Trackside Tidbits, Debi Domby

 

I like hearing from drivers and teams about how your night went. It’s a great way to get your sponsors mentioned each week (no sponsors, I’ve had drivers show my article to possible sponsors and get them because they get mentioned.). All it takes is a couple sentences about how your race night went. Do 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 and you don’t have to do anything. Send me a note through Facebook Messenger www.facebook.com/icechips or an email at ddomby@juno.com

 

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.

 

 

Joy Fair 100

For Kyle Crump the third time was the charm, winning the Joy Fair 100 in his third try. His last attempt was in 2021 when he led the first 70 laps before suffering from a carburetor problem. This race he led 31 laps (per RaceMonitor data). He also has a ninth-place finish in 2019. “To be honest, I don't know. Like, we really did not have a car capable of winning when we fired off, and I was trying to be smart, and then I got a little naughty with the 54 (Steve Hawes) and turned him around, and thankfully (Len) Roberts was okay after that crash (he flipped his car after going over another driver’s tire), because I felt I did, I owned a little bit of that, so, but I don't know, I was just biding my time, and the spots were opening up, and then that restart with Connor (Zbozien)on the top, and ran him a little dirty, but I mean, dude, you got to do what you can do with run the top here, so it's able to get it done, and can't believe I actually won the Joy Fair Memorial. We started the year off a little rough, and it's like you kind of start questioning, am I going to win again, am I going to win again, and then yeah, the gates open tonight, so I'm going to enjoy this one, because you really don't know when the next one's coming, said the driver of the Big Rigs Inc, AP Racing, GT Products #16.

 

Blake Childers’ debut at Flat Rock was almost perfect but came up one short to finished second. He led the most laps, 49 (per RaceMonitor data). Yeah, the first time I've ever seen this track in my life was yesterday. It's an awesome place. We had a lot of fun racing here. We'll definitely be back. Yeah, just I didn't have nothing for Kyle (Crump). He had a really good car Once I spun around, I got the rear tires kind of messed up, and it was over from there for us. The track, it’s awesome. I mean, pretty grippy, really, really racy, really fun. Yeah, like I said, we'll be back,” said the driver of the Motor City Home Improvement, Senneker Performance #33.

 

Eric Lee finished third, he and fourth place finishers are the only two drivers with top six finishes in all the races since we came back from the COVID shutdown in 2020. He led six laps (per RaceMonitor data). “Yeah, I think I think we had a car to beat. It was, it was quick, just didn't work out there when I was going for the lead, and I think I just got the tires a little too hot there at the end, and couldn't make her, couldn't make a clean run at it. So, we'll work and regroup, be back, and we better next time. Still pretty happy with the racecar, first time out this year. Yeah, I'm happy with the speed. We're doing a whole lot of stuff different, so it seems to be working,” said the driver of the Lee Motorsports Action Drywall, McColl Racing Enterprise #5.

 

Conner Zbozien finished fourth. He led one lap (per RaceMonitor data). His average finish over the last six Joy Fair 100 races is 3.67 the best of any driver. (Eric Lee’s average finish over the same period is 3.4, but he only competed in five races). “Yeah, I was pretty happy. I was doing what I normally do, kind of sit back and try and save tires, and I don't know, one of the restarts, like I just, I think it was a couple restarts before Kyle and I were side by side for the front row, and the wheel started yanking right on me on the straightaway, so I was fighting that for the last half of the race, so I think I had a little bit more, but it was that was exhausting,” said the driver of the Moran Chevrolet, McQuade Heating and Cooling Plumbing and Refrigeration, PPG, Painter’s Supply and Equipment, The Pleasure Zone, Dynamite Machining, Michigan Independent Door Co., VanDoorn Racing Development, Fast Lane Images #45. From his Facebook page: “Really proud of our one lap speed so far this season. Right from the start of the race yesterday the car was pretty free and I battled that most of the race. About halfway through the race, I developed a power steering issue on top of a loose race car. Some valuable lessons learned that can only be taught in these big races. Gonna get reorganized and go chase the 150.”

 

Paul Pelletier finished fifth. “We had to come down pit times a few times during the race. Yeah, when that West Side guy threw a Talladega block going into one, kind of messed the front end up on the car, so toe was all knocked in and out, and something's been, but you know, car was pretty good there in the beginning. But yeah, I mean it's still top five, not bad in this race. I mean, yeah, y'all, everybody wants to be up there, of course, but all right, we got a long summer left. No, I can't complain. I mean, Toe was probably knocked in like an inch or something, but yeah, it was bad at what we had earlier,” said the driver of the Auto Quest Collision, Bill & Marilyn Nunya Performance, Duanes Roadrunners, Blue Water Compressor, ABC Plumbing #44.

