BAIZE SAILS TO 7-UP 125 WIN AT FLAT ROCK
BAIZE SAILS TO 7-UP 125 WIN AT FLAT ROCK
Flat Rock, MI—August 15, 2015: 17 year-old Hunter Baize grabbed the victory in the 7-Up 125 lap feature for the ARCA/CRA Super Series powered by Jeg’s Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. The Bremen, KY rising star captured his second win of 2015 on the tour. Billy Earley, Kyle Worley and James Pankow captured the weekly division features on a warm evening.
Baize, starting from the pole, led every lap for the stock-bodied Late Model Series, but the youngster withstood several challenges from Brian Campbell and Dan Leeck in the closing laps on his way to the win. A pair of quick yellows early in the event slowed things, but an 86 lap stretch of green flag racing allowed Baize to secure his lead. Campbell worked the high side and ran door to door with the leader for many laps, but Hunter was strong in the low groove and maintained the lead. At lap 50, the top five were Baize, Campbell, Leeck, fast qualifier Grant Quinlan (12:154) and Jordan Pruitt. Scott Hantz, starting 10th, stayed in the second groove and steadily moved up to 6th spot. The yellow finally re-appeared on lap 93 when Hantz looped his car in turn 2. Scott dove into the pits for service and did not lose his spot as only 6 cars were on the lead lap at that point in the event.
On the double-file restart, Campbell again stayed up top and worked hard to get by Baize. Brian would nose out front just a bit for several laps, only to have the #13 of Baize take back the point at the stripe. Leeck took advantage of the restart and climbed into contention, getting to second by staying under Campbell at lap 118. Dan then tucked in on the bumper of the leader, but could not pull off a move to go for the victory. Baize grabbed the win, with Leeck second, Campbell third and Hantz fourth, with fifth spot going to Pruitt. Quinlan, Ali Kern, Mark Lambert, Wes Griffith Jr. and Eddie VanMeter completed the top ten.
Billy Earley led every lap as he notched the win in the 20 lap ARCA Praxair Figure 8 feature contest of the night. Greg Studt stayed within a car length for much of the race and kept the pressure on Billy. A lap 13 red flag came out when Race Loving and David Katafiasz crashed at the intersection. The incident also collected Parker Wade. All drivers were ok, but the wreck ended Race’s night. Earley took off on the restart and had enough to take the win over Studt, Jeremy Miller, Robbie Loving, Dennis Whisman, Dennis Whisman Jr., Randy Roberts, Katafiasz, Wade, Jacob Lee, Race Loving and Scott Apperson. Earley set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time at 21:167. Miller and Lee took the heat race wins.
A pair of multi-car accidents and a 3-wide finish highlighted the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main feature. The 9 car inversion put Kyle Worley on the pole and Craig Lange on the outside for the green flag. Worley stayed out front as great pack racing by 7 cars in tight formation battled behind the leader. The incidents bunched the field for the restarts, and on the final one Landon Schuster was able to gain ground on the outside groove. Landon moved to second with 5 laps to go and ran door to door with Worley coming to the white flag. As the duo entered turn 4 side by side and Guy Fire tucked in low, Worley’s car drifted high and the duo banged fenders, with Schuster tagging the front-stretch wall coming to the checkered flag. Worley just edged out Schuster for the win. Landon’s car came to a stop by the turn 1 gate up against the wall. Fire, back in the Street Stock class for the first time this year, was a very close third. Greg Studt was fourth and Scott Selmi fifth, followed by James Hazlett, Rob Randa, Tim Moore, Lange and Ray Morneau Jr.
The 15 lap Street Stock B Main got off to a rocky start as Gary Calhoun got crossed up in the back chute and collected Adam Jezylo in the process, ending both of their nights. Jeffery Kurzyniec took the lead on the start, but William Lauria steamed by for the lead. Lauria sailed along out front but James Pankow, in a new ride, reeled in the leader and took the lead with 2 to go on his way to the win. Lauria and Kurzyniec were next in line at the finish. Pankow also captured the heat win for the B cars. Rob Moore, Morneau Jr. and Ian Jezylo took the A Main heats. Selmi led the 27 car field and posted the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 13:612. Pankow led the B cars at 14:374.
The biggest race of the year for the DTS Street Stocks will take place next Saturday, August 22 at Flat Rock Speedway. The Corrigan Race Fuels 100 lap feature is on tap. This will be the third attempt to run the race, as rain moved the event to next Saturday night.
It’s also Harris Mechanical Kids Night and Autograph Night! ALL kids to age 12 will be admitted FREE and receive a FREE hot dog! Fans can walk onto the track and meet the drivers at 6:15 p.m. The entire race schedule will have the pit gates open at 2:30, practice begins at 4, time trials are at 5:30, the on-track autograph session is at 6:15 and racing begins at 7 p.m.
In addition to the 100 lap event, a B Main for the Street Stocks is also planned, along with a full race card for the Praxair Figure 8’s and exhibition races by the TKC Kart Club. The night will be capped off with the Flag Pole Race! ALL tickets will go on sale race day at the track at 4 p.m. Parents should pick up the children’s tickets at the ticket office upon arrival to the track Saturday.