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.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - August 31, 2013) - While Paul Pelletier, Kyle Worley and Danny Gaddis visited the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle for the first time this season at Flat Rock Speedway, Dennis Strickland, Grant Hedges, Greg Studt and Rich Abel locked up their respective 2013 track championships on Heritage Newspapers Season Championship Night.  The exciting night was capped off with a fireworks display.

The 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model championship event saw the first 29 laps run without a yellow flag.  Paul Pelletier nosed out in front of pole sitter Derek Wiley to take control of the race on the start.  Paul, running with the #6 on his car to honor car owner Bob Ward, who passed away recently, stayed in control the entire distance to grab the win.  Dennis Strickland got by Wiley in the final 12 laps to take second, cementing his second Flat Rock Late Model title in the process.  Ron Allen made a slick move on a restart and was able to grab third, rookie Frank Jiovani was fourth and Steve Cronenwett Jr. fifth.  Wiley was sixth, followed by Stan Yee Jr., Eric Lee, Scott Pemberton and Chris Benson.   Wiley set fast time at 11:825 for the 21 car field, with heat wins to Allen, Joe Hawes and Brad Turner.  Strickland topped Cronenwett Jr., Pelletier, Pemberton and Jiovani in the final points.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 11, 2013) - The early entry list for the 25^th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 presented by Francis Engineering, Woodville Auto Finance, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express is very strong.  The 200 lap outlaw-bodied Late Model invitational is set for Saturday, September 28 at Toledo Speedway.

Former Flat Rock Speedway Street Stock driver and car owner Bill Dickey, age 60, passed away Sunday, September 8 after a courageous battle against cancer.

Bill owned and drove the car number 30 in the 1990’s and his son, Carl, drove the car in the early 2000’s.

He is survived by his son Carl and step-son Chris Kehn.

Per Bill’s wishes, there will be no visitation or services. 

The 1997 edition of the Glass City 200 saw several circumstances surrounding the season-ending classic.  For the first time in its 10-year history, the race was moved to a Saturday night in August.  Promoter John Marcum had created another marquee’ style event with the Howard Williams Memorial, in honor of the late Public Relations Director of ARCA and the track announcer at Toledo.  That race became the last event of the season at the Glass City oval, and Marcum’s final promotion at Toledo.

Few knew that 1977 would be the last season for the Glass City race for a period of 21 years.  Track owner Herb Koester sold the speedway to Thomas (Sonny) Adams.  Adams ran the facility from 1978 to 1998, until he sold the track to Marcum’s grandson, ARCA President Ron Drager, and his business partner, Roy Mott.  While Adams ran several big-time races during his stay at Toledo, the Glass City 200 was shelved.  

With the move to a Saturday night in August, the number of entries fell back to 31 cars.  The strength of the field, which became a trademark of each Glass City race, was still present despite the car count.  The legendary Bob Senneker would etch his name in the books as the first 3-time winner of the 200 lap event….and the 21 year hiatus of the Glass City 200 began…

Late Models:  Unload, place car on jackstands; TECH GARAGE:  3 CREWMEN PER CAR, PLUS DRIVER.  NO ONE ELSE IN TECH BARN DURING INSPECTION!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

2 p.m.             Pit registration opens; rig parking; tire sales/LM over-under tech

5 p.m.             Optional practice session for all classes

7 p.m.             Practice ends; All marked impound tires must be returned to impound area

GARAGE CLOSES AT 8 P.M.  LOCK UP YOUR EQUIPMENT AND TRAILERS!

7:30-9 p.m     Dinner for all pit pass buyers at Bar/Grille, courtesy of Francis Engineering; additional dinners available at $10 per plate.  Live band after dinner!  Distant Cousinz

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

9:30 a.m.        Pit registration opens 

Late Model tech open…only Late Models to tech barn--Must go thru tech line before you go on-track; you will draw for qualifying at tech.

11 a.m.           Tires released from impound—no more than 4 tires at a time.

