Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI—July 11, 2015:  Flat Rock Speedway’s annual Triple 50’s and Fireworks show brought out a large and enthusiastic crowd to the track Saturday night, and they were treated to an outstanding race program and the Fireworks finale’.  Royal Truck and Trailer served as the title sponsor, with the night presented by the Monroe News.  The Monroe Superstore Fireworks show capped off the evening, marking the 35^th consecutive season of pyrotechnics at the track with the Anetzberger family in charge of the fireworks show.  Carl Bumgardner of Royal presented trophies to the winners.  Spc. Danny Greenwood, who just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan, was introduced to the crowd and received a huge ovation.

With features only on the race card Saturday, the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models hit the track first for their 50 lap contest.  An excellent field of 25 cars were on hand, with Harold Fair Jr. setting quick time at 11:778.  Harold pulled a 3 for the inversion, putting Frankie Jiovani on the front row with Derek Wiley.  Jiovani got the jump and the first 46 laps went without a yellow!  Traffic was tough throughout the event.  Steve Cronenwett Jr. came from 4th spot and took the lead from Frankie on lap 23.  Steve built up a comfortable lead, Jiovani maintained second spot, while the battle for third was fierce.  Wiley, Fair Jr., Dennis Strickland, Justin Schroeder and Scott Hantz were in the thick of things, looking for a gap to move up.  At lap 45, Fair Jr. and Hantz tangled coming out of turn 4, which brought out the first yellow and erasing Cronenwett’s lead.  With the double-file restart, Jiovani climbed the bank on the outside lane and the duo came to the green for a perfect side by side start.  Frankie edged out front as the pair raced door to door.  With 2 to go, the orange #45 edged out front as Jiovani took control and scored the exciting victory.  Cronenwett held off a big charge by Schroeder to take second, Wiley was fourth and Dennis Strickland fifth, followed by Paul Pelletier, Stan Yee Jr., Tadek Stadniczuk, Jeff Vrsek and Craig Everage.  Lap money sponsor for all 50 laps was courtesy of American Sanitation of Carleton.

The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock 50 lap main event followed in similar fashion as the 25 car field went all-green flag for the initial 42 laps.  Early leader Steve Cronenwett Sr. set the pace in his #07, with the battle to move up through the field becoming very competitive.  Landon Schuster challenged Steve for the lead and took control as the race counted down to the final laps.  The lap 42 yellow bunched the field, setting up the first of 3 re-starts as fender to fender, paint-trading battles went on.  Rob Moore, who was closing the gap on Landon before the first yellow, challenged first for the top spot.  Scott Selmi and finally Tim Moore battled Schuster for the lead on the other re-starts, but Landon stayed on the point and grabbed the win over Selmi, Tim Moore, Cronenwett Sr., Kyle Worley, Nick Shanks, Rob Moore, Lonnie York, Joe Haener and Chris DIovardi.  Selmi set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 13:613.  Sterling Printing and Graphics of Sterling Heights and Total Flow Products of Troy donated the lap money for the Street Stock event.

3 drivers took turns leading the ARCA Praxair Figure 8-50 lap feature race, which was filled with wild intersection traffic and near-misses as the crowd screamed and closed their eyes!  Rookie Jacob Lee led the charge at the green, with Jeremy Miller applying the pressure.  The youngster Lee held the point for about the first dozen laps as he slid sideways through the corners.  Miller was right on his bumper, but Lee looped his car into the infield grass, giving Miller no place to go.  Jeremy also spun, allowing Greg Studt to motor by and pick up the number 1 spot.  Studt then battled Jeremy Vanderhoof and Billy Earley for the lead, as Vanderhoof snuck by and sailed to the checkered flag.  Studt held on for second, Robbie Loving got to third at the stripe, Earley was fourth and Dennis Whisman fifth, followed by Scott Apperson, Parker Wade, David Katafiacz, Randy Roberts and Miller.  Vanderhoof posted the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time at 20:889 on the Figure 8 track.  A & M Transmission of Flat Rock contributed the lap money for all 50 laps.

Saturday, July 18 Santa Claus pays a visit to Flat Rock Speedway for the annual NASH ICON 98.3 Radio Christmas in July prize giveaway.  The rescheduled Glass Unlimited Autograph Night will also take place.  Fans can walk onto the track and meet the drivers when the autograph session begins at 6:15.  Both an adult and kid’s prize drawing will take place.  Fans can enter the drawing upon entering the track Saturday night.

The pit area opens at 2, practice begins at 3:30, time trials go at 5, the on-track autograph session is at 6:15 and racing begins at 7 p.m.  4 divisions of race cars will be in action, as the Michigan Legends Cars join the track’s Moran Chevrolet Late Models, Praxair Figure 8’s and DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks at ”The Rock”.