dave Saxer, Chad Wilson, Kurt Huber and Ross Rollins.  McVetta took the 4 car dash win.  The heats were scrapped when the rain delayed action.  Tim Buchanan set quick time at 14:257, setting a new track record, while Todd Buchanan (14:281) also broke Frank Neill’s mark of 14:325, set last season.  Neill had engine problems in practice and did not get the chance to compete Friday night.  19 cars were on hand.

An action-packed 35 lap ARCA Sportsman feature had its share of drama also.  Last week’s winner Terry Jones grabbed the lead on the green flag and set sail, with the fleet Howard Kelley Jr. glued to his bumper.  Kelley Jr. looked high and low to get around the Canadian resident, but to no avail.  Finally on lap 27, the door opened low and Howard shot by Jones, only to have Terry dart back low in turn 4 to regain the lead.  The pair continued their battle with Jim Froling joining in the chase.  On lap 29, the track got oiled down and caught both Kelley Jr. and Froling, as the duo slid hard into the turn 1 wall, bringing out the red flag.  Both drivers were ok, but their machines did not fare as well.  Rick Sheppard, who had been hanging around in the top 5, now took his chance for the lead on the restart.  Jones pushed up the track, Sheppard darted low and Jones came back hard in the outside lane.  The pair locked horns going into turn 3, bringing out the yellow as both cars went to pit road.  Art Rozane assumed control and held on as Ron Allen turned on the burners in the final 5 laps.  Allen came up short as Rozane, a former track champ, took the big win over Allen, Tom O’Leary IV, David Frantz, Cliff Tholen, Scott Lockenhour, Andy Harding, Kenny McKay, Jones and and Kelley Jr.  Jones and rookie Tholen grabbed the heat race wins.  Allen set fast time at 17:314. 

A new winner emerged at Toledo as the ARCA Figure 8 class made their first appearance of the season.  Second-generation driver Brice Thomsen withstood the race-long challenge of Robbie Loving to win the 20 lap event.  The race had to be restarted when 3 cars tangled in turn 1 on the initial green and defending champ Dennis Whisman suffered a flat tire in a separate skirmish coming down to the start.  Brice took charge from lap 1, using lapped traffic and intersection traffic to maintain his lead.  Loving closed in with 10 laps to go and applied the pressure, but Thomsen had enough to grab the victory over Loving, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Greg Studt, Anthony Terris, James Rae, Chuck Pankow, Nick Bradley, Tom O’Leary Jr. and Tim Murphy.  Vanderhoof and Studt topped the heat race events.

Defending champ Dave Arnold Jr. came out on top in a good side by side battle with Landon Schuster early on to win the 20 lap ARCA Speedway Tire and Auto Factory Stock feature event.  The race ran without a yellow flag as the field ran hard and clean the entire distance.  Josh Bunting slipped under Landon with 2 laps to go to grab second, third was Schuster, fourth went Eric Huston and fifth was Cory McCaughey, followed by Mike Hassen, Randy Padgett, Archie Padgett, Matt Ringger and Craig Osenbaugh. 

Rookie TJ Miller captured the 10 lap B Main, topping Ryan Beabout, Dusty Brunt, Jeff Braun, John Rabideau and Desi Kesler.  Heat wins went to Matt Ringger, Jesse Carillo and Miller.  Tim Shine notched the last-chance race win over Carillo, Alan Bland Sr. and Mike Hacker.  All four moved into the A Main via their finish.  Huston posted quick time at 11:856 for the 25 car field.

2 events are scheduled at Toledo Speedway for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  Up first is the Friday night, May 22 contest, featuring the first appearance of the season by the ARCA Super Late Models.  It’s race number 1 of the Hantz Group/Allegiant Air Late Model Gold Cup Series.  A field of 25-30 Late Models is expected for the 100 lap event, which pays $2500 to win and $500 to start.  The ARCA Factory Stocks will also see action, and a Rollover contest is also planned, with a 7:30 start for the May 22 event.

Sunday, May 24 marks the date for the Burge Wrecking “Night of Destruction”!  The wildly-popular School Bus Figure 8 races will highlight the night, with the Boat Figure 8, Train Figure 8, Factory Stock Figure 8, plywood race, backup race and race car bowling also on tap.  The gates open at 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m. for this Sunday night special.  Reserved seating is available by calling the track at 419-727-1100.  The rain date for is Monday, May 25 at 1 p.m.