Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI  (9-19-2008)-- The Pepsi School Bus Figure 8 races made their appearance at Flat Rock Speedway for a rare Friday night event, pushed back due to last Saturday’s monsoon-like rains.  Chris Benson captured the Bus feature, while Chris Perry topped the Michigan Legends main.  Jeremy Vanderhoof and Dave Tanner captured the Street Stock events in front of a large crowd on a beautiful evening.

It was perhaps the wildest School Bus Figure 8 race at “The Rock”, as Benson outlasted Jeremy Vanderhoof to win the event.  The race started with the pyrotechnics and a loud cannon shot from the top of the Gaddis buses as the crowd roared.  Danny Gaddis got over on his side after getting tagged at the intersection and again, the crowd went crazy.  Well, it was just starting as Jeff Kurzyniec got slammed by Jack Franzil at the cross-over while leading and rolled over.  Jeff took a bow, jumped back in his bus after the front end loader righted his bus and jumped back into action.  That didn’t last long as on the white flag lap, Jeff got pounded again and went over a second time, pushing the top of the bus over on a strange angle.  Benson took the checkered flag and as the victory lane ceremony went on, Kurzyniec fired up his bus again, drove it to the front straight amid the screams and cheers and drove it back in the pits!  Jeff finished second, Vanderhoof was third, Franzil fourth, Ray Gaddis fifth, Dennis Whisman sixth, Danny Gaddis seventh and Kevin Rapley eighth.

Figure 8 driver Jeremy Vanderhoof sped to the front and took the lead from Dennis Whisman on his way to the win in the 30 lap Street Stock/Figure 8 feature race.  The 2 classes were combined for this fun night of racing and 44 cars showed for the night.  Split into 4 heats, the top 6 from each heat moved to the A Main and the remainder made up the B field.  Jeremy showed his strength in the heat race, starting 11^th and winning his heat.  He sailed away from fellow Figure 8 driver Gary Cronenwett for the win.  Ron Allen was third in Randy DeMaggio’s Street Stock, with fourth to Greg Studt and fifth was Arnold Kirsch, followed by Regan Ford, Whisman, Jim Alvis, Rich Frantz and Billy Earley.  Dave Tanner took command in the early stages on his way to the win in the 20 lap B Main contest.  Dave had company as James Hazlett took to the high side and reeled in Tanner and Kevin Stepinski in the final 5 laps.  James ended up second, Stepinski was third, Dan Apperson fourth and Troy Brehmer fifth.  Scott Apperson, Stu Durocher, Billy Cronce, Rayce Metdpenningen and Stephanie Pankow completed the top ten.  In addition to Vanderhoof, Allen, Ford and Earley took the heat race wins.

A great 5 car battle for the win ensued in the Michigan Legends 30 lap feature, with Chris Perry taking the win in the hard-fought contest.  Early race leader Chance Rice saw his lead go up in smoke when his car caught fire, bringing out the red flag on lap 8.  Perry took control after getting by Chris Brunet after an exciting side by side battle for over 8 laps.  Perry finally edged into the lead on lap 28 and took the win over Brunet, Brandon Mahoney, Tyler Rycenga, Kenton Taylor, Tony Monge, Randy Gallagher, Jerry Warden, Roy Nicholson and Skip Krassa.  The top 6 were under a blanket at the stripe and put on a great show for the fans.  Rycenga, Gallagher and Rice took the heat race wins.

Flat Rock Speedway has 1 race remaining and it’s set for Saturday afternoon, October 4.  A total of three-50 lap feature events are on tap, as the Toledo Factory Stocks, the Enduro cars and the 4 Cylinders will each compete in 50 lap contests.  The wives and mechanics races are also slated.  The pits open at noon, practice begins at 1, time trials are set for 2 and racing begins at 3 p.m.  The front gates open at noon.

Sunday, October 5 is the annual Flat Rock Historical Society Flea Market from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Admission to the grounds is free of charge.  For table rental information, please call 734-782-5220.