Toledo Speedway

I had hoped to get this article out a couple months ago, but things happen, I’m cleaning out my inbox and my Facebook messages for a season ending article. Thanks to everyone that sent me something.

Toledo, Ohio—December 22, 2011:  As winter approaches, thoughts turn to the warm temperatures and, hopefully, sunny skies with the release of the 2012 Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway race schedules.

The schedules are now posted at www.flatrockspeedway.com or www.toledospeedway.com.  Click on the schedule button to download the 2012 schedules.

Each venue will maintain their weekly race cards, with special events featuring a variety of touring series added in to create a pair of diverse schedules for the upcoming season.  Toledo Speedway will feature Friday night racing events as its mainstay, while Flat Rock Speedway’s Saturday race cards are in place as they have been for over 50 years. 

Roseville, MI—February 6, 2012:  To follow in a father’s footsteps is a proud tradition, one that is quite evident at Stan Yee’s Collision in suburban Detroit, MI.  Upon the passing of Stan Yee Sr., founder and patriarch of the Yee family, Stan Jr. took control of the business with the help of Stan Sr.’s widow and Stan Jr.’s mother, Ann. 

Stan Jr. literally grew up at the shop and, needless to say, at the race track.  The famous Yee-prepared #33’s captured several dozen top pavement and dirt Late Model races in the Midwest in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and continued to rack up wins and championships in the 1980’s and 1990’s on the local short tracks. 

As Stan Sr. began to spend more time away from the shop, Stan Jr. took the reigns, and, like his father, ran the business by day and worked on race cars at night.  Perhaps Stan Sr.’s proudest moment was realized when Stan Jr. captured the 2003 ARCA-Flat Rock Speedway Late Model championship.

February 7, 2012:  With racing season right around the corner, Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways are preparing for the race schedules with the printing of the 2012 edition of the souvenir program.   Inventory is also available for all types of signage and race night sponsorships at both facilities. 

The official souvenir program is sold at both tracks for each racing event.  Program advertisements begin at just $100 for the entire season with the creation of a business directory page, which is new for 2012.  Your business name, address, phone number and website address can be included in the listing.  The standard 1/8, ¼, ½ and full page program ads are also available, starting at just $225.  Individual race tickets are included with each advertisement.

 Both Flat Rock and Toledo offer all types of signage opportunities and race night sponsorship packages, along with group ticket sales and suite rentals (Toledo only for suites).  Season passes are included with signage purchases. 

The print deadline for program copy is March 1.  For additional information, please contact Scott at 419-727-1100.  

TOLEDO, OH:  (2-9-12):  Toledo Speedway is proud to announce the return of Great Lakes Helicopter as the sponsor of its signature event, the Glass City 200 Super Late Model invitational.  The Almont, MI based business has agreed to enter into its 3rd season of support for the 24th running of the event at the Glass City oval.

“We are very pleased that Great Lakes Helicopter will again be a part of the Glass City 200 weekend this season,” said Ron Drager, promoter of the Toledo track.  “Our thanks to John Lojko and his group for their great support of this prestigious event.”

Alabama resident Augie Grill made his first attempt at Toledo in an outlaw Late Model a historic one at last season’s Glass City event, capturing the 200 lap contest in a car prepared by Canadian Jerry Artuso.  The date for the 2012 edition of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 is Saturday, September 29.

Great Lakes Helicopter also serves as the sponsor of the #116 Late Model driven by Jack Varney Jr. 

Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for current information and the 2012 schedule.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - March 22, 2012) - The heart of ARCA's 60th Anniversary Season is quickly approaching, and with that, weekly action at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways will begin. Racing is scheduled to start at the end of April, so along with race promotion and facility preparation, safety is a key priority early in the year.

Toledo, Ohio—March 24, 2012: The official entry blanks for the 6-race ARCA Allegiant Glass City Gold Cup Late Model Series have been mailed out, as anticipation builds for the upcoming racing season.   

The entry form may also be downloaded from the track’s webpage; it is located under forms. 

The Series will expand to six (6) races in 2012 with the addition of a date at the Spartan (Lansing), MI Speedway.  2 events are scheduled at Flat Rock, MI Speedway and 3 races at Toledo, OH Speedway.  A total of 3 provisional starting positions, based on the final points of the Series have guaranteed starting spots in the season-ending Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 at Toledo, which is set for Saturday, September 29 this year.

(TOLEDO, Oh - March 26, 2012) - The schedule for the 7-Up Twin 100s has been released.  Practice starts at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28 and racing is at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 29.  The complete schedule is listed below. 

