Toledo Speedway

Toledo, Ohio—July 28, 2017:  Franklin, MA driver Bobby Santos captured the Hemelgarn Racing/Super Fitness Rollie Beale Classic 100 lap USAC Silver Crown Series race Friday night at Toledo Speedway, the 50^th USAC race held at the Glass City oval. Bobby’s win was historic as he has captured USAC Sprint, Midget and now Silver Crown events at Toledo, the only driver to do so. Ron Hemelgarn presented the 5 foot trophy to Santos in victory lane ceremonies.

The Beale family, led by matriarch Anna Mae Beale, was introduced to the crowd prior to the main event.   Former open-wheel racers were also introduced as part of their annual Reunion at the track. The speedway also played host to the City of Toledo and Toledo Blade employees Friday night. A group of 12 Vintage Race Cars took parade laps prior to the race card.

The 100 lap Silver Crown event nearly went green flag all the way, just 2 laps shy of that mark. Fast qualifier Kody Swanson (15:084) took off on the start from the pole as Santos and Chris Windom tried to chase down the fleet Swanson. By lap 15, the lead trio had pulled away from the rest of the field and at lap 40 they were still together nose to tail. On lap 44, Santos pulled off the move of the night as leader Swanson ducked low on a lapped car and Santos went to the high side in turn 4. Santos came out as the leader and took off. The green flag stayed out but by lap 85 Swanson whittled the gap on Santos. Lapped traffic allowed Kody to close within striking distance. The yellow finally flew on lap 98 when Troy Thompson spun in the front straight. On the restart, Santos got the jump on Swanson and zipped to the big win. Third was Windom, fourth was Jerry Coons Jr. and fifth went to Joe Liguori, followed by Davey Hamilton, Joe Axsom, David Byrne, Annie Briedinger, Justin Grant, Thompson, Aaron Pierce, Joss Moffatt, Damion Gardner and Matt Goodnight. Cody Gallogly plowed the turn 3 foam blocks in the first laps of practice and was scratched for the night.

The Thunder Roadsters made their very first appearance at Toledo and the 20 lap main went to the wire as Marty Griffin nosed by Chad Cory on the last lap to take the victory. Cory led the first 19 laps in the all green flag event as Griffin closed in on the leader, taking the lead in the turn 4 to take charge of the race and went on to the win. Dave Ozborn, Doug Dugger, Bob Lemons, Billy Jackson and Jim Albers trailed the winner.

The ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman race was also an all-green flag event as Howard Kelley Jr. withstood the race-long pressure of Ron Allen and Mike Young to take his 2^nd win of 2017. Allen used the second groove and Young the low lane as Kelley stayed glued to the bottom of the track. Allen fell back just a bit with 10 laps to go, but then made a great charge up on the outside to get to second spot. Kelley Jr. had enough to take the victory over Allen, Young, a fast-closing Gerald Wheaton, Tommy O’Leary IV, Kent McCloskey, Andy Harding, Kyle Worley, Landon Schuster, Craig Osenbaugh and Jim Froling. Froling dropped out on lap 8 while running 4^th. Allen set quick time at 17:214, with the heat wins to Kelley Jr. and Wheaton.

It’s Saturday night racing at Toledo Speedway next week! Saturday, August 5 Toledo will play host to the Miller Lite 100 fueled by Marco’s Pizza. The 100 lap feature for the ARCA Super 6 Gold Cup Series Late Models will be a combined event with the Main Event Late Model Series. The 4-division race card also has the ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman in action on the ½ mile paved oval, and ¼ mile fun and entertainment with the ARCA Factory Stocks and the ARCA Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Figure 8’s. Race time is 7 p.m. Saturday, August 5.

The rain date for the Late Model Miller Lite 100 fueled by Marco’s Pizza is Friday, August 11.