Toledo Speedway

Flat Rock, Michigan—June 15, 2013 (Delayed):  Rain began to fall at Flat Rock Speedway
Saturday night, causing a nearly 1 hour delay in the program.  But a large crowd sat through the elements, and more fans came late as the Parts Galore School Bus Figure 8 races were not to be stopped! 

The night featured perhaps one of the most entertaining and destructive nights of fun.  And, for the very first time, the bus fans were treated to a night of the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models for a 50 lap event.  The ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 class also thrilled the crowd.

With the rain delay, time trials and heats were scrapped for both of the oval classes.  Both groups drew for starting positions for their feature races.  The 50 lap Late Model event saw 3 different leaders in the first 7 laps.   Scott Pemberton led the first 3 laps until Steve Cronenwett Jr. motored by on the outside lane.  Current point leader Dennis Strickland took up the challenge and moved by Steve on lap 7, also using the outside lane and assumed control and held the top spot through a few yellow flags on his way to the victory.  Derek Wiley stayed with Dennis after a double-file restart and was about 5 cars lengths behind the leader for second spot at the stripe. Defending champ Paul Pelletier came home third, Cronenwett Jr. was fourth and Steve’s father, Steve Sr., came home in fifth in his first start of the season.  Pemberton, Dan Ford Jr., Scot Bunge, Jeff Plumb and Jim Alvis rounded out the top ten.  A total of 22 cars were on hand for the event.

The Parts Galore Figure 8 20 lap feature had the fans on the edge of their seats as “The Rebel” Dennis Whisman led all 20 laps and took several high-risk chances at the intersection as he rolled to the victory.  Jerry Lee had a great battle with Greg Studt for much of the contest for second, with Lee taking runner-up at the stripe.  Billy Earley notched third, Studt took fourth and Danny Gaddis was fifth, followed by Robbie Loving, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Jeremy Miller, Dan Apperson, Randy Roberts, Stephanie Bradley and Ian Jezylo next in line.  The Figure 8 drivers had race fans draw for their starting positions for the contest!

And now on to the Figure 8 Boat Race, which saw 6 drivers just totally destroy several boats as the crowd roared with laughter!  Winner Jeff King took the checkered flag and immediately eyed an abandoned boat in the intersection of the Figure 8 track and drove over the top of it, destroying the boat!  Craig Lange and Big Awful Knawful took their shots and did plenty of damage also, as did Bill Carberry and Ian Jezylo.  Defending boat champ Race Loving lost his boat and trailer on the first lap, which then became a target for the rest of the field!

The grand finale’ School Bus Figure 8 race saw 3 buses go over on their sides during the bone-crunching event.  Danny Gaddis did a beautiful soft roll to get things started.  The front end loader righted his bus, Danny jumped back in and continued on!  Dennis Whisman was next as he went over with some help, amid the cheers.  And the final shot saw Dan Apperson tag Jeremy Vanderhoof at the intersection, sending Jeremy over with a loud thud!  All drivers were ok as the wild event came to an end with Ray Gaddis capturing the flag.  Dennis Whisman and Stephanie Bradley also did their share of destruction!  Bus sponsors were Parts Galore, Hopculture.com, Jim’s Butcher Shop, Sportway Go-Karts and Batting Cages, Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce and Suburban Oil.