The Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille will host its annual Customer Appreciation Day and Christmas Party Friday, December 21.  Complimentary appetizers will be served all day long, beginning when the doors open at Noon.  The kitchen will be open and of course, the beverage of your choice will be available!

Everyone is invited!  We will also welcome back track co-owner Roy Mott and announcer Gary Lindahl to the party!  Roy is recovering from a kidney transplant, while Gary is making progress following his second hip replacement surgery.  Both are planning to be at the party in the evening, at the very least!

For those in a giving mood and a little fun, a white elephant gift exchange ($10 maximum on gift value) will take place at 7 p.m.  A 50/50 raffle will also be conducted by the Driven Women.  The drawing will take place at 9 p.m.  You must be present to win!

Miller Lite cans will be $1.25 each, with bucket specials also available.  The complimentary appetizers will consist of meatballs, veggie trays, chips, pretzels, dips and more! 

Join us as we celebrate the holiday season, the return of Roy and Gary and anything else you want to celebrate December 21….as Gary would say……be there!!!!!!

December 10, 2012

2013 ARCA FIGURE 8 RULE AMENDMENT

*2013 rule book takes precedent over this rules change sheet.

*Page numbers may change in 2013 rule book

*2012 rule book, Page 55, 9.  BODY, A: 

Figure 8 car has option to run without nosepiece and/or fenders, with following specifications:  Front bumper must be minimum of 17 inches and no more than 19 inches from the ground to bumper (bumper height will apply to all Figure 8 cars).  Maximum 2 inch by 3 inch tubing, .083 maximum thickness.  Bumpers must be rounded off.  Front bumper may be no wider than center of tread width.  Nerf bar on front bumper may not exceed 10 inches in height.  Front fenders to cover at least half the tire or may run with no fenders.  No sharp edges.

December 10, 2012

To:  ARCA Sportsman, Street Stock, Figure 8 teams

 RE:  2013 tire rule

The ARCA Sportsman, Street Stock and Figure 8 divisions will now utilize the Hoosier 880 tire for competition for the 2013 season.  The Hoosier 880 tire will be available in the 26.5 and 27.5 sizes.  This tire will replace the Hoosier Sportsman tire.

Both the 880 tire and the Sportsman tire will be legal for competition through June 1, 2013.  No mixing of compounds will be permitted (all 4 tires must be of same compound). 

After June 1, 2013, the Hoosier 880 compound will be the only tire permitted for competition in the 3 divisions listed above.

 *This 2013 rules bulletin is also being mailed to ARCA Figure 8, Sportsman and Street Stock drivers and/or owners that were registered in 2012.

Toledo, Ohio—December 7, 2012:  Several new events are in store for race fans and racers for the upcoming 2013 season at both Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways.  While the traditional School Bus Figure 8 races and Figure 8 Boat Races are once again part of each schedule, a pair of new events will be added—the Figure 8 Trailer race and the Flag Pole Race.

Both the Figure 8 Boat and Figure 8 Trailer events will be opened up to competitors to bring their own tow vehicles and Travel Trailers and Boats for the events.  The objective is very simple—to finish the race with your trailer or your boat still attached to your tow vehicle!  The action takes place on the Figure 8 course at both speedways, making for a fun-filled and unpredictable event, featuring plenty of crashing and destruction!

The Flag Pole race should be quite entertaining!  Using the short track at Toledo and Flat Rock’s ¼ mile paved oval, a tire and pole will be placed in the center of the straight-aways.  Again, it’s very simple—make a total of 10 laps, but the vehicle will have to make a loop around each tire each lap!  Traffic is sure to be hectic as the field battles its way around the flag poles each and every lap of the race!

The rules sheet for the Trailer, Boat and Flag Pole races may be downloaded from either of the track’s webpage.  The sheet is located under forms.

Toledo, Ohio--December 1, 2012:  Bluffton, SC driver Brad Rogers, at the wheel of the Toledo, OH based PB Fabrication team, qualified 11th out of 60 cars and is in the field for Sunday's 45th Annual Snowball Derby at the Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.  The race is for template-bodied Late Model cars.

Rogers, who has competed in the last 3 Glass City 200's at Toledo behind the wheel of the PB Fab #0 outlaw Late Model, had a great qualifying run for the race during Friday evening's qualifying session.  Brad's relationship with the team began several years ago when crew chief Nick Bailey, a former Toledo Late Model driver, was working with several NASCAR teams while residing in North Carolina and became friends with Rogers.

