Toledo Speedway

1968: ARCA President John Marcum's idea was brought to life with the first Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway. And the winner? None other than Pontiac, Michigan veteran and multi-time track champion Joy Fair, who defeated a stellar field of cars from throughout the Midwest to begin what is now a historic, tradition-filled event.....

1969: Ruttman scores upset victory in Toledo Glass City 200
Joe Ruttman picked the right time to register his first Toledo Speedway win, capturing the second annual Glass City 200.Ruttman piloted his Chevelle to an upset victory on the famed high-banked half mile. Track champion and defending race winner Joy Fair paced the 47-car field in time trials with a lap of 18:16, earning him the pole position. With Fair's pole winning lap and 10-season feature wins, it placed the Pontiac, Michigan veteran as the odds-on favorite to repeat his previous year's triumph.

Fair wasted little time displaying his abilities, jumping from the pole position and leading handily throughout the early stages of the event. The event came to a halt on lap 52 when Harold Fair blew an engine and ended up in the third turn fence. A large number of caution laps were run during the clean -up period, which would determine the outcome in the latter stages of the event. Fair resumed his lead after the caution, but soon his hopes of a repeat started to slip away, as the clutch in his Chevelle began to give way and he was passed for the lead on lap 78 by Jerry Spear. Fair eventually retired on lap 107 with clutch failure.

Spear built up a comfortable lead heading into the latter stages of the event, having the race seemingly in hand when misfortune struck. On lap, 171 Spear slowed with apparent mechanical problems, which turned out he had run out of fuel, surrendering the lead to a surprised Joe Ruttman. Ruttman coasted home to his first Toledo Speedway victory. Jerry Makara turned in an excellent driving performance claiming the runner-up position. Fran Harden finished third a lap and half off the pace. ARCA veteran Iggy Katona pushed his 1967 Charger strong in the late stages to claim fourth, two laps back. A dejected Jerry Spear finished fifth, losing two laps in the pits while refueling.

Canadian Pete Hudson claimed the first 20 lap consolation with young John Anderson roaring from the back of the field to claim the win in the second consi.

1970:Senneker dominates Toledo Glass City 200
Bob Senneker was a runaway winner in the third annual Glass City 200, joining previous winners Joy Fair and Joe Ruttman. The format of the race was changed from the previous years, with the event being split into individual-paying 100 lap features. The overall winner would be determined by his combined finish in the two events.

Joy Fair captured the pole for the second consecutive year with a time of 17.84, besting a fine field of 50 cars. Fair was again a heavy favorite to win his second classic after capturing 8 season feature wins en-route to his 4th straight Toledo track title. Fair led from the drop of the green flag until lap 36 when he experienced a flat and had to pit, which caused him to lose two laps. Young John Anderson retired early in the event with engine problems. With track regulars Fair and Anderson out of the way, Bob Senneker grabbed the lead and never looked back, capturing the first hundred by a two-lap margin! Second and third went to Joe Ruttman and Fair. Three laps in arrears were Harold Cook, Buzz Kormos and Pete Hudson. Toledo regular Danny Byrd appeared to have second secured in his Ford but had to make a late stop for fuel, which dropped him back to 9^th.

The cars started the second hundred in the order they finished the first leg. 23 cars took the green, and it didn't take long for a melee to occur, as Ron Grana crashed out of the event. Senneker resumed where he left off driving away from the rest of the field. His closest pursuer was Joy Fair, who dropped out on the 22nd lap with rear axle failure. Senneker did encountered a late race scare, as his Chevelle began to smoke from the engine, but he was able to ease up the pace and capture his first Glass City 200 triumph. Bob walked off with $1825, which included lap money for leading 165 laps. Joe Ruttman finished second, unlapping himself when Senneker had troubles. Danny Byrd ran strong in the second leg to capture third in the overall standings. Former USAC open wheel veteran Cy Fairchild ran well finishing fourth, with Pittsburgh (PA) driver Augie Sandman rounding out the top five. Local racer Harold Cook had a good showing, running as high as fourth, only to have an accident eliminate him on lap 188.

