Flat Rock Speedway

This year was the year of the first time winner or at least their first win in this division. Jeremy Vanderhoof is the only driver to win a championship in the same division (it was his fourth championship at Toledo in the Figure 8 division). Billy Earley (Flat Rock Figure 8) and Robb Remick (Enduro) have had co championship, but not stand alone championships. Landon Schuster, Matt Ringger and Greg Studt have won ARCA championships in other divisions than in 2015.

A word from our champions and rookie of the years. Congrats to everyone!

Super Late Model Champion, Justin Schoeder

"Thank you to all of my sponsors; Dr. G Michael Kabot Orthodontics, Glass Unlimited, ABC Plumbing, Victory Racing Parts, Professional Home Cleaning and Roger's Pool and Spa. I also, thank you to My Mom and Dad, my wife Brittany, Chris, Austin, Uncle David, Aunt Dawn, and Grandpa. It was a very good year. We are looking forward to traveling more next year."

Justin started in go-karts when he was 8-years old. He started in street stocks at flat rock. Street stock rookie of the year at flat rock in 2004. Late Model rookie of the year in 2006.  He has also won the 100 and the 150.

Super Late Model Rookie of the Year, Corey Duane

An interesting thing about Corey. In 2013 he won the Street Stock Rookie of the Year and this year the Late Model Rookie of the year. I don't have any stats whether this has ever happened before, but it may be the first time.

"2015 was definitely a learning experience. We had some growing pains throughout the year, but in the end it was definitely a successful season, and being able to say we won rookie of the year is an honor. It's not possible without our great sponsors, Duanes Road Runners, Rodgers Automotive, LimeLight Motorsports, and my team Lindsay, Lenny, Will, Nate, Paul, Justin, Pops, and Brian" Said the driver of the CMD racing 46.

Street Stock A division, Landon Schuster

This is the second championship for Landon. He won the 2010 Factory Stock championship at Toledo.

I want to thank my dad first of all for all the hours he works on the car, I couldn't be where I am today without his help, he has taught me so much! I also want to thank all of the guys who have helped me this year on the car Paul, Mike, Dave, Don, Norm, you guys have all helped me a ton with the car and getting us to be a front runner each week! My wife has helped so much to make sure everything is taken care of so I can put the necessary time into the car, she is a huge supporter! My mom is my biggest fan and helped me so much too in getting through the tough stretches of this year! All of my sponsors who help fund my season, UA Local 50, Georgia Cable and Boring, D&S Boring, Complete Refrigeration, Josephs Beverage Center, Rockys Body Shop, and Nick Carroll, we would not be able to run the way we do without these guys! I also had a good luck charm all season, my beautiful baby girl! She is the greatest thing in this world and has made my life complete, her smile alone added to my season! Thank you to everyone who has supported us through the adversity this year, we know we had to work for this championship and nothing was given to us, it has made it that much better.

Street Stock B division, Jeffrey Kurzyniec

I just wanted to thank everyone that has helped out this season, it has really been a year of learning and finding out who I can get help from. First I want to thank my dad (Jeff) he has helped me from day one of getting this car and this season he was only able to get to the track two times to help because of family health reasons. I really appreciate everything he has helped me with from the advice to the late nights in the garage and parts for the car and everything in between. I also want to thank my wife Jessica for putting up with all the time away from her and our new baby while I was at the track or in the garage working on the car until all hours of the night. With having our first child I planned on only running five or six nights ... never figured I would have a shot at winning a championship ... luckily that's the way the chips fell and I got lucky enough to win it. I also want to thank the Frantz family for all the help this season Ron put a setup on the car and when it didn't work we started from scratch and went with something new. Rich Frantz four supplying the tires from last season that went on the car all this year. Nick Frantz for coming and helping when there was nobody available. I'd also like to thank all my fellow racers for giving all kinds of advice and help at the track and also all the fans for coming and supporting short track racing  ... without them there would be no reason for any of us be at the track. Finally I would like to thank my sponsors for the help this year G & L Mac Tools and Parkway Promotions LLC.

