MORNEAU PULLS OFF BIG FLAT ROCK WIN
MORNEAU PULLS OFF BIG FLAT ROCK WIN
Flat Rock, MI—July 2, 2016: 15 year-old Windsor, Ontario Canada rising star Ray Morneau Jr. avoided the mishaps and was in the right place at the right time to grab his initial win in the Corrigan Race Fuels Firecracker 100 for the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway. Ron Allen and Stefan Bobeck were also winners at “The Rock”, which saw a large group of kids on hand for the Kids Night promotion. Children to age 12 were admitted free and received a free hot dog, courtesy of track management.
The evening began with a moment of silence for Don Lane and Bob Thomsen Sr. Lane was a championship crew chief who passed away last week. Thomsen Sr., the father of ARCA official Bobby Thomsen, passed away several months ago.
The newly-installed Whelen safety light system got a workout Saturday night. The initial start of the 100 lap feature was called back when Steve Searles and Landon Schuster made contact, with Searles into the wall. A bunch of cars could not avoid the mess, sending many pit-side for repairs. Only Searles was eliminated for the night with too much damage to his machine.
Things settled in for a bit as Schuster took off on the re-start. Landon led the big lap 44, which gave him a $444 bonus in Memory of Don Lane, posted by Dan Ford Jr. and Dan Ford Sr. Landon had plenty of competition as several drivers applied pressure to the leader. Studt used the 2nd and sometimes third groove to pass cars and move up. From lap 65-67, Greg passed 4 cars in the 3rd lane as things heated up. Lap 67 saw a red flag come out when a spectator became ill. He was attended to and the race resumed, but did not make it to lap 68 when the yellow appeared as Rob Randa bounced off the wall. The pack scattered behind Rob, collecting Scott Selmi and ending his night. Another restart was needed when Jeremy Vanderhoof and Nick Shanks spun. Jeremy took the blame and went to the rear, but he would still make it back to the front as the laps wound down. With Schuster still in the top spot, the race went back to green. Guy Fire was beginning to inch up to the leader and on lap 79, Schuster and Fire made contact, appearing to lock wheels and that sent that duo into the turn 2 wall. Again, Studt could not avoid the incident, and Grant Hedges also was a victim.
The restart now saw Ray Morneau Jr. on the point, and the youngster was strong out front. Looking for the victory, Ray stayed in command. With 3 laps to go, a lapped car gave Rob Moore a chance close in on the #03 of Morneau. Rob went to the 2nd groove, allowing Jeremy Vanderhoof to slide under for the second spot. Once Ray got by, he took off while Moore and Vanderhoof battled hard for second. At the stripe, Morneau claimed his first-ever win, with Vanderhoof a scant foot in front of Moore in a great battle for second. Shanks capped off a good night with fourth and Craig Lange grabbed a fifth place finish with a solid run. Arnold Kirsch, Schuster, Randa, Randy Cornett and Worley completed the top ten. Studt, Hedges, Fire, Clyde McKee, Selmi, Jeff Metdepenningen, James Hazlett, Chris DIovardi, Rod Morrison and Searles were next in line at the stripe.
3 drivers took turns leading the 25 lap Street Stock B Main contest. Jimmy Little was the early leader, while Wilburn Parks also took a turn in the top spot. His lead lasted only a lap as James Pankow zipped by on his way to the win. Just 1 yellow flag slowed the event. Parks took second, Rich Abel third, Caleb Barron fourth and Gary Calhoun fifth. Rob Moore Jr., James Baber, Ian Jezylo, Stephanie Bradley, Karen Matelic, Adam Jezylo, Jeffrey Kurzyniec, Little and Justin Rodriguez completed the finishing order.
Jeremy Vanderhoof, in the former Rich Frantz machine, topped the 35 car field and set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 13:568. Caleb Barron was the B Main fast man at 14:299.
The ARCA Aramark Late Model Sportsman division ran their 50 lap R & M Recycling Silver Cup feature race as part of the evening’s action. Kent McCloskey took the lead at the green for 2 laps until Ron Allen grabbed the lead on lap 3. Allen battled Jim Froling the entire distance as numerous yellow flags for minor incidents slowed the action. Ron withstood the challenges and scored the win, with Froling second. Howard Kelley Jr. started 15th and got to third at the checkered flag, with Mike Young fourth and Tommy O’Leary fifth. McCloskey, Mike Demars, Craig Osenbaugh, Chad Stilwell and Andy Harding completed the top ten. Kenny McKay Jr., Brian Pelkey, Randy Morneau, Kyle Worley and Kevin Stahl Jr. completed the running order. McCloskey and Kelley Jr. were the heat race winners. Froling set fast time at 13:158.
The MCR Dwarf Cars paid their annual visit to Flat Rock, with Stefan Bobek capturing the 25 lap feature event. The race went without a yellow flag. Joe McManman led the first 5 circuits until Bobek charged by to grab the top spot and sail to the victory. John Furnas, Eric Hoffman, Troy Hoffman, McManman, Jon Wiley, Junior Gould, Nick Wright, Ed LaRoe Jr., Josh Brand, Triston Francis, Mike McManman and Kim Hughes trailed the winner. Hughes and Joe McManman were the heat winners, with Bobek posting fast time at 12:595.
For 35 consecutive years, Flat Rock Speedway has teamed with Volcano Fireworks Company to present the fabulous Flat Rock Speedway fireworks display the weekend after the July 4th holiday. And Saturday, July 9 will now make it 36 years, as the Royal Truck and Trailer Sales Triple 50’s and the Monroe Superstore Fireworks show is ready to go!
The track’s 3 main classes—the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models, Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8’s and the DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks—will all compete in 50 lap feature events. There will be no heat races July 9—features only! A 25 lap Street Stock B Main is also on the race card.
ALL tickets go on sale race day at 4 p.m. There is no pre-sale for the event. The pit gates open at 2, practice is at 4, time trials at 5:30 and racing begins at 7 p.m. The fireworks show will follow the racing program.
Additional information is available on the Flat Rock Speedway home page in the next race box. Lap money for each of the features is also available. A & M Transmissions of Flat Rock has agreed to sponsor all 50 laps of the Figure 8 contest, while Glass Unlimited will sponsor 10 laps of the Late Model race. Laps are just $5 each---call 734-782-2480 or 419-727-1100 to sponsor laps!