Toledo Speedway

There is still time to become a lap sponsor for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  Laps are only $10 each.  To sponsor laps please call the Toledo Speedway office at (419) 727-1100. The current lap sponsor list is posted below.  

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 15, 2012) - The largest crowd in several years ventured to Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night for the Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races.  The final race of the season saw standing-room only at the track, and the fans were treated to a spectacular evening of entertainment.  Costa Cardasis and his Griller’s Select staff presented trophies in victory lane ceremonies as well as a case of bbq sauce to each feature winner.

The headliner School Bus Figure 8 race was wild!  3 buses got knocked over on their sides as the gigantic crowd roared each time.  And, each time the bus was rolled back on all 4 wheels and the drivers jumped back in and re-joined the action!  Stephanie Bradley thrilled the crowd early in the contest as she went over, thanks to Dennis Whisman’s help!  She jumped back in the bus and took off as the race resumed.  Danny Gaddis was next to go over as Billy Earley slammed into Danny at the intersection.  Next up was Danny’s father, Ray, as Ray got tagged going into the turn and went over.  Thinking his day was done, Ray went up into the grandstands, but found out his bus re-started.  Ray, the leader at the time, got back in the seat and kept the lead for the win over Earley, Robbie Loving, Danny Gaddis, Bradley, Whisman, and Gary Majchrzak.  Bus sponsors were Suburban Oil, Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce, Parts Galore, Sportway Go-Karts and Batting Cages, Southern Belles Roller Derby Team, Sterling Printing and Graphics and Glass Unlimited.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 13, 2012) - Toledo-area cable television provider Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) and nationally-recognized short track racing internet site SPEED51 will each provide coverage of the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.

BCSN has telecast races from the track for several seasons, including a record 8 events of the 2012 race schedule.  The 200 will be taped for airing at a later date on the local cable access channel.  More Buckeye Cable information can be obtained at www.bcsn.tv.

SPEED51 will provide live updates from the Glass City oval all day September 29.  The creation of SPEED TV reporter Bob Dillner, SPEED51 is widely recognized in racing circles as one of the premier websites for short track racing information.  This will be the 2^nd year in a row that SPEED51 has provided coverage of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  Go to www.speed51.com for coverage from coast to coast!

“We are pleased to announce that these two entities will be providing coverage of our signature event, the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, “noted Ron Drager, the owner and promoter of Toledo as well as Flat Rock Speedway.  “We welcome BCSN and SPEED51 to Toledo Speedway again for this prestigious race.”

Reserved seat tickets for the event, which carries of purse of over $50,000 in cash and bonus awards of $5000 plus, are now available by calling the track at 419-727-1100.

For more information on the Glass City 200, log onto www.toledospeedway.com.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flatrocktoledo or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.

A reminder to all fans and race teams--Flat Rock Speedway's final race of the season Saturday night, September 15 has a 6 p.m. start time for the Griller's Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races!

Pits open at 3, front gates and ticket office opens at 3:30, practice at 4 and racing at 6 p.m.  There will be no qualifying.  We will draw for position.

In addition to the School Buses, the Figure 8's (feature only), Street Stocks and Michigan Legends will be in action, along with a Boat Figure 8 Race.

Reserved seat tickets ONLY are being sold this week.  ALL reserved seats, regardless of age, are $16 each.  Call the track office at 734-782-2480 to make reservations.  The office will close at 5 p.m. Friday and ticket sales will cease at that time until 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

ALL general admission tickets and children's tickets go on sale at 3:30 p.m. race day!  Adults are $15 general admission, kids 6-12 are $3 and under 6 are free.

Any reserved seats left will also go on sale at 3:30 p.m. race day.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 11, 2012) - For the 23 years of competition in the Glass City 200 invitational, there always seems to be a few entries to arrive that weren’t expected.  And that’s one of the things that makes this race one of the most prestigious season-ending events in the Midwest.  In the mailbox this morning came entries from Maine and one from Michigan that are new names for this event, as well as several entries from drivers who continue to search for victory in the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, set for Saturday, September 29 at Toledo Speedway

2012 GLASS CITY  200 LATE MODEL RULE CHANGE:  SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 

For cars with engines of more than 360 cubic inches, the weight is 2800 lbs. with driver. 

