Flat Rock Speedway

Ron Allen, Street Stocks

Returning to Street Stock races after almost a 14-year absence was Ron Allen. He was in a car owned by Ray Grimm (who Ron drove for well beyond that 14-year absence).

Well not the finish last night we wanted at flat rock but had fun back in a SS had carb trouble during qualifying but fixed for the feature car was a lot better until an electrical problem ended my night ... new car blues, it happens. I want to thank Ray for giving me the opportunity to drive for him again and the crew was busy most of the night. Looking forward to getting behind the wheel again.

Justin Schroeder, Late Model winner

"This season has been a dream come true. When I got three (wins) I thought 'it would be cool to get another (win)'. It was a good race there, I didn't think I'd get Jimmy (Theil) … we rubbed a bit and he ran me up a little bit but that was good racing. The red flag at the end hurt me. I can't thank my guys, we work hard on this … we broke a part last race, a bird cage, a $100 part, we really had a car to contend last race. To come back after totally rebuilding the rear end underneath it, to come out like this is pretty awesome. That's the risk you take (passing). My dad's not here and he would've been screaming at me, he hates when I do that (dive low to pass). There was room behind me, so if they passed me, I'd be back where I was. It worked out for us. We had luck on our side because I think the 101 (Craig Everage) was just as good as us. It worked out in our favor… I want to thank my guys, and my sponsors: I want to thank Brian for being up on the box, my parents being out of town. This is the first time I've won when my parents weren't here. I'm glad to take the hardware home. My grandfather lost his house to a fire, a complete loss, a couple weeks ago and so I have some hardware for his mantle."

Terry Bogusz broke an axle sending him hard into the wall. "We were fighting the handling of the car all day from tight to loose, very inconsistent. Ended up breaking the left rear axle housing. All I could do is hold on, no steering or brakes. Finally stopped when I hit the wall. I am very sore mainly my neck and right side definitely the hardest hit I have ever took in a stock car. Just have to thank my crew, my sponsors and McColl racing chassis for all their support. Hoping to get the car fixed but probity done racing for the year. Really hurts a team like ours when we have a bad night racing and have to fix and replace major parts of the car." His sponsors are: Nichols Gantner Foundation, Lucido and Manzella, PC, Pit Stop Mobile, Romeo Ford, Shelving.com, Villa Penna, Solomon Group Reality, Diamond Pistons, Trend Performance, Superior Radiator, Ram Engineering, Traffic Light, Leslie Tire Service, All Star Performance, Five Star Bodies, Jomar Performance, McColl Racing Chassis, Eastern Michigan Distributors.

Jeff Metdepenningen, Street Stock A division winner

“The Good Lord is blessing me. I’ve got good help behind me. I’m just the guy that gets to drive it. I got a lot of good guys helping me. It was a rough day getting here. I blew a brake line on the truck going through an intersection, almost nailed someone. Frank came to the rescue and let me borrow his truck. We got here late … forgot my firesuit, so my wife had to hurry up and get it here. Man, this is a good one tonight," said the China Township, Mich., driver. "Thanks to Mike Miller and his videos (see below for link) the last race I learned I was going much too high … stay low, stay low …my crew and my brothers were telling me to stay low, so I tried to stay low and give them the outside. I want thank my crew. Last time, well both times, my wife, she wasn't here, and she wasn't sure if she was coming tonight … but she came, I won and she’s still my good luck charm.”

Miss any races this season or want to watch them all again, visit Mike Miller's YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/10yearnascarfan/videos

Rich Abel, Street Stock B division

Rich Abel won the Street Stock B division feature, "Chris (Diovardi) gave me a good run there. My back tire is so worn out, I'm sliding down the straightaway. But first, I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior for saving me and keeping me healhy and safe throughout the year. I got a little joke for you… when I was out driving, there were two spiders, what do they call those ones with the big legs … oh daddy long legs … there were two of them hopping on my dashboard and I was watching them. I'd like to thank the sponsors for sponsoring this race … 95 (Diovardi) he had a good car and he stayed with me and I thought I was going to lose in the last couple laps. We rubbed a little paint, but that's just racing, it's fun."

Jeremy Vanderhoof, Figure 8

"That was a fun one. Man, we have such a great car right now. We've been out four times and we've won three races. We got wrecked two weeks ago on the first lap and we had a great car that night so we probably would've got a good finish that night. I can't thank this guy (Rob Martell) enough … he gives me great equipment, keeps the tires on it keeps it going. I want to thank my uncle, cousin, family for everything they help me with. I want to thank you guys (fans) for coming out and supporting what we're doing.

Weekend of July 14-15

Keeping with our 2017 themes at Flat Rock, first time winners and people coming back to racing … Rob Moore Jr. won his first career Street Stock A division. Nearly two years ago, he won his first feature, the Street Stock B division feature … in his very first race.

