Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI:  (7-26-08)--  For those who follow Flat Rock Speedway’s Late Model class, everyone knows just how competitive it is.  And for those that witnessed Saturday night’s Moran Chevrolet/Stan Yee Memorial 150, Justin Schroeder’s win might be an upset of sorts.  But the Canton, MI youngster, who has improved all season, made his first-ever win very, very special with the victory and a $2866 payday in the track’s longest race of the season.  Ann Yee, Stan Sr.’s widow, made the “Gold Buddha” trophy presentation to Justin in the Greater Detroit Auto Auction Winner’s Circle.

The day started out just like many of the Saturdays at Flat Rock this year—rain!  A 20 minute shower at 2:55 p.m. pushed everything back one-half hour for the night.  This was the third attempt at completing the biggest race of the year at the track, as rain washed out the race June 21 and June 28.  All told, a total of 102 cars jammed the pit area and entertained the large crowd.  Greater Detroit Auto Auction sponsored the evening and put on a nickel/penny grab for the kids prior to the start of the race card.

With 29 ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Models on hand, Dan Ford Jr. jumped behind the wheel of Steve Lee’s back-up car and set fast time at 11:609.   In honor of Stan Yee, his family and friends put up $333 for fast time.  A 15 lap last-chance race took the top five to the 150 lap contest.  Jared Allison, who commutes all the way from Cocoa, FL to run with Harold Fair Jr. as his teammate, captured the race and moved on to the feature.  Jeremy Vanderhoof, Ed Hage, Roger Blackstock and Steve Bunge also advanced.

The 150 took 3 starts to get going, but once it did, the entire distance took only 50 minutes to complete.  On the second try, a bunch of cars checked up, sending Allison and Rob Randa into the backstretch wall, and the red flag came with it.  Eric Lee, Randy Cronenwett Jr., Dick Barker and Dennis Strickland all received damage but were able to make the call for the re-start.

Scott Giroux powered his way to the lead on the green and stayed out front for 29 laps.  Lee showed no signs of problems as he picked his way from 6^th spot to take the point on lap 30.  Schroeder began to work his way through the field, as did Paul Pelletier, who showed great patience in heavy lapped traffic.  Lee led lap 33 which paid another $333 bonus and looked very strong, but things got interesting just past the half-way mark.  A long stretch of green allowed Eric to put a lap on several cars, but Justin continued to move forward.  A lap 71 yellow, one of just 3, allowed Schroeder to close in on the leader and zip by on the inside lane on lap 80.  Pelletier kept moving forward as did Ricky Kargel and Strickland as the trio began making up ground as the laps wound down.  Giroux and Strickland made contact, bringing out a lap 90 yellow, sending them to the tail and setting the stage for the finish.  Schroeder, however, seemed to pick up speed as the race continued on, grabbing the lap 133 $333 bonus money.  With 5 laps to go, Pelletier, running 2^nd, slowed with a fuel pick-up problem, pitted and re-entered the race 2 laps down.  Schroeder’s smooth driving style in and out of traffic was the right formula as he sailed to his popular win over Kargel and Strickland, the only 2 other cars on the lead lap.  Ron Allen was fourth and Chris Benson fifth, with Randy Cronenwett Jr. collecting his best-ever finish with a strong 6^th place showing.  Giroux, Barker, Rick Knowles and Steve Cronenwett Jr. completed the top ten.

Greg Studt, who ran in the top ten much of the race in the 150 and finished 11^th, ended his night in fine fashion with the win in the 20 lap ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 contest.  Dan Apperson took the lead at the green but spun with Jeremy Miller on lap 2, giving Greg the lead.  He had plenty of company as Billy Earley dogged him the remaining distance.  Earley swung high, swung low, used a little of the edge of the track in his effort to get by Studt as the duo put on a great battle for the win.  At the stripe, Greg nosed out Billy by a car length for his first Figure 8 win of 2008.  Dennis Whisman was third, Robbie Loving fourth and Jerry Lee fifth, followed by Miller, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Dan Apperson, Anthony Terris and Sam Hall.  Fast time honors went to Whisman at 20:708.

A total of 57 ARCA Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stocks were on hand Saturday, the largest total of the season as they prepare for their 100 lap contest next week.  Tim Moore topped the 24 car A Main field to win the 25 lap feature race.  Tim led every lap on his way to the win.  David Kind applied early race pressure until Regan Ford made a charge to the front with 5 to go.  Moore hung on to win over Ford, Kind (with a great run), Dan Ford Jr., Derek Wiley, Randy DeMaggio, Jason Shinn, Chris Hebert, Arnold Kirsch and Billy Earley.  Jim Rae nipped Chris Burkhart by inches to win the 15 lap B Main contest.  Bob Swanson was third, Lonnie York fourth and Larry Smouthers fifth, followed by Rick Grzych, Dave Stadniczuck, Rick Abel, Al Hasenfratz and Ed Hindall.  Second generation driver Harold Davis Jr. nipped Mike Hans to win the 10 lap C Main.  Jerry Farmer, Dan Schuchardt, Troy Brehmer, Chris Fitzpatrick, James Pankow, Rayce Metdepenningen and Jim Stocker were next in line at the finish.  Regan Ford set fast time at 13:282 for the A Main cars, while Tom Freeman Jr. topped the B Main at 13:809, with Schuchardt pacing the C Main at 14:234.

The Street Stocks will battle in their biggest race of 2008 at Flat Rock Speedway next Saturday, August 2.  The rescheduled Christmas in July prize giveaway will also take place, with Santa Claus handing out the gifts!  A 100 lap A Main, 40 lap B Main and 25 lap C Main will be contested, as well as a complete Figure 8 show and a Figure 8 Train race—2 cars chained together with the front car with the engine, the back car with the brakes!  Race time is 7 p.m.

Sunday, August 3 is the date for the Mt. Dew 250 lap Enduro race and an ARCA David’s Jewely 4 Cylinder contest.  Sunday’s race time is 1 p.m.