Toledo Speedway

Toledo, Ohio—November 28, 2011:  Turkey Day is here and gone, Black Friday is over and now it’s time for the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway Holiday gift offerings for that special race fan in your life! 

Choose from season tickets, the $25 gift card, DVD’s of any of the 2011 racing events, the 50^th Anniversary hard cover book (now a collector’s item), an ARCA hat or the sharp Flat Rock/Toledo combination leather/wool jacket! 

Simply log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com or www.toledospeedway.com and click on the forms button to download the order form.   Cash, checks and most major credit cards are accepted.  For phone orders, please call the ARCA office at 734-847-6726, extension 0, or contact the Toledo track office at 419-727-1100.  Online sales are not available at this time. 

Place your order by December 15 and get a free travel mug.  Please allow 7-10 days for shipping (jacket orders will take longer to process and fill). 

From all of us at the tracks, best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  

I had hoped to get this article out a couple months ago, but things happen, I’m cleaning out my inbox and my Facebook messages for a season ending article. Thanks to everyone that sent me something.

Former Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway driver Craig Pace passed away October 16 in Toledo, OH at the age of 45.  Craig competed in the Figure 8, Late Model and Sportsman divisions.  His father, the late Denny Pace, was a 5-time Flat Rock Figure 8 champion and his brother, Mark, also is a former Figure 8 driver.

Craig is survived by his daughter, Sidnee, mother, Nancy Magyar and stepfather, Jim Magyar; step-mother Wanda Pace; his brothers, Mark and Danny Pace and Tony Magyar, aunts-Carol Burger and Martha Geiers and uncle, Joe Barham.

Services were held at the Schrader-Howell Funeral Home in Plymouth, MI October 21.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joy Fair’s family.  Joy passed away December 10; services were held December 16.  The service concluded with Joy’s daughter waving the checkered flag and his son, Mark, serving as the announcer as the crowd rose to give a standing ovation; a fitting tribute to a true family man, hero, legend and friend to many. 

This is the second of our monthly off-season bulletins.  It will be posted here on the webpages and emailed to our members who have provided email addresses.  If you would like to be added to that list, email your address to Sherry at smiller@arcaracing.com.  These bulletins will not be mailed. 

Please direct any calls to the Toledo office during the winter months; the Flat Rock office is closed.  The Toledo phone number is 419-727-1100.

Toledo, Ohio—December 22, 2011:  As winter approaches, thoughts turn to the warm temperatures and, hopefully, sunny skies with the release of the 2012 Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway race schedules.

The schedules are now posted at www.flatrockspeedway.com or www.toledospeedway.com.  Click on the schedule button to download the 2012 schedules.

Each venue will maintain their weekly race cards, with special events featuring a variety of touring series added in to create a pair of diverse schedules for the upcoming season.  Toledo Speedway will feature Friday night racing events as its mainstay, while Flat Rock Speedway’s Saturday race cards are in place as they have been for over 50 years. 

Toledo, Ohio—January 4, 2011:  Spartan (Lansing, MI) Speedway has agreed to host a 100 lap contest for the ARCA Late Models, which will be a part of the ARCA Glass City Gold Cup Series.  The date is Sunday, May 27 at the immaculate ¼ mile paved oval.  The Spartan Stocks, Pony Stocks and a Pony Stock Figure 8 race will also be a part of the Memorial Day weekend race card, part of the popular Spartan “Slugfest” events. 

The Series will expand to six (6) races in 2012 with the addition of the Spartan date.  2 events are scheduled at Flat Rock, MI Speedway and 3 races at Toledo, OH Speedway.  The top 3 in the final points of the Series are guaranteed starting spots in the season-ending Glass City 200 at Toledo, which is set for Saturday, September 29 this year.

TOLEDO, OH—January 18, 2012:  The annual Racer’s Reunions at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways now have dates for the 2012 season.  Both events will take place on the same weekend; Friday, May 11 at Toledo and Saturday, May 12 at Flat Rock.

The May 12 Flat Rock date will also serve as the 50^th Anniversary Celebration of Figure 8 racing at “The Rock”.  Plans are now in the works to invite back all former Figure 8 racers, along with all former Flat Rock racers for the Reunion.  More details about the Figure 8 Anniversary event, which will include a 50 lap feature for the “Motor City Madmen” of the current ARCA Figure 8 class, will be released in the coming weeks.

As a tribute to the memory of Joy Fair, a special memorial decal is now available.  Fair, who passed away December 10, 2011, was one of the top racers in the country, accumulating over 800 career victories around the Midwest short tracks in his lifetime.  Joy was a 10-time Flat Rock Speedway champion and 7-time Toledo Speedway champ and is the all-time win leader at both tracks.

