Toledo Speedway

In 1968, Toledo Speedway promoter and ARCA founder John Marcum came up with the idea of running a 200 lap Late Model invitational—the Glass City 200.  Despite a 20-year hiatus of the race from 1978-1998 (when the Toledo track was sold), the race was revived in 1999 when Marcum’s grandson, Ron Drager, purchased the track with business partner Roy Mott.

And the race still carries the prestige and notoriety that it once did back in the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, a driver driving for a car owner instead of his own machine was commonplace on the short tracks.  The #24, owned by Adrian, MI businessman John Ramus, put Ed Cooper in the seat of his Camaro and the Jackson, MI native made sure Ramus got a big victory with the win in the 1976 version of the Glass City 200.  Ramus, Cooper and Marcum (left to right) pose for a photo in the Winner’s Circle.

Cooper had been a winner for several years before teaming with Ramus, taking the seat that Dick Crup held for many years. Bob Sensiba (#48) set fast time (remember, he won the consi in 1975) at 17:01.  The field of cars dropped to 35, but the quality was still evident.  Steve Bunge (#71), who later became a 3-time Late Model champ at Flat Rock Speedway, won the consi race.

Joy Fair was second quick and started up front with Sensiba for the race.  Fair took off on the green and dominated the first 100 lap segment, pushing his #1 to victory over Cooper, who stayed with Fair for much of the way.  Rick Knotts (#21), Artie Sommers (in Stan Yee’s #33) and 1975 Glass City winner Jim Bickerstaff completed the top 5.

Cooper got the jump on Fair in the second segment at the start and stayed in command all way, never being seriously challenged for the biggest win of his career.  Sommers was second and Dick Haas third.  Haas piloted a beautiful one-of-a-kind Olds Omega (#93).  Knotts was fourth and Bud Pingston, at the wheel of the Harold Davis-owned #129, was fifth in the second 100 lap event.  Fair and Bickerstaff both dropped out with mechanical problems.  Cooper, Sommers, Knotts, Haas and Pingston were the top 5 in the overall standings.

The 25^th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 presented by Francis Engineering, Woodville Auto Finance, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express is set for Saturday, September 28.

As we move closer to the 2013 edition and this special anniversary of one of top outlaw-bodied Late Model races in the area, please check the website each day for stories, updates, lap money sponsors, the entry list and historic notes and photos (courtesy of ARCA historians Brian Norton and Jim Hehl) of the Glass City 200. 

Lap money sponsorship and just $10 per lap and tickets are now on sale by calling 419-727-1100 today!