Lap money is still available for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 on Saturday, September 29.  90 laps have already been sponsored for this prestigious event.  Lap sponsorship includes your name on the website, in the souvenir program, and public address announcements.  To sponsor laps, call the office at (419) 727-1100.  The current lap sponsor list is posted below.  Operators are standing by to take your call!

Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 9 a.m.:  The rain stopped at Flat Rock Speedway around 7 a.m., the skies are beginning to break and it's full speed ahead for tonight's 7-Up 125 for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models and the track's 300 lap Enduro championship race!

This is the first appearance ever for this touring series at "The Rock".  The stock-bodied Late Models will be led by current point leader Johnny VanDoorn.  Kenzie Ruston, one of the top female stock car drivers in the nation, tested last week at the track and is ready to go.

Veteran Scott Hantz is expected to be strong, along with Terry Fisher Jr.  Flat Rock driver Stan Yee Jr. is entered, along with former Flat Rock racer and ARCA Truck Series champ Paul Hahn, both of whom have hundreds of laps under their belts at the track.

The 300 lap Enduro championship promises to be filled with excitement as 5 drivers still have a shot at the Enduro title.  Matt Ringger holds the cards for the championship going into the final race, which is 50 laps longer than the traditional Enduro races.  This calls for strategy, as many drivers will have to pit for fuel, throwing more interest and drama into the mix!

Practice begins at 3:30, time trials are at 5, Big wheel races for kids 10 and under are at 6, an on-track autograph session with the ARCA/CRA drivers takes place at 6:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m.

See you tonight---425 laps of racing, only at Flat Rock Speedway!

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 8, 2012) - It was a night of firsts at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday as Angola, IN driver Scott Hantz held back Johnny VanDoorn and Jason Dietsch to win the exciting 7-Up 125 lap feature for the ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models, Scott’s first Flat Rock win and the Series initial visit to the track.  Bobby Hugo edged Danny Bennett by 2 car lengths to grab his first victory in the 300 lap Enduro championship race, and Matt Ringger’s 6^th place run was enough to seal the deal on his first-ever Enduro championship.

The first visit ever to Flat Rock by the ARCA/CRA cars was a great race as the battle up front waged on throughout the 125 lap contest.  West Virginia driver Travis Braden started things off by setting fast time at 12:228.  Travis drew an 8 for the inversion, giving Kenzie Ruston the pole starting spot.  Pat Zorn led lap 1, but Ruston took control on lap 2 and led for 6 laps.  Hantz spun on lap 7 to bring out the yellow flag.  Braden had to check up to avoid the incident, ending up with some damage and forcing him to the pits.  VanDoorn, not satisfied with his machine, also pitted and rejoined the race after making some adjustments.  The man on the move was Nate Caruth, who grabbed the top spot away from Ruston on lap 9 and set the pace through lap 90. The yellow flags were only for minor incidents and the pace of the race was quick, but the competition for position was fierce throughout the pack.

Lap money for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 is going fast.  Only 98 laps to go, with still 3 weeks to go before the event.  To sponsor laps, call the Toledo Speedway office at 419-727-1100, laps are $10 each. The current lap sponsors are listed below.  

Toledo, Ohio—September 11, 2012:  Toledo Speedway’s parking lot will be busy this weekend with the annual Racer’s Flea Market and general Public Flea Market Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16.  For the first time, the flea market will be held over 2 days.

A 20’ x 20 space is $20 per day or $35 for 2 days.  Vendors should bring their own tables, and no pets or food (for sale) are permitted.  There will be security on the grounds Saturday evening. 

Setup starts at 7 a.m. Saturday, with flea market hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Sunday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The Speedway Bar and Grille will be open both days during market hours, with food, drink and restrooms available.

Sunday, the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience will be at Toledo Speedway for Stock car driving and ride-alongs.  For complete information, go to www.racewithrusty.com

2012 GLASS CITY  200 LATE MODEL RULE CHANGE:  SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 

For cars with engines of more than 360 cubic inches, the weight is 2800 lbs. with driver. 

Cars with engines of 360 cubic inches or less remain at 2700 lbs. with driver. 

Maximum of 60% left side weight remains same for all cars.

This bulletin takes precedence over entry blank for 2012 Glass City 200.

Jack Franzil--Chief Inspector

Jason Sanderson-Race Director

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 11, 2012) - For the 23 years of competition in the Glass City 200 invitational, there always seems to be a few entries to arrive that weren’t expected.  And that’s one of the things that makes this race one of the most prestigious season-ending events in the Midwest.  In the mailbox this morning came entries from Maine and one from Michigan that are new names for this event, as well as several entries from drivers who continue to search for victory in the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, set for Saturday, September 29 at Toledo Speedway

A reminder to all fans and race teams--Flat Rock Speedway's final race of the season Saturday night, September 15 has a 6 p.m. start time for the Griller's Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races!

