Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI  (8-2-2008)--  A picture-perfect evening was the setting for the Bob’s Car Wash 100 at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night for the ARCA Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stock class.  Wyandotte, MI driver Randy DeMaggio held back a great bid by Dan Ford Jr. to win the contest, which was completed in just 42 minutes.  Lonnie York took the 40 lap B Main, Jeremy Miller grabbed the wild Figure 8 race and the duo of Howard Kelley Jr. and Tom O’Leary III were the victors in the Figure 8 Train race.

The 100 lap contest, the longest race of the season for the Street Stocks, ran in great fashion with just 4 yellow flags.  Rich Frantz motored into the lead at the green and held the point until lap 20 when DeMaggio slid by to take control.  Randy stayed in the low groove while the pack battled for position.  Things stayed calm for the remainder of the race despite great side-by-side racing around the entire track.  On lap 70, Steve Cronenwettt Jr., who ran 2^nd for much of the event, dropped back to 7^th spot and eventually dropped out of the contest.  Ford Jr., the current point leader, was content to wait and made his move with about 20 laps to go.  By lap 87, the top 4 were under a blanket with DeMaggio, Derek Wiley, Tim Moore and Ford Jr. in the hunt for the big win.  Wiley stayed right with Randy for much of the contest, Moore came on strong in the final 30 laps and with 10 to go, Ford Jr. made his move.  Dan went to the outside lane and tried to make up ground.  With 3 to go, Dan got by both Moore and Wiley and set his sights on the leader.  With Ford Jr. outside and DeMaggio inside, the lead duo came to the stripe with DeMaggio out front for the $1000 payday.  Wiley was solid in third, Moore fourth and Arnold Kirsch put on a great show with a fifth place run from 17^th spot.  Clyde McKee, Jeff Kurzyniec, Rich Frantz, Dave Tanner and Jason Shinn completed the top ten.  Fast qualifier Regan Ford (13:301) dropped out on lap 22 with overheating problems. 

The 40 lap B Main saw Lonnie York snare the lead from Jim Rae on lap 31 to take top honors in the event.  A rash of yellow flags and a red flag slowed the race.  The red appeared on lap 27 when Bob Swanson spun, giving Rich Abel and Billy Earley no place to go.  The latter two tagged the turn 2 wall, ending their nights.  York made his move late in the race to go for the win over Rae, Ian Jezylo, Tom Freeman Jr., Joe Gramlich, Steve Chartrand, James Pankow, Troy Brehmer, Chris Diovardi and Jim Kourtakis.  Earley set quick time for the B Main cars at 13:778. 

Jeremy Miller held back the charge of Greg Studt to win the wild and exciting 20 lap ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 feature event.  The non-stop event was fast and furious with some incredible intersection traffic and wild moves!  The lead duo were joined by Billy Earley late in the race for the battle to the finish.  On the final lap, Nick Bradley and Jeremy Vanderhoof tapped at the X, giving Earley no place to go.  Miller sped to the win, Studt was second, Jerry Lee third, Dennis Whisman recovered from an early-race bobble to grab fourth and Earley limped home to fifth spot.  Vanderhoof, Dan Apperson, Anthony Terris, Sam Hall and Robbie Loving were next in line.  Loving was strong, moving to third, but dropped back with a flat tire.  Loving posted the fast lap at 20:561.  Heat race winners were Lee and Randy Roberts.

A very entertaining Figure 8 Train race saw 5 trains hit the track, with Toleodans Howard Kelley Jr. and Tom O’Leary III take the $750 victory.  Second went to Tom O’Leary IV and Joe Whisman, third was Lonnie York and Jim Chinavarre, fourth was Paul Duffin/Jimmy Little and fifth was Brad Bauman/Anthony Camilli. 

Next Saturday, August 9 is the first open-wheel event at Flat Rock Speedway in 12 years.  The Buckeye Super Sprints will make their debut at “The Rock”, and will be joined by the track’s Figure 8, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders and the Michigan Legends Cars for a big 5 division race card!  Lakeshore Utility Trailer Sales will sponsor the evening of racing.  Race time is 7 p.m.