Toledo Speedway

In 1968, Toledo Speedway promoter and ARCA founder John Marcum came up with the idea of running a 200 lap Late Model invitational—the Glass City 200.  Despite a 20-year hiatus of the race from 1978-1998 (when the Toledo track was sold), the race was revived in 1999 when Marcum’s grandson, Ron Drager, purchased the track with business partner Roy Mott.

And today, the race still carries the prestige and notoriety that it once did back in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  Let’s take a look back at the 1970 edition of the race……………

In 1968, Toledo Speedway promoter and ARCA founder John Marcum came up with the idea of running a 200 lap Late Model invitational—the Glass City 200.  Despite a 20-year hiatus of the race from 1978-1998 (when the Toledo track was sold), the race was revived in 1999 when Marcum’s grandson, Ron Drager, purchased the track with business partner Roy Mott.

And the race still carries the prestige and notoriety that it once did back in the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

In 1972, things finally came together for Danny Byrd at the Glass City 200…..

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 14, 2013) - The largest crowd in several years jammed Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night for the Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 race.  Perfect weather greeted the sold-out crowd to witness not only the bus race, but a Boat Figure 8 and the track’s Figure 8 and Street Stock classes.

Rookie Corey Duane capped off a solid first year with a win in the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock feature.  The “progressive” show, which had no qualifying, is set up by a blind draw for heat races and finishes in those events sets the field for the feature race.  Duane, who had recorded several second runs this year, got to the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle in his #12, topping Tim Moore, Nick Shanks, Scott Selmi, Rob Moore, Guy Fire, Craig Lange, Jeff Luttermoser, Chris Diovardi and Pete Shrake.  Marvin Krause, Kyle Worley, Tadek Stadniczuk, Gary Haener, Justin Rodriguez, Larry Smouthers, Clyde McKee and Tom Murphy completed the finishing order.  Steve Chartrand and Dan Doyle were scratches for the main event.  Rob Moore, Selmi and Fire won the heat races.

In January of 1999, ARCA President Ron Drager and his business partner, Roy Mott, purchased Toledo Speedway from Sonny Adams.  And with the new season looming, it was time to revive a race that became known for its competition and excitement…the Glass City 200.

As a kid growing up around the sport of auto racing, Joe Ruttman was prepared to become a race car driver from the start.  His older brother, Troy, was the 1952 Indianapolis 500 winner, and his father Ralph and brother Jim were also racers.  Joe actually ran a pair of NASCAR races at the Riverside, CA road course as a teenager in 1963. 

Toledo, Ohio—September 24, 2013:  With the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 just days away, race teams are busy testing and making final preparations for the Silver Anniversary of the prestigious event.  The 200 lap outlaw-bodied Late Model race is being co-sponsored by Francis Engineering, Woodville Auto Finance, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express.  2-time Glass City winner Joe Ruttman (1969, 1973) will be the Grand Marshal for the event.

2012 Glass City winner Terry Senneker put his #37 through its final laps before the weekend.  Terry and several other teams tested at Toledo Monday.  Senneker led just 4 laps, but they were the final 4 as Steve Needles had an engine let go, putting Terry in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle at the Glass City oval.

2-time Glass City winner Harold Fair Jr. also tested Monday, as did Brian Ross, at the wheel of Bob Blount’s #16.  Ross will be making his first start at Toledo since 1999.  Jeff Ganus, at the wheel of the Great Lakes Helicopter #5, also tested, along with Scott Pemberton in his #51 and Brian Clay in the #30 machine.

This past weekend, Dennis Strickland, Scott McKenzie, Mike Young, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Chris Benson and Jimmy Thiel all shook down their cars for the 200 lap classic.

In addition to the 200 lap feature, the 40 lap Woodville Auto Finance Sportsman invitational and the 30 lap X Car invitational will also be a part of the huge weekend.

September 25, 2013:  It’s almost here!  And the weather forecast is….well, we’ll wait to see what Saturday brings to the Toledo Speedway!  Just more notes, news and more photos for you as the 25^th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 arrives Saturday, September 28.

