Pleasant Lake, IN driver Scott Hantz made it 2 wins in 2 races in 2009 at Toledo Speedway, as hepicked up the win in the ARCA Late Model Hantz Group/Allegiant Air Gold Cup Late Model 75 lap feature Friday evening. Marco's Pizza and Teamsters Local 20 served as co-sponsors for the night. Brad Turner, Eric Huston and Kent Jones also scored feature wins and made their way to the Glass Bowl Lanes Winner's Circle.
With a 9-car inversion, Australian Andrew Hagen and Justin Schroeder brought the field to the green flag. The quick field ran the first 23 laps green as Hagen jumped out front. By lap 16 Hantz, moving from that 9th spot, took over third, darting under Schroeder. The red appeared on lap 23 when Steve Peters grenaded an engine, coating the track with oil. After a quick cleanup, the race got back to green and Hagen took off again with Ron Allen still in pursuit and Hantz joining the fray. Current Gold Cup co-point leader Dennis Strickland retired at this point. At lap 29 the yellow flew when top 5 runner Paul Pelletier spun, while Schroeder ducked down pit road for service. Back to green and the race stayed green the rest of the distance, giving Hantz the shot at second on lap 36 when he dove under Allen. For the remainder of the event, Hagen and Hantz battled back and forth, as Scott dipped low lap after lap looking for the lead. Finally, in lapped traffic, Scott moved low on lap 64, grabbing the lead and sailing to the win over a great run by Hagen, in only his second start ever at Toledo. Allen took third, Mike Root charged back to take fourth and Harold Fair Jr. was fifth, followed by Brent Jack, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Jeff Bailey (all on the lead lap), Schroeder and Pelletier. Hantz was incredible in time trials with a lap of 14:836, leading the 21 car field and just missing the 8 year old track mark of Jr. Hanley of 14:817. Steve Cronenwett Jr., Harold Fair Sr. and Strickland captured the heat races.
Eric Huston was the victor in the 20 lap ARCA Speedway Tire and Auto Factory Stock feature race, which saw all green flag racing. Tim Shine led the event until lap 12 until Huston took the top spot, moving on to the victory. Don Cox was second, Landon Schuster third, Dave Arnold Jr. fourth and Cory McCaughey fifth, followed by Shine, Josh Bunting, Matt Ringger, Mike Hammer and Brian Ringger.
Kent Jones took top honors in the 10 lap B Main over Dusty Brunt, John Rabideau and Mark Davis. Heat race winners were Arnold Jr., Jesse Carillo and Brunt. Amanda Bland won the last-chance race over TJ Miller, AJ Padgett and Craig Osenbaugh. Huston set quick time at 11:950.
A 3-wide finish at the line saw Brad Turner just nose out Perry Marlow and Michael Marlow for the win in the 20 lap ARCA 4 Cylinder main event. Perry led the entire distance, which went all green, except the final 40 feet as Turner steamed by on the outside lane to just nip Perry at the stripe, while Michael darted low to create the 3-wide finish. Matt Brazeau and Dave Stadniczuk were next in line. Turner set fast time at 13:140, with Perry Marlow taking the heat race win.
Racing action gives way to the Monster Truck Jam shows at Toledo Speedway next Friday and Saturday, July 24/25. Tickets are on sale at the track office. Show times are 7:30 p.m. both nights.
Friday, July 31 the Late Models return for the final race in the 5-race series for the Hantz Group/Allegiant Air Gold Cup. Another 75 lap feature is on tap, along with action provided by the ARCA Speedway Tire and Auto Factory Stocks and the ARCA 4 Cylinders. The Late Model race is the re-scheduled date of the June 19 event that was rained out.
Car Credit Medic has signed on to sponsor the July 31 show, which is also Kid's Night. All kids 14 and under will be admitted FREE with an adult, and each kid will receive a free hot dog, chips and a drink. The gates will open at 4:30 and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.
