Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - July 1, 2010) - The rich history of USAC racing at Toledo Speedway will come alive again Friday night when a host of vintage race cars take parade laps prior to the start of the Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness USAC Sprint and Midget doubleheader. A group of former drivers will also be introduced to the crowd as part of the festivities Friday night at the Glass City oval.

The vintage cars are scheduled to take to the track around 7 p.m., just prior to the start of the racing card Friday night.  WNWO TV-24 weatherman Norm Van Ness will broadcast his evening weather reports live from the Speedway, atop the skybox suites. Van Ness has also been selected by race sponsor Ron Hemelgarn to throw the green flag as racing begins at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow evening.

"We are looking forward to a great crowd and a great night of racing," said Scott Schultz, General Manager of the track.  "We have ticket orders from Canada, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and even Florida. The Florida folks are on vacation up here, and in our conversation with the Florida residents, they don't get the chance to see USAC down south. This shows the notoriety of USAC around the country."

The traditional non-wing events have been a mainstay at Toledo since the 1970s. Drivers such as Tom Sneva, Gary Bettenhausen, Pancho Carter, George Snider, Toledoans Rollie Beale and Jerry Nemire, and many, many more have turned laps at the fast half-mile paved oval in USAC races at Toledo over four decades.

Bobby East won an exciting battle in last year's Sprint feature at Toledo, while Bobby Santos III claimed the Midget portion of the event. Both drivers are expected to compete tomorrow.

Cole Whitt holds the single-lap Sprint Car mark at Toledo, having clocked in at 14.761 seconds last year. Brad Sweet owns the Midget lap record at 14.983 seconds, also set last July. Both records could be in jeopardy, as Toledo's smooth, half-mile asphalt surface has yielded several new marks already in 2010.

The gates will open at 4 p.m., with practice at that time. Time trials are set for 5:30, and racing begins at 7:30. Several restored historic race cars are expected to be on display in the spectator concourse during the event, and the track will host a Racer's Reunion for USAC stars of the past.

Race fans have until 5 p.m. today to save $5 per ticket by purchasing advance tickets. General admission and reserved seating is available in advance for this event by calling the track at (419) 727-1100. VISA and MasterCard are accepted for phone orders.

Toledo Speedway's high-banked, half-mile paved oval is located on Benore Road, near the Alexis Road exit from I-75 on the Michigan-Ohio border. For updated information, visit the Speedway's website at http://www.toledospeedway.com/ or call (419) 727-1100.