Flat Rock Figure 8, Billy Earley

Billy was also the co-champion Figure 8 champion in 2009 with Dennis Whisman. Of the drivers either that were co-championship or winning a championship in a different division, his was the farthest apart (six season, Landon Schuster's was five)

I'm thankful for the opportunity to be able to race. I would like to thank my dad, Gary and his wife Terri, for if it weren't for their support it wouldn't be possible. Also I would like to thank Steve and Julie Bunge of B and H Race Parts for their sponsorship and friendship during the past few years. Steve is always available and willing to "tweek" things when needed. I want to thank my wife, Crissy and 3 kids, Travis, Kelsey and Kylee for their help and support. Travis has been a lot of help wrenching on the car and getting it ready in the garage and at the track. He is my right hand man and garage buddy. My girls are daddy's biggest fans and refuse to miss any of my races. I would also like to thank the rest of the family or "cheer-leading squad" as I calls it. My sisters, Brenda, Karen, Melissa, Heather and all of my nieces and nephews for their encouragement and support. Also, to the fans that come and cheer me on, the ones that meet me on the track during autograph session, THANK YOU! Without the fans, friends and family, it wouldn't be as much fun. I'm humbled by my 2015 Championship and is looking forward to another fun-filled season in 2016. See you there!"

Toledo Factory Stocks, Matt Ringger

Matt also was the 2012 Enduro champion.

It's been a great season, and what a great crowd on hand see all the champions  crowned.  I would like to thank my Mom, Dad, Brian Ringger, Justin Zapko, Nick Trombley, Paul Young, Mike Young, and and everyone else who helped me along the way.  Can't wait to do it all again next year!

Toledo Late Model Sportsman, Mike Young

Yes this year was pretty awesome us being on top from opening night till the end. We had a 70 point lead going into the night and lost five in qualify and then regained five in the heat, so was 70 going to the feature. I was supposed to start fourth but (Kevin) Stahl scratched so started third and was just gonna follow Ron (Allen) and Jim (Froling) till the end but that didn't go our way. On lap one we lost a cylinder so ran on 7 (cylinders) and limped it for 40 laps, counting laps and cars, at the same time only needed to finished 13th if Jim won. I didn't think we were gonna finished 6th but we did.

Landon (Schuster) and I had been friends for the last five years. What's is awesome we both won rookie of the year in 2011 together me in sportsman and him in street stocks and now both of us winning the championship together ... Me and my dad working with Landon and his dad Mark getting his car rollin' and going to the front and getting him trust in the car that it's there has to trust in himself more and the car ... And now with him being a father I think that pumped him up even more.

I want to thank Chubbys American Grill, Todd Guns, Rays Door Service, ABC Countertops, Jugs Bowling Center, Dave White Chevrolet, Denny's Time Out Tavern, X Factor Racing Photos, Harts Machine Shop, Re Suspension. Ron Koles, Bill & Chris Cremean, Glass City Collision, CGS Imaging, Ron Miller Race Cars, Howe Racing Chassis, Hydro Technology.

Toledo X car, Greg Studt

Greg Studt won the X-car Championship and has done something at Toledo that no one to my knowledge has done ... he has won a championship on all three of Toledo's track's, the half mile, the Figure 8 and quarter mile. How cool is that? He won the Late Model Championship in 2005, Figure 8 championships in 2001 and 2004 and then the X-car championship this year. This is based on the champions list on Toledo's website.

Toledo, Rookie of the year X Cars, Mike Miller

When I first purchased my car I never would have imagined being able to run a full season, let alone winning X car rookie of the year, not to mention finishing top 10 in both factory stocks and the enduro series. I've had a lot of help this season and I can not thank all of you enough, from my sponsors, and various people/crew members that helped me all year. Affordable transmission, Big 4 Auto Parts, Tony's Tires, Budget Tire Co., JMS Graphics, Rich Lee, Justin Schroeder, Ken Heebsh, Anthony Camilli, Pete Shrake, Thomas Elmore, Carl Dickey, but in the end none of this is possible with out the guidance from Tom O'Leary III, Tom O'Leary IV, and Howard Kelly.