Cars with engines of 360 cubic inches or less remain at 2700 lbs. with driver. 

Maximum of 60% left side weight remains same for all cars.

This bulletin takes precedence over entry blank for 2012 Glass City 200.

Jack Franzil--Chief Inspector

Jason Sanderson-Race Director

Toledo, Ohio—September 11, 2012:  Toledo Speedway’s parking lot will be busy this weekend with the annual Racer’s Flea Market and general Public Flea Market Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16.  For the first time, the flea market will be held over 2 days.

A 20’ x 20 space is $20 per day or $35 for 2 days.  Vendors should bring their own tables, and no pets or food (for sale) are permitted.  There will be security on the grounds Saturday evening. 

Setup starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, with flea market hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Speedway Bar and Grille will be open both days during market hours, with food, drink and restrooms available.

Sunday, the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience will be at Toledo Speedway for Stock car driving and ride-alongs.  For complete information, go to www.racewithrusty.com

Lap money for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 is going fast.  Only 98 laps to go, with still 3 weeks to go before the event.  To sponsor laps, call the Toledo Speedway office at 419-727-1100, laps are $10 each. The current lap sponsors are listed below.  

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 8, 2012) - It was a night of firsts at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday as Angola, IN driver Scott Hantz held back Johnny VanDoorn and Jason Dietsch to win the exciting 7-Up 125 lap feature for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models, Scott’s first Flat Rock win and the Series initial visit to the track.  Bobby Hugo edged Danny Bennett by 2 car lengths to grab his first victory in the 300 lap Enduro championship race, and Matt Ringger’s 6^th place run was enough to seal the deal on his first-ever Enduro championship.

The first visit ever to Flat Rock by the ARCA/CRA cars was a great race as the battle up front waged on throughout the 125 lap contest.  West Virginia driver Travis Braden started things off by setting fast time at 12:228.  Travis drew an 8 for the inversion, giving Kenzie Ruston the pole starting spot.  Pat Zorn led lap 1, but Ruston took control on lap 2 and led for 6 laps.  Hantz spun on lap 7 to bring out the yellow flag.  Braden had to check up to avoid the incident, ending up with some damage and forcing him to the pits.  VanDoorn, not satisfied with his machine, also pitted and rejoined the race after making some adjustments.  The man on the move was Nate Caruth, who grabbed the top spot away from Ruston on lap 9 and set the pace through lap 90. The yellow flags were only for minor incidents and the pace of the race was quick, but the competition for position was fierce throughout the pack.

Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 9 a.m.:  The rain stopped at Flat Rock Speedway around 7 a.m., the skies are beginning to break and it's full speed ahead for tonight's 7-Up 125 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models and the track's 300 lap Enduro championship race!

This is the first appearance ever for this touring series at "The Rock".  The stock-bodied Late Models will be led by current point leader Johnny VanDoorn.  Kenzie Ruston, one of the top female stock car drivers in the nation, tested last week at the track and is ready to go.

Veteran Scott Hantz is expected to be strong, along with Terry Fisher Jr.  Flat Rock driver Stan Yee Jr. is entered, along with former Flat Rock racer and ARCA Truck Series champ Paul Hahn, both of whom have hundreds of laps under their belts at the track.

The 300 lap Enduro championship promises to be filled with excitement as 5 drivers still have a shot at the Enduro title.  Matt Ringger holds the cards for the championship going into the final race, which is 50 laps longer than the traditional Enduro races.  This calls for strategy, as many drivers will have to pit for fuel, throwing more interest and drama into the mix!

Practice begins at 3:30, time trials are at 5, Big wheel races for kids 10 and under are at 6, an on-track autograph session with the ARCA/CRA drivers takes place at 6:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m.

See you tonight---425 laps of racing, only at Flat Rock Speedway!