Pits open at 3, front gates and ticket office opens at 3:30, practice at 4 and racing at 6 p.m.  There will be no qualifying.  We will draw for position.

In addition to the School Buses, the Figure 8's (feature only), Street Stocks and Michigan Legends will be in action, along with a Boat Figure 8 Race.

Reserved seat tickets ONLY are being sold this week.  ALL reserved seats, regardless of age, are $16 each.  Call the track office at 734-782-2480 to make reservations.  The office will close at 5 p.m. Friday and ticket sales will cease at that time until 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

ALL general admission tickets and children's tickets go on sale at 3:30 p.m. race day!  Adults are $15 general admission, kids 6-12 are $3 and under 6 are free.

Any reserved seats left will also go on sale at 3:30 p.m. race day.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 13, 2012) - Toledo-area cable television provider Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) and nationally-recognized short track racing internet site SPEED51 will each provide coverage of the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.

BCSN has telecast races from the track for several seasons, including a record 8 events of the 2012 race schedule.  The 200 will be taped for airing at a later date on the local cable access channel.  More Buckeye Cable information can be obtained at www.bcsn.tv.

SPEED51 will provide live updates from the Glass City oval all day September 29.  The creation of SPEED TV reporter Bob Dillner, SPEED51 is widely recognized in racing circles as one of the premier websites for short track racing information.  This will be the 2^nd year in a row that SPEED51 has provided coverage of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  Go to www.speed51.com for coverage from coast to coast!

“We are pleased to announce that these two entities will be providing coverage of our signature event, the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, “noted Ron Drager, the owner and promoter of Toledo as well as Flat Rock Speedway.  “We welcome BCSN and SPEED51 to Toledo Speedway again for this prestigious race.”

Reserved seat tickets for the event, which carries of purse of over $50,000 in cash and bonus awards of $5000 plus, are now available by calling the track at 419-727-1100.

For more information on the Glass City 200, log onto www.toledospeedway.com.  Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flatrocktoledo or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - September 15, 2012) - The largest crowd in several years ventured to Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night for the Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce School Bus Figure 8 races.  The final race of the season saw standing-room only at the track, and the fans were treated to a spectacular evening of entertainment.  Costa Cardasis and his Griller’s Select staff presented trophies in victory lane ceremonies as well as a case of bbq sauce to each feature winner.

The headliner School Bus Figure 8 race was wild!  3 buses got knocked over on their sides as the gigantic crowd roared each time.  And, each time the bus was rolled back on all 4 wheels and the drivers jumped back in and re-joined the action!  Stephanie Bradley thrilled the crowd early in the contest as she went over, thanks to Dennis Whisman’s help!  She jumped back in the bus and took off as the race resumed.  Danny Gaddis was next to go over as Billy Earley slammed into Danny at the intersection.  Next up was Danny’s father, Ray, as Ray got tagged going into the turn and went over.  Thinking his day was done, Ray went up into the grandstands, but found out his bus re-started.  Ray, the leader at the time, got back in the seat and kept the lead for the win over Earley, Robbie Loving, Danny Gaddis, Bradley, Whisman, and Gary Majchrzak.  Bus sponsors were Suburban Oil, Griller’s Select BBQ Sauce, Parts Galore, Sportway Go-Karts and Batting Cages, Southern Belles Roller Derby Team, Sterling Printing and Graphics and Glass Unlimited.

There is still time to become a lap sponsor for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  Laps are only $10 each.  To sponsor laps please call the Toledo Speedway office at (419) 727-1100. The current lap sponsor list is posted below.  

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 18, 2012) - Recently-crowned ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup Series champion Dakota Carlson of Cedar Springs, MI has filed his entry for the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.  Carlson tuned up for the 200 by winning the 100 lap feature last Saturday night at the Owosso, MI Speedway.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 19, 2012) - There is only 1 driver on the roster who can become the first 4-time winner of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.  And today, Steve Sauve’s entry showed up as the Saginaw, MI native guns for his 4^th win in the prestigious event.

Congrats to all the 2012 champions. If I have missed anyone, please send me an email at icechips@hotmail.com. I also want to hear from you if it was your best points finish too.

This article is the last three weeks of racing. If I forgot to mention you, please email me or send me a message on Facebook and I’ll put it in my final article, after the Glass City race.

