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[/media-credit]Flat Rock, MI-May 12, 2012: Flat Rock Speedway and sponsor Parts Galore welcomed back dozens of former drivers for the Racer’s Reunion and to celebrate 50 years of Figure 8 racing at the track. The rain stayed to the north of the speedway, allowing for the Autograph Night, reunion and the race card to be completed with no weather issues.
Among the Figure 8 drivers on hand were Flat Rock’s 3 all-time Figure 8 feature win leaders-Bob Studt, Dick “Little Richard” Simmons and Chuck Hall. Studt and Hall, who both still live in the area, are at the track each week, while Simmons, who made the trip from Florida, was the very first Figure 8 king at Flat Rock in 1962 and was the star of the early days of Figure 8 racing.
The crowd was treated to another great night of action at “The Rock”, with Robbie Loving taking the victory in the exciting 50 lap ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 headliner. Paul Pelletier made it 2 in a row in the Moran Chevrolet Late Models, while Landon Schuster, teamed with veteran car owner Bill Meade this season, grabbed the ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock feature.
With former Figure 8 drivers on hand from as far away as Arizona and Florida, the current crop of Figure 8 pilots put a smile on the faces of the men that blazed the path for this type of racing at Flat Rock Speedway for 50 years. Â A sensational Parts Galore 50 lap feature saw 3 different leaders as the strong 18 car field provided pure entertainment and excitement-dodging cars at the intersection, racing side by side, bumping and running door to door and all the little things that go with it to make Figure 8 racing one of the best races in the nation in terms of entertainment. Early leader Jeremy Vanderhoof took charge at the start and was strong out front but Dennis Whisman reeled in the defending track champ to grab the lead around the half-way mark. Whisman, who is currently fifth in the all-time win category for the class, had company in the final 5 laps. Robbie Loving, fresh off his win at Toledo Friday night, zipped by Dennis to take the top spot and stay there to grab his second win in a row at Flat Rock, giving him 3 total wins for the Figure 8 division in the first 2 weeks of the season. The top 6 ran nose to tail for much of the 50 lap race. Whisman held on to second, Greg Studt took third, Jeremy Miller fourth and Vanderhoof was fifth, followed by Gary Cronenwett, Jerry Lee, Danny Gaddis, Steve Chartrand and Sam Hall. Studt set fast time at 20:672, with heat wins to Gaddis,Miller and Billy Earley.
It’s been a great start to 2012 for Paul Pelletier at Flat Rock. Defending champ Eric Lee led from the start of the 50 lap ARCA Moran Chevrolet Late Model feature and, much like last week, looked like the win was in sight. But lapped traffic gave Pelletier a shot at the lead. As the duo approached the lapped cars, Lee got trapped, Pelletier dipped low and gained control of the lead. Paul sped to the win, making it 2 for 2. Lee, who had a tire go flat last week to take away a potential win, had to settle for second. Ricky Kargel was third, Dennis Strickland fourth and Steve Cronenwett Jr. was fifth. Derek Wiley, Joe Hawes, Stan Yee Jr., Terry Bogusz and Jim Alvis rounded out the top ten. Wiley set fast time for the second week in a row at 11:656. Hawes and rookie Brad Turner captured the heat race wins. 18 cars were on hand for the night.
Landon Schuster notched the win in the 25 lap DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock main event of the night. Landon, in his first year with car owner Bill Meade, led every lap to grab the victory, coming back from a tough opening night last week. Tadek Stadniczuk was second, Scott Selmi was third, (who had engine trouble last week), Grant Hedges fourth and last week’s winner Clyde McKee was fifth. Frank Jiovani, Arnold Kirsch, Rob Moore, Nick Shanks and Terry Lilley were next in line at the finish. Kirsch, Billy Cronce and Rich Frantz were the heat winners. Tim Moore set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts quick time at 13:490 for the 24 car field.
Open-wheel racing returns to Flat Rock Speedway next Saturday, May 19 as part of UAW Local 3000 Scout Night. All scouts in uniform will be admitted FREE and leaders in uniform or with an ID card will also be guests of the speedway. The Buckeye 305 Winged Sprint Cars will make the trip to Flat Rock. The series put on a great show in 2011 with a turn 4 pass for the win. The track’s ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8’s and DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks will also be in action.
The gates open at 3:30, time trials are at 5 and racing begins at 7 p.m. The track is located on Telegraph Road, just 5 minutes from I-75 or I-275. The track phone number is 734-782-2480.
Log onto www.flatrockspeedway.com for more information. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @flatrockspeed.
