Flat Rock Speedway

(Flat Rock, MI—June 7, 2014):  5-time track champion Dan Ford Jr. bided his time, worked his way to the front and grabbed the lead with 13 laps to go on his way to victory in Saturday night’s Corrigan Race Fuels 100 for the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock division at Flat Rock Speedway.  Rich Abel, Billy Earley and Darren Bohne also took their respective feature wins and visited the 7-Up Winner’s Circle. 

The TKC Go-Karts entertained the crowd on Kid’s Night with a pair of exhibition races prior to the race card.  Kids 14 and under were admitted free and received a free hot dog, courtesy of Jim’s Butcher Shop, Sherwood Foods and Schwebel Baking Company.

The 20 car field for the 100 lap contest, the longest race of the season for the group, began with Nick Shanks taking the lead at the green flag.  A pack of 10-12 cars ran side by side, stacked up behind the leader in a very competitive and exciting race.  Rob Moore got by Shanks on lap 35 and took charge, working his way around the ¼ mile oval as the pack racing continued door to door.  Dan Ford Jr., starting from the 7th spot, stayed around the front of the field and began to move up to do battle with Moore.  Dan used both grooves to get to second, and with just 13 laps to go, nosed under Rob to grab the lead.  A late-race restart bunched the field, but Ford Jr. stayed out front, with Moore tucked in on his back bumper.  Rob ducked low coming out of turn 4 on the final lap but Ford Jr. held on for the win.  Moore’s great run netted him second spot and the point lead for the class, and the drive of the night went to Rick Bennett, who started at the tail of the field and raced his way to a sensational 3^rd place run.  Josh Bunting was fourth and Tadek Stadniczuk fifth, followed by Guy Fire, Rich Frantz, Scott Selmi, Landon Schuster and Corey Duane.  Shanks, Craig Lange, Steve Searles, Troy Brehmer, Chris Diovardi, Kyle Worley, Arnold Kirsch, Gary Calhoun, Rob Randa and Clyde McKee completed the finishing order.

Rich Abel scooted to the win in the 25 lap B Main, edging Lonnie York for his victory. Aaron Greathouse took third, Mel Worley fourth and Larry Smouthers fifth, with sixth to Jeffrey Kurzyniec and seventh to Don Roberts.  Bob Swanson was an early scratch for the night after practice.  Fire led the 28 car field and set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 13:502.  Greathouse led the B Main cars at 14:162.

It’s becoming the same story each race for the ARCA Praxair Figure 8 division—incredible, thrilling action at the intersection and finishes that short track racing is all about!  The 20 lap main event had Dan Apperson at the point for 19 laps, but Billy Earley had other ideas.  Earley slipped by Greg Studt for second late and then on the final lap, nosed under Apperson to grab the lead and the checkered flag for his first win of 2014.  Jeremy Miller got to second spot at the stripe, with Studt third, Robbie Loving fourth and Dennis Whisman fifth.  Apperson made the save of the night as he kept his car off the wall during the wild last-lap scramble to take sixth, followed by Scott Apperson, Ethen Lambert, David Katafiasz, Ian Jezylo, John Lambert, Stephanie Bradley, Jeremy Fragassi, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Race Loving.  Vanderhoof, the Fastime Racing Engine and Parts fast qualifier (20:841) and last week’s feature winner, got crossed up in the early going and suffered enough damage to end his night.

The Great Lakes Mini Cup Cars made their trip to Flat Rock with a 16 car field and the group was well-received by the crowd.  The non-stop 20 lap feature was won by Darren Bohne over Bob Hile, Justin Carley, Matt Kemp, Tim Phillips, Elliot Pritchett, Chris Morgan, Trent Jenson, Doug Higbie and Robert Rutton.  Stefanie Hile, Jon Sattision, Bill Rychel, Armani Williams, Jessica Trinklein and Mary Prucnell completed the finishing order.  Higbie and Pritchett took the heat wins.

Saturday, June 14—the School Bus Figure 8 races at Flat Rock Speedway!  The wildly-popular event takes center stage as the finale’ of the night!  A Figure 8 Boat race, a flag pole race and the track’s ARCA Praxair Figure 8’s and the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models will also provide great family entertainment and fun. 

Tickets are now on sale, both reserved and general admission, and can be purchased by calling 734-782-2480 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.  The ticket office and spectator gates will open at 4:30 p.m. race day.

The pit gates will open at 3, practice begins at 4:30, time trials are at 6 and racing begins at 7 p.m.