Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio – August 13, 2014) -- Brad Riethmeyer spent several hours at Toledo Speedway Wednesday for one reason.

“We’re here because we want to get better,” Riethmeyer said. “Getting a win Friday night would be a huge motivation for this team. We have fun at the race track, but it’s all about getting your picture with the trophy.”

Friday is a combination event at the high-banked Toledo Speedway half-mile for the ARCA Gold Cup and the Main Event Late Model Series. Drivers will receive points for both groups for the race. 2012 Gold Cup champion Dakota Carlson has a 40-point cushion on Riethmeyer in the battle for the Gold Cup championship.

Riethmeyer is a Texas native who now lives in Mooresville, N.C. He’s ran in both the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He now drives for Bob Fox of Diamond Racing Products in the No. 56 outlaw late model. Fox has six feature wins at Flat Rock Speedway.

Riethmeyer said the team committed to the Gold Cup series and the team is intent on making the car better at Toledo Speedway. In the two previous Gold Cup races this season at Toledo – both won by Carlson – Riethmeyer finished second and 11th.

“We are here trying three completely different set-ups in our car,” Riethmeyer said. “We’ll go out with one set-up, then come back, strip the car down, take off the shocks and springs and set it up differently. We are trying to find more speed. We want to win Friday night. That would be huge for this team.”

Riethmeyer said the team decided to skip tonight’s ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Kalamazoo Speedway in order to test at Toledo.

“And, that’s a big race,” he said. “But, we are committed to this series and winning here.”

Winning the Miller Lite 100 presented by Grogan’s Towne will be no easy task.

Harold Fair Jr., Dennis Strickland and Scott Pemberton are other top five Gold Cup drivers who are expected to race. Fair Jr. leads the Main Event Series championship point battle. Drivers chasing him for that series lead include Drew Charlson – who has raced in the ARCA Racing Series at Daytona – Bryan Clay, Alex Rosenberry and Scott Hantz, who is one of the all-time greats at Toledo.

A field of 20-25 cars is expected in Toledo Friday.

The pit gates will open at 2 p.m., with practice beginning at 4.  Time trials are set for 6:15 and race time is 7:30 p.m.  All tickets will go on sale at 4 p.m. when the front gates and ticket office opens. 

- By Doug Donnelly