Flat Rock Speedway

FLAT ROCK, MI (6-7-2008)--  WOMC Radio and Seyfert’s Snacks teamed up for Kids Night and Autograph Night at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday.  A good crowd and over 500 kids were treated to an exciting and entertaining night of racing.  Each kid received a free hot dog, chips and a drink, courtesy of Sherwood Foods, Pepsi and Seyfert’s.  Chris Benson scored his first-ever win in the Late Model feature, while Jeremy Miller, Dan Ford Jr. and Jason Burkhart topped their respective feature races of the evening.

The 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Model race was a little rocky at the start, but proved to be a very competitive event.  With Ricky Kargel and Benson making up the front row for the 24 car field, Benson got the jump but Steve Cronenwett Jr. spun, bringing the race back to a complete restart.  On the next try, Kargel charged out front and after a lap was in, Paul Pelletier had a wheel fly off his machine, bringing out the red flag.  Quick work by his crew got Paul back out before the race went back to green.  Kargel took off with Benson in pursuit, while Dennis Strickland and Cronenwett Jr., along with Eric Lee, started to make their way to the front.  After 5 laps of side by side racing, Benson nosed into the lead on lap 24, but Kargel came right back, looking inside and trying to grab back the top spot.  With this going on, a 5 car pack was now in contention.  A long stretch of green kept things interesting and traffic kept Benson from getting away.  Chris stayed out front to post his initial win over Kargel and Cronenwett Jr., with those 2 running side by side for the final 2 laps.  Strickland was fourth and Lee fifth, followed by Scott Giroux, Stan Yee Jr., Ron Allen, Randy Cronenwett Jr. and Joe Hawes.  Lee set fast time at 11:836 to lead the 24 cars on hand.

It was win number 2 of the season for Jeremy Miller, taking the victory in the 20 lap ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 main event, which was highlighted by a crash and plenty of near-misses at the intersection.  Jerry Lee grabbed the point at the start, with Miller right on his bumper.  The lead duo battled back and forth and the pair touched on lap 15.  Jerry got sideways as Miller backed out of it.  Jeremy was able to motor by Lee and picked up the lead on the way to the win.  A late charge by Robbie Loving got him to second at the finish, Lee was third, Dennis Whisman fourth and Randy Cronenwett Jr. fifth.  Greg Studt, Billy Earley, Brice Thomsen, Scott Apperson and Anthony Terris completed the top ten.  The race was red flagged on lap 4 when Eddie Snorf and Jeremy Vanderhoof crashed at the intersection.  Both drivers were fine but the damage was enough to end their nights.  Whisman set the Loving Auto Care fast time at 20:697.  Heat race winners were Earley and Randy Roberts, who picked up his first-ever Flat Rock checkered flag.

Former champ Dan Ford Jr. powered his way to the front, taking the lead from Billy Earley on lap 15 on his way to a win in the 25 lap ARCA Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stock feature race.  Earley took control at the green, using the high groove to stay in command.  Scott Selmi, with another strong showing, shadowed Billy but Ford was on the move.  Using the high groove to get by Selmi, Dan dove low on Earley to take the point and sailed to the win over Selmi, Dave Tanner, Earley, Rich Frantz, Danny Slater, Kyle Worley, Randy DeMaggio, Rob Moore and Jason Shinn.   A lap 4 red flag saw Regan Ford, Derek Wiley and Kevin Stepinski get together in the back chute.  All were done for the night.

Jason Burkhart took the lead from race leader Mike Hans on lap 10 and notched the victory in the 15 lap B Main, his first win of 2008.  James Rae was right on Jason’s bumper for second, with Tom Freeman Jr. third, Bob Swanson fourth and Lonnie York fifth, followed by Chris Diovardi, Joe Gramlich, Rich Abel, Ian Jezylo and Jim Kourtakis.  Clyde McKee topped the 44 car field in time trials at 13:334, while Freeman Jr. led the B Main with a lap of 13:946.  Heat race winners were Tim Moore, Stepinski, Jeff Kurzyniec, Jason Burkhart, York and James Pankow.

Next Saturday, June 14 is the date for the wildly popular Marco’s Pizza School Bus Figure 8 race!  The Michigan Legends Cars, Toledo Factory Stocks and the ARCA 4 Cylinders will also be in action.  Some reserved seating still remains and may be obtained by calling the track at 734-782-2480.  ALL general admission tickets will go on sale the day of the race at 4 p.m.  Racing begins at 7.