Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI  (5-16-09)--  The skies finally cleared just after 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon and the UAW Local 3000 Night went on as scheduled at Flat Rock Speedway.  A good crowd saw Ryan Gillenwater, Greg Studt, Randy DeMaggio and Mike Hans capture feature wins on an evening that ended with cold temperatures and a strong wind.

The Buckeye 305 Super Sprints made their first visit to Flat Rock, and, despite just 10 cars, put on a great show on the fast ¼ mile paved oval.  Rookie Chad Wilson, in just his second start on pavement, took off on the green flag and was strong out front, smoking the right rear tire as he dirt-tracked his machine through the corners.  The field settled in after a couple of re-starts to begin the event, clicking off 20 laps before the first yellow flag.  Zach Gibson and Ryan Gillenwater had started to reel in Wilson before the yellow, and with this break, the lead trio put on the show.  On lap 23, Wilson, still smoking the right rear tire, saw Ryan slide under Gibson for second and then zip low to take the top spot coming out of turn four with his nifty move.  Gillenwater sailed to the popular win in the 30 lap main, with Gibson second, Todd Buchanan third, Talon Stephens fourth and Tyler Dunn fifth, followed by Wilson, Mike Sheppard, Tommy Kunz, Dave Saxer and Tim Buchanan.  The field was short after 8 cars were lost to mechanical woes at Toledo Friday evening.  Gibson and Kunz won the heat races, while Stephens set fast time at 10:688, leading 5 cars in the ten second bracket.

Week number 4 of ARCA Figure 8 racing saw winner number 4 as Greg Studt led every lap en-route to the win in the 20 lap feature race.  The wild event saw lap after lap of criss-crossing at the intersection, creating thrills for the crowd, many of which were first-time visitors to the track.  Greg had a solid lead at the finish over Jeremy Miller, Billy Earley, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Anthony Terris.  Sixth was Gary Cronenwett, with Jerry Lee, Sam Hall, Tim Murphy and first-time Figure 8 racer Chris Cox completing the top ten.  Cronenwett and Hall notched heat race wins.  The Loving Auto Care fast time went to Dennis Whisman, with a lap of 20:601.  Whisman brought out the red flag on lap 17 when his car quit.

It’s now 3 in a row for Randy DeMaggio in the ARCA Street Stock A Main events, as the Wyandotte speedster scored another win in the all-green flag 25 lap feature event.  Pastor Danny Slater led the pack to the green and ran strong out front.  A great battle for positions 4-10 went on the entire distance as Slater was chased down by DeMaggio near the lap 20 mark.  Entering turn 3, the lead duo approached a lapped car, touched, sending Slater up the track, with Randy darting low and taking the lead and on to the victory over Pastor Slater, David Kind, Rich Frantz, Derek Wiley, Tim Moore, Clyde McKee, Regan Ford, Rob Moore and Dave Tanner.  Dan Ford Jr. came home 11^th after starting scratch in the 24 car field.

A great 3-car battle for the entire 15 lap distance for the Street Stock B Main saw Mike Hans power by Anthony Camilli and Lonnie York on lap 11, giving Mike his first-ever feature win at Flat Rock.  Camilli took second, York third, Michael Phillips fourth and Jimmy Little fifth, followed by Jim Stocker, Billy Cronce, Chris Diovardi, Jason Chastain and Kyle Metdepenningen.  McKee set fast time for the 34 car field at 13:421.  Hans led the B cars at 14:293.  Heat wins went to Pastor Slater, Jeff Kurzyniec, Ford Jr., Phillips and York.

Saturday, May 23 is a great night for families at Flat Rock Speedway, with FIREWORKS and much more!  It’s also Kids Night, with all kids to age 14 FREE and each kid will receive a FREE hot dog, chips and a drink, courtesy of Sherwood Foods, Seyfert’s Potato chips and the Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group.  Fans will see a 100 lap feature for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series, a 250 lap Enduro race, the ARCA 4 Cylinders and exhibition races by the TKC Kart Club.  The night will end with a Fireworks display, courtesy of Volcano Fireworks.  The gates open at 4, kart races start at 6:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m.  Ticket stubs from the May 16 race may be presented at the ticket window for a $5 discount for adult admission May 23 only.