Toledo Speedway

Former Gold Cup Champion (2012), Dakota Carleson won the Discount Tires 100 at Toledo Speedway. It was his first career Gold Cup feature win and his second career ARCA Late Model race (the other was at Flat Rock). "It's been a long time coming. We had a dominant car tonight ...  not only to win but to kick their butts. I want to thank all the fans that came out tonight and supported us. I have to thank Tony LeClair for the good equipment, and my dad. He worked hard this winter putting the car together this winter. We only had a half of race on it before tonight, it's pretty good," said the Berrien Springs, Mich., driver. "I wish (Jeff) Ganus would've stayed in. It would've been fun racing him for the win.

Dakota is the 10th different winner in a row for the Gold Cup Series and the 27th different winner out of the 66 races run in the series.

Brad Reithmeyer finished second in his first visit to Toledo Speedway. The Mooresville, N.C., driver's second place finish is his career best finish. His other two Gold Cup races were also top 4 finishes (third in 2013 and fourth a couple weeks ago at Flat Rock). "I tried to get under him (Dakota Carleson) and get a good run off, but slipped up a little there and it got away. I knew I couldn't catch him on the long run, he had too good of a car and he's too good of a driver. So I was just saving my tires, hoping for a caution and we got one ... it almost worked out. The last 10 laps or so were fun. Running on the outside for the lead and then pulling a crossover move on the leader. We are so close to that win; just need to get a little bit better. But I can't thank these guys enough for everything, the opportunity Diamond and Trend Performance team. We had some employees from the both companies come to the race and then hang out by the car afterwards; they really seamed excited about the program and then the signing of our new sponsor Crunch N Nutter; these three companies are just giving me a great opportunity.  Hopefully the fans liked it; I know it was fun in the car."

Jake Francis finished third, "We've taken plenty of them out here (Toledo) on a wrecker before so it was nice to finish one of these races. We had a real good run, of we come to win, but we were in real good company up here ... We'll build on it and come back next time. A lot of fast cars and it was a real fast race pace with only three cautions. I have to thank everyone that helps me, my dad, brother and fiancé ... I have a kid on the way, so I'm excited about that ... HABCO Tool Development, Francis Engineering and Bruce Transport. Appreciate all you do here at the track so we can come here and play."

Four time Gold Cup champion (2001, 2004, 2005, 2011) Dennis Strickland finished fifth. "We've been off pretty good all day, we've been too tight. We made some moves right before the feature. We had a great field of cars tonight, hope it was good entertainment for the fans, I know it was fun on the track. We'll tune on it and come back. There's a lot of fast cars out here and they're not playing around, trust me," said the driver of the PB Fabrication, The Computer Co., Automotive Hardware Solutions, Development Services #90.

Harold Fair Jr. finished fourth. "I thought my foot was on fire it was so hot. I looked down and the gas pedal was red. I floored it out at about 4000 RPMs and told the crew to get the ice ready, get the ice ready. We have to work on that. The Royal Truck and Trailer #71 was pretty good tonight. I want to thank ARCA for having us out here and Discount Tire for sponsoring the race. We did what we had to do. I'll tell you what, at the beginning of the race there was seven or eight cars that could legitimately could have or have won races here or other tracks."

Jeff Ganus led the first 40 laps until suffering a catastrophic radiator failure in his Great Lakes Helicopter #5.. At the time that he dropped out, he had a straightaway lead on eventual winner Dakota Carleson. And then his teammate, defending Gold Cup Champion, Scott Hantz had a coil wire fall off, which caused the car to lose power. Although Hantz tried to get out of the way, Brian Clay clipped his car. Hantz was able to get his Great Lakes Helicopter #72 back to the pits, but Clay's Hudsonville Service Center #30 was through for the event with front end damage.

Thanks to Lenny Lightner, Scott Hantz's crew chief for the following updates:

Scott Hantz "We had a miss and only ran 6 laps in practice but got her fixed and qualified 3rd. Got to thank my crew Lenny, Kevin and Wayne for busting their tails all day getting this thing to run right. We had an issue in the feature but got her fixed and wound up sixth. Need to thank John and Meloney Lojko for putting me in their car this year, and our sponsors Great Lakes Helicopter, Collins Heavy Haul, Ryman Design for wrapping the car, Senneker Performance, JRI Shocks, and Top Speed Fabrication."

Jeff Ganus " We were just ridin the first half but had a radiator issue but well get her fixed up and be ready for the next one. Gotta thank John and Meloney for putting me in the car and our sponsors Great Lakes Helicopter, Collins Heavy Haul, Ryman Design, Senneker Performance, and JRI Shocks"

            "Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Lojko family (who owns both cars), John's brother David was injured in a motorcycle accident and we're all praying for a full recovery

Steve Needles was the only car at the track that was unable to start the feature because of mechanical problems in hot laps.

Howard Kelley Jr. won his first Sportsman feature of the season. He'd like to thank his sponsors. Hart's Machine Service, Freez Frame Photos, Walt's Auto World, Doug Miller. And I'd like to thank my crew Adam and Allen Plonski and my Spotter Dan Guy.