The decals are $4 each or 3 for $10, with all proceeds from the sale of the decals to go to the American Diabetes Association.  Please add $1 per order for shipping/mailing costs.

Long-time friend Rand Thompson is conducting the sale of the decals.  Please make all checks payable to the American Diabetes Association.  Checks may be sent to:  Rand Thompson, 10537 Loughrea Lane, Cement City, MI  49233.

Toledo, Ohio—January 27, 2012:  For many drivers, driving a race car at Daytona International Speedway is a dream.  For the 2012 ARCA Glass City Gold Cup Late Model Champion, that dream will come true.  For the second consecutive year, the champion of the 6-race Series will get a test in an ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards stock car, courtesy of Fast Track High Performance Driving School.  

Dennis Strickland, the defending Gold Cup champion, took to Daytona during the annual ARCA test in December, giving the Carleton, MI wheelman the ultimate thrill for a stock car driver—running around Daytona!  “It was an experience I will not forget,” noted Strickland, who clocked in a lap at 180.748 in his final session of the 2-day test.  Dennis ran 42 laps for the weekend.

This is the third of our monthly off-season bulletins.  It will be posted here on the webpages and emailed to our members who have provided email addresses. 

If you would like to be added to that list, email your address to Sherry at smiller@arcaracing.com.  These bulletins will not be mailed. Please direct any calls to the Toledo office during the winter months; the Flat Rock office is closed.  The Toledo phone number is 419-727-1100.

Flat Rock Speedway will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Figure 8 racing this season at the Telegraph Road speedplant.  The official celebration will take place Saturday, May 12, with a special 50 lap Figure 8 feature and the Racer's Reunion, complete with the introduction of all former racers on hand for the event.

We are looking to contact as many former Figure 8 drivers and any former racer that raced at "The Rock" over its 58 year history.  We also are searching for old photos, with an emphasis on the Figure 8 class.

You may contact Scott Schultz at 419-727-1100 or at sschultz@arcaracing.com.

Look for weekly stories, photos and tributes to the rock-em', sock-em', Fabulous Figure 8's at www.flatrockspeedway.com leading up to the 50th Anniversary celebration!

Roseville, MI—February 6, 2012:  To follow in a father’s footsteps is a proud tradition, one that is quite evident at Stan Yee’s Collision in suburban Detroit, MI.  Upon the passing of Stan Yee Sr., founder and patriarch of the Yee family, Stan Jr. took control of the business with the help of Stan Sr.’s widow and Stan Jr.’s mother, Ann. 

Stan Jr. literally grew up at the shop and, needless to say, at the race track.  The famous Yee-prepared #33’s captured several dozen top pavement and dirt Late Model races in the Midwest in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and continued to rack up wins and championships in the 1980’s and 1990’s on the local short tracks. 

As Stan Sr. began to spend more time away from the shop, Stan Jr. took the reigns, and, like his father, ran the business by day and worked on race cars at night.  Perhaps Stan Sr.’s proudest moment was realized when Stan Jr. captured the 2003 ARCA-Flat Rock Speedway Late Model championship.

February 7, 2012:  With racing season right around the corner, Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways are preparing for the race schedules with the printing of the 2012 edition of the souvenir program.   Inventory is also available for all types of signage and race night sponsorships at both facilities. 

The official souvenir program is sold at both tracks for each racing event.  Program advertisements begin at just $100 for the entire season with the creation of a business directory page, which is new for 2012.  Your business name, address, phone number and website address can be included in the listing.  The standard 1/8, ¼, ½ and full page program ads are also available, starting at just $225.  Individual race tickets are included with each advertisement.

 Both Flat Rock and Toledo offer all types of signage opportunities and race night sponsorship packages, along with group ticket sales and suite rentals (Toledo only for suites).  Season passes are included with signage purchases. 

The print deadline for program copy is March 1.  For additional information, please contact Scott at 419-727-1100.  

TOLEDO, OH:  (2-9-12):  Toledo Speedway is proud to announce the return of Great Lakes Helicopter as the sponsor of its signature event, the Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational.  The Almont, MI based business has agreed to enter into its 3rd season of support for the 24th running of the event at the Glass City oval.

“We are very pleased that Great Lakes Helicopter will again be a part of the Glass City 200 weekend this season,” said Ron Drager, promoter of the Toledo track.  “Our thanks to John Lojko and his group for their great support of this prestigious event.”