Telegraph Road, just north of the city of Flat Rock, is undergoing a complete reconstruction at this time.  1-lane traffic is being maintained at most times of the day, but backups have been occuring.  This is expected to continue for much of the summer.

For those of you traveling Telegraph to Flat Rock Speedway from points north of the track, it is suggested to use I-275 to Will-Carleton Road (exit 8) or I-75 to the Gibraltar Road or Huron River Drive exits (westbound) to Telegraph and then south to the speedway.

**Telegraph Road is also slated to be CLOSED just north of Monroe from Stewart Road to LaSalle Road sometime this summer.  The dates have not yet been confirmed by MDOT.  We will keep you posted!

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 3, 2012) - Several entries have already been received for the first of 6 ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup races, with the first race set for Sunday afternoon, April 29 at Toledo Speedway.  The 7-Up Twin 100’s will feature 100 lap feature events for both the outlaw-style bodied Gold Cup Late Models and the stock-bodied ARCA/CRA Late Models. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 6, 2012) - Several Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway race teams were busy in the past weeks, taking part in car shows and actually hitting the track for some racing prior to the start of the season at the 2 tracks.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 10, 2012) - Defending ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup champion Dennis Strickland and 2009/2010 champ Mike Root have filed entries for the Sunday afternoon, April 29 race at Toledo Speedway.  The 7-Up Twin 100’s will feature 100 lap feature events for both the outlaw-style bodied ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Late Models and the stock-bodied ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models. 

(FLAT ROCK, MI and TOLEDO, OH - April 22, 2012) - Dry weather and partly sunny skies kept action on the track very busy at practice day Saturday at Flat Rock Speedway and Sunday at Toledo Speedway. 

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 23, 2012) - A flurry of entries were in the mail box this weekend for the 7-Up Twin 100’s, set for Sunday afternoon, April 29 at Toledo Speedway.  The total number of entries for the two-100 lap features stands at 58 cars as of Noon today.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - April 25, 2012) - Wayland, MI driver Terry Senneker has inked his entry for this Sunday’s ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup 100 lap event at Toledo Speedway, which is one half of the 7-Up Twin 100’s at the ½ mile paved oval.  The ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Models will also be in competition with a separate 100 lap event for the stock-bodied Late Models.

For those race fans and race teams that use I-75 to get to Flat Rock and/or Toledo Speedway, beware!  BOTH I-75 Northbound and Southbound will be CLOSED this Friday, April 27 at 9 p.m. until Sunday, April 29 at 9 p.m. 

The closures are at the Schaefer-Fort St. exit to the north and goes all the way to the Gibraltar Road exit to the south.

MDOT is demolishing bridges in that area.  Here’s the fun part.  Both Telegraph Road just north of Flat Rock and parts of Fort St. (both north-south roads) are also under construction!

A suggestion---take I-275 to I-75 on the way to Toledo.  For Flat Rock, take I-275 to exit 8, Will Carleton Road.  Head east 5 miles and it dead-ends into Telegraph.  Go south or right 1 mile to the track.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - May 5, 2012) - Race fans were treated to a night full of action and thrills as Flat Rock Speedway kicked off the 2012 racing season.  Paul Pelletier, Robbie Loving, Clyde McKee and Rick Bennett captured feature wins. 

The moon was full and that usually signals a strange and wild night at the race track!  Opening night was not kind to the defending Flat Rock champions.  Figure 8 king Jeremy Vanderhoof grenaded an engine in hot laps, went home, put in a new one and did make it back for the race program.  Eric Lee, the Late Model champ, had his day go south with just 2 laps to go in the feature while leading, and 2011 Street Stock champ Tim Moore encountered engine trouble after his heat race and did not compete in the main event.

Flat Rock, Michigan—May 8, 2012:  In the year 1961, John Marcum sanctioned and promoted races across the Midwest.  Joan Simmons was the promoter at Flat Rock Speedway.  Joan had mentioned to Marcum about a race called a Figure 8.  Marcum, in Indiana to promote one of his many oval track races, saw the race that day.  The two icons of the industry put things together, Marcum became the promoter at Flat Rock that next year, and, in 1962, Figure 8 racing at Flat Rock Speedway was born. 

