ACTION-PACKED FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL AT FLAT ROCK
ACTION-PACKED FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL AT FLAT ROCK
ACTION-PACKED FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL AT FLAT ROCK
Flat Rock, MI-May 21,2021: Jeff Vrsek, Billy Earley, Greg Studt and Rich Abel were the winners in the Friday Night Special at Flat Rock Speedway.
The ARCA Moran Chevrolet Outlaw Super Late Model 50 lap feature saw Chris Benson and Steve Hawes on the front row via the 12-car inversion. Benson darted out into the lead for 10 laps until Vrsek motored by in the outside groove to take the point on lap 11. The yellow appeared for the first time on lap 21, bunching the field. Vrsek took off on the green flag, but he had company from Justin Schroeder, moving up from his 11th starting spot. Justin tracked down Jeff and the duo got away from the field to battle for the lead. Schroeder looked to the high lane in the final 5 laps as Vrsek held back his challenger for the victory over Schroeder and Hayden Sprague. Eric Lee was fourth and Frank Jiovani was fifth, with that duo working their way back to the top 5 after the lap 21 yellow where both cars went to the rear. Scott Pemberton, Conner Zbozien, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Benson and Stan Yee Jr. completed the top 10, followed by Hawes, Derrick Sheppard, George Rangel and Paul Pelletier. Harold Fair Jr. scratched from the race. Lee set quick time at 11:671, with heat wins to Cronenwett Jr. and Benson.
Billy Earley collected his 2nd win of 2021 with the victory in the 20 lap ARCA Figure 8 feature race. Earley jumped into the early lead, with Dennis Whisman Jr. in pursuit. With 11 laps in, the race was stopped when David Katafiaz had an engine let go, laying down a lane of oil. The track was cleaned up and racing resumed as Earley held the point on the way to the checkered flag. Whisman Jr. Jakob Lee, Eugene Worden, Dave Lambert, Stephanie Bradley, John Lambert, Katafiaz and Race Loving were next in line at the finish. Lee too the heat win, while Whisman Jr. set fast time at 20:536.
Pole-sitter Greg Studt was in command, notching win number 2 of the young season in the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main. The 6 car invert put Studt and Max Fair on the front row, with Studt claiming the top spot and staying there. The first 22 laps were all green, with the yellow setting up a 3 lap sprint to the finish. Greg claimed the win over Clarity Patton, Jeff Metdepenningen, Fair, Gary Cronenwett, Craig Lange, Lance Lipasek, Johnny Rangel, Nick Shanks and Landon Schuster.
Rich Abel ended his tough start to the year by winning the 15 lap B Main over Adam Jezylo, Mike Miller and Robert Stewart. Rich also took the heat win. Rangel surprised the field by setting fast time at 13:407 for the A Main. Abel swept the day with the B Main fast lap at 14:108.
Vrsek ($150), Studt and Earley ($100) and Abel ($25) collected the Innovative Fluids, LLC bonus, which is being paid to the feature winners for each weekly event for the 2021 season. Vrsek will also receive a $200 Penske Shocks certificate, while Jiovani gets a $100 Penske Shock award, which will also be presented for each Outlaw Super Late Model race at Flat Rock this season. Katafiaz took the $50 Sunoco random draw bonus home. Schroeder will collect the $50 Moran Chevrolet Hard Charger Award, moving up 9 spots in the Outlaw Super Late Model feature.
Racing Fan Club Night was also part of the evening. The Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club honored James Pankow in pre-race ceremonies. Steve Bunge’s family honored his 50 years of racing with a car resembling his paint scheme in his championship days at Flat Rock.
Saturday night racing returns to Flat Rock May 29 with the DTS Drive Train Specialists Joy Fair Memorial 100. A strong field of ARCA Moran Chevrolet Outlaw Super Late Models are expected for the 100 lap contest, with several drivers making their first appearance of the year for this prestigious event. Fair, Flat Rock’s all time winningest driver, passed away in 2010. Members of Joy’s family will be on hand to greet the crowd and present the trophy to the winner. The DTS Street Stocks will also be in action with Retro Night, featuring 4 car dash races and pursuit races.
There is no advance ticket sale for this race. ALL tickets go on sale at 4:30 on race day at the track ticket office. The front gates will also open at 4:30, practice begins at that time and racing starts at 7 p.m.