 

One of the worse accidents at Flat Rock Speedway in recent memory happened. The eventual winner, Kyle Crump and Steve Hawes tangled and the pair spun. Behind them, Len Roberts apparently rode over Austin Theil’s tire and catapulted into the air. He rolled, then the car pirouetted on its nose and came to rest at the bottom of the track upside down. I’m not sure who the tow truck team was, but they did a wonderful job, gently flipping Roberts’ car back onto its wheels. He got out of his car and from Facebook reports from, he was doing okay, but I have no official word. The car from pictures looks like a total loss.

 

There were nine cautions for the Joy Fair 100. Of the 20 starters, only eight cars finished the event: Kyle Crump, Blake Childers, Eric Lee, Conner Zbozien, Paul Pelletier, Scott Hantz, Stan Yee Jr and Steve Hawes. Hawes had lost about seven laps and was able to repair his car during the red flag for Roberts’ accident. I think he might have set the record for getting lucky dog awards (Roberts’ was caution four and there were nine total cautions).

 

Gary Cronenwett had problems earlier and used the red flag to get the car repaired and returned in time for the restart. “Car was really great, didn’t have the chance to show it. Little impatient at the start of the race, but you have to get every spot you can get. On top of maybe a little give-and-take.

 We did come back out about 20 laps down and just rode around until we couldn’t make up any more ground. Solid points day. We will move forward to running bus night and capitalizing on how good the car is. Best wishes to Lenny Robert’s for his impact and thankful he walked away. Also, the track crew for their hard work during that situation. I also like to think CMS motorsports, Hicks Demolition, Limelight Motorsports, and Got Stumped.

 Thank you to my Mom and Dad, Uncle Tom, My Fiancé Stephanie. And my two girls that’s support me !”

 

From RJ Cornett Racing’s Facebook page. Like Cronenwett, he used the red to repair things and get back out. “We want to start off by saying we all here at John 3:16 Racing are glad to see fellow competitor, Lenny Roberts, driver of the red #0 get out of that vicious crash unscathed. Might have just been one of the worst crashes witnessed at The Rock.

  The threat of rain that was called for never happened at the track and although it was very HOT, a good breeze kept things bearable. After a successful test last Wednesday, we all thought we had a strong car to unload for the annual Joy Fair classic. However, we soon found out the car was too tight to run well. After Qualifying a dismal 13th out of the 20-car field, Crew Chief Keith Nelson found problems with a rear trailing arm that hurt our performance. So, from our 13th slot, The R&K INDUSTRIES Ford made its way to 10th by lap 4, then more spots were gained. By lap 20, BANJO Man had wheeled the A&D Auto Parts & Repair car to 5th! But bad luck struck as engine temp rose and the radio box turned on its mount and the radio actually flew out of the right side of the car destroying it. During the break for the Roberts crash we were able to install another radio, cool the car and we returned 9 laps down to finish 11th. Surely not the finish we were hoping for, but thankful we loaded up without major damage. Many thanks to DaCapo Coffee, AMERICAN LEGION POST 514, Ida, and our new sponsors DK PRODUCTS of Adrian MI and CORNETTS Lawn & Landscape for helping us do what we enjoy.

  We are off next Saturday but return June 20th for The Big School Bus event. Thanks to everyone that has purchased t-shirts and all that support us. From everyone at John 3:16 Racing GOD BLESS......”

 

 

***** JOY FAIR 100 STATISTICS *****

Wins

Brian Bergakker, 4

Harold Fair Jr, Justin Schroeder, 2

Paul Pelletier, Justin Claucherty, Steve Needles, Kyle Crump, Terry Senneker, 1

 

Top 5

Paul Pelletier, 5

Justin Schroeder, Brian Bergakker, Conner Zbozien, Eric Lee, Harold Fair Jr, Steve Needles, 4

Justin Claucherty, 3

Craig Everage, Jeff Ganus, Jimmy Theil, 2

Dennis Strickland, Scott Hantz, Chris Benson, Corey Duane, Hayden Sprague, Kyle Crump, Kyle Drake, Max Fair, Phil Bozell, Steve Cronenwett Jr, Blake Childers, Brad Riethmeyer, Chad Guinn, Terry Senneker, 1

 

Top 10

Paul Pelletier, 9

Justin Schroeder, 7

Brian Bergakker, Conner Zbozien, Eric Lee, Harold Fair Jr, Craig Everage, 6

Steve Needles, Justin Claucherty, Dennis Strickland, Scott Hantz, 5

Chris Benson, Dakota Carlson, Frank Jiovani, 4

Jack Varney Jr, Scott Pemberton, 3

Jeff Ganus, Jimmy Theil, Corey Duane, Hayden Sprague, Kyle Crump, Kyle Drake, Max Fair, Phil Bozell, Steve Cronenwett Jr, Derrick Sheppard, Jeff Plumb, RJ Cornett, 2

