Toledo Speedway

October 21, 2022:   Race teams, sponsors, officials, family and friends gathered Friday evening at the Toledo Speedway Bar and Grille for the Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways Awards Night.  Each of the champions received their championship jackets and banners from ARCA President and Flat Rock/Toledo owner and promoter Ron Drager.

Flat Rock’s ARCA Moran Chevrolet Outlaw Super Late Models were presented their point fund checks and trophies.  Eric Lee captured 6 wins and his 6th Flat Rock track championship, thanking his car owner and father, Steve Lee, and his sponsors for their support.  Pat Moran of Moran Chevrolet presented Eric a check for $1500 for his championship.  Connor Zbozien, George Rangel, Chris Benson, Paul Pelletier, Dennis Strickland, James Pankow, Joshua Spindelman, Stan Yee Jr. and Derrick Sheppard completed the top ten in the final point tally.  Co-Rookie of the Year honors went to Pankow and Spindelman.  Pankow and Yee Jr. picked up the Corrigan Race Fuels bonus of $150 and $100, respectively. 

Moran announced that the Moran Chevrolet group will return as the title sponsor of the ARCA Outlaw Super Late Model class for the 2023 season.

Add another driver that made it 6 track championships, this time in the Flat Rock R & M Recycling ARCA Figure 8 division.  Billy Earley was consistent throughout the season and captured 3 wins on the way to his title.  2021 champ Dennis Whisman Jr. took second in the final points, Eugene Worden had a solid season with a third place finish, Jakob Lee was fourth and Brice Thomsen came home fifth.  Jeremy Vanderhoof, Greg Studt, Travis Earley, Stephanie Bradley and Dave Lambert were next in line to complete the top 10.   Earley ($150) and Whisman Jr. Worden ($50 each-tie) took the Corrigan Race Fuels bonus money.

The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock class saw Jeremy Vanderhoof notch his first-ever Street Stock title, to add to his Figure 8 championships at “The Rock”.  At the wheel of his father-in law Clyde McKee’s #4, Jeremy grabbed 3 wins and topped 2021 champ Greg Studt by 30 markers.  Ron Allen piloted Brian Pelkey’s #57 to third spot, youngster Doug Litogot was strong all season and took fourth, with Rob Moore Jr. in fifth.  Landon Schuster, Johnny Rangel, Caleb Barron, Rob Randa and Kenyon Knight completed the top ten point men.  Rookie of the Year honors went to Kenyon Knight.  Schuster ($150) and Chuck Pankow ($100) were the Corrigan Race Fuels bonus winners.

Mike Miller took his first-ever championship in the DTS Drive Train Specialists ARCA Street Stock B Main point chase.  Rich Abel, Robert Stewart, Taylor Papineau, Chuck Pankow, Ian Jezylo, Jeremy Cronenwett, Austin McKee, Evan Batkins and Brandon Randa were next in line in the final point tally.

The Vault Antiques and Treasures 4-race ARCA Enduro Series championship saw Derrick Sheppard capture his second Enduro crown over 2021 co-champ Nathan Sprotberry, Cody Remick, 2021 co-champ Kyle Metdepenningen, Justin Chamberlin, Brad Turner, Troy Brehmer, James Rae, David Rumble and Dale Buttrey.  Brian Oberle of The Vault handed out point fund checks and trophies.

The ARCA Salenbien Excavating Late Model Sportsman division crowned Jim Froling as the champ, his 4th title overall in the class. Jim grabbed 3 wins on the way to the championship, edging out Kyle Worley, Todd Perkins, Dan Grigsby, Andy Harding, Howard Kelley Jr., Ron Allen, Jim Brazeau, Greg Stilwell and Joe Rozek.  Perkins and Stilwell Jr. were the Bazell Race Fuels bonus winners of $150 and $100, respectively.  Andy Salenbien was on hand to distribute the point fund checks and trophies for the class, which staged races at both Flat Rock and Toledo.

A pair of early season wins propelled Randy Padgett Jr. to The Vault Antiques and Treasures ARCA Factory Stock title at Toledo and Flat Rock, his first-ever title.   Randy edged out Steven Smith for the championship, which saw 8 different winners in the 9-event schedule.  Craig Osenbaugh, James Rae, Matt Bunting, Hunter Padgett, Brian Ringger, Victor York, Gabrielle Grigsby and Brad Turner completed the top ten point-getters.  The Vault’s Brian Oberle presented the checks and trophies.

Rob Liedel, Jeff Metdepenningen, Dan Grigsby and Jim Froling were the random draw winners for product certificates from Five Star RaceCar Bodies.

Track photographer Rand Thompson selected his choices for the Level Pebble Racing Photos Best Appearing Car Awards.  Connor Zbozien (Outlaw Super Late Model), Dennis Whisman Jr.(Figure 8), Doug Litogot (Street Stock), Ron Allen (Late Model Sportsman) and Tony Rumble (Enduro/Factory Stock) were the winners.

Point fund and contingency award sponsors for 2022 included Moran Chevrolet, The Vault Antiques and Treasures, ARCA, B & H Race Parts, DTS Drive Train Specialists, Salenbien Excavating, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Hoosier Tire, Penske Shocks, R & M Recycling, Innovative Fluids, LLC, Bazell Race Fuels, Corrigan Race Fuels and Sunoco Race Fuels. 

The winter office for both tracks may be contacted by calling 419-727-1100.  The 2023 schedules are expected be released around the holiday season.  Always check the official websites at www.flatrockspeedway.com, www.toledospeedway.com or www.arcaracing.com.