Toledo Speedway

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - May 31, 2012) - He was unquestionably the man to beat at Flat Rock Speedway.  In fact, that sentence pretty much was the statement for any track he ventured to during his years of domination in Late Model racing.  This past December on the 10^th day of 2011, the racing world lost one of the top winners in short track racing history when Joy Fair passed away at the age of 81.

To honor Fair’s 6-plus decades of accomplishments, leadership and friendship with fans, racers and promoters alike, Flat Rock Speedway will host the 1^st annual Joy Fair Memorial 100 Saturday evening, June 23.  Bob Fox of Diamond Racing Products, a former competitor of Fair’s, has graciously stepped forward to sponsor this special event.

Flat Rock served as Joy’s home track, yet he was at home pretty much wherever the famous school bus yellow #1 pulled into the pit area of a race track.  Joy Fair was THE man in Late Model racing in the Midwest-Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky and Canada---Fair was a winner. 

His lumbering build of over 6 feet, 5 inches, his infectious smile, his quick wit and his penchant for practical jokes made Joy Fair a “joy” to be around.  If there was an interview with the announcer, you could be sure there would be a quick, witty line or 2 from Fair.

At Flat Rock, Joy Fair would rack up 10, count ‘em, 10 track championships and 159 career feature wins.  And that’s just at Flat Rock!  1969 was one of just many magical years for Fair, as he won 9 of 14 features at Flat Rock, including a 100 lap race where he lapped the entire field.  And to put the icing on the cake, Joy ventured down to Toledo Speedway, Flat Rock’s sister track, and grabbed 10 of 14 checkered flags that year.  Fair notched 4 Flat Rock titles in a row from 1969-1972, and was on his way to his fifth in a row until an accident at Toledo sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Fair’s Toledo record is nearly as impressive-97 feature wins, 7 championships, including 6 in a row from 1967-1972.  And Fair was the winner of the inaugural Glass City 200 at Toledo in 1968.

Joy’s total wins are somewhere over 800, a number which is probably closer to 900 or more!  Record keeping was not that important to Fair and his team-it was having fun and winning races.

With the blessing of Joy’s family, Flat Rock Speedway will honor the memory of Joy Fair with a memorial race in his name Saturday, July 23.  The Diamond Racing Products Joy Fair Memorial 100 will feature the ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup Series in a 100 lap feature race on the ¼ mile paved oval.  Many of the top Late Model drivers will battle Flat Rock’s regulars for the prestigious honor of being the first winner of the Joy Fair Memorial.

The track’s Figure 8 and Street Stock divisions will also be in action June 23.  The pit area will open at 1:30, practice begins at 3, time trials are at 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m.  All seating will be general admission and will go on sale race day at 3 p.m.  There is no advance sale for the event.

A special commemorative souvenir program, featuring a full-color cover to honor Joy is being produced for the event.  For more information, log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @flatrockspeed.