Flat Rock Speedway

Before I start this week's article. I want to thank the Staff and Officials at Toledo Speedway, and the Ambulance Crew for taking good care of me when I fell in the parking lot on July 11. I tore a large gash in my arm and was taken to St. Vincent Hospital. Also the security guard who went and got my mom from the stands and the fans that stayed with me until the Ambulance Crew got to me. I met so many nice people this night. I'm still healing but finally got back to the track this past weekend.

Harold Fair Jr. "What I had for the last 55 laps, it's great to be up here. I have to give to Eric and Steve Lee, they did a heck of a job... they were fast, ran a smart race, he was good. We've had so many race, I can't count that high, where we were leading and something went wrong with the car. I do need to thank Royal Truck and Trailer, Performance Tech, Senneker Engineering ... my dad, my wife, my whole family, the whole crew and everyone that's here for us. I appreciate the Yee's, I appreciate Art Moran Chevrolet for all they do for the sport. I appreciate ARCA these races on year after year. This is... this is a small track, a tough track... it seems like we either win or broke, crash, whatever. This race brings out a heck of a field, it's one to come see. (Sixteen cars finished on the lead lap)" .. If you look where we were in qualifying, we were a tenth of a second off and we were in 11th place, it's tight."

It was Harold's 13th Gold Cup win (the most of any driver) and his second Flat Rock 150 (2005 ) and his first Gold Cup win since July 2012.

Paul Pelletier had a big burst of speed on the last restart getting him to second place. "These guys (my crew) worked their butts off the last two weeks. We built a car together in two weeks and brought it here last night (for practice) and just wasn't what we wanted ... pulled the old girl out of the corner and worked all morning until the minute we got here and here it is. I had nothing on the bottom and it came to life on the top ... that was it, that was all I had. I'll take the second place after the two weeks we've had," said the driver of the raza Forklifts, ABC Plumbing, Exotic Automation, Bluewater Compressor, Duane's Roadrunners, and Dusty's Collision #44.

Current weekly point leader in the Super Late Models, Stevie Cronenwett finished third. "We never gave up, that was one thing we didn't do ... just kept digging on the high side. There was time in the race when I didn't think we were going be that far forward as we were. I really have to thank the guys, Henry Giles wherever he's standing ... Giles Auto Body, Roush Competition Engines, and Operation Injured Soldiers, Port City Racecars. I have to thank my sister, Talia, because I'm tired of hearing about it ... and thank you Talia, you're my biggest fan, because everyone should know it because you can hear her over the crowd and the cars. This year has been awesome, I can't express thankful I am, I have a lot of good people backing me, good family, crew and friends. And I finally get to talk to everyone after a 100 lapper. (or a 150)."

Brad Reithmeyer finished "This track is really racy, that's what makes it so good for the fans. My guys ... I have thank all my guys down there, they worked really really hard all day today. We kept changing things. I want to thank Diamond Pistons, Calico Coatings, Trend Performance ... Crunch N Nutter... go to your local Menards and pick up some Crunch N Nutter. I can't thank them enough for everything. I want to thank Bob (Fox) for giving me this opportunity to drive his car, it's fun and exciting," said the driver from Mooresville, N.C., who prior to racing Bob's car had never driven an outlaw late model (but in his defense, there's not a lot of outlaw late models outside of the tri state area, everywhere else in the country it's template lates, like the CRA cars). "I've only driven template late models, and the outlaws are a different animal, but fun to drive. It was fun coming from the back today.... wish I didn't have to do that, might've got second or third. I don't think we had anything for th 71 car (Harold Fair Jr.) but we'll get them next time."

Justin Schroeder, who won the 100 lapper earlier this year at Flat Rock. "We just never loosened up. The car was really good. Usually it loosens up for us and didn't loosen up for us tonight ... but it was still not a bad run for us. We're still learning this car. We haven't been able to keep it under us, loose-wise, and tonight it wouldn't loosen up. I have to thank my crew. They work their butts off ... I work them to death, we just didn't get the results we wanted tonight. Happy for everyone and happy for Stevie (Cronenwett) for getting a good finish. I also want to thank his sister Talia, I didn't hit him tonight, so it's good there. Overall it was a good night for us... glad to be racing with Paul (Pelletier), Stevie, Eric (Lee) and Harold (Fair Jr.), we all raced clean and raced hard together. Thought I had a chance to get Harold there, but too early to push it. I want to thank my sponsors. ABC Plumbing, G. Michael Kabot Orthodontics, Glass Unlimited, Victory Racing Parts, JMS Graphics and thanks to Flat Rock Speedway for having us."