Toledo, Ohio—September 27, 2013:  The race car rigs are pulling in and the gates are open at Toledo Speedway for the 25^th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200!  And guess who’s in line? 

It’s 2011 race winner and short track star Augie Grill, a late entry for the Silver Anniversary of this classic event.  The Hayden, Alabama driver will once again be at the wheel of Canadian Jerry Artuso’s car, numbered this year as #112, the number that adorns most of Grill’s race cars.  The duo teamed up and put Grill in the Winner’s Circle in his very first race at Toledo and, his first race in an outlaw-bodied Super Late Model for the Glass City 200.

That puts the entry list at 34 cars—27 cars are already on the grounds as of 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.  Tonight’s schedule has a short practice session from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Fans can watch the practice free of charge.

The advance ticket sale will end tonight at 5 p.m. Some reserved seating remains for Saturday’s prestigious event and may be obtained by stopping at the track office or calling 419-727-1100.  Most major credit cards are accepted.

The race day schedule has the pit area opening at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at Noon, time trials are set for 3 and racing begins at 5 p.m. The front gates will be open to watch practice during the afternoon; at 2:30, the grandstands will be cleared and tickets will go on sale.

Any remaining reserved seat tickets and all general admission and kids tickets will go on sale when the ticket office opens at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. 

Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for the entry list, lap money sponsor list and all the history and background on the one and only Glass City 200!

TOLEDO SPEEDWAY

*2013 Season Complete 

*CONGRATULATIONS TO DENNIS STRICKLAND-WINNER, GLASS CITY 200!

*Flat Rock/Toledo Awards Night is Saturday, October 12 at 6 p.m.—No admission fee

Location:  Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille banquet room

Happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; full bar and kitchen will be open

NASCAR race from Charlotte to be shown after awards ceremonies on TV’s

Call 419-727-1100 for information

Sat. Oct. 5:  300 lap Enduro championship race!

Pits:  3:30

Front gates:  5 p.m.

Practice:  5 (Enduro cars will practice/qualify at same time—LeMans style)

Race:  6 p.m.

Pits

ARCA members $20

All Non-members:  $30

Minimum age for pits is 12, with minor’s release signed by parent(s) at registration (must be with minor).

Admission:  $12 adults, children 6-12 are $3, under 6 is free.

 Sun. Oct. 6:  Flat Rock Historical Society Flea Market

7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Free admission to grounds; no pets

For space rental information, please call 734-782-5220

 Both Tracks:  FREE parking on track grounds; all concession items are priced from .50 to $3.50.  Beer is available ($4-4.50);

 Flat Rock Speedway is located on Telegraph Road, just 5 minutes from I-75 or I-275.  The track phone number is 734-782-2480.  Log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com for further information, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @flatrockspeed.

Both tracks have now completed their 2013 seasons!

*2013 AWARDS NIGHT—SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013*

TOLEDO SPEEDWAY BAR/GRILLE BANQUET ROOM

Awards ceremony begins at 6 p.m.

No admission fee-everyone is welcome!

Happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; $2 Miller Lite or PBR Draft Special!

Full bar and kitchen will be open

NASCAR race from Charlotte to be shown after awards ceremonies on TV’s

(TOLEDO, Ohio - October 12, 2013) - Race teams, officials, family and friends gathered Saturday evening at the Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille Banquet Room for the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways Awards Night.  Each of the champions received their championship jackets from ARCA President and Flat Rock/Toledo owner and promoter Ron Drager.

DATES:  May 17, July 5, August 2, September 13 (Saturdays)

**ALL DRIVERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE ARCA MEMBERS FOR THE 2014 SEASON.  THE FEE IS $100 FOR THE YEAR; LICENSE MAY BE PAID IN FULL OR $25 PER EVENT.  THIS IS ONLY FOR THE LICENSE.  PIT PASSES WILL REMAIN AT $20 PER RACE. THE MEMBERSHIP FORM MUST BE FILLED OUT PRIOR TO THE FIRST RACE YOU COMPETE IN.