Lap money is still available for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 on Saturday, September 29.  90 laps have already been sponsored for this prestigious event.  Lap sponsorship includes your name on the website, in the souvenir program, and public address announcements.  To sponsor laps, call the office at (419) 727-1100.  The current lap sponsor list is posted below.  Operators are standing by to take your call!

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 5, 2012) - Mt. Morris, MI driver Johnny Belott and 2-time ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Series champion Mike Root are the first 2 entries for the 24th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, set for Saturday, September 29 at Toledo Speedway. A rain date of Sunday, September 30 has been established if needed for the outlaw-bodied Super Late Model invitational. 1972 Glass City 200 winner Danny Byrd has been named Grand Marshall for the 2012 edition of the classic.

Flat Rock, Michigan—September 1, 2012:  A tremendous effort by the race teams and track officials at Flat Rock Speedway allowed the Season Championship Night to be completed Saturday evening, despite 2 heavy downpours.  The first drenching occurred just as the first feature was to start, while the second one hit the track at the completion of the Late Model feature.  Even with losing just short of 2 hours of track time, the entire show, including a great fireworks display, was competed by 11:15 p.m. 

Paul Pelletier, Jeremy Miller, Frank Jiovani and Don Roberts are the 2012 track champions.  Each driver thanked the crowd for attending the races despite the rainy night in post-race interviews with track Assistant General Manager Casey Wagner.

Toledo, OH—August 31, 2012:  Toledo Speedway played host to the annual Wendy’s” Night of Destruction” Friday evening, kicking off the Labor Day holiday weekend.  A huge crowd filed into the track to see the School Bus Figure 8 race and the accompanying events on the fun-filled night.  Wendy and Frosty greeted fans and the race winners in the Sun Drop Winners Circle. 

The School Bus Figure 8 race was filled with nasty hits and crashes.  Joe Koester, by default, was the last man standing as he outlasted Scott Apperson and Troy Herrmann.  Dennis Whisman, Norm Lewallen, Archie Padgett and Jack Franzil piloted the buses for the event.  Wendy’s Hamburgers, Burge Wrecking, PB Fabrication, Mayfly Tavern, Jeff’s Collision, R & M Recycling, Woodville Auto Finance and First Choice Auto Finance served as the bus sponsors.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - August 30, 2012) - A strong entry list filled with many of the top Super Late Model drivers of the Midwest is assembling for the ARCA/CRA 7-Up 125 Saturday night, September 8 at Flat Rock Speedway.  The 2-groove, ¼ mile paved oval is hosting the Series for the first time.  Big Wheel races for kids 12 and under will take place prior to the show, while the track’s 300 lap Enduro Championship race will get the green flag following the 7-Up 125.

A couple weeks of articles here because I didn’t get last week’s in early enough to get online. I also want to apologize for anyone I missed for the weekend of Aug. 17-18. The computer crashed when I was doing the Flat Rock half and I was only able to remember so much. If I forgot you, please send me your quote from that night and I’ll add it into the article for Aug. 24. Email me at icechips@hotmail.com or send me a message on FaceBook.

(TOLEDO, Ohio  - August 27, 2012) – Entry blanks are going out today for the 24th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, set for Saturday, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.  A rain date of Sunday, September 30 has been established if needed.  1972 Glass City 200 winner Danny Byrd has been named Grand Marshall for the 2012 edition of the classic.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - August 23, 2012) - Two of the top female stock car drivers in America are slated to compete at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night, September 8 when the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models make their first-ever appearance at the ¼ mile paved oval for the 7-Up 125.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - August 25, 2012) - Flat Rock Speedway hosted Action Exteriors Kids Night Saturday, with all kids to age 14 admitted to the track free, and each child received a free hot dog, chips and a drink, courtesy of Jim’s Butcher Shop, Sherwood Foods, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Herr’s Potato Chips.  A nice crowd turned out for a great night of racing and entertainment as Jerry Lee Jr., Tim Moore, Lonnie York and Jeff Wells Jr. took the feature wins.  Ray McClure secured the ARCA 4 Cylinder championship at the ¼ mile paved oval.  The TKC Go-Karts also competed in an exhibition race prior to the start of the show.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - August 24, 2012) - Sunshine and blue skies greeted race fans and teams for Friday’s Glass Bowl Lanes Season Championships and Autograph Night at Toledo Speedway.  Ron Allen, Dennis Whisman, Kyle Huston and Perry Marlow were crowned the 2012 track champions.  Jim Froling, Gary Cronenwett, Huston and Jeff Wells Jr. captured the feature events of the evening and visited the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.  The fans took part in the on-track autograph session prior to the start of the race card.  The track also hosted Armed Forces Night, with all military personnel admitted as guests for Friday’s event.