Good luck Brad, car owner Pete Bailey, Nick and the entire PB Fab crew in Sunday's race!

Toledo, Ohio—November 27, 2012:  As work continues on the 2013 schedules for Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways, a change has been announced for Flat Rock’s Saturday night opener.  “The Rock” will now open its 60^th consecutive season of stock car racing Saturday night, April 27.  The original date announced at the awards banquet was May 4.

The ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models, Figure 8’s and Street Stocks will each be in action for the April 27 lid-lifter.  The pre-season open practices are Saturday, April 20 and Wednesday, April 24.

One of the early-season specials includes the return of the MSA Super Modifieds to the track, with that date taking place May 25.  Saturday night racing will run each week through September 14.  The complete schedule should be ready for release prior to the New Year.

Toledo Speedway opens the 2013 racing season Saturday, April 20.  Details of this major event will be announced in the next 2 weeks. 

Friday night racing begins at the ½ mile paved oval May 3, featuring the ARCA Sportsman, Figure 8’s, 4 Cylinders and the X Car Class.  The pre-season practice is Sunday, April 28.

Early-season races at Toledo include the first ARCA Late Model Gold Cup race Friday, May 10 and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards 200 race weekend Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19.  Toledo’s complete schedule will be announced in conjunction with the Flat Rock schedule.

ARCA 4 CYLINDER DIVISION NEWS

While the rules for the 4 Cylinder class remains the same as the 2012 package, several other changes have been made for 2013, with the goal of enhancing the division car count for next season.

November 26, 2012:  As is tradition, the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway gifts for the Christmas season are now available!  You can find the order form under forms on each of the track’s web pages.

Choose from 2013 season tickets, the $25 gift cards (good at either track), DVD’s of racing action, the 50^th Anniversary ARCA Yearbook (a collector’s item), ARCA hats and the Flat Rock/Toledo Speedway wool/leather jacket!

Phone orders are also being accepted--Operators are standing by!  Call 419-727-1100 today to place your order for that race fan in your life!

From the staff and management of both tracks, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

To our fans, sponsors, race teams and officials, may you enjoy a day of rest and peace with your family and friends...Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways.

We have spoken with Gary Lindahl...his hip replacement surgery yesterday was successful.

And to Brad Keselowski and his family--CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! 

This is the first 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. 

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.

TAX FORMS:  The W-9’s are posted under forms.  IF someone other than the driver is to receive the winnings, this form MUST be filled out and sent to the office.

AGE LIMIT FOR DRIVERS:  Beginning with the 2013 season, the minimum age to race at Flat Rock and Toledo will be 14 years old.  ALL drivers younger than 16 will have a set of requirements to meet, which is outlined below:  Personal meeting with ARCA officials; background profile/resume, private on-track test session with observers on hand, restrictive/probationary status for designated period of time.  Please contact the track if you have a driver under the age of 16 that will be competing next season.

Toledo, Ohio—November 19, 2012:  Judging from the photo, Desi “Tas” Kesler has found a hobby-a hobby that requires precision work and attention to detail.  The former Toledo Speedway racer is now building replicas of Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway race cars to keep himself busy.  Health issues have sidelined Tas from his daily work.

His love for racing directed Tas to the hobby of building model cars.  He has completed several cars already this fall, and, with Christmas right around the corner, his workload is expected to increase.

To check out Kesler’s work, go to www.facebook.com/TazRacingCollectibles.  Taz can be reached at 419-754-7127 or at tazmania2329@yahoo.com for more information.

Toledo, Ohio—November 12, 2012:  A handful of rules, allowing several types of race cars and merging them into 1 class is what the “X” Cars are all about.  And for the 2013 season, Toledo Speedway will put the class into action for their weekly Friday night race cards.  The announcement was formally made at the track’s annual awards banquet November 9.

The division will join the ARCA Figure 8’s and 4 Cylinders, making for 3 separate classes of competition on Toledo’s short track in the coming year.  While the ARCA Street Stock class will not be part of the 2013 Toledo schedule, the division will be able to run as part of the X Car class.

With a basic set of rules, including safety, the division should see a mix of Street Stock, Enduro, Figure 8 and the former Factory Stock cars in competition, all as 1 class.  A point system will be in place for the group.  The complete set of specifications for the division will be announced prior to the holiday season.

“We contemplated going to a more relaxed set of rules that would allow more cars to compete in 1 class,” stated Ron Drager, owner and promoter of the track.  “Toledo’s short track is a good match for the X Car class, giving a variety of cars the option to race on Friday nights, and hopefully putting a full field of cars on the track.  We believe the X Car option provides that opportunity.”

