Toledo Speedway

Defending Late Model champion, Eric Lee, almost had the win Saturday, after missing his heat fixing a broken steering shaft. “We had a fast car tonight. They kept telling me on the radio that I was pulling away for second place so I was just taking it easy trying to save the tires. With about 10 laps to go the right front tire started going flat, the whole front end started bottoming out so all I could do was limp it home to the finish,” said the driver of the Action Drywall Service, Arrow Uniform Rental, D&E Landscaping, Lee Motorsports Auto Sales, Whitney's Collision, Powertran Transformers, Applied Roofing, Z Corporation #5.

Paul Pelletier was running a solid second about a straightaway behind leader, Eric Lee, with about 10 laps to go, when he began reeling in Lee. With a couple laps to go, he swung around Lee to win the Late Model feature.

“We had problems last weekend at Toledo’s Gold Cup race, but we found that problem in practice last Wednesday. We qualified fifth tonight and we drew for starting position and pulled a two. We led the first 12 laps, before Eric (Lee) passed me when my car started to get tight. We caught back up to Eric and passed him for the win with a lap and a half left. It was a great run. I would like to thank all of our sponsors, Fraza Forklifts, Dusty's Collision, Exotic Automation, First Impressions Cement, ABC Plumbing, Berringer Law, Duane's Roadrunner's, I would also thank all the crew that works on the car,” said Pelletier in an email.

Terry Bogus was very unusual, it has triple digits #550. “Not a bad night with a brand new car, brought it home in one piece and in the top 10. We have some work to do, but it was a good start. Did not get any time on the car before opening night,” said the driver of the Nicholas Gantner Foundation / the550fund.org, Passtime/LV Alliance, Cash-On-The-Spot, Eastern Michigan Distributors, Diamond Pistons, RJS Safety Equipment, Champion Performance Engines #550 (formerly #71). “New number is of 550 this year is for Nicholas Gantner Foundation / the550fund.org, I thought it would be nice to change for the foundation. I would like to thank ARCA for allowing me too! The foundation  ̶  formed by a caring father in remembrance of his son who died at an early age from cancer  ̶  provides $550 once a month to families of cancer patients to help with things ... so they don’t have to worry about a bill and can focus on their child.”

Clyde McKee won the Street Stock A division feature. The Street Stocks got to do the new double file restart, and despite some worries in the pits, it went quite smoothly. “It’s been a long

time... that was a long race too. Thanks to my sponsors, S&P Guns and Ammo,Faline Trailer Repair, Trailer Connection Sales and Leasing, Leppen Chiropratic, Mac's Towing and Madco Truck Plaza. I also want to thank my family, friends, crew and the fans.”

The start of the Street Stock A division saw an accident that involved Randy Cornett, Jarod MacZink and Landon Schuster. For Randy, it’s been three years since he raced, rebuilding his car after a hard wreck back in 2009, his ride suffered front end damage. Jarod’s car, also had front end damage. Landon lost the radiator.

Landon Schuster had a opening weekend he probably wants to forget. He got about a half lap into the Sportsman feature at Toledo at was involved in a wreck... tonight he didn’t even get that far, only to the first corner before getting caught in an accidents. The next race has to be better... can’t get much worse.

Kyle Huston won his first career feature event at Toledo Friday night. “I would like to thank my sponsors, Fall Automotive, Ramons Collision, Maran Racing, A&D Automotive, and Huston Trucking. I would also like to thank the guys in the pits who work hard all night Kevin, Brad, Jeff, and T.J. Also a special thanks going out to my dad, Eric Huston. Thank you for putting together an awesome race car and teaching him how it’s all done. Without you none of this would be possible. Thank you to the family and friends and fans who support me every week,” said the 2011 Toledo Street Stock Rookie of the Year.

Unfortunately, Kyle’s Flat Rock race didn’t go as well, getting tangled in an accident with Jeff Luttermoser (who climbed the turn three wall). Both drivers were done for the night, along with Steve Searles. Huston had cosmetic damage (he lost most of the right side of the car); Searles had suspension/bolt ons damage. Luttermoser was by far the worse off of the three, climbing over Huston’s wheel and up into the fence (and wall) ... the car had damage front and back and hopefully when they got it home, it didn’t look as bad as it did in the pits.

Grant Hedges: "Happy with a top 5 on a wild opening night! It was great to be back making laps around the rock, and to see all of the fans filling the stands. I want to dedicate tonights run to my great uncle, Jim LaMay, who recently passed on. He was a great part of the sport for many years, and I'll miss talking racing with him. He would have been proud of tonight's effort! Thanks to Jeff, Curt, Nina, Donny, and Scott for their help this weekend! I look forward to hanging out and talking with all of the great Flat Rock race fans at next weekend's autograph night!

Four cars took green for the B main.... And I think whoever won it was going to be their first career win. Craig Lang and Bennett ran most of the 10 laps side by side, with Bennett pulled ahead for this first career feature... “That was kind of crazy out there.

Congrats to Robby Loving on his Figure 8 feature win... my computer crashed, so I don’t have the career wins... and I’ll have to wait until next race to get his sponsors.

EMAILBAG. Thanks to teams that sent me emails. There’s too many teams for me to talk to everyone... and everyone has fans that want to hear from you. Anyone from Flat Rock and Toledo, or the ARCA traveling series are welcomed to send me notes each week.

Thanks to the drivers that sent me a message this week. Did you have a great race? Have a new sponsor? Win your first heat race? Or best career finish? Anything at all! Let your fans hear from you! You can send me a message on Facebook (if you would just like to let me know you put something in your status, I can grab that for the column)... My email is icechips@hotmail.com.