Flat Rock Speedway

(Flat Rock, MI—July 26, 2014):  Milan, MI driver Harold Fair Jr. sailed to victory in the Moran Chevrolet-Stan Yee Memorial 150 Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.  Fair led 135 of the 150 laps, battling off several challenges for the lead in the process.  The ARCA Discount Tire Gold Cup Series race saw 35 cars at the track, with a good crowd on hand despite the incorrect forecasts for rain.  Ann Yee, Stan Sr.’s widow, and Pat Moran of Moran Chevrolet presented the trophies to Harold in the 7-Up Winner’s Circle.

The top 18 cars in time trials were locked in, with 4-time track champ Eric Lee topping the charts at 11:635.  Eric collected the $333 Diamond Racing Products fast time award, the $100 DTS Drive Train Specialists Gold Cup fast time bonus and a set of 4 tires from Moran Chevrolet.  Andy Bozell was the final driver to make the race on time at 11:878.  25 cars timed in under the 12 second mark, setting up a very competitive night not only for the 150, but also the last-chance races and the B Main.  The top 2 in each last-chance race advanced.  Terry Bogusz slipped under Craig Everage on the final lap to win the first 15 lap event, while Scott Hantz claimed the second last-chance 15 lapper over Ron Allen.  Don St. Denis and Jimmy Ward Jr. scratched due to mechanical issues.

The 25 lap B Main saw Jeff MacZink take the victory in the contest, with several drivers challenging for the win.  Lori Hall led the first 2 laps, with Jimmy Thiel looking for the lead.  Hall spun as the 2 got together, sending both drivers to the rear of the field.  MacZink now had the lead, but had pressure from Derrick Sheppard, Brad Turner and Grant Hedges, along with Dan Trosen Jr.  Hedges, using the high groove, went for the win in the final 5 laps but came up short as MacZink grabbed the win over Hedges, Sheppard, Trosen Jr., Thiel, Turner and Hall.  Jack Varney Jr. scratched from the event.

Lee rolled a 12 for the inversion for the 150, putting Fair Jr. and Dennis Strickland on the front row.  Fair darted into the lead at lap 8 as he zipped around Dennis.  Several yellows, all for minor incidents, slowed the pace.  While Fair motored out front, current Gold Cup point leader Dakota Carlson, second fast on the night, began to move forward, getting to 6^th from 11^th spot by lap 24.  Lee followed Dakota up through the pack.  Justin Schroeder, starting in 6^th, was also on the move and went to the high side of Fair, as the duo ran side by side for several laps, with Justin leading laps 37, 38 and 39.  Fair, tucked low, sailed back by to grab the lead again on lap 40, and would not give up the spot the rest of the way, but Lee had other ideas.

A lap 55 yellow saw Hantz drop out with a leaking radiator.  Lee was into second at lap 85 and began to close in on Fair.  At lap 100, the top 10 were Fair, Lee, Schroeder, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Paul Pelletier, Frank Jiovani, Phil Bozell, Brad Riethmeyer, Carlson and Scott Pemberton.

By lap 105, Fair’s lead had dwindled to 2 car lengths. Cronenwett, staying in the hunt the entire way, slipped into 3^rd spot at lap 110 and with 25 to go, the lead trio put a little distance on the pack.  By lap 132, the battle was on as Lee rolled to the high lane, giving Fair heavy pressure as the fans cheered the duo on!  Eric nosed up to the door of the #71 Fair machine, and the pair ran side by side in the thrilling duel for the lead.  Coming out of turn 2 on lap 137, Lee tagged the backstretch wall, bringing out the yellow and ending a great run for a potentially huge night for the second-generation driver.

It was not over, however, as Cronenwett, on the outside of Fair on the re-start, pushed the pedal as he looked for the number 1 spot.  Another quick yellow reset the field again, and this time Pelletier shot out of the group and grabbed second.  Fair pulled away in the closing laps to score the victory, pocketing $3541 for this work, including $5 per lap in lap money and the $333 Rich and Judi Fidh most-laps led bonus.  Harold also received a case of oil and a product certificate for 50% off a set of push rods from Trend Performance and a $100 gift certificate from DTS Drive Train Specialists for leading lap 33.

Pelletier’s late charge gave him second at the stripe, Cronenwett Jr. was third, Riethmeyer came from the back of the pack and moved up 2 spots in the final 3 laps to take fourth, with Schroeder fifth, followed by Phil Bozell, Carlson, Mike Root, Jiovani and Andy Bozell.  Strickland, Derek Wiley, Bogusz, Michael Simko, Joe Hawes, Stan Yee Jr., Jim Bailey, Lee, Pemberton, Nick Bailey, Chris Benson, Everage, Hantz, Allen and Jeff Vrsek completed the finishing order for the 25 car field.  16 cars finished on the lead lap.

Dennis Whisman became the third and final leader on his way to the win in the 20 lap ARCA Praxair Figure 8 feature.  The race was rough and tumble, with several red flags, including a lap 16 red when Robbie Loving got plowed by Ethen Lambert at the intersection.  Both drivers were fine but were eliminated from the race.  Scott Apperson led the first 10 laps until Jeremy Vanderhoof snuck by for the lead. Loving followed Jeremy to get to second, but Whisman slipped by Robbie just before the lap 16 wreck to take back second spot.  Dennis used lapped traffic to his advantage and took over the top spot, while Vanderhoof looped his machine in turn 1 of the Figure 8 track a lap later.  Dennis took the checkered flag over Greg Studt, Jeremy Miller, Billy Earley, Dan Apperson, Randy Roberts, John Lambert, Parker Wade, Scott Apperson and Vanderhoof.  Earley topped the 17 car field and set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 20:841.  Race Loving, Scott Apperson and Dave Lambert took the heat races.

Saturday, August 2 the 250 lap Enduro race returns to Flat Rock Speedway!  The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will also be in action.  The pit area will open at 4 p.m., with practice at 5 p.m. for both classes.  Group qualifying will be held for both divisions beginning at 6 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m.  The spectator gates will open at 5 p.m.