Alabama resident Augie Grill made his first attempt at Toledo in an outlaw Late Model a historic one at last season’s Glass City event, capturing the 200 lap contest in a car prepared by Canadian Jerry Artuso.  The date for the 2012 edition of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 is Saturday, September 29.

Great Lakes Helicopter also serves as the sponsor of the #116 Late Model driven by Jack Varney Jr. 

Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for current information and the 2012 schedule.

February 24, 2012:  Pit pad rental forms are now available for both Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways for the 2012 racing season. 

They may be downloaded from the track’s web pages.  Click on the forms button. Pad rental forms will NOT be mailed this season.  Forms must be downloaded from the website. 

Please fill out the form in full and return it with payment as noted. All pad rentals are due no later than April 20, 2012.  A $50 late fee will be added to any rentals paid after this date. 

If you have questions, please contact Scott at 419-727-1100. 

This is the fourth of our monthly off-season bulletins.  It will be posted here on the webpages and emailed to our members who have provided email addresses.  If you would like to be added to that list, email your address to Sherry at smiller@arcaracing.com.  These bulletins will not be mailed. 

Please direct any calls to the Toledo office during the winter months; the Flat Rock office is closed.  The Toledo phone number is 419-727-1100.

 DAYTONA 500 PARTY!  Tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 26 at Toledo Speedway Bar/Grille!  Doors open at Noon, over $1000 in prizes to be given away-pad rentals, track rentals, tickets and more!  Join us!!!

Toledo, Ohio—February 26, 2012:  Congratulations to the winners of the prizes given away at Sunday’s Daytona 500 race party at the Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille.

Bar and Grille Gift Certificates:  Todd Perkins, Rich Frantz

Flat Rock Speedway tickets:  Craig Osenbaugh

Toledo Speedway tickets:  Kathy Diovardi

Flat Rock pad rental:  Dave Stadniczuk

Toledo pad rental:  Rich Frantz

Flat Rock test session:  Tadek Stadniczuk

Toledo test session:  Nick Bradley

Gift Cards:  Sara Pencola, Craig Osenbaugh

Hats:  Chris Diovardi, Shelly Stadniczuk, Dakota Minda, Kelly Karlet, George Zyinda, Mike Barker

Flat Rock, Michigan—February 29, 2012:  When Flat Rock Speedway opened in 1953, the Telegraph Road facility featured a ¼ mile asphalt paved oval, the first “rubberized asphalt track” in the country!  Built by Detroit area paving company owner Sheldon Hayes Sr. and his business partners, Flat Rock ran 3 nights a week and included several NASCAR-sanctioned events. 

Through its initial years of operation, the track saw numerous changes in promoters of the racing cards, as well as divisions of race cars.  But with the 1962 season looming, 2 changes were made at the track that have etched “The Rock” in the history books of short track racing.  A man by the name of John Marcum became the promoter of Flat Rock Speedway and, the installation of a Figure 8 track inside the paved oval became a reality. 

And from that day on, Figure 8 racing became a mainstay at Flat Rock, and, in 2012, the track will officially celebrate 50 years of wild action on the Figure 8 course!

Richard "Dick" G. Frantz, age 71, the father of ARCA Street Stock driver Rich Frantz and Ron Frantz, passed away Sunday, March 4. 

Dick was a longtime supporter of ARCA and actually began his racing career as a driver at the Cloverleaf (Cleveland) Speedway, and was a big part of getting his sons Ron and Rich involved in racing.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, sons Ron and Rich, a brother, Ed and sister, Betty, along with 6 grandchildren. 

Services will be held at the A. Ripepi and Sons Funeral Home, 18149 Bagely Road, Middleburg Heights, OH  44130.  Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 7 from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m.  Interment will follow on Thursday, March 8.

TOLEDO, OH  (3-8-12):  Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway are moving forward with plans for the new racing season, and that includes taking reserved seat ticket orders for a variety of special events at both tracks. 

The order form can be downloaded from either track’s website at www.flatrockspeedway.com or www.toledospeedway.com.  Go to the ticket button for the order form.    Checks and most major credit cards are accepted for mail orders, or fans can call the Toledo office at 419-727-1100 for credit card phone orders.  The Flat Rock office will open in mid-April for phone orders at 734-782-2480. Reserved seat tickets are not available for purchase on-line at this time.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 9, 2012) - The Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille will host the annual Racer’s Reunion and Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club (MARFC) meeting Saturday, March 17. 

Located on the grounds of Toledo Speedway, the Bar/Grille will also be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day all day, with a Jigg’s Dinner available.  The kitchen and bar will be open all day.  Admission to all festivities is free and open to the general public. 

