Flat Rock Speedway

Trackside Tidbits – August edition

It’s been a odd summer for me, between a leg injury and a month of rainouts, I missed a lot of races. If any team would like to send me how your season has gone, I’d love to hear from you. You can send me something to Facebook messenger or email … both listed at the end of this article. I get enough, I’ll put something together before season championship. Thanks to the drivers that sent me something for this column.

Yee 150, August 2, 2025

Hayden Sprague won the Stan Yee 150. It was his second career Outlaw Late Model feature at Flat Rock, his last coming in his rookie season in 2019. His previous best finish was third in 2022. He’s raced in five Stan Yee 150s and every race he’s finished in the top 7… the seventh was his rookie year in 2019. “It was our night, and I just, I can't thank everybody enough that helps me… Jimmy and Austin Theil, Felix, my brother Owen, everyone that came out, Francis Engineering for the awesome power. Just so many people to thank, my mom, my dad, Seneca Performance, Ernest Performance. I mean, there's so many. It's been six years since the last won a race, so you start to wonder if you can do it again. And it's like in the winter I just worked really hard on myself to give myself the best chance. And I don't know, this is pretty unreal. Well, with all the tire blistering going on, I was going to ride half throttle for most of the race, and that's what we did when the lap car came up in front of me and Eric (Lee) was able to get by. Didn't really phase me too much. Just stuck to the game plan and just kept picking off. So just super cool. Yeah, I'm really at a loss of words. I know it doesn't sound like it, but I don't really know what to say. Thank you!” said the driver of the Matrix Transport, JK Logix #41.

Second went to the 2024 Flat Rock OLM champion Conner Zbozien (in 2019, he and Hayden shared rookie of the year). It was his sixth attempt at winning the Stan Yee 150. His last five attempts were all in the top 4, including another second in 2021. “I was pretty frustrated out there tonight. Early on, there was a lot of chaos going on in the back. I think I used the right front fender just about as much as I used the right front tire. So, um, I don't know, it was just a pain to pass everyone but coming from nearly lapped, we made it happen. So, wish I had a few more laps and maybe could have got to him (Hayden Sprague). He's just so good on the start., took off so quick. He held his own all race long,” said the driver of the Moran Chevrolet, McQuade Heating and Cooling Plumbing and Refrigeration, Painter’s Supply and Equipment, PPG, The Pleasure Zone, Michigan Independent Door Co., Dynamite Machining, VanDoorn Racing Development #45

And from his Facebook page: “Wound up P2 (second position) at the (Stan Yee) 150 after what had to have been the most hard fought drive of my career. I put myself in a bad spot pretty early on being overly cautious in a chaotic field to start the race out and wound up 17th after starting 8th. Spent a few green flag runs on the fringe of going a lap down but managed to keep the car mostly clean and drive through the field while staying on the lead lap putting us in third and able to capture second on a late race restart. Hats off to the guys that helped me out this weekend and all my sponsors: Kyle Crump Tim Fontana Pat Moran Dick Barker Brian Zbozien Tracy Noechel Zbozien Mr Palm Tom Terzo Emily Tausch and my grandpa. I want to thank my sponsors: Moran Chevrolet, McQuade Heating and Cooling Plumbing and Refrigeration, Painter’s Supply and Equipment, PPG, The Pleasure Zone, Michigan Independent Door Co., Dynamite Machining, VanDoorn Racing Development.

Eric Lee, the 2011 winner of the Stan Yee 150, finished third. It’s his 14th Stan Yee 150 and his third place finish is sixth time he’s finished in the top 5. “Yeah, I got into the back stretch wall, and I think we knocked our toe out of it, and I picked up a really really bad vibration at about lap 100. So, from about (lap) 100 150 I was just kind of hanging on, hoping. I thought I was gonna blow a right front tire, but we brought her home. So ,I was just glad to get to the finish line. Just gotta thank my crew, Rick, Rob, Todd, everyone that helps me, my family that came out tonight. It's really great to see them. They're so busy they never get out to see me. And all the fans that come out to this support us every week. Thank you,” said the driver of the Lee Motorsports, Action Drywall, McColl Racing Enterprises #5.

