Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - July 8, 2011) - JR Roahrig jumped into Bob Blount's #16, came from 10th spot and passed Dennis Strickland with 6 laps to go to win the ARCA Allegiant Glass City Gold Cup 100 lap Late Model race Friday night at Toledo Speedway.  The race went all green flag, giving JR a new track record for the 100 laps in just 27 minutes and 34 seconds on the 1/2 mile paved oval.

With a 17 car field taking the green flag, Joe Hawes grabbed the lead.  Harold Fair Jr. was on the move and quickly took the point away from Hawes on lap 11 and stormed away, but on lap 14 Fair’s night ended as he dipped down pit road with the rear end shifted in his machine.  The race remained green and gave the lead back to Hawes.  Joe ran strong and smooth out front and built up a straight-away lead at times.  Steve Cronenwett Jr. stayed with Joe for a number of laps and got to his door several times and stayed tucked in 2^nd spot.  A fantastic battle was shaping up as Scott Hantz began his charge to the front.  Hantz moved to third by lap 43, while Dakota Carlson, Strickland and Roahrig picked up the pace.  At the lap 53 mark, those 4 cars put on a great show challenging each other for position as they caught Cronenwett.  When Hantz had to check up coming out of turn 2 on lap 64, Strickland stood on the throttle and darted to the outside to go by Hantz and Cronenwett to move into second spot, setting his sights on Hawes.  Carlson did a masterful job of staying off the wall after going 3 wide entering turn 3, gathered it back up and resumed his charge to move up.  Mike Root, known for his late race moves to the front, now joined the pack of cars as the laps wound down, still an all green flag race.  At lap 82, Roahrig was on the fly and grabbed third spot and began reeling in the lead duo of Hawes and Strickland.  Strickland got by Hawes on lap 86 for the number 1 spot and was followed quickly by Roarhig as the stage was set for the win.  JR got to Strickland’s door as the pair raced side by side.  With 6 laps to go, Roahrig got by Dennis and grabbed the record-setting victory in an amazing race that will perhaps be a record that stands for quite some time.  JR also set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time with a lap of 15:026.

Strickland took second, Carlson finished third with a great charge in the last 10 laps, Hantz was fourth and Root fifth.  Hawes came home sixth, leading 80 laps.   Cronenwett Jr. was seventh in his first Toledo run in the Giles #88, Brent Jack eighth, Rick Sheppard ninth and rookie Derek Wiley tenth.  Nick Grodi, Bob Mikolajczyk, Ron Allen, Keith Nelson, Fair Jr., Steve Peters and Howard Kelley Jr. were next in the finishing order.

Toledo’s next Allegiant Gold Cup 100 lap event is slated for Friday evening, August 12.

Eric Huston took the ARCA R & M Recycling Street Stock 25 lap feature, taking control after a late-race yellow flag for leader Matt Ringger and Cory McCaughey.  On the last re-start, Eric stayed out front to score the victory.  John Rabideau recorded his best-ever finish with a great race to take second, Luke Davis also notched his best run with a third, point leader Mike Hammer was fourth and Dennis Whisman was fifth, followed by Don Cox, McCaughey, Brad Turner, Ringger and Dennis Helsel.  Ringger and Helsel won the heat races.  Huston posted the quick lap in time trials at 11:657.

Matt Brazeau notched the 20 lap ARCA Jeff's Collision 4 Cylinder main after a great battle with Perry Marlow and Mike Marlow.  The trio ran side by side, nose to tail and even 3 wide at times going for the lead.  Mike Marlow dropped out with a flat tire, ending his bid to make it 4 wins in a row.  Brazeau finally got by Perry and took the victory.  David Katafiaz joined the leaders and also made it exciting by grabbing second at the finish, Perry Marlow was third, Mike Marlow fourth and newcomer Tom Fry Jr. fifth.  Perry took the heat and Brazeau set fast time at 12:840.

The Valvoline Instant Oil Change Summer Racing Series resumes at Toledo Speedway next Friday, July 15 with the Christmas in July prize giveaway with a guest appearance by Santa Claus!  The night will be sponsored by Lakeshore Utility Trailer Sales and Velvet Ice Cream.  The ARCA ACME Dismantling Sportsman, Parts Galore Figure 8’s and the Figure 8 Train race will provide the on-track action!

Fans can get their oil changed at one of the 9 Toledo area Valvoline locations and will receive a family 4-pak of tickets to the Summer Racing Series at Toledo Speedway.

The front gates open at 5 and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.  Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for further information.