Like fathers, like sons; Glass City 200 at Toledo a family affair
Like fathers, like sons; Glass City 200 at Toledo a family affair
(TOLEDO, Ohio – September 18, 2014) – Each season the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 brings together thousands of race fans across the Midwest. It also brings together families; it certainly does for the Jack’s…both Brent Jack and his son Hunter tested Thursday at Toledo Speedway.
Brent is testing in preparation for this Saturday’s 26th running of the Glass City 200. His 14-year-old son Hunter also tested, with the intention of competing in Outlaw Late Model competition down the road. Hunter’s only in the eighth grade.
“We’re just getting him some laps right now,” said Brent, a three-time track champion at Angola and Owosso Speedways. “He’s only 14 so we’ll take this one step at a time. He’s been racing since he was four, go-karts, he ran mini-stocks last year…runs a Sportsman car this year. He actually just won his first Sportsman feature last weekend at Angola, so he’s doing very well.”
If Hunter’s dad is all for furthering his son’s racing career, his mom sees it a little differently.
“She was scared…she didn’t want me to come to Toledo,” Hunter said.
For the parents in the audience, we’re certain you can relate. An Outlaw Late Model machine at Toledo averages over 120 mph in a single lap, which means the cars are pushing 160 mph down the straightaways. For an enclosed half-mile oval, that’s clipping right along.
The father and son team of Jeff and Chad Finley also tested Thursday, along with the Fair’s – Harold Sr. and Harold Jr.
Jeff is a former ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards winner, triumphing at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile dirt in 1999. His son Chad races regularly with the ARCA CRA Super Series.
“We’ve got four wins in the CRA car,” said Chad, who finished third in the 7-UP 150 at Toledo earlier this year. “But this is the first time I’ve been in an Outlaw car in five years. Winning this one would definitely be the biggest win of my career; we know it won’t be easy looking over the entry list.”
Fair, Jr. is a two-time Glass City 200 champion.
“We don’t really test too much,” Fair said. “This is the first time for this race. We’re just trying some new stuff.” Fair is also a former ARCA Gold Cup Series and Iceman Series champion.
Former ARCA Racing Series SCOTT Rookie of the Year and two-time ARCA CRA Super Series champion Brian Ross also tested in a Bobby Blount car. Blount’s son Chad won eight ARCA Racing Series events over his career.
“It’s pretty decent…little tight down in one and two but pretty good through the other end,” Ross said. “Just gotta do a little work on it…get it to roll through the center better.”
Jeff Ganus, Jake Francis and Billy Roberts also tested Thursday. 2012 Glass City 200 champion Terry Senneker and 2013 champion Dennis Strickland tested earlier in the week.
Currently more than 30 entries have been received for this year’s Glass City 200. Other entrants include ARCA Discount Tire Gold Cup Series champion Dakota Carlson, George Rangel, Dennis Rederstorf and Brad Riethmeyer. Carlson, who has already clinched the 2014 Gold Cup title, his second overall, won the first two Gold Cup events at Toledo this season. The Cedar Springs, Michigan driver was looking for the sweep in August, but got caught up in an incident in the race. Carlson has never won the Glass City 200.
The 40 lap Cassens Transport Sportsman invitational will utilize a unique qualifying procedure for this weekend, featuring a format similar to the style now used in NASCAR. The Sportsman cars will stage on pit road and be given 30 minutes to record lap times.
Race fans have the opportunity to save $5 on advance ticket purchases by calling the track at 419-727-1100. The advance sale will end at 5 p.m. Friday, September 19.
Presenting sponsors include Francis Engineering, Discount Tire, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, the Hollywood Casino and Cassens Transport. Associate sponsors and special award sponsors that have signed on include Stevens Disposal, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bazell Race Fuels, DTS Drive Train Specialists, PASSTIME, R & M Recycling, Penske Shocks, First Care Ambulance and Burge Wrecking.
The Glass City 200 is the longest race of the year at Toledo and the track's signature event. The race will award $6500 to the winner, with $1100 posted to start. With bonus money and special awards, a driver could walk away with over $9000 in cash and prizes.
The pit gates open initially on Friday, September 19 at 2 p.m. An optional practice session for both classes will take place from 5 to 7. The grandstands will be open for spectators at no charge for the practice. Rig parking, pit pass sales, limited tech and tire sales will also take place on Friday. All pit pass purchasers on Friday will receive a complimentary dinner after practice at the Speedway Bar and Grille, courtesy of Francis Engineering. The ARCA Racing Series event from Kentucky Speedway, live on FOX Sports 1, will play up on the big screens as will the 2013 Glass City 200.
Race day, Saturday, September 20 has the pit gates opening at 9:30 a.m. with practice at noon. The run for the PASSTIME $500 pole award goes at 3 and racing begins at 5.
The current entry lists for both the 200 and the Sportsman invitational, along with the lap money sponsor list, are available at ToledoSpeedway.com.
@DonRadebaugh
dradebaugh@arcaracing.com