Chris Benson finished fourth, a career best in the Stan Yee 150. “Happy little happy, stayed out of trouble … it was a good points tonight. We didn't break the car, and I just had a little bit of a push from lap 100 on, and couldn't do nothing with it. But hey, we keep the car one piece and finish fourth, and we're good,” said the driver of the Churchill Transportation, Detroit Tube and Mill, Directional Fluids #51.

RJ Cornett finished fifth, a career best in the Stan Yee 150. “We needed all three of those rain outs to make it here tonight, because we hurt a motor last night the last time we raced (in August). I didn't think we'd make it here … even on Wednesday, we weren't sure we'd be here. So this is a nice shot in the arm,”

Yee 150 Statistics

v Wins: Brian Bergakker, 4; Mike Root, 2; Craig Everage, Dakota Carlson, Eric Lee, Harold Fair Jr, Hayden Sprague, Jeff Ganus, Jimmy Thiel, Justin Schroeder, Mike Luberda, Phil Bozell, Scott Hantz, 1

v Races: Paul Pelletier, 17; Stan Yee Jr, 16; Harold Fair Jr, 15; Eric Lee, 14; Dennis Strickland, Steve Cronenwett Jr, 13; Chris Benson, 12; Joe Hawes, Justin Schroeder, Scott Hantz, 12; Craig Everage, 11; Mike Root, Scott Pemberton, 10; Brian Bergakker, Frank Jiovani, Jimmy Thiel, Ron Allen, 8; Nick Bailey, 7; Conner Zbozien, Dakota Carlson, 6; Dan Trosen Jr, Derek Wiley, George Rangel, Hayden Sprague, Jeff Vrsek, Jim Bailey, Ricky Kargel, Steve Hawes, 5;

v Top 5: Dennis Strickland, 7; Brian Bergakker, Eric Lee, Paul Pelletier, 6; Conner Zbozien, Scott Hantz, 5; Harold Fair Jr, Hayden Sprague, Justin Schroeder, Mike Root, 4; Craig Everage, 3; Brad Riethmeyer, Chris Benson, Dakota Carlson, Frank Jiovani, Jimmy Thiel, Mike Luberda, Terry Senneker, 2

v Top 10: Paul Pelletier, 12; Scott Hantz, 10; Dennis Strickland, Eric Lee, 9; Brian Bergakker, 7; Craig Everage, Harold Fair Jr, Justin Schroeder, Mike Root, 6; Conner Zbozien, Dakota Carlson, Hayden Sprague, 5; Chris Benson, Frank Jiovani, Ricky Kargel, Stan Yee Jr, Steve Cronenwett Jr, 4

Kenyon Knight won the 20th edition of the Street Stock 100 race, thanks Kenyon for sending me something. “The 100 lapper this race was possibly our best race we’ve ever had. Winning this race is a great achievement and will be the biggest race I win for a long time. It’s just great to be able to race in one of the most competitive divisions around and pull this off. This win couldn’t be possible without my crew: Ken, Talya, Caitlin, Eddie, and George. Our great sponsors: Matick Automotive, Hometown Ice Cream & Candy, and Mile Bridge make this all possible with their support!

Street Stock 100 statistics:

v Wins: Greg Studt, 5; Chad Guinn, Dan Ford Jr, 2; Clyde McKee, Jeff Metdepenningen, Kenyon Knight, Randy DeMaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Rob Moore Jr, Rob Randa, Ron Allen, Steve Cronenwett Jr, Tadek Stadniczuk, Tim Moore, 1

v Total Races: Kyle Worley, 17; Rob Moore, 15; Arnold Kirsch, 13; Greg Studt, Landon Schuster, Scott Selmi, 12; Clyde McKee, Tim Moore, 11; Rich Frantz, 10; Craig Lange, Rob Randa, 9; Jeff Metdepenningen, Nick Shanks, Rob Moore Jr, Ron Allen, 8; Dave Tanner, Grant Hedges, Guy Fire, Jarod Maczink, Regan Ford, 7

v Top 5: Greg Studt, 8; Tim Moore, 5; Dan Ford Jr, Kenyon Knight, Rob Moore, Ron Allen, 4; Chad Guinn, Grant Hedges, Jeff Kurzyniec, Jeff Metdepenningen, Jonathan Rangel, Randy Demaggio, Ray Morneau Jr, Rob Moore Jr, Tadek Stadniczuk, 3

v Top 10: Greg Studt, Rob Moore, 11; Arnold Kirsch, Tim Moore, 8; Jeff Metdepenningen, Landon Schuster, Rich Frantz, Rob Randa, Ron Allen, Scott Selmi, 6; Jeremy Vanderhoof, Tadek Stadniczuk, 5

