Toledo Speedway

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - June 18, 2011) - A perfect evening of weather greeted the large crowd that ventured to Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night for the Parts Galore School Bus Figure 8 races.  Jeremy Vanderhoof steered his way through some incredible intersection traffic  to win the 50 lap Figure 8 division feature, the duo of Tom O’Leary IV and Joe Whisman snaked their way around the Figure 8 track to win the Figure 8 Train race, and old pro Ray Gaddis notched the School Bus Figure 8 finale’.  Brad Turner took top honors in the Jeff’s Collision 4 Cylinder feature race.

The “Motor City Madmen” of the ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 class put on show in their 50 lap main event.  18 cars hit the track and 4 drivers took turns leading the race, which saw the top 15 cars inverted at the start.  Randy Roberts led for 4 laps, with Scott Apperson taking the point until lap 10.  Billy Earley sped by on lap 11 and looked strong out front,  moving from his 10^th position starting spot.  Second fastest qualifier Greg Studt had moved into contention in the early stages, but a flat tire sent him to the pits for a quick tire change, but ending his bid for the win.  Jeremy Vanderhoof steadily worked his way into the top five from 15^th spot by the lap 25 mark, and then things heated up at the intersection!  Doing what they do best, the Figure 8 field took some amazing action to avoid each other as they crossed back and forth.  On one of the intersection traffic snarls, a total of 8 cars zipped in and out, back and forth, narrowly missing a wreck as the crowd screamed with delight!  With 10 laps to go, Vanderhoof tucked in on the bumper of Earley.  On lap 44, Jeremy made his move and got around Billy and stayed there to take the win.  Earley’s strong effort gave him second spot, Dennis Whisman was third, Robbie Loving fourth and Jerry Lee fifth, followed by Chris Cox, Danny Gaddis, Tim Murphy, Gary Cronenwett and James Rae.  Apperson and Cronenwett won the heats, with Vanderhoof setting quick time at 20:409.

A total of 9 Figure 8 train teams tackled the Figure 8 course for their 12 lap event.  The action started from the green flag, as the cars ran all over the track and into the infield on occasion!  Train racing has 2 cars chained together; the front car with the engine, the back car with brakes only!  Tom O’Leary IV teamed up with Joe Whisman to take the win over Howard Kelley Jr./Tom O’Leary III.  Jeremy Fragassi/Scott Apperson, Trina Apperson/Greg Stevens, Tom O’Leary Jr./Jim Brazeau, Adam Plonski/James McClure, Jimmy Little/Anthony Camilli, Carrie Andrews/Carl Dickey and Douglas Young/Jerry Young were next in line in the wild and exciting race.

Brad Turner took a 5-car length win over David Price to win the 20 lap ARCA Jeff’s Collision 4 Cylinder main event.  David Katafiaz, Billy Cronce III, Katie Coseo, Scott Marshall and Jeff Wells took spots third through seventh, respectively.  Katafiaz started the race program off by capturing his first checkered flag in the heat race.  Turner’s fast time was 14:825.

The final event of the night, the School Bus Figure 8 race, was filled with hard hits and crazy driving. While the 8 drivers tried to roll one of the buses on its side, they pretty much destroyed most of the buses in the process.  Robbie Loving finally had to call it a night when his bus caught fire after inflicting damage to many of his competitors in the process!  Dennis Whisman tagged Danny Gaddis with a hard slam, knocking the rear end out of Danny’s bus.  Through it all, Ray Gaddis sailed to victory.  Gary Majchrzak caused a lot of mayhem in his small bus, while Jeremy Vanderhoof delivered some crunching hits as promised in his victory lane interview after the Figure 8 feature.  Billy Earley’s ride just quit on him and Mitch Crider took a hard knock at the intersection, breaking the steering gear.  Bus sponsors included Parts Galore, Suburban Oil, Grillers Select BBQ Sauce, Sterling Printing and Graphics, Glass Unlimited, Marco’s Pizza, Sportway Go-Karts and Batting Cages and Global Pawn.

Saturday, June 25 the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models will go at it with a 100 lap feature on tap, which is round number 1 of the ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Series.  A field of 25-30 Late Models is expected, including 2-time defending Gold Cup champ Mike Root of Grand Rapids, MI.  The Parts Galore Figure 8’s and the DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will also be in action.  Practice begins at 3, time trials are at 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m.  An open practice is set for Wednesday, June 22 at Flat Rock from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.