Toledo Speedway

(September 4, 2013):  An upstart driver with a strong racing heritage provided the story line for the 1969 Glass City 200, the second year for the race.  Joe Ruttman, whose brother, Troy, captured the Indy 500, posted the “upset” win in the 200 lap contest.  Driving a car with the number 14 on the doors, Joe took the lead from Kalamazoo, MI driver Jerry Spear on lap 171 when Spear ran out of fuel, giving Ruttman the lead and the eventual win.

Joy Fair, the inaugural winner of the 200, set fast time at 18:16 for the 47 car field.  Joy and Danny Byrd led the field down to the green flag from their front row starting positions.  With 10 wins at Toledo, Fair was the man to beat, going for 2 in a row, and Joy showed his strength right from the start.  The race was halted on lap 52 when Harold Fair Sr. blew an engine and tagged the turn 3 wall.  Joy stayed in the lead when the race resumed, but a slipping clutch ended his day.  Spear then took the lead and was headed to victory until his problems just 29 laps from the end stopped his bid for the win.

Second was Jerry Makara  (is that really Jerry?) (#78), third was “Frantic” Fran Harden (#54), and fourth went to ARCA National champion Iggy Katona in his #30 Dodge, 2 laps back.  Spear recovered to take fifth spot at the finish, also 2 laps down.

The consi winners were Canadian Pete Hudson (#07) and rookie John Anderson (#72).  We’ll have more on Fair, Byrd, Ruttman, Anderson and a host of drivers as we continue to relive the past Glass City 200 race, leading up to the this year’s September 28 Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 presented by Francis Engineering, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express. 

Lap money is being taken at just $10 a lap!  Call 419-727-1100 to become a lap money sponsor and to get your tickets today!