Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 29, 2011) - All systems are go for the 23^rd running of Saturday’s Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway. 

Bellieve it or not, it's dry at Toledo Speedway and practice is a go at 5 p.m. for the 23rd running of the Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200.  The 2 hour session, weather permitting, will give drivers a chance to dial in their cars before qualifying and the 200 Saturday.

A pair of late entries have arrived on the grounds, and their names are quite familiar to Late Model fans; Birmingham, Al driver Augie Grill and former Toledo champ Don St. Denis.

Grill will be at the wheel of Jerry Artuso's Car #5, while St. Denis returns to the track 5 years after his infamous altercation with Michael Simko.  The video of the incident, which gained world-wide attention, occured during a red flag of the Glass City 200.  Simko laid a flying drop kick on the windshield of St. Denis' car, and then the duo squared off in a short boxing match.

Saturday's schedule has practice at noon, time trials at 3 and racing at 5 p.m.  For all the details regarding the Glass City 200 and for the practice times after tonight's 2 hour session, log onto www.toledospeedway.com or www.arcaracing.com.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - October 1, 2011) - A pair of Snowball Derby wins, numerous big event victories and championships and now a Glass City 200 title.  Birmingham, AL driver Augie Grill added that crown to his impressive resume by winning Saturday night’s Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway in front of a good crowd on a very cold and windy evening.  Grill’s victory was worth $7,850 out of a purse of over $57,000 in cash and awards.

I have one more column, the champions. If you haven't sent me something on your season, send me something next week to the email at the end of the article.

Augie Grill won the 23rd annual Glass City 200 sponsored by Great Lakes Helicopters Saturday night at Toledo Speedway. He led 175 laps enroute to the victory and a total of $7,850 ($5,500 for the win, $1,750 lap money, $200 halfway and $400 from Francis Engineering). The phrase “on rails” comes to mind for his dominating run. What makes it all the more amazing is he had never raced at Toledo before (although he said it reminded him of Five Flag Speedway in Pensacola, Fla.), let alone run an outlaw late model (he normally drives a template bodied Late Model).

(TOLEDO, Ohio - October 12, 2011) - Reminder: The deadline for Flat Rock/Toledo Speedway banquet tickets is Monday, October 31. The order form may be downloaded from the website, located under Forms.

The banquet is Friday evening, November 18 at the Crystal Gardens in Southgate, Mich. The doors will open at 6:30 and dinner will be at 7:30 p.m., with the awards ceremony to follow.  Music will follow the awards.

Tickets are just $26 each. Only 500 tickets will be sold. Don’t delay; place your order today!

Tickets will be mailed out November 1. For further information, call the Toledo Speedway office at (419) 727-1100.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - October 13, 2011) - Sunday's Federated Car Care 200 at Toledo Speedway will in part be a coronation for rookie driver Ty Dillon, who will clinch the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship simply by starting the race.

Harold Davis Sr., the 1961 Modified champion at Flat Rock Speedway, passed away at his home in Marshall, NC.  He was 85 years old.  Harold drove and later owned Late Models after he retired from the driver's seat, with his #129 on the doors. 

Harold is survived by his wife, Donna, and children Harold Jr., who races at Flat Rock; and daughters Debbie, Dorothy, Lisa and Rose.

Services are pending at the Madison Funeral Home, 1750 Highway 213 in Marshall, NC.  28753.  A memorial service is being planned in Livonia, MI at a later date.

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.

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. 

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.

(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. 

Telegraph Road, just north of the city of Flat Rock, is undergoing a complete reconstruction at this time.  1-lane traffic is being maintained at most times of the day, but backups have been occuring.  This is expected to continue for much of the summer.

For those of you traveling Telegraph to Flat Rock Speedway from points north of the track, it is suggested to use I-275 to Will-Carleton Road (exit 8) or I-75 to the Gibraltar Road or Huron River Drive exits (westbound) to Telegraph and then south to the speedway.

**Telegraph Road is also slated to be CLOSED just north of Monroe from Stewart Road to LaSalle Road sometime this summer.  The dates have not yet been confirmed by MDOT.  We will keep you posted!

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 3, 2012) - Several entries have already been received for the first of 6 ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup races, with the first race set for Sunday afternoon, April 29 at Toledo Speedway.  The 7-Up Twin 100’s will feature 100 lap feature events for both the outlaw-style bodied Gold Cup Late Models and the stock-bodied ARCA/CRA Late Models. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 6, 2012) - Several Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway race teams were busy in the past weeks, taking part in car shows and actually hitting the track for some racing prior to the start of the season at the 2 tracks.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 10, 2012) - Defending ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup champion Dennis Strickland and 2009/2010 champ Mike Root have filed entries for the Sunday afternoon, April 29 race at Toledo Speedway.  The 7-Up Twin 100’s will feature 100 lap feature events for both the outlaw-style bodied ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Late Models and the stock-bodied ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models. 

