Flat Rock Speedway

Southgate, MI—November 1, 2019:   Race teams, officials, family and friends gathered Friday evening at the Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Southgate, MI for the annual Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways Awards Banquet.  Each of the champions received their championship jackets and banners from ARCA President and Flat Rock/Toledo owner and promoter Ron Drager.  Over $30,000 in cash and contingency awards were distributed at the annual event.

Flat Rock’s ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models were presented their point fund checks and trophies.  Frank Jiovani captured his first-ever Late Model track championship. Jiovani had a good excuse for missing the banquet-he got married Friday night!  Frank grabbed 1 win on the season, and the former Flat Rock Street Stock champ will also receive a check for $1500 from Pat Moran of Moran Chevrolet. Dick Barker, a former 2-time Flat Rock champ, received the Championship Car Owner trophy.  Craig Everage finished second for the second year in a row, while Paul Pelletier was third, also his repeat finish of 2018.  Hayden Sprague, Jeff Vrsek, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Chris Benson, Conner Zbozien, Stan Yee Jr. and Dennis Strickland completed the top ten in the final point tally.  Youngsters Sprague and Zbozien were named Co-Rookies of the Year.  Zbozien and Dennis Rederstorf picked up the Corrigan Race Fuels bonus of $150 and $100, respectively.

Second-generation driver Dennis Whisman Jr. captured his first-ever track championship in the Flat Rock ARCA Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Figure 8 division.  Jr. was consistent throughout the season with his finishes, giving him the title over veteran Dave Lambert, Dennis Whisman Sr., James Vanderhoof, Ethen Lambert, Stephanie Bradley, Jakob Lee, Joseph Vanderhoof, Billy Earley and Jeremy Vanderhoof.  Victory Lane Quick Oil Change representatives Tim Janizewski and Ray Ross presented the point fund checks and trophies.  Joseph Vanderhoof ($150), Bradley and Whisman Jr. ($50 each) took the Corrigan Race Fuels bonus money.

The ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock class saw Greg Studt notch his second Flat Rock Street Stock title; the first came in 2016.  Greg had 3 wins on the year-the season opener, the 100 lap contest and the Season Championship event.  Rob Randa came home second in the final points, third was Nick Shanks, fourth was David Liaeff and fifth was a tie between Caleb Barron and Clarity Patton.  Scott Selmi, Vaughn Chambless, Guy Fire and Max Fair completed the top 10.  Barron was Rookie of the Year.  Randa ($150) and Patton ($100) were the Corrigan Race Fuels bonus winners.

Ian Jezylo made it 2 in a row with the title for the DTS Drive Train Specialists ARCA Street Stock B Main point chase. LJ Farmer took second, Ian’s son, Adam, was third, followed by Taylor Papineau, Rich Abel, Leroy Farmer, Wilburn Parks, Jerry Farmer, Trevor Farmer and Gary Navarre.  Papineau captured the B Main Rookie of the Year honor.

The Vault Antiques and Treasures 4-race ARCA Enduro Series championship went to Ed Case, scoring his first championship.  The battle went to the final race as Ed edged out Jacob Thomas by 10 markers.  Kyle Metdepenningen was third, 20 back, and Robb Remick fourth, 30 behind Case.  Nathan Sprotberry, James Rae, Derrick Sheppard, Troy Brehmer, Ethan Stadniczuk and Tony Rumble finished out the top ten.  Brian Oberle of The Vault handed out point fund checks and trophies.

The ARCA Late Model Gold Cup Series title went to Brian Bergakker, notching his first Gold Cup championship and the $1000 check.  Brian won 2 races at Flat Rock, as well capturing his first victory at Toledo in the process.  The series is made up of races at both Flat Rock and Toledo.  Dennis Strickland and Frank Jiovani tied for second, fourth was Chris Benson and fifth was Mike Root.  Bergakker’s crew chief, Jake Finkbeiner, was presented a plaque and $250 check from Fastime Racing Engines and Parts for the Champion Crew Chief, courtesy of Clayton and Christine Smith of Fastime.  Steve Peters of Innovative Fluids, LLC, one of the Gold Cup sponsors, presented the checks and Gold Cups.

The ARCA Late Model Sportsman division crowned Mike Young as the champ, his second title in the class.  Mike grabbed 1 win on the way to the championship.  2018 champ Howard Kelley Jr. was second, just 25 points behind.  Grant Hedges, Greg Stilwell, Kent McCloskey, Andy Harding, Robert Meiring, Adam Plonski, Ron Allen and Jimmy Wahl trailed in the final standings.  Wahl was named the Rookie of the Year.  Allen and and Stilwell were the Bazell Race Fuels bonus winners of $150 and $100, respectively.

Greg Stilwell was the champ in the 3-race Silver Cup Series for the Late Model Sportsman, sponsored by R & M Recycling.  The title was the first-ever for Greg, and in the process also notched his first feature win.  Howard Kelley Jr. was second, Grant Hedges third, Kent Closkey fourth and Mike Young fifth.

3 wins propelled Matt Ringger to The Vault Antiques and Treasures ARCA Factory Stock title at Toledo, the second of his career.  Craig Osenbaugh was second, just 10 points behind Matt.  Ian Jezylo, James Rae, Randy Padgett Jr., Jeff Wells Jr., Mike Miller, Jesse Carrillo, Steven Smith and Ryan Mallory completed the top ten point-getters.  The Vault’s Brian Oberle presented the checks and trophies.

Kent McCloskey, Mike Young, Ian Jezylo and Trevor Farmer were the random draw winners for product certificates from Five Star RaceCar Bodies.

Point fund and contingency award sponsors for 2019 included Moran Chevrolet, Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Centers, The Vault Antiques and Treasures, ARCA, B & H Race Parts, DTS Drive Train Specialists, Five Star RaceCar Bodies, Hoosier Tire, Penske Shocks, R & M Recycling, Bazell Race Fuels, Corrigan Race Fuels and Sunoco Race Fuels.  Gold Cup sponsors included Moran Chevrolet, DTS Drive Train Specialists, Innovative Fluids, LLC, Dani’s Transport, Royal Truck and Trailer and Francis Engineering.

The winter office for both tracks may be contacted by calling 419-727-1100.  The 2020 schedules will be released around the holiday season.  Always check the official websites at www.flatrockspeedway.com, www.toledospeedway.com or www.arcaracing.com.