Trackside Tidbits by Debi Domby

Trackside Tidbits by Debi Domby

Leftovers from the final few races:

 

Late Model race winner Paul Pelletier:

Paul qualified 2nd fastest and the invert number was 2 so the put him starting on the pole. After a yellow after one lap, they restarted and after a few hard fought laps after that Justin fially got the lead from Paul. Then after a couple more yellows and restarts, 37 laps in, Justin must have ran over something and on the restart he moved up the track with a flat right front tire. That put Paul into the lead and nobody could catch him for the win, his second of the season as Justin and Paul were difinitly the fastest two cars in the race. Congrats to Steve Cronenwett jr on his first Flat Rock Speedway Championship!!! Paul finished 2nd. Also would like to Congratulate Rob Moore on his first Flat Rock Speedway Championship!!!! And to Corey Duane on a Great win and second season, dam near got that championship, finishing 2nd!! So the season is over at Flat Rock and there is some special races coming up and we may take in a race or two. Thnx to all our sponsors for everything they do for us, Fraza Forklifts, ABC Plumbing, Dusty;s Collision, Exotic Automation, Bluewater Compressor. Here's a photo from our Limelight Motorsports dual wins!!! Our tradition is to have a bottle of Asti for a win!!!

Late Model Champion, Stevie Cronenwett

I would like to thank my sponsors Giles Auto Body, Roush Competition Engines, and Operation Injured Soldiers. Also a big thanks to everyone at Port City Race Cars and VanDoorn Racing Development for all their support. A huge thanks the JMS racing team for setup advice and help with the graphics.

Henry and Gina Giles have been great to have not only as a sponsor but as great friends! We spend a lot of time together and I think of them as part of the family. My mother and Father have supported my racing career since the beginning and I appreciate everything they have done and keep doing. My wife Samantha and sons Austin and Brody haven't missed a race yet and I can't thank them enough for giving me the time and support to do what I love. Having a family has changed me in more ways than one. It has helped me mature into a better person. I feel that played a huge part in achieving the championship this year.

I have a huge fan base in the stands every week. I'm very grateful for everyone that comes out week after week to cheer me on. My mother- and father-in-law are in the stands for qualifying every week they travel over 50 miles and haven't missed a race. The Knight and Vokally families do the same thing week after week. A lot of my family and friends come out and spend their hard earned money to come watch me race and after this season it feels good to know it was worth it for them. We were able to win 3 races out of 11 races (no rains outs not sure of the last season that ran all of the scheduled events). It was great to be able to win for them. When we didn't win we were able to put together good runs that we could be proud of.

My crew guys have been there every step of the way and there is no way we could have done it without everyone's help. Not everyone could be there every week but our pit was never short handed and that makes it easier to keep the 21 running upfront.

This season was great and I hope it was only the beginning of more great seasons to come.

Corey Duane won the Street Stock feature, his fifth of the season. "First off, congrats to Rob Moore. He ran great all year and deserves the championship. He's a great guy, races clean we're great friends and had a blast racing everyone. I want to thank everyone, the Limelight crew ... it's another Limelight team sweep (Paul Pelletier won the Super Late Models).

Street Stock Champion,, Rob Moore. It's only second brothers to win the championship (Dan and Regan Ford) Tim Moore, 2011

"I finally won my first championship after 20 years of trying, three years behind my brother which is funny because we are three years apart in age (Reporter Note, I really love numbers that tie together like this, don't know if anyone else does, but I think it's neat) I have to thank my lovely wife, Dawn, for dealing with the rough weeks this year. She is the best I love you. Thanks to my crew Rob Liedel, my dad Dan, my son, Robbie, for being the coolest kid and a great young man , my daughter Mariah who also is the best any dad could ask for ... I am a proud dad ... Eric Groen, Jamie Moore, Mike Robson. Thanks to Darrel Cousino for some helpful tips early on, special thanks to Ron Allen for helping me out tremendously at the end with the setup and mentally preparing for this championship.my dad for keeping calm when I wasn't and getting the car good for the next race, my brother Tim for always being there when I ask no matter what ....all my super sponsors Downriver Coney Island, Bayou Grill, Jerry's Ace Hardware, North American Iron and Metal, Dow Engines, AC/DC Processing, Yost Collision. Moore Lawn Care, Fastime Racing and Beyond Reality Tattoos Important thanks to Drive Train Specialist for supporting Street Stocks, you're a great sponsor for our division and Mark's Toy Box for the Steel giveaway every week. I am very fortunate to have such great friends and family topped with this championship. I am the luckiest and happiest guy. I love you all and thanks for being a part of this journey."

