Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI (8-23-2008)-- With temperatures in the 90’s and humidity to match, there was extra flavor added to Saturday night’s Stoney Creek Auto Parts Kids Night at Flat Rock Speedway. Over 500 kids were in attendance to take advantage of the track’s free admission, hot dog, chips and a drink for kids 14 and under. On the track, the action was sometimes wild and extremely entertaining and exciting. Paul Pelletier, Jeremy Miller, Dan Ford Jr. and Steve Chartrand were feature winners. Kevin Butzin of Stoney Creek, who also competed in the Late Model class, made trophy presentations to the victors. The entire race card was completed at 9:45 p.m.

The 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Model feature was filled with drama and action. Steve Cronenwett Jr. grabbed the lead on the green and held the point early on in the contest. With an inversion of 12, fast qualifier Eric Lee (11:713), Ricky Kargel and Pelletier made their way to the front using the outside lane. On lap 26, Pelletier took over the number one spot, with Lee and Kargel following suit. Lee got by Kargel just after lap 30 and set up the battle for the lead. Lee looked high and low to get around the 2006 track champ, but to no avail. Eric did nose out front on a couple of laps, but Pelletier, determined to get the win, stuck the nose of his machine in between a lapped car and Lee and nosed his way back into the lead. Paul moved on to collect the win over Dennis Strickland, Chris Benson (who made a late charge to gain several spots), Cronenwett Jr., Justin Schroeder, Ron Allen, Lee, Kargel, Scott Giroux and Greg Studt. Lee and Kargel tangled on the final lap in turn 3 of the race. The initial start saw Dave Henneberry spin and collect rookie Bill Litogot, who got up on 2 wheels, while Randy Cronenwett Jr. also sustaining sheet metal damage. Litogot was finished for the night, while the other pair returned to join the field on the restart.

The 20 lap ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 contest was filled with near-misses at the intersection. Jeremy Miller posted the win (in Rob Martel’s car) over a fast-closing Robbie Loving. The race began with Eddie Snorf tagging the wall and getting up on 2 wheels as the pack sailed on. Current point leader Dennis Whisman saw his lead sliced to 10 points after the evening when he tangled with Nick Bradley on lap 6, shredding a tire off his car. Whisman zipped to the pits and came back out to finish the contest. Miller continued out front as Loving got by Billy Earley late in the race to come home second, with Earley third, rookie Anthony Terris fourth (his best finish) and Brice Thomsen fifth. Rookie Gary Cronenwett, Sam Hall, Scott Apperson, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Chuck Pankow were next in line to complete the top ten. Vanderhoof posted the Loving Auto Care fast time at 20:749. Heat wins went to Whisman and Hall.

A great 6 car battle up front kept things exciting in the 25 lap ARCA Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stock feature race. Current point leader Dan Ford Jr., using the high groove, got by race-long leader Dave Tanner on lap 18 to take the victory. Tanner, Regan Ford, Moore, Derek Wiley, Ford Jr. and Steve Cronenwett Jr. (doing double duty tonight) diced for position in the first 15 laps of the event. At the stripe Ford Jr. topped Moore, Wiley, Tanner, Cronenwett Jr., Clyde McKee, Scott Selmi, Jason Shinn, Danny Slater and Rob Moore.

Steve Chartrand has had a tough season but put things together Saturday, leading every lap on his way to the win in the 15 lap B Main contest. Steve sailed to a sizable lead as James Rae tried to reel in the leader in the final 5 laps. Rae settled for second, Arnold Kirsch was third, Chris Diovardi fourth and Lonnie York fifth, followed by Rich Abel, Mike Hans, Al Hasenfratz, Larry Smouthers and Joe Gramlich. McKee set quick time for the 46 car field at 13:291, while Dave Stadniczuck paced the B Main with a lap of 13:859. Heat race winners were Randy DeMaggio, Rob Moore, Kyle Worley, Rae, York and Randy Gallagher (in his first Street Stock race).

Flat Rock Speedway will host a double-header Labor Day weekend special, starting with a rare Friday night event August 29. The Aquafina 250 lap Enduro race and the ARCA David’s Jewelry 4 Cylinders are slated for action in a race that has been moved from its scheduled date of Sunday afternoon, August 31. The race, now set for Friday night has the pit area opening at 4:30, the front gates open at 6 p.m., 4 Cylinder practice is at 6:30 and racing at 7:30 p.m.

The following evening, Saturday, August 30 Flat Rock Speedway will crown its 2008 Figure 8 champion in the Season Championship race for the division. The Late Models and Street Stocks will also be in action for the traditional Saturday race card. The pit area opens at 2, practice goes at 3:30, (front gate opens at that time), time trials at 5 and racing at 7 p.m.