Great Lakes Helicopter GLASS CITY 200

Toledo Speedway--September 28-29, 2012

Late Models:  Unload, place car on jackstands; TECH GARAGE:  3 CREWMEN PER CAR, PLUS DRIVER.  NO ONE ELSE IN TECH BARN DURING INSPECTION!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

2 p.m.             Pit registration opens AT TICKET OFFICE; rig parking; tire sales/LM over-under tech

5 p.m.             Optional practice session for all classes

7 p.m.             Practice ends—GARAGE CLOSES AT 8 P.M.  LOCK UP YOUR EQUIPMENT AND TRAILERS!

7:30-9 p.m     Dinner for all pit pass buyers at Bar/Grille, courtesy of Francis Engineering; additional dinners available at $10 per plate.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

9:30 a.m.        Pit registration is at Pit Gate Saturday.  Pits open: 

Late Model tech open…only Late Models to tech barn--Must go thru tech line before you go on-track; you will draw for qualifying at tech.

11 a.m.           Tires released from impound—no more than 4 tires at a time.

11:15 a.m.     Late Model Driver’s meeting-tech barn

Noon-12:45   Late Model practice

Noon:             Sportsman cars through tech barn—do not block aisle

12:45-1:10     Sportsman practice

1:10-1:20       X Car practice

1:20-1:55       Final Late Model practice/final scuff session

1:30 p.m.       Sportsman, X Car driver’s meeting-tech barn

1:55-2:15       Final Sportsman practice

2:15-2:30       Final X Car practice

2:30                Break; clear grandstands; ticket sales begin

2:30                Tech line opens for LM qualifying---first 15 cars and so on.

2:55                X Cars on ½ mile to qualify—IF 20 cars or more

3 p.m.             X Cars qualifying—See above.

3:10 p.m.        Qualifying:  Sportsman-must be on 1/4 mile at end of X Car qualifying. 

                        LM’s will follow (in groups of 15) Top 20 locked in.

                        LM B Main tires to be released after qualifying is completed.

                        **LM B crews, SP crews can set up on pit road after qualifying is concluded.

4:45 p.m.        PASSTIME LM pole award presentation.

4:50                Pre-race ceremonies:  Invocation-Jerry Stewart

                        Canadian Anthem and National Anthem—Meghan Chmiel

5 p.m.             LM B Main race—25 laps (top 6 advance to 200) (if necessary)

                        (LM Feature cars-remaining impound tires released during LM last-chance race)

Sportsman feature—40 laps

                        X Car feature—30 laps

LM Crews can go to pit road anytime during X Car feature

LM’s to turn 4 to line up for 200 at lap 15 mark of X Car race.

Moran Chevrolet Random Tire draw-on front-stretch

Introduction of Grand Marshall-Danny Byrd

                        Introductions of past champions and Glass City 200 winners, sponsors,

                        200 lap Glass City 200--**Driver introductions TBA depending on weather, time.

            *Allegiant Travel drawing-2 round-trip tickets for fans giveaway at lap 101 break

SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE (rain date is Sunday, Sept. 30—1 p.m. race time (or as soon as possible)

Lap sponsorship for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 IS SOLD OUT!  We will now take lap money for the Sportsman and X Car races at $5 per lap.  YOur name will be added to the souvenir program, public address announcements and website listing included!  To sponsor laps, call the Toledo Speedway office at (419) 727-1100.  The current lap sponsors are listed below.  

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 24, 2012) - Terry Senneker Jr., one of the top outlaw Late Model drivers in the Midwest, will shoot for his first-ever victory in this Saturday’s Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational at Toledo Speedway. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 25, 2012) - While the racing season is wrapping up, it’s just about hockey time in Toledo!  And to kick off the 2012-2013 Toledo Walleye schedule, Coach Nick Vitucci and players Kyle Rogers (the team captain) and Bedford-area resident Phil Rauch will greet race fans Saturday night at Toledo Speedway as part of the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200.  The 200 lap outlaw Super Late Model invitational is Toledo’s signature event and is the finale’ for the 2012 season.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 26, 2012) -  Hang on, race fans!  Get ready….perhaps the strongest pre-entry list in several years is in the making as Steve Needles, Scott Hantz, Brent Jack, Craig Everage and George Rangel have added their names to an-already strong list of drivers for the 24^th running of Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational at Toledo Speedway this Saturday, September 29.  As of Noon Wednesday, 31 cars are entered.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 27, 2012) - Lorain, OH driver Charlie Schultz, the absolute 1-lap track record holder at Toledo Speedway, will go from open-wheel to stock cars to compete in the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Saturday night at Toledo Speedway. 

