Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI—July 18, 2015:  Steve Cronenwett Jr., Scott Selmi and Dustin Sword captured their respective features on Glass Unlimited Autograph Night presented by NASH ICON 98.3 Radio.  The Figure 8 feature got caught in the rain and wiped out their main event.  That race will be made up next Saturday night.  Walter Krause of Glass Unlimited presented the trophies and bonus money to the victors.  Holly Morris sang the National Anthem.

The track also held their annual Christmas in July prize giveaway, with Santa Claus doling out the prizes to the race fans.  Racing Fan Club Night was also part of the evening’s festivities.  The Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club selected Late Model driver Frankie Jiovani as the recipient of a club helmet bag, while the Dayton Auto Racing Fan Club provided a club T-shirt to the feature winners.

A total of 27 ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models were on hand for the final tune-up before next Saturday’s Moran Chevrolet-Stan Yee Memorial 150.  Angola, IN driver Craig Everage posted fast time at 11:878.  The field was tremendously close, as the top 15 cars were separated by just 2/10 of a second.  With an inversion of 6, Steve Cronenwett Jr. and Justin Schroeder brought the field to the green flag.  The duo ran door to door for several laps until Steve nosed out front.  The only yellow of the race came out on lap 18, bunching the field.  Justin again applied the pressure on the outside lane on the restart, but Cronenwett edged into the lead.  The next 32 laps were at a very quick pace.  As Steve stretched his lead, Brad Riethmeyer made an incredible charge to the front.  Brad slid under Schroeder in the final 10 laps and made up a bunch of yardage in pursuit of the leader, but Cronenwett had enough to grab the win, his 2nd win of 2015 at Flat Rock.  Riethmeyer took second, Schroeder third, Everage fourth and Dennis Strickland fifth, followed by Jiovani, Derek Wiley, Paul Pelletier, Scott Pemberton and Jeff Vrsek.  Cronenwett Jr., Stan Yee Jr., Joe Hawes and rookie Clarity Newhouse took heat wins.  Clarity’s win was her initial checkered flag.

A great multi-car battle up front for the entire distance highlighted the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock feature race.  Scott Selmi came from 9^th spot, took the lead on lap 14 and held on for the victory.  Chris Diovardi led the first 4 laps until Craig Lange motored by for the lead.  Selmi moved up through the pack using both the low and high grooves on his way to the win.  Rob Moore was on Selmi’s bumper at the stripe for second spot, Kyle Worley came from 23^rd with a tremendous drive to take an impressive third, Tim Moore was fourth and Nick Shanks came home fifth.  Rob Randa, Landon Schuster, Lange, Ray Morneau Jr. and Lonnie York completed the top ten finishers.  Selmi set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time at 13:679 for the 23 car field.  Lange, Worley and Ian Jezylo took the heat race wins. 

The Michigan Legends Car Series paid a visit to Flat Rock Saturday, with Dustin Sword holding off the challenges of Greg Rudzik to grab the 25 lap feature win.  Mitchell Huber, Tony Monge, Josh Indig, Mason Ludwig, John Hilliker, Rich Michalak, Lori Hall and Lyn Hall were next in line at the finish.  Hilliker and Sword captured the heat wins.

The ARCA Praxair Figure 8 division got 2 laps into their 20 lap contest when the rain and a huge bolt of lightning lit up the skies.  The red flag came out and the rain continued, which brought an end to the night of racing.  The “Motor City Madmen” will now run two features next Saturday night, July 25. The race will be a complete re-start.  In preliminary action, Greg Studt posted the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 21:079.  Dennis Whisman Sr. and Jacob Lee grabbed the heat race checkered flags.

Next up at Flat Rock Speedway is the prestigious Moran Chevrolet-Stan Yee Memorial 150, set for Saturday, July 25.  The race is leg number 5 of the 6-race Royal Truck and Trailer ARCA Late Model Gold Cup Series.  In addition to the 150, the Late Models will also run last-chance races and a 25 lap B Main, if the field is 32 cars or over.  Fans will also see two Figure 8 features!

A field of 25-35 cars is expected for this annual classic.  The race will award $2533 to the winner and $533 to start the contest.  Bonus awards include lap money at $5 per lap, which is now available by calling the track at 734-782-2480 or the Toledo Speedway office at 419-727-1100. 

An optional practice session is set for Friday evening, July 24 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.   The pit area will open at 3:30.  DTS Drive Train Specialists will sponsor a dinner for each pit pass purchaser after Friday’s practice session. 

Race day on Saturday will see the pit area opening at 1:30, practice begins at 3 p.m. and the front gates will also open at that time.  All tickets will go sale race day at 3 p.m.  Time trials begin at 5 and racing gets the green flag at 7 p.m.