And from that day on, Figure 8 racing became a mainstay at Flat Rock Speedway.  The track will officially celebrate 50 years of Figure 8 racing this Saturday, May 12 as Parts Galore presents Autograph Night and the celebration of 50 years of Figure 8’s at “The Rock”.  A 50 lap feature for the Parts Galore-sponsored Figure 8 cars will be contested on the Figure 8 course to highlight this historic event. (Bob Studt, #54, with Denny Pace, #67 in 1974)

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 11, 2012) - Sunshine and clear skies greeted the fans Friday evening at Toledo Speedway for the Burger King Scout Night.  Scouts were admitted free as guests of the track and the Greater Toledo Burger King Restaurants provided sponsorship for the show.  David Chandler, President and Chief Operating Officer of Bennett Management and the Burger King franchises, presented trophies to the feature winners in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.  The track also paid honor to nearly two dozen former racers during the Racer’s Reunion ceremonies. 

The 20 lap ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 feature saw plenty of intersection action throughout the event.  Jerry Lee led the first 10 circuits until Robbie Loving zipped by on the next lap to take control on his way to the victory.  Lee held on for second, Dennis Whisman was third, Gary Cronenwett fourth and Greg Studt fifth, followed by Dan Apperson, Sam Hall, Scott Apperson, Archie Padgett, Nick Bradley and Ian Jezylo.  Heat race wins went to Cronenwett and Scott Apperson.

Paul Pelletier won the Super Late Model feature, duplicating what he did opening night. “I don’t know what to say. I want to thank my sponsors, Fraza Forklifts, Dusty's Collision, Exotic Automation, First Impressions Cement, ABC Plumbing, Berringer Law, Duane's Roadrunner's and all the fans and family, and my hard working crew. It’s good clean racing with these guys. We have another eight or nine of these races left here this year and hopefully more wins,” said Pelletier.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 16, 2012) - The SPEED broadcast of Sunday's Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care will air at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and SPEED officials have announced.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 16, 2012) - Several ARCA Racing Series drivers will practice their skills in go-karts and go wheel-to-wheel with local area children Friday, prior to the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 16, 2012) - Frank Kimmel, driver of the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota, will greet ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards fans at two Menards stores near Toledo Speedway to drop the green flag on his Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care weekend.

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 24, 2012) - Spartan Speedway track champions Tim Ryan and Dave Stehouwer have entered Sunday’s ARCA’s Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup Series event for the outlaw-style bodied cars at Spartan Speedway Sunday, May 27

(TOLEDO, Ohio - May 25, 2012) - Friday night’s Burge Wrecking “Night of Destruction” was just that, as parts and pieces flew off the School Buses during the School Bus Figure 8 portion of the entertaining event.  Dennis “The Rebel” Whisman steered to the School Bus Figure 8 win.

(FLAT ROCK, Michigan - May 26, 2012) - Despite nearly 3 hours of rain in the late morning and early afternoon, a nice crowd made the trip to Flat Rock Speedway for the “Level Pebble Spectacular”
Saturday night.  Danny Jackson took the 100 lap ARCA Truck Series event, Rick McColl won his first-ever 250 lap Enduro race, while a Monster Truck exhibition thrilled the fans with a donut and wheelie contest, along with a car crushing event.  The evening was capped off with a fabulous fireworks display.

The ARCA Truck Series made their annual stop at Flat Rock for a 100 lap contest.  Danny Jackson picked up the victory, backing up his win at Toledo a week earlier.  Jackson set a torrid pace and was the class of the field as he sailed to the win.  Levi Mansfield was second, Cody Quarrick third and Chris Bailey fourth, all on the lead lap.  Chad Poorman, Brad Yunker, Zac Carter, Bob Mikolajczyk, Steve Christman and Brandon Huff completed the top ten finishers.  Jackson set fast time at 12:688.

Just a reminder that effective with the Saturday, June 2 event, Flat Rock Speedway will use the following time schedule for “weekly” race shows until further notice:

Pits open:  3 p.m.

Practice:    4 p.m.

Time trials: 5:30 p.m

Racing:       7 p.m. 

LAP MONEY BEING TAKEN FOR JOY FAIR MEMORIAL JUNE 23 

Lap money is being sold for the Diamond Racing Products Joy Fair Memorial 100 for the ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Late Model race Saturday, June 23. 

Lap money is $5 per lap.  The sponsor’s name will be listed in the souvenir program stuffer sheet on the date of the race.  Public address announcements will also be made prior to and on race night.  Cash or checks will be accepted for this sponsorship program. 

Lap money is also available for the Saturday, July 14 Street Stock 100 and for the Saturday, July 28 Moran Chevrolet Stan Yee Memorial 150 Gold Cup event. 

Toledo Speedway has lap money available for the Friday, July 6 Late Model Gold Cup 100 lap race also.  Again, it’s just $5 per lap! 

It’s a great way to support the race teams!  Sponsorship for laps can be obtained by calling the Flat Rock office at 734-782-2480 or the Toledo office at 419-727-1100.