Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 27, 2012) - Lorain, OH driver Charlie Schultz, the absolute 1-lap track record holder at Toledo Speedway, will go from open-wheel to stock cars to compete in the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Saturday night at Toledo Speedway. 

And, to up the ante for the drivers, Woodville Auto Finance of Northwood, OH has added a $500 bonus to the winner of the 200 if the Woodville decal is on the car!  The car dealership is also the co-sponsor of the support division X Car race this weekend. 

Great Lakes Helicopter will also give away 3 remote control helicopters and a large helicopter to the kids in attendance for the event.  A special drawing for kids up to age 12 will take place for the toys.

Schultz is one of just a handful of drivers that go back and forth from open wheel machines to the stock cars.  Charlie set the short track world on its ear in June of 2011 by blasting off a lap of an incredible 12:389 in his Winged Sprint Car as part of the Fastest Short Track Show in the World.  Charlie competed at Toledo in the Miller Lite 100 in his Late Model in August and will make the tow to the track to try to qualify for his first-ever Glass City 200 start.

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.  Byrd will serve as Grand Marshal of the race.

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 the 30 lap Woodville Auto Finance/First Choice Auto Finance 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.  Parents may also register their child upon arrival for the Great Lakes Helicopter remote helicopter giveaway.

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.