Danny Byrd will be the guest of honor at the Racer’s Reunion, which includes lots of bench racing and thousands of photos and memorabilia from race tracks across the country.  All current and former racers and the public are invited to the reunion.  Byrd was a top runner in the Late Model ranks in the 1960’s and 1970’s and was the 1973 Flat Rock and Toledo champion.  Danny also captured Toledo titles in 1965 and 1978.  He stands in 3^rd place at Toledo in all-time feature wins with 31 and fourth at Flat Rock with 29 victories to go with his 1972 Glass City 200 win at Toledo.

Flat Rock, Michigan—March 16, 2012:  The unexpected passing of the legendary Joy Fair December 10, 2011 at the age of 81, took most by surprise, as his was truly a “larger than life” presence.  Fair was one of the top short track racers in the country, amassing over 800 career feature victories around the Midwest in his lifetime.  Joy was a 10-time Flat Rock Speedway champion and 7-time Toledo Speedway champ and is the all-time win leader at both tracks. 

As a tribute to Fair, and with the blessing of Joy’s family, Flat Rock Speedway will play host to the Joy Fair Memorial 100 Saturday evening, June 23 for the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models.  Fair is the all-time feature win leader for the ARCA Late Model division at Flat Rock with 159 victories, a total that will perhaps stand forever.  Joy also is the career win leader at Toledo with 97 checkered flags in Late Model competition.   

Diamond Racing Products has stepped up to serve as the sponsor for the event.  Former racer Bob Fox, who competed against Fair for a number of years, has pledged his support of this special night through his company.     

Plans are in the works for a special pre-race ceremony and tributes to the legendary native of Pontiac, MI.  More details will be released in the coming weeks.

(TOLEDO, Ohio – March 19, 2012) - Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways are proud to announce the return of the title sponsors of each of the track’s classes of cars for the 2012 season, which begins Saturday, April 28 at Flat Rock and Sunday afternoon, April 29 at Toledo.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 19, 2012) - Brad Keselowski continues to be one of the hottest stories in NASCAR, from his surprise surge into last year's Chase for the Sprint Cup to his Twitter explosion last month in the Daytona 500.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 22, 2012) - If you're a fan of Toledo Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway, you can move even closer to the action on Facebook and Twitter!

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 22, 2012) - The heart of ARCA's 60th Anniversary Season is quickly approaching, and with that, weekly action at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways will begin. Racing is scheduled to start at the end of April, so along with race promotion and facility preparation, safety is a key priority early in the year.

Toledo, Ohio—March 24, 2012: The official entry blanks for the 6-race ARCA Allegiant Glass City Gold Cup Late Model Series have been mailed out, as anticipation builds for the upcoming racing season.   

The entry form may also be downloaded from the track’s webpage; it is located under forms. 

The Series will expand to six (6) races in 2012 with the addition of a date at the Spartan (Lansing), MI Speedway.  2 events are scheduled at Flat Rock, MI Speedway and 3 races at Toledo, OH Speedway.  A total of 3 provisional starting positions, based on the final points of the Series have guaranteed starting spots in the season-ending Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 at Toledo, which is set for Saturday, September 29 this year.

(TOLEDO, Oh - March 26, 2012) - The schedule for the 7-Up Twin 100s has been released.  Practice starts at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 and racing is at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 29.  The complete schedule is listed below. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 28, 2012) - Tuesday, ARCA president and CEO Ron Drager invited special guests and media attending the annual ARCA, Toledo Speedway, and Flat Rock Speedway press luncheon to see the opening progress on the new grandstands overlooking the half-mile Toledo oval.

TOLEDO, OH:  (3-28-12):  Buckeye Cable System, the Toledo-area cable television provider, will air a record total of ten (10) Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway events from the 2012 track schedules as part of the popular “Sunday Night at the Races” programming this season on the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN).  The telecasts are slated for the 9 p.m. time slot. 

For the first time, BCSN will venture to Flat Rock Speedway to tape the two ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup races, the June 23 Diamond Racing Products Joy Fair Memorial 100 and the July 28 Moran Chevrolet Stan Yee Memorial 150. 

The Toledo Speedway events that are slated to be aired for the BCSN “Sunday Night at the Races” telecasts are the Sunday, April 29 7-Up Twin 100 Late Model show; Friday, May 4 Weekly Friday night Season Opener; Friday, June 1 Marco’s Pizza/Parts Galore Autograph Night; Friday, June 15 All American Coach “Fastest Short Track Show in the World,” featuring the MSA Super Modifieds and the AVSS Super Sprints; Friday, June 29 Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness USAC Silver Crown and Midget double-header; the Friday, July 6 ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup 100 and the Friday, August 17 ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup Miller Lite 100.