Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI  (8-30-2008)--  Dennis “The Rebel” Whisman delivered Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway, taking the ARCA Speedway Bar and Grille Figure 8 25 lap Championship feature and capturing the 2008 Flat Rock track championship in the process.  Chris Benson, Rob Moore and Jim Selmi were also feature winners on a perfect night for racing.

With the final point race of the year on tap for the Figure 8’s, Whisman went into the night with a 10 point lead over 2007 champ Robbie Loving.  Loving darted into the lead on the green of the main event, only to have his hopes dashed when Sam Hall made contact with Robbie at the intersection, bringing out the red flag.  Quick repairs by Loving’s crew got Robbie back into the race when it resumed.  Whisman was pressured by Jeremy Miller the entire distance of the 25 lap feature, but “The Rebel” led the charge to the checkered flag and his 4^th Flat Rock Figure 8 crown (1995, 2003, 2004).  Miller was second at the stripe, Jeremy Vanderhoof third, Billy Earley fourth and Greg Studt fifth, followed by Dan Apperson, Anthony Terris, Loving, Gary Cronenwett and Brice Thomsen.  Vanderhoof set the Loving Auto Care fast time at 20:786, while Studt and Scott Apperson were the heat race winners.

Chris Benson withstood a charging Dennis Strickland to score his second win of 2008 in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Model race.  The race was exciting throughout the contest.  Greg Studt led the first 2 laps as he and Benson ran wheel to wheel for the first 5 laps.  Chris nosed out front and finally took control at lap 6.  While the laps clicked off, Strickland, Ricky Kargel and current point leader Eric Lee were on the move on the outside lane to the front.  Strickland got to the fender of Benson on several occasions, but a lap 45 yellow slowed things as the top 3 narrowly missed Steve Peters in turn 2.  On the restart, Benson held back Dennis as he made a bid on the high groove but came up short as Benson picked up the victory.  Strickland, Lee, Kargel and Justin Schroeder rounded out the top five.  Paul Pelletier, Studt, Keith Nelson, Ron Allen and Jeremy Vanderhoof were next in line to complete the top ten.  Lee set fast time at 11:717 to lead the 22 car field.  Heat race winners Studt, Scott Giroux and Dave Henneberry.

A first-time winner made it to the Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stock Winner’s Circle Saturday as Rob Moore just edged a great run by Derek Wiley to win the 25 lap Street Stock A Main feature win.  Rob led every lap with his brother, Tim, tucked in on his back bumper.  Scott Selmi ran with the leaders as Dan Ford Jr. and Regan Ford tried to work their way to the front to battle for the lead.  Wiley zipped by Tim Moore with 3 laps to go and went for the win as the lead duo made their way to the stripe.  Rob scored the big win over Wiley, Tim Moore, Selmi, Ford Jr., Regan Ford, Randy DeMaggio, Kyle Worley, Clyde McKee and David Kind. 

Scott Selmi’s father, Jim, took the lead on lap 9 on the way to the win in the 15 lap B Main.  The 70-year old driver notched his first win of the season over James Rae, Larry Smouthers, Joe Gramlich, Bob Swanson, James Pankow, Rich Abel, Jim Kourtakis, Mike Hans and Billy Cronce.  Smouthers led the first 8 laps until Jim nosed into the lead and eventually the win. 

The A Main heat winners were Scott Selmi, Jeff Plumb and Steve Chartrand.  Dave Tanner paced the 37 car field in time trials with a lap of 13:496.  Chris Diovardi was the B Main quick man at 14:151.

The Late Models, Street Stocks and 4 Cylinders will contest their Season Championship events next Saturday, September 6 at Flat Rock Speedway.  The Late Model feature will go 100 laps, with $2000 to win the event.  A 30 lap A Main and 20 lap Street Stock B Main are also on the slate, with a 25 lap 4 Cylinder feature also scheduled to determine the 2008 track champions.  The Figure 8 class will also run a feature event.  Race time is 7 p.m.