Flat Rock Speedway

TOLEDO OH (3-10-08)--With the new racing season fast-approaching, Flat Rock and Toledo Speedway management is busy completing details for events both new and for the traditional stand-bys at the 2 tracks. New to the schedule at both facilities is Race Car Roller Derby, while the Imperial Stunt Driverís Thrill Show is set for a date at Toledo in 2008.

Called the Gauntlet race at some tracks, Race Car Roller Derby might be a better term for this crazy and entertaining promotion. Remember Roller Derby? Well, the ìjammerî is now a car, better yet, a van or some other type of vehicle (weíre looking for a hearse or motor home) that runs out front. His job? To complete a number of laps in a set time. Easy enough, no problem. Well, the problem comes in when 4-5 competitors in cars have the task of keeping the jammer from his goal-whatever it takes! Block the track, push the ìjammerî up into the wall, down in the infield, spin him out, roll him overóyou get the picture!

Each track will feature Race Car Roller Derby on their respective schedules; Flat Rockís date is Saturday, May 24 as part of the show that will also feature a 100 lap Figure 8 race and the Street Stocks, while Toledoís race goes on a special night, Thursday, July 3 as part of the ìNight of Thrillsî. And speaking of the Night of Thrills, the return of the Thrill Show to Toledo Speedway hits the track on the same evening.

Toledo has decided to give everyone a vacation day on the 4^th of July, which falls on a Friday this season. However, the track has scheduled the ìNight of Thrillsî for Thursday, July 3. The Imperial Stunt Drivers will be the featured event of the night, marking the start of their 2008 tour. The track has held 2 Stunt shows in the past, and has been looking to add this event to their schedule for a couple of years.

ìThe thrill shows are something many of us remember from our youth when they toured just about every county fair and race track in the 1960ís and 1970ís,î noted Ron Drager, co-owner of Toledo. ìWe were able to secure the Imperial Stunt drivers for this special event for Thursday, July 3 and we believe this show, coupled with Race Car Roller Derby, a Factory Stock Figure 8 race, the popular Figure 8 Train Race and the wild Boat Figure 8 is a great night of family entertainment for all ages.î

The Imperial Stunt Drivers show is comprised of the ramp-to-ramp precision driving, the car crash through a wall of flames, the 2-wheel lap around the track and many other stunts, along with, of course, the Stunt show clown.

Some 11 years ago, the very first School Bus Figure 8 race was scheduled at Flat Rock Speedway. With no idea what to expect, hundreds of fans lined up for tickets 4 hours before race time, the track parking lots were jammed and traffic backed up into the city of Flat Rock, some 2 miles away!

Well, after the first experience of the event, track officials were better prepared the following year. Advance reserved seats were available and fans made better plans, anticipating the huge crowds that filled the track.

And today, some 11 years later, the wildly-popular School Bus Figure 8 races continue to be a part of both Flat Rock and Toledoís race card. A pair of the contests are slated for both venues in 2008; Toledoís dates are Friday evening, May 23 and Friday, September 5, known as the ìNight of Destructionî. Burge Wrecking has inked the sponsorship for the September event, while the May contest is still seeking title sponsorship.

Flat Rockís dates for 2008 are both Saturday events; June 14, sponsored by Marcoís Pizza and September 13, with backing from Pepsi-Cola. The September races represent a flip-flop in dates for the 2 tracks to accommodate a schedule change needed for the 24 Hours of Lemons Race, which moves to Toledo this year.

For the first time ever, Toledo will now offer advance reserved seat tickets for the Bus race dates. Flat Rock will continue to do the same, as all chair-back seating at ìThe Rockî is reserved for the 2 dates. Tickets are now on sale for all 4 shows at $16 each. Cash, American Express, VISA and Mastercard are accepted for advance ticket orders. Fans are encouraged to order their tickets early, as sales have traditionally been quite brisk for the School Bus races.

School Bus sponsorship is also available for all 4 events. Buses can be sponsored for $600 each, and includes 20 reserved seat tickets with each sponsorship. The sponsor of each bus is listed in the souvenir program, they receive public address announcements and have the opportunity to paint their buses at the bus painting party held leading up to each of the 4 events!

ìWe already have several commitments for bus sponsorship for this season, but now is the time to secure your bus sponsorship,î noted Scott Schultz, General Manager of the 2 tracks. Interested parties should call 419-727-1100 to reserve their bus sponsorship! ìYour company name will be out in front of thousands of fans, we can almost assure you of that,î added Schultz. ìItís a fun night for everyone and a great way to be involved at the tracks.î

Race Car Roller Derby, School Bus Figure 8 races, Figure 8 Train races, Boat Figure 8, the rollover contests and many more fun-filled events are part of the 2008 schedules. Add these events to the exciting weekly stock car racing shows and itís a must-see season of entertainment at both Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways this summer!