Track management has also put down an experimental patch of sealer on the short track, with the goal of reducing the amount of grit on the surface, yet still retaining traction.  A test was conducted November 10, with promising results.  The season will begin with the test patch in place and a decision on sealing the entire small track will be made after consulting with the drivers.

The 2013 schedule will be released around the holiday season.  Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for all the current track information and updates during the off-season.

(SOUTHGATE, MI - November 9, 2012) - Race teams, officials, family and friends met Friday evening for the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways banquet, held at the elegant Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Southgate, MI.  Each of the champions received their championship jackets as Master of Ceremonies Gary Lindahl led a toast to the champions.

The 2013 Flat Rock-Toledo Speedway rule changes are now available.  They may be downloaded by going to either track webpage; they are located under forms.

Hard copies were mailed Monday, November 5 to the 2012 weekly drivers and owners lists.

$1000 REWARD

A $1000 REWARD HAS BEEN POSTED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE PERSON OR PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VANDALISM/DAMAGE AT FLAT ROCK SPEEDWAY AND/OR TOLEDO SPEEDWAY.

ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED WILL BE HELD IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE.

PLEASE CALL 419-727-1100

The Flat Rock-Toledo Speedway banquet ticket deadline is today, Monday, October 29.

All orders must be in to the track office no later than 5 p.m. Monday, October 29.

Tickets are $27 each for the banquet, which will be held at the Crystal Gardens on Fort Street in Southgate, MI.  

All tickets ordered will be mailed out by Tuesday, October 30.

For any other information, please call 419-727-1100.

The Thursday night Placer's Car Club Classic Car Shows held at Toledo Speedway have concluded for the 2012 season.

The club met last night and decided to call an end to the events, which are held the first 3 Thursdays of each month.

Details regarding the 2013 car shows will be announced at a later date.

A reminder that the deadline for banquet ticket orders for the annual Flat Rock-Toledo Speedway awards banquet is Monday, October 22.  The order form may be downloaded from the web pages of both tracks.  It is located under forms.

The date of the banquet is Friday, November 9.  The location is Crystal Gardens, located on Fort Street in Southgate, MI.  The doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 7:30, followed by the awards ceremony.  Music and dancing will cap off the evening.

Tickets are $27 each and include dinner and an open bar.  NO tickets will be sold at the door.

Only 500 tickets will be sold!  We are already at the 200 mark, so orders yours today!

As we prepare for the winter months, we would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to our fans, sponsors, race teams and officials for a great 2012 season at Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways.  To all parties---you are the best!

It goes without saying that we cannot put on the race shows without your support.  We strive to do our best to provide a clean, safe venue with great entertainment week in and week out. 

So to our fans and sponsors, THANK YOU!

To our race teams and officials-THANK YOU!

Look for the 2013 schedules to be released around the holidays.  Flat Rock Speedway will celebrate its 60^th Anniversary season next year, while Toledo will get ready to open for its 53^rd consecutive season of auto racing, and, the Silver Anniversary of the Glass City 200.

Hope to see all of you at our annual awards banquet November 9.  Best wishes to everyone to have a safe off-season. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 29, 2012) - Wayland, MI driver Terry Senneker made a great save on lap 173, then took the lead for the first time with just 4 laps to go when race leader Steve Needles engine let go, paving the way to the win for Terry at the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Late Model race Saturday night at Toledo Speedway.  Meloney Lojko and her son, Brandon, representing Great Lakes Helicopter, presented the 5 foot trophy to Terry in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.

Perhaps the strongest field in several years assembled for the event, with 33 cars on the grounds.  A total of 32 cars started the 200 lap grind, the longest race of the season for the outlaw-bodied Late Models.  Mike Luberda withdrew from the race after having engine trouble during Friday’s practice session.  Track record holder JR Roahrig lowered his mark in the PASSTIME time trials, clicking off a lap of 14:628 to set a new 1 lap record and picking up the $500 bonus.  JR pulled the 10 chip for the inversion, putting North Carolina driver Brad Rogers and Johnny Belott on the front row.

If you are headed to Toledo Speedway today for the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, be aware of construction on I-75.

In Michigan, I-75 south from I-275 (exit 20) to LaPlaisance Road (Exit 11) is down to 1 lane.  Telegraph Road is an alternate should you want to avoid this mess.  Telegraph Road is also under construction in Monroe, so be prepared!

