EVERAGE NOTCHES FLAT ROCK WIN
EVERAGE NOTCHES FLAT ROCK WIN
Flat Rock, MI—May 28, 2016: Craig Everage made the trip from Angola, IN a good one Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. Everage out-dueled Jimmy Thiel in a great side by side battle in the closing laps to grab the win in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature. Billy Earley, Greg Studt, Rich Abel and Troy Brehmer were also victorious in their respective features on Autograph Night and Racing Fan Club Night. A late afternoon rain hit the track at the start of practice, but the surface dried quickly as the autograph session and race program was completed.
The start of the 50 lap Late Model contest saw Jimmy Thiel dart into the lead. Thiel ran strong out front as Craig Everage began to work his way up to do battle with the leader. Everage, the Moran Chevrolet Fast Qualifier (11:611), drew a 4 for the inversion and began to apply the pressure, using the outside lane. Jimmy was strong out front, but a lap 39 red flag stopped the action when Joe Hawes and Jason LaDuke tangled in turn one. On the restart, the lead duo ran door to door in an exciting show. At lap 42, Everage nosed slightly ahead, again, in the outside groove. Thiel pushed his machine to the brink and would not let the new leader breathe easy. On lap 47, Everage finally slid by after 8 laps of door to door racing with Thiel to take the win, his first-ever at Flat Rock. Craig dedicated the win to his father, who passed away last summer. Craig also won the “Mystery Bonus”, which added an additional $400 to his night. The Mystery bonus now re-sets to $100 for the June 11 race, which is an award posted by an anonymous donor that has a number drawn before the feature race. That number was 4 Saturday, Everage’s starting spot. If the driver in that starting spot wins, he collects the bonus.
Thiel’s brilliant run brought him home second, Bob Varney continued his impressive first season at the track with a third, Frankie Jiovani came home fourth and Stan Yee Jr. was fifth, followed by Michael Simko, Matt Bullock, Corey Duane, Paul Pelletier and Jeff Vrsek. First-time visitor Jeremy Holbrook made the trip from the Cleveland, OH area and finished 13th while picking up the Moran Chevrolet Hard Charger bonus in the process.
Billy Earley led every lap on his way to the 7-Up Winner’s Circle with the win in the 20 lap ARCA Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8 main event. Earley, with a pair of runner-up finishes in the first 2 events, made sure it was his turn to grab the checkered flag as he sailed to a win over Jeremy Miller, Dennis Whisman Sr., Dan Apperson, Dennis Whisman Jr., David Katafiasz, Randy Roberts and Ricky Ferrell. Rookie Travis Earley encountered mechanical trouble and did not start. While Billy Earley motored out front, Whisman Sr. and Miller staged a great battle for second spot. Billy also posted the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time at 21:072.
The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock class tuned up for their big 100 lap contest next week, as Greg Studt became the 3rd different winner in 3 events by claiming top honors in the 25 lap A Main feature race. Scott Selmi took command of the event on the green flag, as Studt quickly moved from his 3rd starting spot to take the lead on lap 5. Greg stayed in control as he took the win over Guy Fire, Selmi, Arnold Kirsch, Nick Shanks, Ray Morneau Jr., Rob Moore, Kyle Worley, Craig Lange and Rob Randa. Rich Abel made it 3 for 3 with his win in the 15 lap B Main, edging out Wilburn Parks for the “W”. Jeffrey Kurzyniec, Don Roberts, Ian Jezylo, Justin Rodriguez and Adam Jezylo were next in line at the finish. Landon Schuster set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time at 13:578, but broke a suspension part early in the feature to end his night. Parks led the B field at 14:253.
Toledo, OH driver Troy Brehmer was strong all night as he captured the re-scheduled Monroe News 250 lap Enduro feature (rained out May 14) over a field of 31 drivers. Several drivers took turns leading in the very quick initial laps. Troy, the second fastest qualifier behind pole winner Jeff Braun (14:466), got to the front in the first 40 laps and stayed in command the entire distance. The race was slowed by just a handful of red flags (there are no yellows in the Enduro race) for safety matters. Jimmy Tucker was second, Derrick Sheppard third, Robb Remick fourth and Braun fifth. Paul Martell, Brandon Swanson, Kyle Metdepenningen, Dave Bennett and Nathan Sprotberry rounded out the top ten finishers.
Saturday, June 4 Corrigan Race Fuels presents the Street Stock 100 lap feature event, the biggest race of the season for the class at Flat Rock Speedway! The event pays $1000 to the winner. A 25 lap B Main is also scheduled, in addition to full race programs for the Figure 8’s and the ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman cars, who will be making the first of 2 appearances at the track this season.
June 4 is also the re-scheduled Kids Night! Kids to age 12 will be admitted FREE and receive a FREE hot dog! Parents will need to pick up the kids tickets at the track on race day when the gates open at 4 p.m. The pit area opens at 2, practice begins at 4, time trials are at 5:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m.
