Pelletier, Vanderhoof, Bunting, York Smooth at "The Rock"
Pelletier, Vanderhoof, Bunting, York Smooth at "The Rock"

(FLAT ROCK, Mich. - August 28, 2010) - One of the largest crowds of the season filed into Flat Rock Speedway for the UAW Local 3000 Kid's Night promotion Saturday evening at Flat Rock Speedway. With perfect weather conditions and a week of seasonable weather, the track proved to be extremely fast for all 3 classes. Paul Pelletier and Jeremy Vanderhoof held onto their point leads with their wins, while Josh Bunting scored his first-ever Flat Rock victory. Veteran Lonnie York also joined the win parade Saturday night.
Each child 14 and under was admitted free to the track Saturday and received a free hot dog, chips and a drink courtesy of Bar S Hot Dogs, Sherwood Foods, Seyfert's Snacks and the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group.
2006 track champ Paul Pelletier is one night away from securing his second Flat Rock championship. Paul took care of business again Saturday, wheeling his way to win number 4 of the year in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature race. With just 1 yellow flag, the action was quick and lapped traffic was heavy for much of the contest. The 9- car inversion put Joe Hawes and Royce Cornett, 2 former champs, on the front row. Hawes pulled into the lead on the green and held it for 7 laps until Pelletier, using the high lane, got by Joe to take the lead. Fast qualifier Eric Lee was on the charge and had moved to second by lap 19, setting his sights on the leader. The only yellow came out on lap 28 when Ron Allen tangled with Ricky Kargel. Neither driver took responsibility, sending both to the tail of the pack. Pelletier took off on the restart but Lee reeled him back in, using lapped traffic to his advantage. A late-race charge by Dennis Strickland made it a 3-way battle, but Pelletier was not to be denied as he grabbed the win over Lee, Strickland, Hawes and Stan Yee Jr. Sixth was rookie Nick Grodi, Kargel came back to grab seventh and Figure 8 racer Gary Cronenwett, in his first-ever Late Model start, took 8th at the wheel of Bob Ward's #6. Allen and George Rangel completed the top ten finshers. Lee's fast lap for the 22 car field was 11:545. Pelletier, Steve Peters and Donald Burkhart captured the heat race wins.
Jeremy Vanderhoof and Greg Studt are just 20 points apart heading into next Saturday's championships and the duo again staged a great battle on the track. The 20 lap ARCA Figure 8 contest saw Dan Apperson lead the first 2 laps until Vanderhoof took control, with Studt on his back bumper. The pair diced back and forth and took a couple chances at the intersection as they waged the war. Jeremy held on for the win over Studt, with Gary Cronenwett in third, Robbie Loving fourth and Dennis Whisman fifth, followed by Anthony Terris, Jerry Lee, Sam Hall, Chuck Pankow and Randy Roberts. Vanderhoof and Hall took the heat wins. Studt set fast time at 20:634. A hard crash in the second heat race saw Roberts and James Rae sustain damage to their cars, but hard work by their crews got them back and ready for the feature race of the night.
Toledo Factory Stock driver Josh Bunting purchased Derek Wiley's ARCA Street Stock during the winter and took his time readying his new ride. Josh made it to the track in July and quickly became a top 10 car. Saturday night he put it all together, leading every lap on his way to his initial win in the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main. The 12-car inversion and just 1 yellow made for some great racing. Bunting held a safe lead for much of the event and was able to keep it on his way to the big win. Rob Moore, Tim Moore, Dan Ford Jr. and Clyde McKee were the next in line to round out the top five, with Chad Guinn, Rich Frantz, rookie Frank Giovani, Dave Tanner and Danny Slater completing the top ten in the 24 car field.
Former B Main champ Lonnie York returned to winning form by leading all 15 laps in the DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock B Main race. Lonnie edged Steve Chartrand for the win, with James Rae third, Rich Abel fourth and Bob Swanson fifth, followed by Kevin Stepinski, Paul Falkenburg, Anthony Camilli, Chris Diovardi and Glenn Gregg. Ford Jr. set fast time for the 42 cars at 13:394, with Swanson the top B man at 14:090. Slater, Jiovani, Jeff Kurzyniec, Chartrand, York and Shonda Harbin were the heat race winners.
It's all down to Saturday, September 4 and the Diamond Racing Products Season Championships at Flat Rock Speedway! A fireworks display will follow the night of racing activity. The ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models, Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks and the Figure 8's will all crown their 2010 track champions. The evening will be capped off with a FIREWORKS display!
The pits open at 2, practice begins at 3:30, time trials are at 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m. ALL tickets go on sale race day at 3:30 p.m. at the track. The track phone number is 734-782-2480.
The track will host the Griller's Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races Saturday, September 11. Reserved seating is available for this event by calling the speedway. ALL general admission tickets and children's tickets go on sale at 4:30 p.m. race day.