Flat Rock Speedway

July 31, 2021:  Perhaps the nicest weather of the season greeted fans and race teams for Autograph Night Saturday at Flat Rock Speedway.  The track’s race teams did their usual outstanding job of providing the fans with photos, hero cards and treats.

Steve Cronenwett Jr. captured the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature race, coming back from a tough outing in the 150 lap event the week prior.  Paul Pelletier and Eric Lee brought the field to the green, with Paul jumping out front.  Cronenwett’s #21 machine was strong again Saturday, using the outside lane to get by Lee for second spot in the first 10 laps.  Fast qualifier Hayden Sprague (11:791) had his car drop oil on the track on lap 12, slowing the action.  On the restart, Steve immediately powered his way past Pelletier and into the top spot on lap 13.  Frank Jiovani followed Steve in the second groove, moving into second on lap 19.  Cronenwett motored on to the victory, with Jiovani secnod, Lee third, Pelletier fourth and Conner Zbozien fifth, followed by Scott Pemberton, Justin Schroeder, Joe Hawes, Stan Yee Jr. and Chris Benson.  Lee and Schroeder took the heat race wins.

Landon Schuster battled door to door with rookie Johnny Rangel for the final laps, and just nosed out the youngster to win the thrilling 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main. Schuster led the first 21 laps, but slipped just a bit on lap 22, allowing Rangel to steal away the lead.  Schuster came right back on the outside and the duo put on a show for the fans, battling back and forth for the win.  Landon got a slight edge on the final lap and just nosed out Rangel for the win, with Nick Shanks making it 3-wide at the stripe, finishing third.  David Liaeff and Jeff Metdpenningen completed the top five.  Jeremy Vanderhoof, Trevor Farmer, Greg Studt, Doug Litogot and Paul Duffin rounded out the top ten.  A turn 4 collision on the final lap involving Paul Pelletier, Rob Moore Jr. and Caleb Barron ended their runs.  All drivers were ok.

Ian Jezylo visited the Monroe Asphalt Winner’s Circle with his win in the 15 lap DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock B Main, topping Taylor Papineau, Chris Diovardi, Mike Miller and Robert Stewart.  Miller led the first 5 circuits as Jezylo dipped low and grabbed the lead on lap 6.  Papineau closed in on Ian in the final laps and settled for the runner-up spot.  Rich Abel, Joe Rozek, George Burgess and Ryan Smith were next in line in the finish.  Liaeff set quick time at 13:369, while Diovardi led the B field at 14:046.  Rob Moore Jr., Tim Moore, Wilburn Parks and Stewart captured the heat wins.

Track announcer Gary Lindahl ran out of “look outs” in the 20 lap ARCA Figure 8 feature, as the field zipped in and out of intersection traffic lap after lap as Dennis Whisman Jr. edged out Jeremy Vanderhoof for the victory.  Whisman Jr. held back every challenge Vanderhoof had to offer as he scored the victory.  Brice Thomsen, Ethen Lambert, Eugene Worden, Jakob Lee, Dave Lambert, John Lambert, Stephanie Bradley and Carole Asztalos completed the finishing order. Worden set fast time on the Figure 8 track with a lap of 20:829.  Whisman Jr. and Lee notched heat race wins.

The month of August at Flat Rock Speedway begins this Saturday, August 7 with UAW Local 3000 Night.  The ARCA Moran Chevrolet Outlaw Super Late Models, the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks and the ARCA R & M Recycling Late Model Sportsman will battle on the ¼ mile paved oval.  The Power Wheels Derby will take place at 6:30 p.m.

The pit gates will open at 2:30 and practice begins at 4:30.  The front gates and ticket office open at 4:30, the Power Wheels Derby is at 6:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m.

There is no advance ticket sale for this race.  Tickets go on sale race day at the track beginning at 4:30 p.m.