CLARIFICATION and UPDATE:  4 Cylinder cars are permitted; NO dual over-head cams or turbo engines.  4 Cylinder cars may follow Enduro rules package.  All safety rules strictly enforced.

CLARIFICATION:   All suspension parts are to be stock with no modifications.  The only exception is that racing springs are permitted.

TIRES:  8 inch Hoosier 880 and 8 inch Hoosier Sportsman tires 8.0-15, 26.5 and 27.5 sizes, will both be permitted.  May mix compounds.  All tires must be purchased from ARCA and be in ARCA barcode inventory system.  No soaking, defacing, shaving or altering of tires in any manner.  Treaded street tires also permitted.

The complete Enduro rules/entry form will be mailed the first week of January, 2014.

Thank you,

Bill Leach

Ron Drager

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 11, 2014) - The Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille Banquet Room will host the annual Racer’s Reunion and Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club (MARFC) meeting Saturday, March 15.

(September 4, 2013):  An upstart driver with a strong racing heritage provided the story line for the 1969 Glass City 200, the second year for the race.  Joe Ruttman, whose brother, Troy, captured the Indy 500, posted the “upset” win in the 200 lap contest.  Driving a car with the number 14 on the doors, Joe took the lead from Kalamazoo, MI driver Jerry Spear on lap 171 when Spear ran out of fuel, giving Ruttman the lead and the eventual win.

TOLEDO SPEEDWAY

Tuesday, Sept. 17:  Placer’s Car Club Classic Car Cruisin’

SUPER CRUISE NIGHT!

FEATURING ENTERTAINMENT BY BOB WURST AND JERRY CONNELLY!

*Cash prizes, 50/50 drawing, food and beverages available!

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  FREE admission!

(Last show of season will be Tuesday, September 24)

**FINAL RACE IS SAT. SEPT. 28 AT TOLEDO!

GREAT LAKES HELICOPTER GLASS CITY 200 LAPS—LATE MODELS

Tickets now on sale!!!

Plus Sportsman and X Car Invitationals—5 p.m. is race time!

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27—OPTIONAL PRACTICE SESSION, RIG PARKING, TIRE SALES, LIMITED TECH

Pits:  2 p.m.  Practice:  5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28:  Pits:  9:30 a.m.  Drivers meeting:  11:30 a.m.  Practice:  12:15 p.m.

Time trials:  3 p.m.  Racing:  5 p.m.

Pits:  $50 for 2-day pit pass, $40 Saturday only; $20 Friday only

Grandstands: Reserved-$25 advance, $27 day of race

General admission:  $25, children 6-12 are $3, under 6-Free

Sat. Oct. 5:  300 lap Enduro championship race!

Pits:  3:30

Front gates:  5 p.m.

Practice:  5 (Enduro cars will practice/qualify at same time—LeMans style)

Race:  6 p.m.

Pits

ARCA members $20

All Non-members:  $30

Minimum age for pits is 12, with minor’s release signed by parent(s) at registration (must be with minor).

Admission:  $12 adults, children 6-12 are $3, under 6 is free.

Sun. Oct. 6:  Flat Rock Historical Society Flea Market

7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Free admission to grounds; no pets

For space rental information, please call 734-782-5220

Both Tracks:  FREE parking on track grounds; all concession items are priced from .50 to $3.50.  Beer is available ($4-4.50);

Flat Rock Speedway is located on Telegraph Road, just 5 minutes from I-75 or I-275.  The track phone number is 734-782-2480.  Log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com for further information, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @flatrockspeed.

Toledo Speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit (behind Meijer store).  The track phone number is 419-727-1100.  Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for further information, or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.

When you look at the list of winners of the Glass City 200, it’s very, very impressive.  When you think about the drivers that have not won the race and have tried for many years, well, that’s why this race holds the prestige and history in short track Late Model racing.  It’s a quest for many drivers, and, for most of the winners, it was “my biggest win”.  That’s been said over and over. 

