Flat Rock Speedway

Flat Rock, MI—September 3, 2016: Perhaps the best weather of the season for Saturday night racing at Flat Rock Speedway greeted a huge, standing-room only crowd for the Dani’s Transport School Bus Figure 8 races. Each event brought loud ovations and cheers as the racers did their part by providing a sensational night of entertainment. Dani’s Transport General Manager Andy O’Bryan, his family and the employees of Dani’s Transport presented the trophies to the victors in the 7-Up Winner’s Circle.

The School Bus Figure 8 event saw a pair of wild roll-overs and a big, big hit as the finale’ was the featured event of the night. Through it all, Pete Shrake wheeled the Budget Tire bus to the win. Dennis Whisman piloted the Hop Culture, LLC bus to the lead early, but took aim on AJ Padgett, at the wheel of the Dani’s Transport ride. Whisman plowed into AJ and crunched the front end of his bus as it rolled to a stop. The collision also ended Padgett’s night. Just 2 laps in to the race, Padgett got over on his side at the intersection as the crowd roared. AJ was not done, as his bus was put back up on all 4 wheels and off he went. This time AJ took a shot at Terry Smith in the Sportway bus and slammed into Smith, taking the body off the back side off of Terry’s bus. The other roll-over was at the hands of Jack Franzil, courtesy of Billy Earley and the Veterans Cleaning ride. Billy tagged Jack as he went through the intersection, sending Jack flying up on 2 wheels in the Lakeshore Utility Trailer bus and over on its side, as Franzil slid up the bank of the oval and came to rest.   All drivers were ok. Jeremy Vanderhoof, in the Jani-King bus, took chase to his fellow competitors throughout the contest, looking to do the damage.

The lead-in to the Bus Race, the Boat Figure 8 race, created an unbelievable roar from the crowd. AJ Padgett and Dennis Whisman Jr. played tag for several laps, sliding back and forth in front of each other, making enough contact with their cars on the boat/trailers to get them a little bit out of shape....and then the final 4 laps stirred the crowd with probably the loudest cheering ever heard a “The Rock”. The duo now began to really apply the front bumper each and every lap, turning the boats/trailers totally sideways. First AJ would try to get Whisman’s boat out of shape, and then Dennis would take his shot at doing the same to AJ. This became a continuous incident around the entire Figure 8 course lap after lap as the cheers rained down out of the stands and spectator hill. Coming to the checkered flag, the duo drag-raced to the stripe, with AJ just nosing out Whisman Jr. by inches for the win. Justin Chamberlin, Bill Carberry, Mike Luebke and Joe Vanderhoof were the other contestants.

The Flag Pole races were split into 2 events-one for the Stock Cars, the other for the Figure 8’s. Bill Carberry piloted his #48 to the win in the Stock Car Flag Pole event, as music blared from his car every lap! Spins, contact and plain mayhem highlighted the 15 car event, which requires the cars to make a lap around a tire in the front straight and a tire in the backstretch each time. James Pankow, Kyle Worley, Mike Busby, Scott Apperson, Mike Miller, Chamberlin, Adam Jezylo, Joe Vanderhoof, Ian Jezylo, Luebke, Colin Barron, Kenny Heebsh, Jimmy Little and James Baber trailed the winner.

2016 Figure 8 champion Billy Earley jumped behind the wheel of Dan Apperson’s #O8 and grabbed the win in the Figure 8 Flag Pole race over Whisman Jr., Scott Apperson, Jeremy Vanderhoof, Travis Earley, David Katafiasz and James Vanderhoof.

Dennis Whisman Sr. took the lead from Parker Wade on lap 3 and then withstood a late-race charge by Jeremy Vanderhoof and Billy Earley to win the 20 lap Victory Lane Oil Change Figure 8 feature. In the closing laps, Dennis and Jerremy ran door to door, with Billy tucked in right behind the lead duo, looking for an opening. On the final lap, Whisman edged out front as Vanderhoof hit the gas pedal. Dennis just nosed out Jeremy for the win, with Vanderhoof second, Earley third, Greg Studt fourth and Katafiasz fifth, followed by Scott Apperson, Whisman Jr., Wade, Randy Roberts, Ricky Ferrell, Travis Earley, James Vanderhoof and AJ Padgett. Whisman Sr. and Wade took the heat wins.

The DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main 25 lap feature saw Kyle Worley endure another late-race battle to win the event. Worley zipped away with the lead, but Dan Ford Jr. and 2016 track champ Greg Studt began to reel in Kyle with 10 laps to go. Ford Jr., a former champion in the class, was making his first start in several years. The duo got to the bumper of Kyle as the white flag came out. Worley and a lapped car made contact, sending Kyle a bit sideways. But, he gathered it up and stayed in front on the way to the win. Ford Jr., Studt, Landon Schuster and Mike Young (at the wheel of Nick Shanks #97) rounded out the top 5. Danny Gaddis (in Craig Lange’s #76), Jeff Metdepenningen, Jimmy Little, Pete Shrake and Clarity Newhouse rounded out the top 10. Jeff Luttermoser, Aaron Greathouse, Colin Barron, Wilburn Parks, Clyde McKee, Ian Jezylo, James Baber, Don Roberts, Chris Diovardi and John Smolinski completed the final rundown.

James Pankow nosed out Rich Abel in the final few feet to win the 15 lap Street Stock B Main contest. Rob Liedel, Adam Jezylo, Todd Burtscher, Greg Critchfield and Stephanie Bradley were next in line in the finishing order. Heat race winners were Jeff Luttermoser, Schuster, Ford Jr., Studt and Worley.

The final race of 2016 at Flat Rock Speedway is set for Saturday, September 10. It’s also Kids Night! All kids to age 12 will be admitted FREE and receive a FREE hot dog! The Monroe News 250 lap Enduro race and a visit from the touring Great Lakes Mini Cup Cars are on the race schedule.

The pit area opens at 2:30, the front gates and ticket office open at 4, practice begins at 4, time trials are at 5 and racing begins at 6 p.m.