For anyone that missed any races this year, visit Mike's YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-4DvaOjvo9yImaKMaA8sBw

Flat Rock/Toledo Enduro, Robb Remick (thanks Jeff Maran for the email for all the teams he 'consults' with)

Troy (Brehmer) a rough start to the year, losing a power steering pump in the first race and a motor in the third race. Two DNFs out of five killed his championship hopes. I am not the owner or crew chief, he does it all on his own. I have helped him a little in the past with engine problems and chassis set up. When it comes to troy I don't know what I would call myself, I have had my hands in his car but he does most of his own work. I'm more like the back board he bounces questions off of. I think he started racing at Toledo in 99 or 2000. maybe Enduro's in 2002.

Rob Remick won the championship, Rick Bennett finished second in points and Troy finished fifth.

This and that:

From Eight time late model champion/three time Gold Cup champion, Dennis Strickland: As I stated on Facebook Rand Thompson surprised us at the ARCA Banquet with a poster size picture

Of our 2015 car and sixty autographs on it from fellow racing competitors and ARCA officials wishing us well as we start trending toward retiring from racing. Tina and I have dedicated our lives to racing as so many of us that love the sport do. When we got home after the Banquet we took a good look at some of the comments and people who autographed the picture, we realized how blessed we are having many friends that we consider our racing family, we say racing family because that what these people are to us, we spent almost every weekend every summer with the same group of people for many years, sounds like what family's do to me... anyways we want Rand and everyone who took the time to autograph the picture to know that it will always be one of our prized possessions.  Tina and I are finding out firsthand how hard it is to stop racing cold turkey, I've been racing since I was 19 years old and driving race cars since 1984 believe me you just don't stop racing cold turkey, thank goodness I have the opportunity to drive one of Baileys cars next year, I know that someday it will be my last time in a race car but at least as of now that day has not come yet.

Chris Diovardi finished ninth, his best points finish since he began racing in 2004. Chris would like to thank his sponsors Quality Tool & Gear, Modified Gear & Spline, Ball Shanaman & Tenorio, and Feinn Tire.

2012 Street Stock B division champion, Don Roberts, also had his career best points finish, 10th. He also won the Street Stock move up award this season.

And from our first year driver, Clarity Newhouse. It's very unusual for a driver to start racing in Late Models, but Clarity did and had a very good rookie season. Thanks Clarity for sending me something on your first year of racing.

After a fun rookie season racing the #8 Super Late Model at Flat Rock Speedway, it’s been a busy offseason for Clarity Newhouse Racing. In September and October, Clarity Newhouse and teammate Karen Matelic taught 35 Race Car Mobile Science Lab classes at 13 different schools. The Race Car Mobile Science Lab educational program was developed by Clarity Newhouse Racing in collaboration with Quick Lane of Plymouth at Blackwell Ford.

The team made the effort to bring the #8 race car directly to the schools so students could enjoy a hands-on learning experience as Clarity and Karen taught them about the science of racing and the importance of studying science in school.

“We want to help students discover that science is fun, exciting and relevant in the world around them, not just in class,” said Clarity. “Hopefully some of the 5,000+ students we met will take a greater interest in pursuing science or engineering careers.”

It looks like the team is making a difference, based on the hundreds of enthusiastic letters they’ve received from students who attended their classes, like Rylyn who wrote, “You are very inspiring and I am thankful for this learning experience.” Morgan wrote, “Since your visit I have taken more of an interest in engineering and science.” Gia wrote, “I thought your presentation was a fun learning resource and you showed how engineering goes into everyday life!”

Clarity also loves collecting the many drawings of cars she’s received from students. “This fall all my free time went into the Race Car Mobile Science Lab,” said Clarity. “While challenging logistically, it’s also been very rewarding and enjoyable interacting with students from kindergarten all the up to 12th grade. The next race season will be here soon and I’m looking forward to racing more tracks and teaching more classes in 2016.”

This year Clarity enjoyed racing with teammate Steve Cronenwett Jr., and next year the team is expanding to also include Tom Cronenwett driving the #97 Super Late Model, formerly Clarity’s #8, and Karen Matelic driving Street Stock for the first time. Clarity is in the process of acquiring a new race car. More details about the team’s plans will be announced in January online at www.Facebook.com/ClarityNewhouseRacing.

Clarity Newhouse Racing is sponsored by Quick Lane of Plymouth at Blackwell Ford, Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, Sunny Media Group and JD Racing Indoor Karting. The team is grateful for their support and looks forward to another exciting year ahead.