ALLEN-WHISMAN-LOVING START WITH TOLEDO WINS
ALLEN-WHISMAN-LOVING START WITH TOLEDO WINS
Toledo, OH—May 8, 2015: The first race of 2015 for the weekly classes hit the track Friday night at Toledo Speedway. Ron Allen, Dennis Whisman and Robbie Loving captured the feature race wins and visited the 7-Up Winner’s Circle. The track also hosted Scout Night and College ID Night Friday evening.
Defending champ Ron Allen began his 2015 season with a victory in the 35 lap ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman main event. Allen took charge at the start, but a red flag on lap 16 stopped the action when Kent McCloskey had an engine let go. On the ensuing re-start, Jim Froling, starting up on the high side of Allen, got sideways and scattered the field in turn 1. Several cars pitted, and on the next re-start Allen motored away and went on to the win over Mike Young, Chad Stilwell (his career-best finish), Kenny McKay and Greg Stilwell. Froling came back to take sixth, with Dan Grigsby, David Jinjosa, Adam Plonski, Gerald Wheaton, Andy Harding, Norm Lewallen and McCloskey completing the finishing order. Froling and Canadian resident Wheaton took the heat wins. Young set fast time at 17:127.
The 25 lap ARCA R & M Recycling X Car Main went to Dennis Whisman. Early leader Nolan Padgett gave way to Greg Studt in the early stages of the event. Whisman clipped Tommy O’Leary IV, bringing out the yellow. Whisman took the blame and went to rear of the field, while Tommy was done for the night when the rear end shifted in his car. Studt took off on the re-start, while Whisman picked his way through the pack and slid under Studt to grab the top spot with 5 laps to go. Dennis sailed to the win over Studt, Randy Padgett Jr., Matt Ringger, Craig Osenbaugh, Dennis Helsel, Lonnie York, Mike Miller, Rich Abel and Nolan Padgett. O’Leary posted quick time at 11:497. Heat race winners were O’Leary and Ringger.
Robbie Loving motored his way to the win in the 20 lap ARCA Praxair Figure 8 feature race. Loving slipped under Jeremy Vanderhoof with 5 to go to grab the win. Vanderhoof was second, Scott Apperson third, Jeremy Miller fourth and Dennis Whisman fifth. Randy Roberts, Dennis Whisman Jr. Archie Padgett and Race Loving were next in line at the finish. Loving also captured the heat race checkered flag.
There will no Friday night racing on May 15 as the track prepares for the huge ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Stock Car Series weekend! The Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care is set for Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17 at the Glass City oval.
Saturday is practice and qualifying for the ARCA teams, with the Buckeye CableSystem 50th Anniversary 50 lap ARCA Truck feature also included as part of the race card. Practice begins at 11:15 and the show gets underway at 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, the grandstand gates will open at 10 a.m., the on-track autograph session is at Noon and the 200 lap race gets the green flag at 2 p.m.
Fans can go to Menards and save on advance tickets for Sunday’s event only. **Tickets that are purchased from the track include a ticket for Saturday’s events also. To purchase tickets from the track, call 419-727-1100 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border. Log onto www.toledospeedway.com. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.