11:15 a.m.     Late Model Driver and Spotter meeting-tech barn

11:45              Sportsman w/ spotter and X Car Driver’s meeting- pit grandstand       

Noon-12:45  Late Model practice

Noon:              Sportsman and X cars through tech barn—do not block aisle

12:45-1:10     Sportsman practice

1:10-1:20       X Car practice

1:20-1:55      Final Late Model practice/scuff session before qualifying

1:55-2:15       Final Sportsman practice

2:15-2:30       Final X Car practice

2:30                Break; clear grandstands; ticket sales begin

2:30                Tech line opens for LM qualifying---first 15 cars and so on.

2:55                X Cars on ½ mile to qualify—IF 20 cars or more

3 p.m.             X Cars qualifying—See above.

3:10 p.m.        Qualifying:  Sportsman-must be on 1/4 mile at end of X Car qualifying. 

                        LM’s will follow (in groups of 15) Top 20 locked in.

                        LM B Main tires to be released after qualifying is completed.

                        **LM B crews, SP crews can set up on pit road after qualifying is concluded.

4:45 p.m.        Woodville Auto Finance LM pole award presentation.

4:50                Pre-race ceremonies:  Invocation-Jerry Stewart

                        Canadian Anthem and National Anthem—Distant Cousinz

5 p.m.             LM B Main race—25 laps (top 6 advance to 200) (if necessary)

                        (LM Feature cars-remaining impound tires released during LM last-chance race; if

                        there Is no B Main, tires will be released after time trials.

                        LM scuff session-10 minutes max.

Sportsman feature—40 laps

                        X Car feature—30 laps

LM Crews can go to pit road anytime during X Car feature

LM’s to turn 4 to line up for 200 at lap 15 mark of X Car race.

Introduction of Grand Marshall-Joe Ruttman

                        Introductions of past champions and Glass City 200 winners, sponsors,

                        Driver Introductions

                        200 lap Glass City 200--**Driver introductions TBA depending on weather,

                        time.

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE (rain date is Sunday, Sept. 29—1 p.m. race time (or as soon as possible)

For the second straight year, cold temperatures greeted fans for the 2012 running of the Glass City 200.  One driver’s misfortune turned into a winning drive for another, but Terry Senneker Jr.’s unbelievable save with less than 30 laps to go put him in position for the “biggest win of my career”…….

Flat Rock, Michigan—October 5, 2013:  Rick McColl used the strategy of going for broke and did not pit for fuel, which became the right call as he scored the victory in the 300 lap Enduro Championship race Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.  Jeff Metdepenningen’s second place run netted him the 2013 track Enduro title, his second at “The Rock.”

The 26 car field used a practice session to serve as their qualifying session also.  Jeff Braun set fast time and rolled a 7 for the inversion.   Bobby Hugo and Dave Stadniczuk were early leaders until Jeff Metdepenningen took control of the race.  Jeff stayed in front until he pitted at lap 186 for fuel, giving the lead to his son, Rayce.  Several laps later, Rayce darted into the pits for his fuel stop, handing the lead to McColl.  Both Jeff and Rayce, running for the Enduro championship, played it safe by stopping for fuel, while McColl, who was not in the mix for the title, rolled the dice and stayed out on the track.

When Jeff Metdepennigen returned to the race, McColl had built up over a 1 lap lead on his challenger.  McColl held on for the victory over Jeff, Dave Bennett, Troy Brehmer and Stadniczuk.  The winner checked his fuel at the end of the race and had very, very little left as he claimed the win.  McColl said “I shut the engine off during the red flag.  Had I not, we probably would not have made it.”  The only red flag came out when Tony Rumble snapped an axle.

Jeff Metdepenningen’s run secured his 2^nd title at the track.  Jeff’s first one was in 2011.

Derrick Sheppard was sixth, cementing his 2^nd place finish in the final point tally.  Rick Bennett, Braun, Bob Swanson and Hugo completed the top ten, followed by Ed Case, Rayce Metdepenningen, Brock Kamlay, Danny Bennett, Shawn Bershback, Tom Sprotberry, Jacob Thomas, Mike Luebke, Lou Caposey, John Devor, Tony Rumble, Eric Fitzpatrick, Jimmy Gullett, Derek Denton, Paul Martell and Herbie King.

The Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway awards banquet in Saturday, October 12 at the Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille banquet room at 6 p.m.

