BUSES AND MORE THRILL SELL-OUT FLAT ROCK CROWD

BUSES AND MORE THRILL SELL-OUT FLAT ROCK CROWD

BUSES AND MORE THRILL SELL-OUT FLAT ROCK CROWD

Flat Rock, MI—June 17, 2017: A sold-out house was treated to a great night of entertainment, culminating with the Lakeshore Utility Trailer Sales School Bus Figure 8 race Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. Dennis Whisman was the winner of the School Bus race, while Craig Everage, Billy Earley and Dave Lambert also grabbed checkered flags in their respective events.

The School bus race got wild quickly as Terry Smith rolled his bus just 2 laps into the event. AJ Padgett would also flop over after contact with another bus, and Smith ended the night when his bus almost got over, and then was tagged hard, actually knocking the body off the chassis! Whisman was the winner, with Chris Benson, Jack Franzil, Kyle Worley, Smith, Padgett and Billy Earley next in line. Bus sponsors were Lakeshore Utility Trailer Sales, Hop Culture, Sportway, Parts Galore, BM Collision, Budget Tire and Mobile Legal Services.

It was 20 years to the day that Angola, IN driver Craig Everage suffered burns on a large majority of his body. Craig told the story to the crowd in victory lane as he zipped to the win in the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature race. Joe Hawes took the lead at the green, while fellow front row starter Jeff Plumb dropped back a bit. Justin Schroeder’s 3-race win streak came to an end early as he exited when the rear end shifted in his machine. The one and only yellow flag flew at lap 16 when Dennis Strickland and Scott Pemberton tangled, giving Frankie Jiovani no place to go, damaging his machine enough to end his night. On the restart, Plumb began to edge up on Hawes, using the outside lane. Jeff got by and grabbed the lead, while Paul Pelletier slid under Hawes a few laps later to take second. Everage began to work the outside groove just before the half-way mark. Pelletier got by Plumb and was now the leader, as Everage, Jeff Vrsek and Steve Cronenwett Jr. began to move forward, all in the high groove. Craig reeled in Pelletier and finally got to the front as he took the victory, which included the $100 “Dented Fender Mystery Award” to the fast qualifier if he wins the race. Everage’s Moran Chevy fast time lap was at 11:696. Pelletier took second, Vrsek’s run got him to third, Plumb was fourth and Hawes fifth, followed by Stan Yee Jr., Tadek Stadniczuk, Cronenwett Jr., Tom Cronenwett and Chris Benson. Cronenwett Jr. had transmission trouble in the final laps, dropping him back at the finish. Jimmy Thiel, Stadniczuk and Tom Cronenwett captured the heat race wins.

Near-crashes at the intersection lap after lap and some great dicing for position was the name of the game for the 20 lap ARCA Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Figure 8 feature as defending track champ Billy Earley scored the win over a hard-charging Dennis Whisman Sr. Some mad scrambles saw a couple of cars spin through the intersection as everyone dodged the spinner and kept racing as the crowd roared. Rookie Joe Vanderhoof collected his best-ever finish with third, Greg Studt was fourth and Dennis Whisman Jr., fifth. Scott Apperson, Dave Lambert, Travis Earley, Ethen Lambert and Dan Apperson completed the top ten. Earley and Vanderhoof were the heat winners. Whisman Jr. set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 21.120.

Plenty of contact kept the crowd laughing as Dave Lambert edged out his son, John, to win the Boat Figure 8 contest. Bill Carberry, Jacob Thomas and Eugene Worden all lost their boats off the trailer with the assistance from the front end of the cars of their fellow competitors. With just 2 left, John let his Dad go by him and then tracked him down in the turn, slamming into Dave’s boat, and then careened off the boat and trailer and into the turn 1 gate, knocking off his trailer and boat as his Dad sped away with the “Barbie” boat still attached!

Dave also won the Flag Pole race over Whisman Jr., Whisman Sr., Thomas, Carberry, Worden, Mike Miller and John Lambert.

Saturday, June 24 Flat Rock Speedway plays host to the Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Michigan Figure 8 Championship for the ARCA Figure 8 class, which is also sponsored by Victory Lane. A 40 lap feature is on the race card. The ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman will compete in the 50 lap R & M Recycling Silver Cup Series race, while the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will also be in action.

The pits open at 2:30, practice is at 4, time trials at 5:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m. All tickets go on sale at 4 p.m. at the track—there is no advance sale for this race.

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