Flat Rock Speedway

(FLAT ROCK, Mich. – August 7, 2014) – Flat Rock Speedway has hosted some of the biggest names in auto racing during its 60-year history. A new chapter of big names will hit the track Saturday, August 16 when a couple of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers visit the track – along with a star-studded lineup - for the ARCA/CRA Super Series 7UP 125.

NASCAR team Front Row Motorsports teammates David Ragan and David Gilliland will be at the speedway, with Ragan in competition, while Gilliland will sign autographs. Gilliland will also be keeping a watchful eye on his son, Todd, who will also compete in the 125-lap feature on the quarter-mile, paved oval.

“I’ve been to Flat Rock several times as a spectator and it’s a very, very cool little racetrack,” Ragan said.

“We’re going to make a little trip over to Flat Rock and hopefully have some fun in my late model car. My dad’s raced there; I’ve watched some racing there, but I’ve never made any laps.”

Ragan, the winner of the 2013 Talladega 500, has visited Flat Rock to sign autographs in the past. Gilliland will be signing autographs on Aug. 16 while watching is son, Todd, compete in the race. Todd, 14, won a late model race at the age of 13 and has been competing this year at tracks around the country.

Ragan’s entry in the 7UP 125 has just added to the star power in the lineup at Flat Rock, and one of several connections to NASCAR and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Ross Kenseth, son of NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Matt Kenseth, is battling for the ARCA/CRA Super Series point title and will be at Flat Rock to keep that going. Kenseth is currently in second-place in the standings behind Travis Braden, winner last week at Columbus Motor Speedway.

Kenseth, 21, is from Little Chute, Wisc., but, moved to Michigan this year to be closer to his race team and to run the full season in the ARCA/CRA series.

His dad, Matt, is a big supporter of his son’s racing ventures and attended the ARCA/CRA race at Lucas Oil Raceway last month when Ross raced. Matt, of course, will be in the area because of the NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway that same weekend. When Kenseth made his ARCA Racing Series debut last year at Madison International Speedway, his father flew to Wisconsin after his Sprint Cup race to watch the race and serve as a color commentator on the ARCA television broadcast.

Michigan drivers expected for the Flat Rock event include current Flat Rock Late Model driver Stan Yee Jr. (Roseville), Eric Lee (Macomb Township), 2013 Flat Rock Late Model champion Dennis Strickland (Carleton) and Brian Campbell (Wyoming).

Series career win leader Scott Hantz has won both of the ARCA/CRA 7UP 125 events held at Flat Rock the past two years. Ali Kern, from Fremont, Ohio, finished second last year at Flat Rock, and is entered.

Braden, who has been fast qualifier for two years running in the ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Flat Rock, is entered in the 7UP 125.

Another entry is J.J. Haley, who earlier this year became the youngest driver to ever compete and win a pole in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

The ARCA/CRA drivers will host an autograph session for fans in front of the main grandstand at approximately 6:30 p.m.

In addition to the 7UP 125, the track’s ARCA Praxair Figure 8’s and the DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will also be in action on the August 16 race schedule.

Practice will begin at 3:30 for the ARCA/CRA cars, followed by Figure 8 and Street Stock practice. Time trials begin at 5:30, the autograph session is set for 6:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m. All tickets will go on sale race day at 3:30 p.m. 

- By Doug Donnelly, arcaracing.com