Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI—August 6, 2016: The high heat and humidity left the area just in time for a beautiful evening of racing at Flat Rock Speedway Saturday night. The Glass Unlimited/UAW Local 3000 Autograph Night saw a good crowd enjoy the meet and greet with the drivers and a great night of action and entertainment. Walter Krause of Glass Unlimited presented the trophies and provided bonus money to the feature winners. Jimmy Thiel, Billy Earley, Robbie Loving, Landon Schuster, James Baber and Rich Abel captured feature wins. The TKC Go-Karts staged a pair of exhibition races to kick off the long night, which included the Whelen First Responder Night event.

Jimmy Thiel became the first repeat winner in the ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Models this season at Flat Rock via his win in the 50 lap main event. Current point leader Paul Pelletier grabbed the lead on the green, but a pair of quick yellows in the first 6 slowed things up. Thiel took the high side on a restart and ran door to door with Paul until he nosed by for the lead. From lap 6 to 38, the race ran straight green flag. Thiel built up a nice lead, but Moran Chevy Fast Qualifier Justin Schroeder (11:778) began to whittle the gap. By lap 35, Justin was within 2 car lengths. The yellow appeared again on lap 38, setting up the double file restart. Thiel darted away and zipped to the victory, his second of the season. Jimmy also collected the $400 “Mystery Award” bonus. The number 3 starting spot was drawn, Thiel’s starting spot, and his win gave him the extra cash. Schroeder took second, Frank Jiovani was third, Stan Yee Jr. fourth and Steve Cronenwett Jr. fifth, followed by Pelletier, Terry Bogusz, Corey Duane, Joe Hawes and Dennis Rederstorf. The quartet of Jiovani, Yee, Cronenwett and Pelletier put on a show in the final 12 laps, dicing back and forth, with each driver holding third spot at some point in the final stages of the race. Jiovani picked up the Moran Chevy Hard Charger Award. Tadek Stadniczuk and Dennis Strickland (in the Ward Racing #6) took the heat race wins.

The ARCA Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8 division ran a pair of feature races. The rained out Tribute to Bob Rae 20 lap event from July 30 was up first, with current point leader Billy Earley scoring the win over Dan Apperson, Jeremy Miller, Randy Roberts, Dennis Whisman Jr., David Katafiasz (in AJ Padgett’s #11), Travis Earley, Ricky Ferrell, James Vanderhoof and Dennis Whisman . Apperson had built up a sizable lead, but a lap 12 red flag bunched the field, giving Billy the shot at the lead and the eventual victory.

Robbie Loving was in top form, as the former track champ took the wheel of one of Jeremy Miller’s cars and grabbed the win in the scheduled 20 lap feature event. The race was Robbie’s first Figure 8 race of the year. Rookie Travis Earley led 2 laps until Loving motored by, as Jeremy Miller gave chase to his other car. Loving never missed a beat as he held the point and grabbed the checkered flag. Miller was second, Whisman Jr. third, Billy Earley fourth and Whisman Sr. fifth. Apperson, Roberts, Parker Wade, Ferrell, Travis Earley, Katafiasz and Vanderhoof were next Iine at the finish. Billy Earley posted the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 21:232. Loving and rookie Travis Earley won the heats, with Earley notching his first-ever checkered flag in Figure 8 competition.

A sensational 3-wide finish highlighted the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main 25 lap contest. Rob Moore led the event and looked to be headed to the win, but a late yellow flag with 6 laps left set up the exciting finish. On the restart, Landon Schuster nosed into the lead but Moore came right back, dipping low entering turn 1 on lap 22 and grabbed the lead back. Schuster dropped back a bit, then charged back up on the high side, getting door to door with Rob as the duo put on a thrilling battle for the win. With Landon just a bit out front, the field entered turn 4 coming to the finish. The bottom lane opened up and Greg Studt stuck the nose of his machine into the action, setting up a 3-wide finish. Schuster took the win by a nose over Moore, with Studt third, Kyle Worley fourth and Ray Morneau Jr. fifth, followed by James Hazlett, Guy Fire, Jeff Luttermoser, Rob Randa and Nick Shanks.

The Street Stock B Main Tribute to Bob Rae 15 lap event from July 30 saw a first-time winner emerge as James Baber grabbed the big win, topping Chris Diovardi, Todd Burtscher, Ian Jezylo, Clarity Newhouse, Stephanie Bradley, Joe Rozek, Jeffrey Kurzyniec, Alan Kennedy, Adam Jezylo and Rich Abel. Greg and Tami Barron, representing the Rae family, presented the trophy to James.

Abel bounced back in the evening’s 15 lap event to take the win over Kurzyniec, Burtscher, Wilburn Parks, Ian Jezylo, Aaron Greathouse, Baber, Diovardi, Rozek and Dennis Helsel.

An amazing 38 car field was on hand for the Street Stock division. Heat winners were Steve Searles, Luttermoser, Robbie Moore Jr., Newhouse, Ian Jezylo and Bradley. Studt set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time at 13:673. Diovardi led the B field with a lap of 14:187.

For one weekend ONLY, Flat Rock and Toledo will switch race nights. This Friday night, August 12, Flat Rock Speedway will race on Friday night and switch race nights with Toledo Speedway. Toledo will run Saturday night, August 13

Flat Rock’s Friday, August 12 race program will feature a 250 lap Monroe News Enduro race and weekly point races for both the ARCA Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8’s and the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks. The “Friday Night Special” will also be Kid’s Night, with all kids to age 12 being admitted free. Each child will also receive a free hot dog. And, just added, fans will see the “Presidential Grudge Race”.

The pit area open at 3:30 Friday, practice begins at 5, the front gates and ticket office open at 5, time trials are at 6 and racing begins at 7 p.m. Friday night, August 12.