And we will all bid long time Street Stock driver, Rich Frantz a happy retirement from racing. The Glass City sportsmen race will be his final ARCA race.

Street Stock driver Rich Frantz, after 25 years of racing with ARCA at Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways ran his last race at Flat Rock on Aug 30. “I just think it’s time. I have been doing this a long time, and I’d like to do some others things in life. I still LOVE racing and will continue to be a part of it at Flat Rock and Toledo, just not on the driving side. My last official ARCA race will be at the Sportsman Invitational at the Glass City 200. I love Toledo and wanted to run it one more time. I just want to thank everyone over the years….Competitors, Officials, and Fans. I have made some lifelong friendships because of racing. I would thank all my sponsors individually, but after 25 years, that’s an article on its own. But….thank you everyone! It’s been a great ride! See ya at Glass City!!”

Grant Hedges, Late Models

What a feature, and what a season! This has been a great rookie season for us. That was cool winning back to back heat races, we did that our rookie year in the street stock as well! This season has been a lot of fun, and very challenging. Thanks to ARCA and all the officials for all their hard work this season and giving us a great place to race. I had a blast racing an Outlaw for the first time this season, it was definitely a big jump from the street stock. These cars get around this place so fast, and are a blast to drive. They have so much mechanical grip built into them, sometimes you don’t believe they are going to stick getting into the corners. It takes a lot of work to be competitive each weekend, you definitely have to show up at the racetrack well prepared. I’m very proud of my team and all that we were able to accomplish this season, a top ten points finish is not an easy task by any means. I couldn’t do this without their support and sacrifice, it means the world to have them in my corner each weekend all summer long. Surrounding yourself with great people is critical to having fun and being competitive in this sport. Special thanks to Steve Bunge for helping us fix the shift lever tonight, had he not had the spare parts - our night would’ve been in jeopardy after practice. Congratulations to Steve Cronenwett Jr. on his late model championship, he had a great season and it was a lot of fun hanging out with him and his team all year long. I also want to congratulate Rob Moore and his entire family on their street stock championship this year. Rob helped me a lot when I first started driving 4 years ago, and we had a great battle last year in route to my championship. It was really cool to see him contend all season long this year and close it out at the end. I hope everybody has a great off season, and I hope to see you at the banquet!"

Lonnie York won the Street Stock B Division feature. "Yeah, it's getting better. I have to thank Rich (Abel), if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be doing this. I want to thank everyone that helps. There's a lot of them, Tony Tires, Rich, Don Roberts in the #01, and everyone...

Rich Abel won his second consecutive Street Stock B division championship and his overall third championship (also won the 2008 championship). "First of all I want to thank my Lord andSavior Jesus Christ for keeping me safe and healthy and giving me the knowledge to do this ... and giving me a wife that let me race on her birthday."

Congrats to Robbie Loving for winning the season ending race (for points, the Figs ran with the buses). Sorry didn't get the interview.

Jeremy Miller won his second champion (2012 he also was the top pointsman in the Flat Rock Figure 8s). "I want to thank Miller Built Race Cars,, Local 636, everyone that comes out here, my family. It's been a fun year. When the puff of smoke came out, I got my calculator out," the champion joked.

From Jeffrey Kurzyniec... thanks for the Email. "Had a bunch of fun and learned a bunch in my rookie season. I had lots of help ... couldn't have done any of it without the huge help from my dad and the patience of my wife, Jessica, for dealing with all the time away from home working on the car. Also want to thank all the guys that helped me on and off the track, all the drivers who gave me pointers and advice ... mainly Rich Frantz helping set up the car and donating every tire that was on the car this season. Had fun running in the A (main) and glad didn't get in anyone's way...  and for the guys that I had contact with sorry if it was my fault... Lastly just wanted to wish Rich Frantz a happy retirement sad to see another class act hang up there helmet...."

From Race Loving, "I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my Rookie year. It's been an awesome year in the #15. It's been an awesome year racing with my dad, I will never forget it. Want to thank all my sponsors Brownstown Liquor, Marks Toy Box, Dominic's Cement Works, Downriver Auto Salvage. Thank you for everything. I want to say that I am looking for a ride in a noval car if anyone in looking for a driver please don't hesitate to give me a call. I wish everyone a great winter and can't wait to see you guys in April !

Visit Mike Miller's YouTube page to watch the 2014 races from Flat Rock and/or Toledo: www.youtube.com/user/10yearnascarfan/videos ... If you have Google Chromecast the YouTube races are great on your TV. 

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