Flat Rock Speedway

(Flat Rock, MI—July 16, 2016): It may be fitting that Stan Yee Jr. notched the win in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. The race served as the final tune-up for next Saturday’s Moran Chevy Stan Yee Memorial 150, in memory of Stan’s late father. And it’s the position Stan Jr. has dreamed about being in for the past 9 seasons.

NASH ICON 98.3 hosted the Christmas In July festivities Saturday night, which included a visit from Santa Claus and a nickel grab for kids 12 and under. Each child also received a mini-checkered flag from the Jolly Old Elf. Dan Apperson, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Don Roberts also were feature winners on a perfect summer evening. Kris King from NASH ICON 98.3 presented the trophies in the 7-UP Winners Circle.

Yee had to work for his first win in several seasons. Starting from the pole via the 5 car inversion, Stan Jr. withstood the pressure of several challengers. Jimmy Thiel took the first stab at taking the lead away, but was involved in a lap 14 skirmish with Steve Cronenwett Jr. Jimmy accepted responsibility for the incident and went to the tail of the field, giving Cronenwett his spot back. Paul Pelletier and Frankie Jiovani got caught up in the incident, ending the night for Frankie, while Paul was able to continue despite front end damage. When the race went back to green, Justin Schroeder now took up the charge to the front. The 2015 track champ wheeled his #4 up to the high lane but Yee was strong on the low side. Moran Chevy fast qualifier Craig Everage (11:825) slid under Justin to take second, and began to work at grabbing the number 1 spot. At lap 35, the lead trio of Yee, Everage and Schroeder had cleared lapped traffic, setting up a clear track for the final 15 circuits. Everage got into the rear of Stan on lap 41, sending the #33 spinning and bringing out the yellow. Craig immediately took the blame, giving Yee his spot back. The race went back to green and Schroeder again looked to the high lane, but Stan stayed glued to the bottom lane as he sped to the win, becoming the 7^th driver in 7 events to win at Flat Rock so far in 2016. “This is the best position I have been in going into my Dad’s race,” noted Stan. “There is going to be a bunch of great racers here, and we are really excited about next week.” Schroeder rode home second, a great late-race charge by Jeff Vrsek gave him third, Pelletier took fourth and Cronenwett Jr. was fifth. Terry Bogusz, Matt Bullock, Eric Lee, Joe Hawes and Corey Duane completed the top ten. Pelletier and Steve Hawes took the heat race wins.

Jeremy Vanderhoof led all 25 laps, but also had constant challengers to battle as he took his first win of 2016 in the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main contest. The 8 car inversion kept the battles going throughout the contest. Last week’s feature winner Nick Shanks dropped out early with mechanical woes. James Hazlett worked the high side at the start, but Vanderhoof was tough down low. The field was very evenly matched speed-wise, not allowing Jeremy to pull away. Scott Selmi was up next to challenge for the lead, only to slide into the infield with just 5 laps to go and bringing out the yellow. This gave Ray Morneau Jr. and Greg Studt the opportunity to look for the win. Morneau slid up to the outside lane, Studt tucked in low with 3 to go. Greg got by Ray with 2 to go and inched up on the leader, but Jeremy stayed in control on his way to the win over Studt, Morneau, Robbie Loving (in the #84), Hazlett, Rob Moore, Pete Shrake, Craig Lange, Randy Cornett and James Pankow.

Former B Main champ Don Roberts zipped to the win in the 15 lap Street Stock B Main contest, topping Rich Abel, Ian Jezylo, Jeffrey Kurzyniec, Todd Burtscher, Stephanie Bradley and Adam Jezylo in the non-stop race. Studt set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time for the 27 car field at 13:603, while Ian Jezylo led the B cars at 14:350. Hazlett, Jeff Metdepenningen, Robbie Moore Jr. and Abel took the heat race checkered flags.

While the pack battled for position, Dan Apperson took off and steamed away to a good lead and grabbed the win in the 20 lap ARCA Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8 feature. Dan led every lap as his challengers, Jeremy Miller, Billy Earley, Dennis Whisman Sr. and Jeremy Vanderhoof staged their own race behind the leader. Whisman Sr. broke loose and tried to reel back in Apperson, but he was gone. A late-race skirmish saw Earley and Vanderhoof spin together, with Earley encountering a flat tire and dropping him out of contention. At the stripe it was Apperson, Whisman, Miller, Dennis Whisman Jr. and Randy Roberts making up the top 5. Dave Lambert, Vanderhoof, David Katafiasz, Travis Earley, Billy Earley, Ricky Ferrell and James Vanderhoof completed the finishing order. Billy Earley posted the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 20:984. Apperson and Katafiasz took the heat wins.

Flat Rock Speedway’s biggest race of the season, the Moran Chevrolet-Stan Yee Memorial 150, is set for next Saturday night, July 23. The race is leg number 5 of the 6-race Royal Truck and Trailer ARCA Late Model Gold Cup Series.

A field of 25-35 cars is expected for this annual classic. Yee was a championship car owner in the Late Model ranks for over 40 years. Stan passed away in 2008. Flat Rock’s souvenir stand will have Stan Yee Memorial T-shirts on sale at the track.

An optional practice session is set for Friday evening, July 22 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.   The pit area will open at 3:30. DTS Drive Train Specialists will sponsor a dinner for each pit pass purchaser after Friday’s practice session.

Race day on Saturday will see the pit area opening at 1, practice begins at 3 p.m. and the front gates will also open at that time. All tickets will go sale race day at the track at 3 p.m. The track’s ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will also be in action. Time trials begin at 5:15 and racing gets the green flag at 7 p.m.

To be a lap sponsor, at $5 per lap, call the track at 734-782-2480 or 419-727-1100. The updated entry list and lap money sponsorship list will be posted Monday, July 18 in the next race box on the Flat Rock website home page.