Flat Rock Speedway

(Toledo, Ohio - October 24, 2014) - Race teams, officials, family and friends gathered Friday evening at the Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Southgate, MI for the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways Awards Banquet.  Each of the champions received their championship jackets from ARCA President and Flat Rock/Toledo owner and promoter Ron Drager.  Just under 400 guests were on hand for the festivities that included the distribution of over $35,000 in cash and contingency awards paid out for the 2014 season.

Drager also presented a plaque to Bill and Judy Leach for their 30 years of service as the Enduro class inspectors.  The husband/wife team have announced their retirement.

Prior to the awards ceremony, the upcoming 2015 season jumped out to a great start with the announcement of Moran Chevrolet (Flat Rock Late Models), Ararmark Uniform Services (Late Model Sportsman class) and DTS Drive Train Specialists (Flat Rock Street Stocks) all announcing their return as division sponsors for next year.  The ARCA Sportsman division will tout a new title for 2015 and will be billed as the ARCA Late Model Sportsman.

Flat Rock’s ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models were presented their point fund checks and trophies from Moran Chevrolet boss Pat Moran.  Steve Cronenwett Jr. claimed his first Flat Rock Late Model crown at the ¼ mile paved oval, to go along with his 2006 Street Stock crown. Steve and his car owner, his father, Steve Sr., and sponsor Henry Giles, accepted the championship trophies and a check for $1500 from Moran Chevrolet.  3-time track champ Paul Pelletier finished second in the final point tally, with Frank Jiovani, Derek Wiley, Stan Yee Jr., Chris Benson, Grant Hedges, Brad Turner, Dennis Strickland and Jeff Vrsek completing the top ten.  Hedges was named Rookie of the Year.  Cronenwett Jr. ($300) and Pelletier ($200) also received product certificates from Penske Shocks for their efforts.

Second generation driver Jeremy Miller captured the Flat Rock ARCA Praxair Figure 8 title, the 2^nd in his career.  Jeremy edged out Billy Earley by just 15 markers and Dennis Whisman by 20 points to win the title.  Greg Studt, Robbie Loving, Dan Apperson, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Ethen Lambert, Race Loving and Scott Apperson were next in line in the final top 10.  Lambert captured the Rookie of the Year award.

The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock class saw a first-time champ crowned as Rob Moore now joins his brother, Tim, as a Flat Rock champion.  A great battle with Corey Duane went down to the final night, as Rob edged out Corey by 70 points.  Guy Fire, Rich Frantz, Scott Selmi, Kyle Worley, Landon Schuster, Clyde McKee, Bob Swanson and Craig Lange were next in line to complete the top 10.  Swanson was the Rookie of the Year for the class.  Rob Moore also took home a $500 product certificate, courtesy of AR Bodies.  Claude Plante Jr. of DTS presented the checks and trophies to the division.

Rich Abel captured the DTS Drive Train Specialists ARCA Street Stock B Main crown, his third B title.  Newly crowned B Main Rookie of the Year Jeffrey Kurzyniec came home second, 2012 champ Don Roberts was third, Lonnie York fourth and Justin Rodriguez fifth in the final points.  Chris Diovardi, James Pankow, Aaron Greathouse, Mel Worley and Joe Vanderhoof rounded out the top ten.

The Flat Rock Speedway Enduro class saw co-champions crowned for the 4-race Series as Rick Bennett and Robb Remick tied for the crown.  Rayce Metdepenningen was just 10 points behind the co-champs, with Danny Bennett, Jeff Metdepenningen, Dave Bennett, Troy Brehmer, Derrick Sheppard, Jimmy Gullett and Matt Ringger completing the top 10 point men in the final tally.

The Toledo awards began with the Discount Tire Glass City Gold Cup ARCA Late Models.  The 5-race Series championship, comprised of 2 races at Flat Rock and 3 at Toledo, saw Cedar Springs, MI driver Dakota Carlson grab the title.  Dakota, the 2012 Gold Cup champion, scored 2 victories at Toledo on his way to the $1000 first place check.  Dakota was not able to attend the awards due to personal business.  North Carolina resident Brad Riethmeyer was second, Nick Bailey and Scott Pemberton tied for third and Harold Fair Jr. and Dennis Strickland tied for fifth spot. Joe Hawes, Scott Hantz, Mike Root and Brent Jack were next in line in the final point tally.  Carlson ($300) and Riethmeyer ($200) collected the Penske Shocks product certificates.

It’s now number 3 title for Jeremy Vanderhoof at Toledo, as he edged out Dennis Whisman by just 5 points to capture the ARCA Praxair Figure 8 championship.  Dan Apperson, Scott Apperson, Race Loving, David Katafiasz, Ian Jezylo, Robbie Loving, John Lambert and Randy Roberts followed next in line in the final tally.  Race Loving captured the Rookie of the Year award.

The Toledo ARCA Aramark Uniform Services Sportsman division will sport a new title next year in the name of the ARCA Late Model Sportsman.  Ron Allen’s 3 wins and consistent finishes cemented his 8^th Toledo championship on the ½ mile oval.  Mike Young, Howard Kelley Jr., Jim Froling, Kenny McKay Jr., Tom O’Leary IV, Chad Stilwell, Andy Harding, Dan Grigsby and Greg Stilwell Jr. followed the winner in the point standings.  Allen also received a $500 product certificate from AR Bodies for his title.  David Hinjosa was named Rookie of the Year.

The Toledo ARCA R & M Recycling X Car division crown saw Dennis Whisman take the title over Archie Padgett, Tom O’Leary IV, Craig Osenbaugh, James McClure, Joe Rozek, Greg Studt, Kyle Worley, Dave Golembiewski and Lonnie York.  McClure was named the Rookie of the Year.

Froling and Young (Sportsman) and Kurzyniec and Rob Moore (Street Stocks) took home $500 product certificates in a random draw, courtesy of 5 Star RaceCar Bodies, while Gary Calhoun won the random draw $500 product certificate from AR Bodies.

A bonus program posted by Corrigan Race Fuels at Flat Rock and Bazell Race Fuels at Toledo awarded cash bonuses to the top Sunoco Race fuel purchasers for the season.  Brad Turner, Paul Pelletier, Dennis Whisman, Stephanie Bradley, Rob Moore and Chris Diovardi were the Flat Rock recipients, while Whisman, David Katafiasz, Kent McCloskey, Greg Stilwell, Archie Padgett and Tom O’Leary IV collected the Toledo bonus money. 

Point fund and contingency award sponsors for 2014 included Moran Chevrolet, Discount Tire, Praxair, Aramark Uniform Services, ARCA, AR Bodies, B & H Race Parts, DTS Drive Train Specialists, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Hoosier Tire, Penske Shocks, R & M Recycling,  Bazell Race Fuels, Corrigan Race Fuels and Sunoco Race Fuels.

The winter office for both tracks may be contacted by calling Toledo at 419-727-1100.  The 2015 schedules will be released around the holiday season.  Always check the official websites at www.flatrockspeedway.com, www.toledospeedway.com or www.arcaracing.com.