SCHROEDER, EARLEY CAPTURE FLAT ROCK TITLES
SCHROEDER, EARLEY CAPTURE FLAT ROCK TITLES
Flat Rock, MI—August 19, 2017: Justin Schroeder and Billy Earley secured their respective 2017 track championships on Motor City Battery Night Saturday at Flat Rock Speedway. Jimmy Thiel (Moran Chevrolet Late Model) Jeremy Vanderhoof (Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Figure 8), Rob Moore Jr.(DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks) and Race Loving (Street Stock B Main) took the feature event wins. Mal Lang, representing Motor City Battery, presented the trophies to the winners.
The final 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model race of the season at Flat Rock saw Stan Yee Jr. lead lap 1. The yellow flag came out just after the initial lap was completed when Joe Hawes and Jeff Plumb made contact, and collected Rob Randa and Joe Genise in the process. Hawes was the only car that returned to action. Jimmy Thiel jumped on the outside lane on the restart and grabbed the lead on lap 2. Just 2 quick yellows for 1 car spins slowed things in the final 49 laps, as Thiel ran strong out front. Moran Chevy fast qualifier BrIan Bergakker (11:899), moved up to do battle with Jimmy by lap 33. Brian pushed the #56 hard into the corners in the high groove, inching up on the leader as the laps wound down. Thiel had enough, however, to score his 3rd win of the season and collected the Dented Fender Mystery Award $200 bonus in the process. Bergakker was 2 car lengths behind in second, Schroeder’s third place run cemented his track title, Paul Pelletier was fourth and Frankie Jiovani fifth, followed by Corey Duane, Stan Yee Jr., Hawes, Steve Cronenwett Jr. and Tom Cronenwett. Jiovani, Cronenwett Jr. and Randa took the heat wins. Cronenwett Jr. took home the Moran Chevy Most Improved bonus, while Bergakker and Jiovani took the Penske Shock Certificate Awards.
A wild ARCA Victory Lane Quick Oil Change 25 lap Season Championship race was filled with crashes, spins and a hit at the intersection. Through it all, Jeremy Vanderhoof avoided the incidents and set a fast pace in his victory. The action started before the first lap was complete as Dan Apperson and Gary Cronenwett got crossed up near the intersection on the first trip through the cross-over. The pair fell back to the rear of the pack after getting back on the racing surface, but tangled again at the intersection and the incident ended up just past the start-finish line in the infield grass. The red flag came out to clean things up, and on the restart Vanderhoof took off as he built up a solid lead and kept it the remainder of the way to grab the win. Scott Apperson, at the wheel of Parker Wade’s #9, grabbed second spot, while Billy Earley’s third place finish netted him the 2017 track title, giving him 3 championships in a row at Flat Rock. Jim Harrington of Victory Lane Quick Oil Change congratulated Billy in the post-race celebration. Earley was second but collided with Ethen Lambert on the final lap at the intersection, knocking sheet metal off both cars, although they continued! Dennis Whisman and Lambert completed the top 5, with Joseph Vanderhoof, Dennis Whisman Jr., John Lambert, Eugene Worden and Travis Earley next in line to round out the top 10. Earley set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 21:014. Heat wins went to Dennis Whisman and Randy Roberts.
3 different drivers took turns leading the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main event that featured door to door racing for the number 1 spot for 23 of the 25 laps! Front row starters Rob Moore Jr. and Clyde McKee brought the field to the green flag, with McKee, on the high side, nosing out front as Clyde ran side by side with Moore Jr. Rob nosed in front on lap 5 and stayed there as the rest of the pack, in tight formation, began to make their moves. Greg Studt jumped up to the high groove and took his shot at the lead, battling with Rob for over a dozen laps. Studt would edge out front, then Moore would charge back tucked on the bottom of the track as the duo put on a great show for the fans. Greg led laps 16-19, but Moore kept pushing his machine and took back over the lead on lap 20. With 2 to go, Rob was in command and zipped to his second A Main win of the season. Studt’s great run gave him second, Kyle Worley was third, Guy Fire fourth and Grant Hedges came from 13th to fifth at the finish. Rob Moore Sr., Scott Selmi, Rob Randa, Jeff Metdepenningen and Ray Morneau Jr. completed the top ten.
Race Loving took over the driving of Paul Duffin’s #54 the past 2 weeks and Loving put the car in victory lane, taking the win in the 15 lap Street Stock B Main feature race. Loving nosed by James Potter at the start and stayed out front as the battle for second heated up. Chris Diovardi charged up through the pack to grab the runner-up finish, with Alan Kennedy, Rich Abel, Potter, Wilburn Parks, Adam Jezylo, Leroy Farmer, Trevor Farmer and Jerry Farmer trailing the leaders at the finish.
Randa set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time for the 30 car field at 13:698. Loving led the B cars at 14:155. Metdepenningen, Hedges, Caleb Barron, Kennedy and Leroy Farmer were heat race winners. Leroy’s win was his first checkered flag in 35 years at Flat Rock. The 72 year-old just returned to action with his son and grandson several weeks ago. Leroy was one of the pioneers of the Street Stock class at Flat Rock, which got its start in 1977.
Saturday, August 26 the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock division will crown their season champions on Harris Mechanical Night at Flat Rock Speedway. The championships, both for the A and B Main, will be determined in the final point race of the season for the class.
The Great Lakes Mini Cup Cars and the TKC Go-Karts will also be in action.
The pit gates open at 3:30, practice begins at 5, time trials are at 6:15 and show time is 7 p.m. August 26. All tickets will go on sale race day at 5 p.m. There is no advance sale for this event.