In Ohio, I-75 North from exit 205 to 208, is also under construction, down to 1 lane.  

The Michigan notice of down to 1 lane was just announced yesterday---sorry!  Race time is 5 p.m. tonight!  Give yourself extra time!

Toledo, Ohio—September 29, 2012:  Coopersville, MI driver Johnny VanDoorn led a very fast practice session Friday afternoon for tomorrow’s 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway.  VanDoorn clicked off a lap of 14:828 in preparation for the big race.  A total of 29 cars took practice laps for the outlaw Late Models.  Several Sportsman Cars and X Cars also took part in the 2 hour practice, held in brilliant sunshine with blue skies.  The practice session was uneventful as teams worked away at getting quicker each session.

The top 10 in practice were VanDoorn, JR Roahrig, Steve Needles, Brent Jack, Terry Senneker, Dakota Carlson, Brad Rogers, Jack Varney Jr., Harold Fair Jr. and Johnny Belott.  For a list of practice times, go to www.toledospeedway or www.arcaracing.com, scroll down and click on the Glass City 200 icon.

In just 15 minutes, Toledo Speedway opens for a 2 hour practice session for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200!  29 Late Models are here on the grounds, ready to go!

To stay on top of the latest action starting with today's practice, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 27, 2012) - Lorain, OH driver Charlie Schultz, the absolute 1-lap track record holder at Toledo Speedway, will go from open-wheel to stock cars to compete in the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Saturday night at Toledo Speedway. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 26, 2012) -  Hang on, race fans!  Get ready….perhaps the strongest pre-entry list in several years is in the making as Steve Needles, Scott Hantz, Brent Jack, Craig Everage and George Rangel have added their names to an-already strong list of drivers for the 24^th running of Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational at Toledo Speedway this Saturday, September 29.  As of Noon Wednesday, 31 cars are entered.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 25, 2012) - While the racing season is wrapping up, it’s just about hockey time in Toledo!  And to kick off the 2012-2013 Toledo Walleye schedule, Coach Nick Vitucci and players Kyle Rogers (the team captain) and Bedford-area resident Phil Rauch will greet race fans Saturday night at Toledo Speedway as part of the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  The 200 lap outlaw Super Late Model invitational is Toledo’s signature event and is the finale’ for the 2012 season.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 24, 2012) - Terry Senneker Jr., one of the top outlaw Late Model drivers in the Midwest, will shoot for his first-ever victory in this Saturday’s Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational at Toledo Speedway. 

Lap sponsorship for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 IS SOLD OUT!  We will now take lap money for the Sportsman and X Car races at $5 per lap.  YOur name will be added to the souvenir program, public address announcements and website listing included!  To sponsor laps, call the Toledo Speedway office at (419) 727-1100.  The current lap sponsors are listed below.  

Great Lakes Helicopter GLASS CITY 200

Toledo Speedway--September 28-29, 2012

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 28

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

5 p.m.             Optional practice session for all classes

7 p.m.             Practice ends—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.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

9:30 a.m.        Pit registration is at Pit Gate Saturday.  Pits open: 

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’s meeting-tech barn

Noon-12:45   Late Model practice

Noon:             Sportsman 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/final scuff session

1:30 p.m.       Sportsman, X Car driver’s meeting-tech barn

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.        PASSTIME LM pole award presentation.

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

                        Canadian Anthem and National Anthem—Meghan Chmiel

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)

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.

Moran Chevrolet Random Tire draw-on front-stretch

Introduction of Grand Marshall-Danny Byrd

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

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

            *Allegiant Travel drawing-2 round-trip tickets for fans giveaway at lap 101 break

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE (rain date is Sunday, Sept. 30—1 p.m. race time (or as soon as possible)

Congrats to all the 2012 champions. If I have missed anyone, please send me an email at icechips@hotmail.com. I also want to hear from you if it was your best points finish too.

This article is the last three weeks of racing. If I forgot to mention you, please email me or send me a message on Facebook and I’ll put it in my final article, after the Glass City race.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 19, 2012) - There is only 1 driver on the roster who can become the first 4-time winner of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.  And today, Steve Sauve’s entry showed up as the Saginaw, MI native guns for his 4^th win in the prestigious event.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 18, 2012) - Recently-crowned ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup Series champion Dakota Carlson of Cedar Springs, MI has filed his entry for the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.  Carlson tuned up for the 200 by winning the 100 lap feature last Saturday night at the Owosso, MI Speedway.