Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO OH (9-20-07)--While Jack Landis celebrated perhaps the biggest win of his career in the 2006 edition of the Glass City 200, a pair of drivers drew world-wide attention for their skirmish. One half of the duo returns for Saturday's race as Michael Simko has filed his entry for the 200 lap Late Model contest at Toledo Speedway. With an incredible weather forecast for the weekend and a solid entry list, track officials are busy putting the finishing touches on Toledo Speedway for the 19th running of the Miller Lite Glass City 200 Late Model invitational presented by Allegiant Air and National City Bank. The Saturday night event boasts a purse of $70,000 for the evening of racing September 22 at the .5-mile paved oval.

Simko's flying dropkick into the windshield of Don St. Denis' car during a red flag period drew international attention to the race last year. A short scuffle ensued after, brought on after the two tangled on the track, with Simko tagging the turn 4 wall. Simko exited his car and went after St. Denis by the now infamous dropkick. Both drivers have served their penalties, which expired on June 1. Simko competed at Toledo in mid-June in a Late Model event, while St. Denis has not visited the track yet this year. There are rumors the Canadian will be at the track this weekend, but those have not been confirmed by any means.

"Both drivers have served their penalties, they have talked and have moved forward," noted Scott Schultz, the track's General Manager. "They were both sent entry blanks several weeks ago."

The Late Model entry list now stands at 40 as of Thursday afternoon, In addition to Simko, Dr. Bob DuCharme, Jack Varney Jr., Darrell Howard Jr. and Adam Purdy's entries were received today, hiking the entry number to the 40 car mark. A total of 29 ARCA National City Bank Sportsman cars have entered for their 40 lap main event, while the ARCA A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stocks will battle in a 25 lap main event as part of the 2007 edition of the classic.

Race fans will have a chance to win cash and plane tickets at this year's event. The $500 Wynn's/LV Enterprises Challenge will award a lucky race fan $500. The leader of the race at lap 100 will draw out the winning name at the half-way mark of the event during the 20 minute break. The lap 100 leader will also pick up a $500 cash bonus, courtesy of Wynn's/LV Enterprises.

And another fan will take home 2 round-trip tickets from Toledo to St. Petersburg, Florida, courtesy of Allegiant Air. Fans can register Saturday when they arrive at the track.

Friday, September 21 the activity will consist only of an optional practice session for both the Late Models and the ARCA Sportsman cars. The Friday schedule shows the pit area opening at noon for rig parking, pit pass and tires sales, along with the beginning of technical inspection. The practice session is set for 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and the garage area closes at 8:15 p.m. Friday. There is no admission charge to view practice Friday.

Saturday's schedule has the pits opening at 9 a.m., with practice at Noon, time trials at 3 and racing at 5 p.m. A rain date of Sunday, September 23 has been established, with a 1 p.m. start time if needed.

The race originated in 1968 under the direction of ARCA founder John Marcum, with the win going to legendary Joy Fair. The event ran for ten consecutive seasons until the track was sold. In 1999, Marcum's grandson, Ron Drager, the current President of ARCA and co-owner of Toledo along with his business partner Roy Mott, purchased the speedway and promptly revived the race. The Glass City 200 immediately rose again to prominence in the Late Model racing circles of the Midwest, becoming one of the most sought-after titles.

Former winners include Fair in 1968, Joe Ruttman, 1969 and 1973, Bob Senneker in 1970, 1971 and 1977; Danny Byrd, 1972; the late John Anderson, 1974; Ohioan Jim Bickerstaff, 1975; Ed Cooper, 1976; Tim Felver, 1999; Tim Ice, 2000; Jr. Hanley, 2001; Steve Sauve, 2002, 2003, 2004; John Doering, 2005 and 2006, Jack Landis. All former winners have been invited back to the track for this year's race.

The winner will also receive 2 round-trip tickets from Toledo to St. Petersburg, FL, courtesy of Allegiant Air and the Howe Racing Enterprises bonus of a $300 product certificate and $500 if in a Howe chassis. Other posted awards include the $500 Kayo Lumber Fast Qualifier Award; $250 Burge Wrecking Hard Charger (Most Improved position) in the 200, and $100 All Star Performance product certificates to the 8^th and 12^th place finishers in the event.

R & M Recycling returns to sponsor the 25 lap B Main contest, but a new twist for this year puts the winner of the B Main into the Glass City 200 field, courtesy of Bazell Race Fuels/Sunoco Race Fuels. DTS/Drive Train Specialists has signed on to sponsor one of the last-chance races.

Giles Auto Body, Celebrations Fun Food Factory, Clean Sweep, NEMSYS, Vivid Maintenance, Michigan Racing Scene, Sandusky Speedway, Sterling Printing and Graphics and the Toledo Blade have also pledged their support with sponsorship for the Glass City 200.

The track will offer a $5 discount to all Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club Members and Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club members for Saturday's event by showing their card at the ticket window. The track will also admit all Scouts in uniform FREE to the biggest race of the season at the .5-mile paved oval.

Saturday's race card will include practice, time trials, last-chance races, the 25 lap B Main and the Miller Lite Glass City 200 lap race, plus a last-chance race and 40 lap ARCA National City Bank Sportsman feature, along with a 25 lap ARCA A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stock main event.

Reserved seats are still available for the race by calling the track at 419-727-1100. Cash, VISA and Mastercard will be accepted for advance ticket orders only. The speedway is located on Benore Road at the I-75/Alexis Road exit on the Michigan-Ohio border. For the current entry lists and other up to date information, click here