No one expected to see a driver from Alabama show up to run the Glass City 200.  The southern states pretty much don’t run outlaw-bodied Late Models, but 2-time Snowball Derby winner Augie Grill became an instant success at Toledo Speedway in 2011.  Grill, teaming with Canadian Jerry Artuso, was a surprise entrant and promptly showed his skills by sailing to the victory on an extremely bitter cold Saturday night.

October 31, 2013:  An early reminder to our Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway race teams!  All winnings are assigned to the drivers.  To have your winnings assigned to another party, please fill out the W-9 form that is located under forms on the track's webpage.

Please mail to:  Toledo Speedway, 5639 Benore Road, Toledo, OH  43612 no later than December 31, 2013.

The 2014 rules updates will be mailed and posted no later than next Friday, November 8.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - November 14, 2013) - Toledo Speedway will swing open its gates for the 2014 racing season with the 7-Up 150 for the stock-bodied ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models and the ARCA Midwest Tour Late Models.  The 2 groups will once again combine forces to compete in this 150 lap contest on the ½ mile paved oval Saturday afternoon, April 12. 

Santa Claus is loading is sleigh early!  The cold air is a sure sign of Winter in our area and the holidays are just around the corner!

And in Santa’s bag are gifts for the race fan in your life—Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway season tickets, $25 gift cards, racing DVD’s, the ARCA 50^th Anniversary yearbook and the leather/wool jacket are all ready for purchase!

You can order your gifts today by simply downloading the order form located under forms on the track webpages and mailing to:  ARCA, P.O. Box 380, Temperance, MI  48182.

Phone orders are also being accepted by calling Sherry Miller at the ARCA office at 734-847-6726, extension 201, or the track’s winter office at 419-727-1100 today!

On behalf of the tracks, here’s to a joyous and safe holiday season!

This is our first bulletin of the off-season.  We’ll do one each month through March of 2014.  We are working on the schedules and should be ready to release them by the first of January.  The winter office for both tracks is at Toledo; 419-727-1100.  The bulletins will be posted on the website and sent to our email list; if you are not on the email list, call us at 419-727-1100 or email cwagner@arcaracing.com and we will add your name!

Roger Vroman, age 86, of Monroe, MI, passed away December 6.  Roger was the 1957 Flat Rock Speedway "Hard Top" champion at the 1/4 mile paved oval.

Vroman also competed at Toledo Speedway, and was also a champion in motorcycle racing in the area.  He was a member of the VFW Post 3943, American Legion, Carleton Gun club and the NRA.  Roger was a tool and diemaker for over 30 years before retiring.

Roger is survived by his wife of 27 years, June; 2 daughters-Pamela Cork and Tina Vroman, both of Indiana; 2 step-children, Cheryl McKay of Monroe and John Carter of Tennessee; 2 brothers, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruby, and 2 brothers.

Services are today, Tuesday, December 10 at the Merkle Funeral Home in Monroe.

John Whisman, 64, passed away Sunday, December 15 after a long illness.  John is the brother of ARCA Flat Rock-Toledo Speedway Figure 8 driver Dennis Whisman and car owner/mechanic Joe Whisman.

John was a fixture at both tracks for much of his life, driving and working on race cars alongside his brothers David, Joe and Dennis.  He was preceded in death by his brother, David. 

Survivors include his brothers Joe and Dennis, and sisters Betty and Teresa; children Dawn, Michelle, Johnny, Amy, Jill and Scott.

Visitation and services will be held at the Voran Funeral Home, 23701 Ford Road (west of Telegraph Road) in Dearborn, MI. Wednesday, December 18 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.  A service will take place at 7 p.m.

This is our 2ND bulletin of the off-season.  We’ll do one each month through March of 2014. The winter office for both tracks is at Toledo; 419-727-1100.  The bulletins will be posted on the website and sent to our email list; if you are not on the email list, call us at 419-727-1100 or email cwagner@arcaracing.com and we will add your name!   The schedules will be posted Monday, December 23.