B main:

It's been three years since Jeff MacZink has raced a late model, although during that time he's raced a ARCA REMAX series race. "I asked my wife what she wanted to do for her birthday and she said, "Let's go racing", so I have to give this to my wife. It was fun out there... this is like a home to me, it's where I first started racing and I love this place to death, it's awesome. We weren't able to make the 150, but it is my first late model feature win. I want to thank my sponsors Parkway and Downriver Textured Ceilings for coming aboard and give us some money for tires for the car we wouldn't be here."

There were 34 cars in the pits but only 32 were able to race. Jimmy Ward Jr. and Don St. Denis had problems during practice and were unable to compete.

Defending Gold Cup champion Scott Hantz won one of the two consi races. Terry Boguz won the other consi.

According to Race Monitor, Fair Jr. finished 2.803 seconds ahead of Pelletier and the race took 1 hour, 12 minutes and 37.374 seconds to run.

The Figure 8s also ran. Dennis Whisman won the feature. "I got where I needed to go tonight. It took a little while... Man I'll tell you what, that was a heck of a race, cars going all over the place, a little battle with Jeremy (Vanderhoof). I'm just glad we won. This car we're really getting the hang of it and it's really working good. I want to thank my whole crew ... Howard, Jim, Richie, Sam, the whole crew. We couldn't do it without them, we're just getting better and better each week.

Catching up on the last few weeks.

Congratulations go out to Aaron Greathouse who won his first career Street Stock B Main. "I'd like to thank Dan Dow, Tim and Rob Moore, Rob Lidel for all the help they have given me and my Mother and my girlfriend Chelsea. I don't have any sponsor's this season I've been running completely out of pocket.

And the same day, Rich Frantz won his first feature since August 2012 (he won two races that year). “ The car was flat out awesome. I was actually surprised how good it was the first few laps, so I kept running it harder. The margin we won by was in no way any indication of the quality of drivers and equipment we were racing against. EVERYONE is tough. We just had one of those races that don’t come around very often, and it didn’t hurt to start on the pole. It was nice to get a win in my final season. It was a goal of mine. I just wanna thank my whole crew – Nick, Ron, Josh, Jake, Shannon, and Courtney. This is a family deal and always has been. And I need to thank Sherry for her patience with me when things don’t go well. Also, a big shout out to my sponsors, Playoff’s Sports Bar & Grill, Rose’s Head & Engine, Royal Truck and Trailer, 1 Stop Speed Shop, and Eagle Graphics and Design.”

Jeffrey Kurzyniec finished fourth in the B Main on July 12. It was his career best finish in a feature. He also got a new sponsor for his #72, G & L Mac Tool Truck.

Welcome back to Parker Wade in the Figure 8s, he returned after a seven year absence (2007 if I'm wrong let me know because that date came from someone else).

Congrats to the Triple 50 winners on July 12, Stevie Cronenwett (Late Models), Corey Duane (Street Stock A division), Aaron Greathouse (Street Stock B division) and Dennis Whisman (Figure 8). Also to winners July 19 Rich Frantz (Street Stock A division) and Billy Earley (Figure 8).

Can't forget the Toledo drivers either on July 11 Dakota Carleson (Gold Cup Late Models), Ron Allen (Sportsman), Tom O'Leary IV (X cars) ... July 18 Howard Kelley Jr. (Sportsman), Robbie Loving (Figure 8), Tom O'Leary IV (X cars). If you send me a note when you win with your sponsors I'll add those too.

Missed any of the races this past weekend? Want to watch it again. Visit Mike Miller's U-tube page: www.youtube.com/user/10yearnascarfan/videos ... If you have Google Chromecast the U-tube races are great on your TV.