Blake Childers, Brad Riethmeyer, Chad Guinn, Terry Senneker, Andy Bozell, Austin Thiel, Brandon Short, Brian Ross, Bud Perry, Claude Plante Jr, Derek Wiley, Gary Cronenwett, George Rangel, Jeff Vrsek, John Ledwidge , Len Roberts, Michael Simko, Mike Root, Stan Yee, Stan Yee Jr, Steve Hawes, Trevor Berry, 1

 

Total races

Paul Pelletier, 13

Stan Yee Jr, 12

Chris Benson, 11

Eric Lee, Harold Fair Jr, Craig Everage, 10

Justin Schroeder, Dennis Strickland, 9

Brian Bergakker, Scott Hantz, Joe Hawes, 8

Frank Jiovani, Derrick Sheppard, Mike Root, 7

Conner Zbozien, Justin Claucherty, Scott Pemberton, Steve Cronenwett Jr, Jeff Vrsek, 6

Steve Needles, Corey Duane, Hayden Sprague, 5

Dakota Carlson, Max Fair, RJ Cornett, Nick Bailey, 4

Jack Varney Jr, Jimmy Theil, Kyle Crump, Phil Bozell, Jeff Plumb, Austin Thiel, Derek Wiley, George Rangel, Steve Hawes, John Ledwidge, 3

Jeff Ganus, Kyle Drake, Brad Riethmeyer, Terry Senneker, Andy Bozell, Claude Plante Jr, Gary Cronenwett, Len Roberts, Michael Simko, Dan Trosen, Guy Fire, Jim Bailey, Joshua Spindleman, Rob Randa, Ron Allen, Tadek Stadniczuk, Terry Bogusz, Tom O'Leary IV, 2

Blake Childers, Chad Guinn, Brandon Short, Brian Ross, Bud Perry, John Ledwidge , Stan Yee, Trevor Berry, Alex Rosenberry, Allen Jones, Austin Theil, Billy Shannon, Bob Varney, Brandon Lyons, Brian Nester, Bryan Moore, Bryan Richards, Bubba Brooks, Cayden Lapcevich, Craig Osenbaugh, Dave Kuhlman, Dean Gassert, Jack Landis, James Pankow, Jared Allison, Jeff Metdepenningen, Jim Alvis, Jimmie Ward Jr, Lenny Roberts, Mike Luberda, Nick Grodi, Ricky Kargel, 1

 

Lap leaders (per RaceMonitor data)

Brian Bergakker, 1-4; Blake Childers, 5-33; Scott Hantz, 54-62; Eric Lee, 63-68; Conner Zbozien, 69; Kyle Crump 70-100.

 

ON TRACK INTERVIEWS FROM EARLIER THIS SEASON

 

May 30

It was the Street Stock Twin 50s

Johnny Rangel won the first one, “It feels pretty good. I know we can make a couple more adjustments to it to make sure it's good for the next race. I just hammered it down and went. I wasn't too worried about tires. Yeah, I think it helps for the 100-lapper coming up. I know what I gotta do to stay consistent, I gotta know what I gotta do to keep myself comfortable, and what we gotta do to the car to keep it running good. I want to thank my dad, my girlfriend, Alyssa, all the people that helped me on Blue Water Air Compressor, Stewies Performance, and Power Source Performance, too. ”

 

Douglas Litigot won the second race, “A couple weeks ago we had the car really good. We tried to make a couple changes, make it even better, backfired a little bit. So, we learned and we held on, and it was some good clean racing. Thanks everybody for coming out. Thank all my sponsors: Hoppers Heavy Haulers, One Stop Speed Shop, Captain Nebos, Automotive Supply, and everybody else that helps us out, Corrigan, race fuels, everything makes it possible. Yeah, the best of the best was behind me, with years and years and years of experience. I'm not calling them old or anything, but they've been here a minute, so it was, it was good clean racing from them, because they could have moved me if they wanted to and didn’t.”

 

In 2024 we never had enough cars for a B main. It was the first time in over 20 years that, there wasn’t a B division feature. The last three Street Stock nights we’ve had enough for a B division feature again (opening night there wasn’t one). All three races have been won by Tom Lafollette. “I want to say hi to my wife, Diane's here tonight somewhere up there. And thank you for everything, all the help I've gotten, it’s pretty cool.” Tom is 68 years young according to the on track interview.

 

It seems I’ve lost the recordings for the Figure 8s … congratulations to Travis Earley and the Factory Stocks, congratulations to Kyle Metdepenningen