Two 15-lap consolation races were run with Jerry Cousino taking the first one over Bill Andress. Cousino, Harold Fair, Andress, Dick Shaw and Bruce Worrell all earned feature starting spots. Iggy Toth in the "Huron Turkey Farm Special" led all the way to claim the second consolation over Mike Shaw, Ben Snyder, Dick Sandoval and Ron DeWitt.

1971
Bob Senneker, the 1970 Glass City 200 winner returned to defend his crown. He did just that, recording his second consecutive win in the 4th annual classic. Danny Byrd, in his slick silver Chevelle led an impressive 55-car field with a laps of 17.81. Byrd shot into the lead from the pole position to pace the first 41 laps. Fran Harden, in Joy Fair's Chevelle, forged past Byrd and led the remainder of the first leg. Senneker, Byrd, Joy Fair in his new Camaro and Joe Ruttman followed. Harden piloted the ex-Fair Chevelle after blowing the engine in his regular machine.

The second half of the race started amidst controversy. Harden and Fair switched cars for the second leg. Harden was overcome with exhaust fumes at the end of the first hundred in the Chevelle, and Fair took over his old ride and hung on through the second leg, finally exiting the car ill. Senneker took the lead from Fair after the first lap and was never challenged, finishing a lap ahead of second place Fair and third place Ed Howe. Heidelberg (PA) Raceway regular Bill Konczos finished fourth with Jerry Makara rounding out the top five. Bob Senneker pocketed $2,000 as the overall champion. Fair finished second with Howe claiming third, Larry Moore was fourth, with Harden rounding out the top five.

1972
The 5th annual classic drew another fine field of 56 cars from around the Midwest and Canada. Danny Byrd again set fast time in the William Hill prepared Chevelle, recording a 17.67 lap on the high banks. Byrd held the front row with Joe Ruttman, who piloted the #40 Chevelle formerly driven by ARCA regular Dave Gershon. Byrd led from his pole position as he and Ruttman battled throughout the first hundred, with Byrd leading all 100 laps enroute to the win. Ruttman ran a close second, with 1968 ARCA Rookie of the Year John Anderson in the Denny McNutt Chevelle claiming third. Larry Moore and Bud Pingston rounded out the top five.

The cars lined up in order of finish from the first leg. Byrd immediately grabbed the lead and was never challenged, leading all 100 laps of the second leg. Ruttman was again the bridesmaid with Bud Pingston third followed by Bruce Worrell and Larry Moore. Danny Byrd took home $2,700, including lap money. Ruttman, Moore, Ray Barnard and Pingston finish second through fifth overall.

1973
Joe Ruttman, the 1969 champion, returned to claim his second victory in the 200-lap classic. This year's event was titled the Marathon 200, which was the race sponsor. Ed Howe flew in his familiar green Camaro to quick time at 17.81 seconds leading the 55-car field. Howe shared the front row with John Anderson in the Stan Yee prepared Camaro. Anderson jumped into the early lead, holding the point until lap 48 when Ruttman blasted by Anderson entering turn one and led the remainder of the first leg. At the halfway break Artie Sommers, Jim Bickerstaff, Jerry Makara and Dick Crup rounded out the top five.

Ruttman parked his familiar # 70 Chevelle towards the end of the 1973 season in favor of piloting Joy Fair's new controversial 4-door Maverick. Ruttman, Fair's prot?©g?©, was asked to take over the potent Bob Gillean-Russ Wainscott ride while Fair recuperated from a devastating early season crash at Toledo.

Smooth driving Bickerstaff turned in an impressive performance, charging from twenty-third starting position to finish third in the first half. He advanced into the main event by winning one of two consolations after arriving to the track after time trials.

