Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio – Sept. 16, 2013) – The Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 is less than two weeks away and teams are starting to hit the high-banked, half-mile track at Toledo Speedway to test their cars and get their right setups ready for the fall classic.

Monday, Mount Morris, Michigan driver Johnny Belott was one of two cars testing at the track. Belott, who has competed in 10 Glass City 200s, but never won, said it was important to get seat time on the track in his late model.

“I used to be out racing 30 nights a year,” he said, “but I’ve only been out twice this year. This will be my third race of the year.”

Belott said he expects as strong a field as ever for the 25th Anniversary of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 presented by Francis Engineering, Woodville Auto Finance, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express on Saturday, September 28.

“It’ll be tough,” he said. “You will see all of the best drivers from Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. This race is always great.”

Belott said he always enjoys coming to Toledo Speedway. The tracks a special one, he said, plus he likes the way all of the drivers feel they are on even level.

“ARCA is a good series to race with. They tech all of the cars and, for me, I’m glad to know the cars are all equal. We’ve been running this race for 10 years. It’s a great place to have a big race.”

Belott, who has four feature wins at Toledo Speedway on his record, was the first of what figures to be a busy couple weeks of testing at the track, which has no weekly division races between now and the Glass City spectacular.

“We ran about six different sessions,” Belott said. “We’re happy with the car. Real happy.”

Entries have already been received for Johnny VanDoorn, Dennis Strickland, Johnny Belott, Mike Young, Brian Ross, Jake Francis, Michael Simko and 2-time Glass City 200 champion Harold Fair Jr. The purse is up to more than $50,000 in cash and awards, with $6,500 going to the winner.  $1,100 has been posted to start the 200 lap race, which will see a 20 minute break at the lap 101 mark.  With prize money and special awards, a driver could walk away with over $9,000 in cash and contingency awards.

Friday, September 27 the pit area opens at 2 p.m. for rig parking, tech and tire sales for all 3 classes.  An optional practice session will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Anyone that purchases a pit pass on Friday will receive a FREE dinner from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., courtesy of Francis Engineering of Leroy, OH.  The band Distant Cousinz will play after dinner at the Bar/Grille, located adjacent to the speedway.

The Saturday, September 28 race day schedule has the pits open at 9:30 a.m., driver’s meeting at 11:30, practice at 12:15, time trials at 3 and racing at 5 p.m.  A rain date of Sunday, September 29 has been established.

Some additional testing dates are still available. For more information, call Scott or Casey at (419) 727-1100.