Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI (9-6-2008)--  Eric Lee (Late Model), Dan Ford Jr. (Street Stock A Main), Rich Abel (Street Stock B Main) and Brad Turner (4 Cylinder) were crowned the 2008 track champions Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.  Ricky Kargel was the victor in the 100 lap Late Model race and Billy Earley took the Figure 8 contest.  Glass Block Sales served as the sponsor for the beautiful evening of racing at the ¼ mile paved oval.

The ARCA Moran Chevrolet/Miller Lite Late Models competed in the 100 lap championship contest, with Scott Giroux taking control on the green flag.  With just 1 lap in the books, fast qualifier Eric Lee (11:591) and Justin Schroeder made contact, bringing out the yellow and sending both cars to the tail.  On lap 8, 2^nd running Sean Monahan and Paul Pelletier got together, slowing the pace again.  Kargel, starting 6^th, worked his way to the front and battled with Giroux wheel to wheel for 8 laps until Ricky grabbed control on lap 17.  A long stretch of green from lap 34 to 76 stretched things out, with heavy lapped traffic giving Dennis Strickland and Lee, off the back of the 21 car field, the opportunity to close in on Kargel.  Meanwhile, a great 4 car battle went on for fifth as Steve Cronenwett Jr., Chris Benson, Greg Studt and Justin Schroeder challenged each other lap after lap.  For over 15 laps, Kargel displayed great patience as the traffic was tough.  Ricky bided his time, the lapped cars did a solid job and Ricky finally cleared the pack and set sail to his first-ever Late Model win.  Kargel was the 2003 track Figure 8 champ.  Strickland came home second, a car length short of Kargel, with Lee’s third place finish enough to cement his second Flat Rock Late Model crown, the other coming in 2004.  Giroux had a great run to take fourth and Benson fifth, followed by Schroeder, Cronenwett Jr., Pelletier, Studt and Ron Allen to complete the top ten.

Dan Ford Jr. notched his 3^rd track title in fashion, winning the 30 lap ARCA Greater Detroit Auto Auction Street Stock A Main feature race.  Dan led every lap that was only slowed by a lap 29 yellow when Regan Ford and Randy DeMaggio tangled.  Regan took the blame, giving Randy his spot back.  Regan shadowed his brother Dan for a better part of the contest until DeMaggio reeled in the lead duo.  At the stripe Ford Jr. was the winner, with DeMaggio, Wiley, Tim Moore and Dave Tanner completing the top five.  Rob Moore, David Kind, Jason Shinn, Jeff Kurzyniec and Rich Frantz were next in line to complete the top ten. 

 

Perhaps the happiest man at Flat Rock Saturday was Rich Abel, who won the 20 lap B Main championship and his first-ever track championship in the process.  A wild 10 car pile-up on the initial start eliminated 3 cars, but 17 were able to answer the bell for the restart.  Abel motored on to the big win, with Joe Gramlich second, James Rae third, Al Hasenfratz fourth and James Pankow fifth.  Chris Webber, Troy Brehmer, Billy Cronce, Jim Kourtakis and Chris Diovardi were next in line for spots sixth through tenth.  Regan Ford topped the 44 car field in time trials with a lap of 13:323.  Heat race winners were Scott Selmi, Steve Chartrand, James Hazlett, Rae, Pankow and Cronce.

 

Ida, MI resident Brad Turner iced his first-ever title by taking the win in the 25 lap ARCA David’s Jewelry 4 Cylinder championship feature event.  Perry Marlow led the first 3 laps of the caution-free race, with David Price taking control on lap 4.  Turner steamed to the front as he avoided some near-crashes to run from 14^th to the lead on lap 12.  But, Shawn Bershback entered the fray to grab the point on lap 13.  Brad stayed right with Shawn and used a lapped car to his advantage, sliding by on the high side on lap 20 and to the win.  Shawn was second, Price third, Ray McClure fourth and Mike Bershback fifth, followed by Matt Brazeau, Paul Garcia, Michael Marlow, Josh Remick and Jimmy Little.  Turner’s quick lap was 15:183.  Mike Bershback and Remick captured the heat race wins.

 

With the Figure 8 point battle decided last week, a 20 lap non-point race was contested among 13 cars.  Billy Earley avoided some wild traffic to win the contest.  Scott Apperson led laps 1-8 as he battled Greg Studt for the lead.  Apperson pushed Studt high on the track, allowing Earley to grab second, and then the point.  Billy held on for the win over Studt, Dennis Whisman (in the number 8), Scott Apperson, Gary Cronenwett, Rich Lee, Brice Thomsen, Danny Apperson, Troy Herrmann and Randy Roberts.

 

The wildly-popular Pepsi School Bus Figure 8 races are set for next Saturday, September 13 at Flat Rock Speedway.  The Street Stocks and Figure 8’s will be combined into 1 class and run heats and feature races, while the Michigan Legends Cars will stage their show as part of the night.  ALL general admission tickets and kids tickets will go on sale at 4 p.m. Saturday when the box office and front gates open.  Race time is 7 p.m.  Some reserved seating remains and those tickets may be obtained by calling the track at 734-782-2480.

 

After a 3 week break, the final race of 2008 at Flat Rock is set for Saturday, October 4.  The Level Pebble Factory Stock/Enduro Shootout will feature separate 50 lap main events for each of those classes, plus a 50 lap feature for the 4 Cylinders is also on the race card.  The Wives and Mechanics races will also take place.  Race time is 3 p.m. for the final event of the 2008 schedule.