Sommers led the start of the second leg until lap three when Ruttman took over. He proceeded to dominate the field on the way to his second triumph in the classic. Howe finished second in Bickerstaff's Camaro after crashing in the third turn on lap 38. Ohio speedster Tony Diano was third, Mike Shaw fourth and Steve Asztalos fifth. Ruttman pocketed $3,000 for the overall victory followed by Bickerstaff, Diano, Shaw, and Steve Asztalos.

1974
The seventh annual classic brought the largest and most competitive field of cars, as 76 entries filled the pits. Harold Cook, in the immaculately prepared Fred Swing Camaro, won the pole with a 17.55 second clocking. Cook blasted into the lead from his front row position to lead the first six laps before erupting an engine going down the backstretch. Bob Senneker took over and led until lap 11 when John Anderson grabbed the top spot. Short Track legend and longtime NASCAR competitor Dick Trickle made his initial Toledo appearance, qualifying fifth. Trickle spun in Cook's oil and was sent to the rear. This set the stage for one of the most impressive charges ever witnessed on the high-banked oval. Trickle worked his way up towards the front only to be involved in a skirmish with Lennie Waldo. Trickle again was sent to the rear and started his relentless charge through the pack, eventually passing Anderson on lap 85 and leading 2 laps before his SuperAmerica-sponsored Mustang gave out. Anderson re-inherited the lead and held off Senneker, Tony Diano, Art Sommers and Ed Hage to the finish.

The second leg was a run-away for Anderson, piloting Stan Yee's famed number 33, as he led all 100 laps on his way to a $2,415 payday in his first Glass City triumph. Waldo, Senneker, Danny Byrd and Randy Sweet followed. Following Anderson to the overall finish was Senneker, with Randy Sweet and Joy Fair tied for third. Ed Hage rounded out the top five with an impressive run as he advanced to the main through one of two consolations.

1975
The 1975 classic saw two of Michigan's all-time greats-- Joy Fair and Bob Senneker --capture 100 lap wins. Tommy Maier out-qualified an impressive 55-car field with a 16.92 clocking. Maier started on the pole but gave way to Senneker on the green flag. Maier battled back to overtake Senneker on lap four and proceeded to hold the point until lap 33 when he pitted with rear end problems. Senneker regained the point but it was short-lived as Joy Fair motored past in his Dearborn Crankshaft sponsored Mustang. Fair would go on to win the first leg convincingly in record time of 29:49.81 minutes. Following Fair to the finish were Rick Knotts, Jim Bickerstaff, Bob Schippers and Bob Sensiba.

Fair started on the pole of the second hundred and jump out into the lead, followed closely by Ohio sensation Jim Bickerstaff. The two battled bumper to bumper throughout the second leg. It appeared Fair would sweep the event until lap 81 when he and Bickerstaff got together coming off turn four. Fair was placed at the rear while Bickerstaff inherited the lead, which he held until lap 88 when Bob Senneker passed him on the inside off turn 2. Senneker would go on to win the second leg over Bickerstaff, Maier, Randy Sweet and Rick Knotts.

Jim Bickerstaff, by virtue of his second and third place finishes became the first and only Ohio driver to win the Glass City 200, claiming $1,400 for his efforts. Second overall was awarded to Knotts followed by Fair, Schippers and Jerry Makara.

1976
The Bicentennial year race provided another first time winner, as Ed Cooper would register the biggest win of his racing career. Bob Sensiba started out the day setting fast time over the 35-car field with a 17.01 clocking. Joy Fair would share the front row with Sensiba. Fair was favored to capture his second Glass City 200 triumph, as he had captured an early season 100-lap victory over an impressive field in the Toledo Race against Cancer. Fair started off dominating the first leg, leading all 100 laps for the win. Ed Cooper pressured Fair throughout but had to settle for second. Rounding out the top five in the first leg were Rick Knotts, Artie Sommers and Jim Bickerstaff.

The second leg lined up in the order of finish of the first half. Cooper outgunned Fair into turn one and was never challenged the remainder of the event. Artie Sommers ran second with Dick Haas, Knotts and Bud Pingston rounding out the top five. Fair and Bickerstaff both retired with mechanical problems. Cooper earned $2,100 as the overall winner. Rounding out the top five overall finishers were Sommers, Knotts, Haas and Pingston.