Lap money is now available for the 24^th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  Lap money is $10 per lap.  The first 20 laps have already been sponsored:  First 10 laps: Port City Racecars, Second 10 laps Driven Women.  Your name will go in the program insert sheet, it will appear on the track’s website, and there will also be public address announcements made for your support of the race teams.  Call Toledo Speedway today (419) 727-1100. 

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - August 18, 2012) - Trenton, MI resident Paul Pelletier recorded his 5^th win of 2012, taking the victory in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.  Saturday was arguably the best weather of the season that greeted a good crowd that attended the Leppen Chiropractic/UAW Local 3000 Autograph Night.  Fans had the chance to walk on the track and meet the drivers prior to the start of the show.  Dr. Cecilia Leppen, together with her son and grandson, presented trophies to the winners, which also included Tim Moore, Rich Abel and Dennis Whisman.  The speedway also honored members of the military for Armed Forces Night, as all military personnel were guests of the track Saturday evening.

Michael A. Champagne of Dexter, MI, the son of former ARCA Figure 8 driver Mike Champagne, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, August 9 at the age of 21.  His grandfather, Russ Champagne, was also a former Figure 8 driver.

Michael was a member of the United States Navy and served on the U.S.S. Cape George.

The family will receive friends at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea, MI Monday, August 20 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m to 8 p.m.

Services will be held Tuesday, August 21 at 11 a.m. at Shalom Lutheran Church in Pinckney, MI.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - August 17, 2012) - Coopersville, MI driver Johnny VanDoorn captured the Miller Lite 100 for the ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup/Main Event Series outlaw Late Models Friday night at Toledo Speedway, while Cedar Springs, MI resident Dakota Carlson iced the 2012 Gold Cup title by virtue of his 4^th place run.  This is the first time that the 2 Series have teamed together for an event.  Josh Bunting won the companion ARCA R & M Recycling Street Stock feature, while Perry Marlow took top honors in the ARCA 4 Cylinder race.  PJ Sullivan of Northwest Ohio Beverage, the Toledo area Miller Lite distributor, presented the Gold Cup to Johnny in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.

Carlson, driving for Tony LeClair, was solid throughout the 6 race Allegiant Gold Cup Series as he captured the 2012 title.  The top 3 in the final points of the Series-Carlson, Mike Root and Harold Fair Jr., will each receive 2 round trip tickets courtesy of Allegiant Travel.  Carlson will get the opportunity to test an ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Stock Car at the annual December ARCA test at Daytona International Speedway.

Due to the inclement weather, tonight's Placer's Car Club Classic Car Show at Toledo Speedway has been cancelled.

The next car show is Thursday, September 6. Show time is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Car Club hosts shows at the track the first, second and third Thursdays of each month.

Couple weeks of racing in this column.

The races held on August 4. The races got started about a half hour late when a rain storm Under heavy skies, we got all but a few laps of the Figure 8 feature in.

Paul Pelletier and Dennis Strickland again had a great side-by-side battle in the Super Late Model feature. Pelletier took home his fourth win of the season. “The race with Dennis was a good competitive race. We only touched one. I’m going to make this quick so we get more races in before the rain comes. 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 my family and crew and all the fans for sticking it out tonight.”