Flat Rock Speedway

It was brought to my attention that I misspelled a couple drivers' last name. I apologize for doing this to the drivers, teams and their fans.

It was a full night of racing with six feature races, two from last week's partial rainout and the regular four from this week.

Jimmy Thiel became the first repeat winner in the Super Late Model division in 2016. "I had a really good car, I wasn't even using quarter throttle all night. I thought Justin (Schroeder) was going to give me a run, so I put a little pressure on the gas but he didn't have anything for me. So I laid back and cruised the whole night. I'm having the time of my life, I've never had a good enough year like this in my entire life. I want to thank my sponsors and crew, Terry Senneker Chassis, Flat Rock Speedway. I also want to thank my dad, Rich, Matt Bullock, my sons Austin and Logan and my new baby Gabriella, Jeff and Carl (I apologize for not including your last names, it didn't pick up on my tape)." Jimmy also won the mystery amount of $200 … third starter was picked and if they won they got the money, Jimmy started third.

Dennis Strickland drove Jimmy Ward's #6 for tonight's race.

Paul Pelletier leads the way in points with a final points race left. Did you know … Of the active weekly SLM drivers he has the most wins (20). (Eric Lee, with 22 wins, is the only other active SLM driver in the Top 10 in career wins, but is not racing weekly at Flat Rock in 2016). Paul is tied for 10th on the career list with Dick Barker and Steve Lee. The article on championship night #1 is here: www.flatrockspeedway.com/articles/2002208-championship-weekends-begin-at-flat-rock-pelletier-guns-for-4th-title

Street Stocks

Landon Schuster won a nail-biter, nipping Rob Moore at the start finish line for his second win of the season. "Last night was a fun night, that was the best car I have had all season. I made a ton of changes to the car the past two weeks and it is really responding to them now. Before that we have had nothing but horrible luck this year. The car has had some crazy things go on with it. Definitely not the year we were looking for but just trying to enjoy each week now instead of chasing points. I couldn't do any of this without the help of my amazing sponsors! UA local 50 has helped me out so much as well as my long time sponsor Georgia cable and boring, Arnold Motorsports, Complete Refrigeration, Josephs Beverage Center, Rockys Body Shop, and Nick Carroll. My dad for all of his hard work, Dave Arnold for all the help. Also need to thank my wife for letting me work so much for this and supporting me! And of course my biggest fan my mom! I hope the crowd enjoyed the show!"

Welcome back, Guy Fire, who broke his arm about a month ago. "I was just happy to be back in the car after a month off I was upset when I heard I broke my arm knowing I won't be running for the championship anymore, I was second In points, but once I felt good I got in the car. It was not easy started the day in practice just trying to use to the car again we were actually fast which I was very happy about but I never thought it would be that hard to drive with one hand I got tired after the first couple cautions but I fought and drove up to 4th but fell back a little towards the end of the race but I gotta think my crew and my sponsors Bayou Grill, Sumpter Collison and Fender Mender"

Rookie James Baber won the Street Stock B division feature. For the second time in the last two B division features that a rookie has won (Todd Burtscher). "I came into turn one and saw the 0 (Adam Jezylo) there and I was like "No!". I'd like to thank my mom. It was about a year ago and we were up in the stands and she said let's buy a car and here I am. Thanks everyone for coming out. It's a good night to win, it's Cop Appreciation Night (actually First Responders night) and I'm a police officer, so it's kind of cool. I'm pretty excited."

Rich Abel won the B division feature. It is his fifth win of the year in the division, the most of anyone at Flat Rock this year. Billy Earley (Figure 8) and Ray Morneau Jr. (Street Stock A division) have both won three features each. Rich won the first four B division features of the year, breaking the two race streak of rookies winning. "First I'd like to thank the Lord my Savior Jesus Christ for keeping me safe all year long and blessing me throughout the year. I started out the night, this is the third race (of the night) … two races I had two flat tires, the right front, and I thought (laugh) "What did I do Lord?". Turned out to be something rubbing the tire. It's a good race with Jeffrey Kurzyniec in points. That's good, I love that young guy. I mean, he's a good racer and his dad, a nice guy too. And if he wins the championship, God Bless him."

Clarity Newhouse won her first career Street Stock heat.

This was the largest Street Stock field in years, with 38 cars participating. Might be that this year we've added

One new driver and one returning after being gone awhile returned on this night. Lloyd Little (no relation to Jimmy Little who drives the #55) was in the Steve Bunge owned #96. Tonight was Lloyd's first race in a stock car, previously he raced USAC Sprint Cars for Kalitta Motorsports. It's also his first race in 20 years. He finished 14th in the B division feature.

The driver returning after a long absence is John Smolinski. John drove in the Street Stocks and Sportsman divisions 25-years ago. He and car owner Dave Goins would like to thank their sponsors Budget Tire, DG Motorsports, Broadway Auto Parts and Capital Towing. John finished 12th in the B division feature.

Guy Fire went up to Spartan last Sunday and finished second in their C main: "We went to Spartan cause Flat Rock speedway rained out and we needed to do some racing. It was a fun track to race on we got there a little late but we just were there for fun … didn't pick up one wrench the whole time we were there and ended up 2nd in the feature" Thanks Guy for the update.

Figure 8s

Billy Earley was the winner of the makeup Figure 8 race. It was his third feature win of the year and his 26th of his career at Flat Rock (leaving him three races behind his dad, Gary, total of 29 wins. "The inversion worked out good this week and I worked out perfect last week too. Got on the pole and just stuck out there and won.

Robbie Loving returned to the Figure 8 division this week with a new team. It was a great return as he was victorious in the Figure 8 feature. Thanks to son Race for sending me something… "The car is Dave Millers car, he started driving for Rob Martel In 2000 so he drove his own cars before then we would like to thank Flo Air, Exquisite Cutz, Brownstown Liquor. He would like to thank Dave, Jeremy and Kathy Miller for the car. And Race for the hard work doing the changes I ask for and Dale for doing it as well and my other son Chase for the air pressures! Thank you to all the fans who come out and support me it is very appreciated! Thank you everyone.

Figure 8 rookie, Travis Earley had a week of firsts. He won the Figure 8 first and then led the first five laps of the feature. "I'd like to thank the Good Lord, Dan Apperson, My Dad and the family. Also my sponsors, Jim Butcher Shop and A & M Transmission. The brakes were horrible during the feature, but we were able to finish."

The "Just When You Think Things Can't Get Worse Award" goes to David Katafiasz. Let's just say he probably wishes that he could've just skipped last week's races. "Definitely not the night I wanted blew up motor in qualifying. Huge thank you to Archie Padgett for letting me use his car for the night. Started scratch on the night finished 6th after running 5th in the first feature. Not too bad after not turning a single lap in the car before that. Then the second feature of the night bad luck came back first the steering wheel came off during the race (new oh s**t moment) then about three laps later his motor blew. I'm more pissed about blowing up someone else's equipment than my own. Looking for good luck to come my way now. Thank you again to Archie Padgett," David's Facebook post. He'd like to thank, Glass City Heating and Air, Knierim Dental, Kish Ambulance, My parents and Howard Kelly Jr. And Archie would like to thank his sponsors Papa Smurf Racing, Northwest Trailer Sales and Service, Fleet Enterprises.

Missed any of the Flat Rock or Toledo racing visit Mike Miller's YouTube page ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omRdTIHitro

Want to get sponsors mentioned? All it takes is a couple sentences on your night (no negative blaming). You can contact me on Facebook or send it to icechips@hotmail.com