Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 26, 2012) -  Hang on, race fans!  Get ready….perhaps the strongest pre-entry list in several years is in the making as Steve Needles, Scott Hantz, Brent Jack, Craig Everage and George Rangel have added their names to an-already strong list of drivers for the 24^th running of Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational at Toledo Speedway this Saturday, September 29.  As of Noon Wednesday, 31 cars are entered.

All four of these drivers are looking for their first Glass City 200 win.  While Hantz and Jack have dented the win column at Toledo in 100 lap events at the Glass City oval, that duo joins Needles and Everage, who have never won at the ½ mile paved oval, in search of that huge win in this prestigious event.

Needles has been successful throughout the Midwest over the past several years, including a win at the Kalamazoo Klash at Kalamazoo Speedway.  Steve was a teammate to Terry Senneker Jr. for a few years, and duo formed an extremely successful tandem in outlaw Late Model racing.  Hantz, a past ARCA/CRA Super Series champion and track champion at Angola, IN Speedway, is looking to add that elusive Glass City 200 title to his impressive racing resume.  Hantz had led the event several times over the course of the past 5 years, only to suffer mechanical woes, ending his bid for victory. Jack and Everage, also from Angola, IN as is Hantz, have supported the ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Series this season and will look for their shot at glory this Saturday.  Rangel will be at the wheel of veteran car owner Bob Ward’s #6.

In a driver change, JR Roahrig will be at the wheel of Bobby Blount’s #16 for the race.  Roahrig is the track record holder at 14:718, set at last year’s Glass City 200.

The race was the idea of the late John Marcum, promoter of Toledo as well as Flat Rock, MI Speedway and the President of ARCA.  With the track sold in 1978, the race was not contested again until 1999 when Marcum’s grandson, Ron Drager, and his business partner Roy Mott, purchased the Glass City oval and immediately revived the event.  The race quickly regained its notoriety and is Toledo’s signature event every season.

Previous winners of the Glass City 200 include the late Joy Fair, 1968; Joe Ruttman, 1969, 1973; Bob Senneker, 1970, 1971, 1977; Danny Byrd, 1972; the late John Anderson, 1974; the late Jim Bickerstaff, 1975; Ed Cooper, 1976; Tim Felver, 1999; Tim Ice, 2000; Jr. Hanley, 2001; Steve Sauve, 2002, 2003, 2004; John Doering Jr., 2005; Jack Landis, 2006; Brian Campbell, 2007; Harold Fair Jr., 2008, 2010; Dave Kuhlman, 2009, and Augie Grill, 2012.

Danny Byrd will serve as Grand Marshal of 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  Byrd, who won numerous races throughout the Midwest and Canada in the 1960’s, 70’s and early 80’s, led every lap of the 1972 Glass City 200, piloting the Bill Hill-owned #08 Chevelle.  To this day, Danny is the only driver to lead every lap in a Glass City 200 event.

Toledo-area cable television provider Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) and nationally-recognized short track racing internet site SPEED51 will each provide coverage of the race.

In addition to the 200 lap outlaw-bodied Late Model invitational, a 40 lap Sportsman invitational on the ½ mile and a 30 lap race on the ¼ mile for the “X” Cars is also on the schedule for the 200 weekend. 

A cash purse of over $50,000 has been posted for the event, in addition to over $5000 in bonus awards and lap money.  A driver could walk away with over $8000 for a victory in the 200.  Lap money sponsorship is available for the Sportsman and X Car races at $5 per lap.  The Glass City 200 lap money is sold out.

In addition to Great Lakes Helicopter, associate sponsors include Francis Engineering, DTS Drive Train Specialists, R & M Recycling, First Care Ambulance, Port City Racecars, Burge Wrecking, Penske Shocks, All Star Performance, Lane Automotive, Moran Chevrolet, Allegiant Travel, Bazell Race Fuels, Sunoco Race Fuels, PASSTIME, Woodville Auto Finance and First Choice Auto Finance. 

Friday, September 28 is an optional practice day for all teams.  The pits will open at 2, with rig parking, pit pass sales, tire sales and tech taking place.  The practice will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  All purchasers of pit passes on Friday will receive a free dinner of pulled pork, BBQ chicken, cole slaw, potatoes and corn on the cob, courtesy of Francis Engineering of Leroy, OH.  Admission to the grandstand is free Friday.

Saturday’s schedule has the pit area open at 9:30 a.m., driver’s meeting at 11:30, practice at 12:15, time trials at 3 and racing at 5 p.m.  A rain date of Sunday, September 30 at 1 p.m. has been established if necessary.  A lucky race fan will walk away with 2 round trip airline tickets, courtesy of Allegiant Travel.  All fans entering the track can enter the drawing, which will take place at the lap 101 break.  Allegiant will also award a pair of tickets to the winner of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.

Reserved seat tickets for the event are now available by calling the track at 419-727-1100.

The entry lists and lap money sponsor list can be found at www.toledospeedway.com.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flatrocktoledo or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.