In just 15 minutes, Toledo Speedway opens for a 2 hour practice session for the 24th Running of the Great Lakes Helicopters Glass City 200!  29 Late Models are here on the grounds, ready to go!

To stay on top of the latest action starting with today's practice, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.

Toledo, Ohio—September 29, 2012:  Coopersville, MI driver Johnny VanDoorn led a very fast practice session Friday afternoon for tomorrow’s 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway.  VanDoorn clicked off a lap of 14:828 in preparation for the big race.  A total of 29 cars took practice laps for the outlaw Late Models.  Several Sportsman Cars and X Cars also took part in the 2 hour practice, held in brilliant sunshine with blue skies.  The practice session was uneventful as teams worked away at getting quicker each session.

The top 10 in practice were VanDoorn, JR Roahrig, Steve Needles, Brent Jack, Terry Senneker, Dakota Carlson, Brad Rogers, Jack Varney Jr., Harold Fair Jr. and Johnny Belott.  For a list of practice times, go to www.toledospeedway or www.arcaracing.com, scroll down and click on the Glass City 200 icon.

If you are headed to Toledo Speedway today for the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, be aware of construction on I-75.

In Michigan, I-75 south from I-275 (exit 20) to LaPlaisance Road (Exit 11) is down to 1 lane.  Telegraph Road is an alternate should you want to avoid this mess.  Telegraph Road is also under construction in Monroe, so be prepared!

In Ohio, I-75 North from exit 205 to 208, is also under construction, down to 1 lane.  

The Michigan notice of down to 1 lane was just announced yesterday---sorry!  Race time is 5 p.m. tonight!  Give yourself extra time!

(TOLEDO, Ohio - September 29, 2012) - Wayland, MI driver Terry Senneker made a great save on lap 173, then took the lead for the first time with just 4 laps to go when race leader Steve Needles engine let go, paving the way to the win for Terry at the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Late Model race Saturday night at Toledo Speedway.  Meloney Lojko and her son, Brandon, representing Great Lakes Helicopter, presented the 5 foot trophy to Terry in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.

Perhaps the strongest field in several years assembled for the event, with 33 cars on the grounds.  A total of 32 cars started the 200 lap grind, the longest race of the season for the outlaw-bodied Late Models.  Mike Luberda withdrew from the race after having engine trouble during Friday’s practice session.  Track record holder JR Roahrig lowered his mark in the PASSTIME time trials, clicking off a lap of 14:628 to set a new 1 lap record and picking up the $500 bonus.  JR pulled the 10 chip for the inversion, putting North Carolina driver Brad Rogers and Johnny Belott on the front row.

As we prepare for the winter months, we would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to our fans, sponsors, race teams and officials for a great 2012 season at Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways.  To all parties---you are the best!

It goes without saying that we cannot put on the race shows without your support.  We strive to do our best to provide a clean, safe venue with great entertainment week in and week out. 

So to our fans and sponsors, THANK YOU!

To our race teams and officials-THANK YOU!

Look for the 2013 schedules to be released around the holidays.  Flat Rock Speedway will celebrate its 60^th Anniversary season next year, while Toledo will get ready to open for its 53^rd consecutive season of auto racing, and, the Silver Anniversary of the Glass City 200.

Hope to see all of you at our annual awards banquet November 9.  Best wishes to everyone to have a safe off-season. 

A reminder that the deadline for banquet ticket orders for the annual Flat Rock-Toledo Speedway awards banquet is Monday, October 22.  The order form may be downloaded from the web pages of both tracks.  It is located under forms.

The date of the banquet is Friday, November 9.  The location is Crystal Gardens, located on Fort Street in Southgate, MI.  The doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 7:30, followed by the awards ceremony.  Music and dancing will cap off the evening.

Tickets are $27 each and include dinner and an open bar.  NO tickets will be sold at the door.

Only 500 tickets will be sold!  We are already at the 200 mark, so orders yours today!

The Thursday night Placer's Car Club Classic Car Shows held at Toledo Speedway have concluded for the 2012 season.

The club met last night and decided to call an end to the events, which are held the first 3 Thursdays of each month.

Details regarding the 2013 car shows will be announced at a later date.

The Flat Rock-Toledo Speedway banquet ticket deadline is today, Monday, October 29.

All orders must be in to the track office no later than 5 p.m. Monday, October 29.

Tickets are $27 each for the banquet, which will be held at the Crystal Gardens on Fort Street in Southgate, MI.  

All tickets ordered will be mailed out by Tuesday, October 30.

For any other information, please call 419-727-1100.