1977
The 1977 event was to be the last Glass City 200 at the high-banked oval for 22 years. The track was sold and ARCA would no longer be promoting races at the .5-mile oval. The final race was moved up to the month of August and switched from an afternoon to a night race. This change occurred to space out the high dollar event from the Howard Williams Memorial 300, which previously ran in succession to close out the year.

Bob Senneker returned in hopes of capturing his record third triumph. Senneker started the night by out-qualifying the smallest field of 31 cars, with a 16.67 clocking. Ed Howe shared the front row and jumped out to the early lead. Howe held the point until lap 28 when Senneker made the pass down the backstretch. Senneker was on his way to an easy victory until the final lap when Bill Daniels blew an engine. Senneker spun in the oil and watched as Ed Cooper passed him to the capture the first leg win. Senneker recovered to finish second ahead of 1977 Flat Rock Track Champion, Buddy Bennett. Don Gregory in the Jegs-sponsored Camaro finished fourth ahead of Joy Fair in his Pontiac Ventura.

Senneker, disappointed with the outcome of the first leg, did not waste any time displaying his superior ability in the second leg. He grabbed the lead at the onset and was never challenged, winning handily over Howe, Randy Sweet, Fair and Cooper. Senneker earned $2,510 for his overall victory, becoming the winningest driver in the history of the Glass City 200. Ed Cooper finished second with Fair and Sweet tied for third and Don Gregory wound up fifth.

And with the sale of the track, for 22 years there was no Glass City 200. But, in January of 1999, the name ARCA returned to Toledo Speedway once again as the sanctioning body and promoter of this beautiful track. Current ARCA President Ron Drager, the grandson of the late John Marcum, one of the pioneers of racing in the Midwest and the originator of this prestigious event, teamed with Detroit-area businessman Roy Mott and revived the Glass City 200!

1999
The 1999 edition was a resounding success, with a superb field of 56 cars. Read on as the Glass City 200 has once again established itself as one of the premier season-ending classics for pavement Late Models! Tim Felver piloted Dean Hudson and Larry Zent's famed no. 5 to the win in the revival of this season-ending classic.

2000
Felver returned to defend his Glass City 200 title and had a teammate this season in Canadian superstar Jr. Hanley. Felver led much of the contest until he and Hanley tangled with just 9 laps to go! Tim Ice motored by and smiled all the way to victory lane.

2001
With a newly-paved track, Hanley came back and set a new track record at an astounding 14:819 on the .5-mile. Jr. was up to the task, showing his strength all day to put his name in the record books as a Glass City 200 winner.

2002
Saginaw, Michigan native Steve Sauve showed the way by recording his first Glass City 200 win, in what was to become his first of an incredible 3 in a row at Toledo.

2003
To repeat is difficult, but Sauve was up to the task, leading a majority of the distance to record win number 2 in this classic.

2004
Sauve pulled off an incredible 3-peat in this event, making it perhaps one of the most incredible feats in short track pavement Late Model racing.

2005
After making the 2004 field through the last-chance race, John Doering Jr. held back a furious charge by Harold Fair Jr. at the lap 101 mark to claim the victory. The rain-shortened event saw the elements fall as the race was being resumed after the break, which went to 101 laps. The rain never stopped and Doering etched his name in the record books. The 101 laps were run in just under 45 minutes with some incredible racing throughout the first portion of the contest.

2006
Perennial front-runner Dave Kuhlman, still searching for his first Glass City win, gets caught up in a wreck while leading; Ohio veteran Jack Landis steered his way to victory lane in the 200 lap event, which was contested on Sunday due to Saturday's rain-out. And, oh yeah, the race drew world-wide attention as Michael Simko put a flying drop-kick into the windshield of Don St. Denis during a red flag. A scuffle ensued, both drivers were booted, and Landis claimed the big win.