Flat Rock Speedway

SOUTHGATE MI (7-16-08)--For those of you that stayed home, you missed two terrific 50 lappers. Both the Super Late Models and the Street Stock A division feature were hotly contested and lot of side by side racing. Both divisions the top six cars pretty much ran under a blanket. I think the largest lead for either division was maybe a car length if that... mostly everyone ran doorhandle to doorhandle.

Dennis Strickland won his first SLM feature in nearly a year. His last win was Aug. 4, 2007. After the race he bounded to the fence and climbed it, ala Tony Stewart and grabbed the checkered flag from the flagstand and waved it over his head, celebrating his hard fought victory. "I lost my radio on the first lap. All I could do is drive what I saw out my windshield. If you liked today's Late Model race, come back again. We like racing in front of a crowd," said the driver of the Complete Battery, Autosport Development #90. Tonight's win was Dennis' seventh career win at Flat Rock and 21st ARCA win (between SLM and Street Stocks... plus six Limited Late Model wins at Toledo)

Finishing second was Ricky Kargel finished second, either a career best or tying a career best in the SLMs.

Scott Giroux led the first 45 laps.

Making his first Super Late Model start was Scot Bunge, who drove his dad's car tonight. Scot has driven in the Figure 8 and Factory stocks. He finished 20th a couple laps down.

Jeff MacZink made his first SLM start of the season and finished 19th.

Only two cars dropped out the event, Bill Litogot and Rob Randa.

Randy DiMaggio won his second feature of the season ... and like Strickland's victory, had to really work for it. "Two Fords (Dan Jr. and Regan) and a Cronenwett (Steve Jr.) behind me... that's some hard competition. That was a really exciting race. I want to thank all my wife, sponsors and crew," said the driver of the #84. It was his 10th career win.

The race wasn't without incident. Kyle Worley hit the third turn wall, rode the wall and clipped 3 or 4 posts along the way before coming to an abrupt stop when the front end of his #15 got caught by one of the posts and threw his car back onto the track on all four wheels. The post that finally stopped his car had a car sized dent that fit the shape of the front end of the #15. Kyle was fine but the car apparently has front end damage. Strangely enough, Kyle's dad, Mel was telling me years ago he had nearly the exact crash in the same spot. This may be the first time a father - son can claim that.

The cars were parked around the track for a good 20 minutes. Cars allowed to go back into the pits during the caution and quiet a few did. Scott Selmi was running seventh at the red and gave that up to go fix a lower radiator hose that came off. He returned to the track in 19th position and passed the most cars those final 19 laps, finishing 11th.

Overall Steve Prucnell moved up the most positions (11), finishing 11th after starting 22nd.

Rich France went in during the red after sitting on pit lane for 21 laps after being involved in an accident for 21 laps. He went into the pits during the red and returned to the race gaining a position or two in the final running order.

Jimmy Rae won the Street Stock B division feature since Sept. 1 of last year. "I've had a dry spell lately. Winning the feature and heat doesn't happen to me too often, but had a couple clean races. I really appreciate the other drivers running me clean. Rich Gramlich is a new guy and he's not easy to get by. I want to thank my crew, family and sponsors," said the driver of the #1.

Dennis Whisman won the Figure 8 feature and was one of only three cars left on the lead lap. "I want to dedicate the race to Dan Hall. Robbie (Loving) and I seem to be duking it out for these features over the last year and half. It's been good clean racing," said Whisman, who has 39 Figure 8 wins at Flat Rock.

The only wreck in the "X" was by Joey Whisman (in Robbie Loving's other car) and Jeremy Vanderhoof. Both drivers were fine, and their cars towed off to the pits. This was on lap 5. About 10 laps later, Vanderhoof pulled back onto the track only to stall. He got the car going on lap 22 and ran for another 17 laps before finally retiring his mount for the night. Those extra laps gained him five positions.

Another new driver to the Figure 8's (at least at Flat Rock) was Gary Cronenwett, Randy's youngest son. Gary normally run Factory Stocks at Toledo.

Jeremy Miller had an apparent engine problem (or lost a hose) during the feature Saturday night. His Friday night at Toledo went much better winning the Figure 8 feature there... it was his 12th win at Toledo.

Ron Allen won his fourth Sportsman Feature of the season at Toledo and his third in a row. It was his 45th career Sportsman win

Landon Schuster won his first Factory Stock A main since May 25, 2007 ... it's his third career win. Matt Ringger won the B main.  Brad Turner won his second consecutive 4 Cylinder feature.