(FLAT ROCK, MI and TOLEDO, OH - April 22, 2012) - Dry weather and partly sunny skies kept action on the track very busy at practice day Saturday at Flat Rock Speedway and Sunday at Toledo Speedway. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 23, 2012) - A flurry of entries were in the mail box this weekend for the 7-Up Twin 100’s, set for Sunday afternoon, April 29 at Toledo Speedway.  The total number of entries for the two-100 lap features stands at 58 cars as of Noon today.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 25, 2012) - Wayland, MI driver Terry Senneker has inked his entry for this Sunday’s ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup 100 lap event at Toledo Speedway, which is one half of the 7-Up Twin 100’s at the ½ mile paved oval.  The ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models will also be in competition with a separate 100 lap event for the stock-bodied Late Models.

For those race fans and race teams that use I-75 to get to Flat Rock and/or Toledo Speedway, beware!  BOTH I-75 Northbound and Southbound will be CLOSED this Friday, April 27 at 9 p.m. until Sunday, April 29 at 9 p.m. 

The closures are at the Schaefer-Fort St. exit to the north and goes all the way to the Gibraltar Road exit to the south.

MDOT is demolishing bridges in that area.  Here’s the fun part.  Both Telegraph Road just north of Flat Rock and parts of Fort St. (both north-south roads) are also under construction!

A suggestion---take I-275 to I-75 on the way to Toledo.  For Flat Rock, take I-275 to exit 8, Will Carleton Road.  Head east 5 miles and it dead-ends into Telegraph.  Go south or right 1 mile to the track.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - May 5, 2012) - Race fans were treated to a night full of action and thrills as Flat Rock Speedway kicked off the 2012 racing season.  Paul Pelletier, Robbie Loving, Clyde McKee and Rick Bennett captured feature wins. 

The moon was full and that usually signals a strange and wild night at the race track!  Opening night was not kind to the defending Flat Rock champions.  Figure 8 king Jeremy Vanderhoof grenaded an engine in hot laps, went home, put in a new one and did make it back for the race program.  Eric Lee, the Late Model champ, had his day go south with just 2 laps to go in the feature while leading, and 2011 Street Stock champ Tim Moore encountered engine trouble after his heat race and did not compete in the main event.

Flat Rock, Michigan—May 8, 2012:  In the year 1961, John Marcum sanctioned and promoted races across the Midwest.  Joan Simmons was the promoter at Flat Rock Speedway.  Joan had mentioned to Marcum about a race called a Figure 8.  Marcum, in Indiana to promote one of his many oval track races, saw the race that day.  The two icons of the industry put things together, Marcum became the promoter at Flat Rock that next year, and, in 1962, Figure 8 racing at Flat Rock Speedway was born. 

And from that day on, Figure 8 racing became a mainstay at Flat Rock Speedway.  The track will officially celebrate 50 years of Figure 8 racing this Saturday, May 12 as Parts Galore presents Autograph Night and the celebration of 50 years of Figure 8’s at “The Rock”.  A 50 lap feature for the Parts Galore-sponsored Figure 8 cars will be contested on the Figure 8 course to highlight this historic event. (Bob Studt, #54, with Denny Pace, #67 in 1974)

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 11, 2012) - Sunshine and clear skies greeted the fans Friday evening at Toledo Speedway for the Burger King Scout Night.  Scouts were admitted free as guests of the track and the Greater Toledo Burger King Restaurants provided sponsorship for the show.  David Chandler, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bennett Management and the Burger King franchises, presented trophies to the feature winners in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.  The track also paid honor to nearly two dozen former racers during the Racer’s Reunion ceremonies. 

The 20 lap ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 feature saw plenty of intersection action throughout the event.  Jerry Lee led the first 10 circuits until Robbie Loving zipped by on the next lap to take control on his way to the victory.  Lee held on for second, Dennis Whisman was third, Gary Cronenwett fourth and Greg Studt fifth, followed by Dan Apperson, Sam Hall, Scott Apperson, Archie Padgett, Nick Bradley and Ian Jezylo.  Heat race wins went to Cronenwett and Scott Apperson.

Paul Pelletier won the Super Late Model feature, duplicating what he did opening night. “I don’t know what to say. I want to thank my sponsors, Fraza Forklifts, Dusty's Collision, Exotic Automation, First Impressions Cement, ABC Plumbing, Berringer Law, Duane's Roadrunner's and all the fans and family, and my hard working crew. It’s good clean racing with these guys. We have another eight or nine of these races left here this year and hopefully more wins,” said Pelletier.