Rob M

"I would like to thank my main sponsor A-Lot Sealcoat and Stripping for coming onboard with me this year. I would also like to thank DRC in Southgate, Dow Engines, my grandparents Dan and Gail Dow, Grandma Carol, sister Mariah, Mom, Uncle Tim, Aunt Amy, cousin Tyler, the Liedel's, the Worley's, the Fire's, Alan Kennedy, Joe Jasinski and the Goon Squad, Mike Robson, Mike Hopkins and Nonna, the Greathouse's, the Calhoun's, the Selmi's, the Klein's, my great friends Shamara and Nick, and especially my Dad who has helped me get my car out on the track every week and got my car fast enough to stay up front with these guys every single week. Thanks to all of the drivers who have helped me out and who put on great shows every week, Mike Miller for capturing all of the races every week for us drivers and fans, and also a huge thanks to Scott Schultz and Ron Drager for giving all the drivers and myself an opportunity to race throughout these years! And I would also like to give a huge thank you to Rand Thompson for being our personal photographer (lol) and for also getting such great pictures of all of the drivers cars every week! I knew my car was capable of winning but I knew it would be tough! We have a tough and fast group of drivers in the street stock division and to be able to win feels amazing!!"

Greg Studt (Facebook)

"Interesting night at the track... Had engine problems and had to park our car after the heat. Luckily, we were saved by the kindness of Rob Randa and crew who let me drive his car in the feature. Had to start last and ran it up to fifth, the car was bad fast and drove great! Thanks again to Rob and his crew you guys are awesome!!!" Oddly enough Greg and Rob qualified second and third… with times .001 apart … 13.729 seconds, 13.730 respectively.

Guy Fire (Facebook)

"My God did we have a good car last night! I was staying smooth in second waiting for a good time to make my pass. With about 10 to go, I had some room to go under the leader coming off the corner but we had a good chance of wrecking going into Turn 1. I tried the outside and led with three to go but was not able to keep grip up there … got loose coming out of turn 4, losing second place ended up third but it felt like a win. Feels real good to have a fast car again. Can't thank the crew enough we are off next week but going to give it hell when we come back. Congrats to Robbie Moore Jr on his first feature win."

Wilburn Parks won the Street Stock B division feature. His third win of the season. "It wasn't an easy win. If it wasn't for my brother I wouldn't be here tonight. We (Jerry Farmer #87 and I) had a good race and raced really clean," said the driver of the Parks Service, America Mulching and Seeding #56.

This was the week of musical cars… Greg Studt was in Rob Randa's car; multiple Figure 8 champion, Robbie Loving was in Craig Lange's car; Rich Abel was in Justin Rodriguez's car; Kenny Farmer was in Rich's car.

And Kenny Farmer brings us back to my other theme of the season … drivers returning to racing. Think Kenny's last race was in the mid 2000s. This gave us four of the Farmer family racing tonight, if anyone's keep track. Tonight was also the youngest of the clan, Trevor, making his first A main. He had troubles in the race.

Collin Barron (Facebook)

This week the battle was with the track. Even with new tires, Collin couldn't seem to get the grip he needed (apparently, we were not alone in this problem). After low 14 second lap times in practice, we took some big swings in some adjustments, and the boy managed a 13.90 qualifying lap, good for 10th out of 33 cars. Still made some more changes for the heat race, but could only manage a 5th place finish. Ended up starting 8th in the feature due to some last-minute car changes from other competitors. 20 caution-free laps to start the feature was a good schooling for Collin, as he had challenges from several other cars-won a few battles, lost a few, all learning experiences though. Two cautions in the last 5 laps helped Collin secure a ninth place finish, his best finish to date!

Tommy O'Leary, Sportsman

Tommy O'Leary IV won his second career Late Model Sportsman race. His other race was also at Flat Rock. "I really like this place. Car was really fast. I got here late, and qualified on stickers (tires), and didn't do so good. The luck of the draw, got the outside pole. The car was amazing, fast. I did what I needed to do to stay out front. This is Howard Kelley Jr.'s car. I want to thank my sponsors, family. This is a legal GM crate engine."

Cory McCaughey (Facebook)

Another DNF Friday. That's eight in 13 tries We started p2 (position) in the Enduro feature. Fell to fourth early and was patient. On lap 11ish I saw an opportunity and took the lead from fourth! About 20 laps later we had to pull off due to overheating. The car was really fast and could drive it anywhere. It's a shame we couldn't finish. Afterwards we ran the Boat Figure 8 feature. We started third and took the lead in the first corner! I kept hearing the crowd cheering so I assumed there was a lot of action behind us. We won something more than a heat race finally! Big thanks to Derek Halka, Pete Bailey, Weston Wisbon, Bob Mayer, Geoff Stiner, Steven Zilka, Laura Conley, Bob Green, Chris Thompson, Jenn King, and anyone else that has helped out that I'm forgetting, sorry. On to Fremont Speedway Saturday. Dirt is WAY better but asphalt was fun… Cory also wishes to thank his sponsors: Freddie Bang Racing. Central Collision. Point Place Powersports. Rays Doors. PB Fabrication. Morrin Farms. Erie Station. Dikins' Cider.

I get a lot of my Tidbits from Facebook pages. If you'd like your Saturday night quotes to be included, send me a note on Facebook (www.facebook.com/icechips) or email me at icechips@hotmail.com.