Page 50, 9.  Weight (point of emphasis, adding):  All car measurements, minus weight, will be done in a single, consistent manner, according to driver preference—either driver in the car or out of the car.  There will be no combination used in determining measurements.

(In 11-6-13 rules update, this was written as driver out of car for all measurements, minus weight). 

**The change will also be noted on the complete list of updates on the webpage.

Page 68, 8.  Body:  Front over-hang on nosepiece is maximum 46 inches, from center of hub (was incorrectly listed at 45 inches).

Thank you,

Jack Franzil

Chief Inspector

Flat Rock, MI and Toledo, OH—December 10, 2013:  Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway officials are proud to announce the return of Parts Galore as the title sponsor of the ARCA Figure 8 division at both tracks for the 2014 season.

Parts Galore, with 2 locations in the Detroit area and its facility just north of Flat Rock Speedway, will enter into its 4th year as the title sponsor of the “Motor City Madmen”, the ARCA Figure 8 division.  The business, which features the u-pull-it auto and truck parts concept, will also sponsor the track’s School Bus Figure 8 race June 14, as well as sponsoring school buses at both of those events this year.  Bill Wild of Parts Galore began his relationship with Flat Rock over 30 years ago, tying in several of his previous business ventures with the speedway. 

“We are very pleased to announce the return of Parts Galore to our family of sponsors to kick off the 2014 season,” noted Scott Schultz, General Manager of the 2 tracks.  “We are very fortunate to have a business relationship with Bill Wild and Jim McClellan of Parts Galore and their staffs.”

Several other announcements, in addition to the 2014 race schedules, are expected to follow in the coming weeks.  Log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com or www.toledospeedway.com for updated information and news on both tracks during the winter months.

ATTENTION FLAT ROCK-

TOLEDO DRIVERS:

ALL winnings for Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways are assigned to the driver, unless a W-9 form is filled out and returned to the ARCA office no later than January 31, 2014.

The W-9 may be downloaded from the webpages.  It is located under forms.  Please fill out the form if needed and mail to:

Toledo Speedway

5639 Benore Road

Toledo, OH  43612

(TOLEDO, Ohio - January 17, 2014) - Toledo Speedway’s signature event, the famed Glass City 200 Late Model invitational, will carry the Great Lakes Helicopter name again in 2014 as the title sponsor for the fourth consecutive season.  The prestigious event takes place Saturday, September 20 at the lightning-fast ½ mile paved oval.

Former ARCA/Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway Figure 8 driver JR Bunting passed away this weekend.  Bunting, age 62, competed in the division in the late 1960’s and 1970’s in his familiar #34 machines.

(TOLEDO, Ohio – January 24, 2014) – The 2013 Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways champions were honored at the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club banquet in Warren, MI on Saturday, January 18.

Former Toledo Speedway driver Steve Winterhalter, age 55, passed away Tuesday, February 18.  Steve competed in the ARCA Factory Stock division in the car #33 for several seasons.

Steve was self-employed for the past 25 years with his business Road Warrior, LTD Steering Column Repair.

He is survived by his parents, wife Karen, a daughter, 3 sons, 2 grandchildren and mother-in-law, Sue.

Visitation will be held Sunday, February 23 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.at the Michael W. Pawlak Funeral Home, 1640 Smith Road (at Jackman Road) in Temperance, MI.  Services will follow at the funeral home at 6 p.m.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 12, 2013) - Defending race winner Terry Senneker Jr. of Wayland, MI has filed his entry for the 25^th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 presented by Francis Engineering, Woodville Auto Finance, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express.  The 200 lap outlaw-bodied Late Model invitational is set for Saturday, September 28 at Toledo Speedway.

The second-generation star will be looking to duplicate his win from last year’s classic.  Terry grabbed the lead with just 4 laps to go in the 2012 edition of the event when leader Steve Needles had an engine let go, ending his bid for victory.

Angola, IN native Scott Hantz, the 2013 ARCA Glass City Gold Cup Late Model champion, has also inked his entry, along with his teammate, Jeff Ganus.  Both drivers will pilot cars from the Great Lakes Helicopter stable.  Veteran Dave Stehouwer and Scott Pemberton have also sent in their entries for the 200 lap contest.