This is the first season that there wasn’t a B main race on the 100-lap night. \

Paul Pelletier won his sixth race this year. He also did it in 2012. In 25 years, only Eric Lee has tied this many wins in a season for the Outlaw Late Model Division. In those 25 years, Brian Norton won 8 wins in 2000 and 2003 and Ron Allen won seven in 2000 are the only drivers with more than six wins in a season in the last 25 years.

For Paul’s win he didn’t get his on-track interview as the drivers were racing with each other and possible rain. Thanks, Paul for writing to me. “Yes, matched the six wins from 2012. A redemption race win … from the nonsense restarts from the 5 car last week, then more crap from him once again Saturday night. So ya a redemption win. It’s been fun year … summer.

Yes, matched the six wins from 2012. A redemption race win. From the nonsense restarts last week, then more crap from the same driver once again Saturday night. So, ya a redemption win. It’s been fun year … summer.”

Steve Cronenwett Jr won his second consecutive Street Stock A Division feature. Thanks, Steve for writing to me. “We get a late start to our season nowadays. All of my boys are in travel sports until the end of July. We were able to have the car ready for the 100-lap event. It was fast right off the trailer but unfortunately had a power steering failure while leading. The next week we were lucky enough to get the lead early and the car was good enough to win the 50-lap race. This week the car was nearly perfect and had a strong run for back-to-back wins. It’s pretty special for me to be able to do this with my kids and my dad. I can’t thank my dad enough for being the driving force in making this happen. Mark Sherrard has always been backing my racing career and I can’t thank him enough either. We did pick up a sponsor for the 100-lap race, The Village Pizzeria and Ice Cream in New Boston. We appreciate the support from them as well.”

Congrats to our New Track Record holders, the record was broken in three divisions. Hayden Sprague surpassed his own track record from earlier this year with a 11.073 for the Outlaw Late Models. Johnathan Rangel also surpassed his own record from earlier this year in the Street Stock Division with a 12.856. Dennis Whisman Jr broke a six-year-old record set by Billy Earley in 2019 (20.290) with a 20.202

Kevin Stepinski of Carleton writes in with an update on his 2025 racing season. "I raced my new black #53 Dodge Neon Factory Stock in 3 races this year at Flat Rock, along with doing the Figure 8 Boat races at Flat Rock and Toledo using my old gray #53 Neon. I first started racing at Flat Rock Speedway in 1989 in the Enduro division. Since then, I've raced in 4 Cylinders (2004 & 2005 Champion), Street Stocks (2006 B-Main Rookie of the Year), Late Models, Figure 8 Train races, and a few Bus races. About the only thing I haven't raced is a regular Figure 8 car, and I haven't given up on doing that yet! Thanks to Steve Bunge at B&H Race Parts for his help to get my new Neon ready for this year. Because 2025 marks 36 years since I ran my first race at Flat Rock, I was wondering how many other drivers have been racing there that long? I would bet not many, but maybe a few. Good question to ask your readers!"

He has a good question. Of everyone still racing. My guess is Joe Hawes and Ron Allen both are around 40 years. Let’s see if we can get everyone racing at Flat Rock (consecutive or off and on for 25 years. It might be really interesting.

If you missed any of the racing you can find it here: www.youtube.com/@MikeMiller28. If anyone else tapes all the races let me know and I’ll add you to the list.

I like hearing from drivers and teams about how your night went. It’s a great way to get your sponsors mentioned each week. All it takes is a couple sentences about how your race night went. You write something on your Facebook or website each week? Send me a link and tell me if it’s okay to use and I’ll try to go look for it each week. Send me a note through Facebook Messenger www.facebook.com/icechips or an email at ddomby@juno.com,