(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Entry blanks are out this week for the 24th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200, set for Saturday, September 29 at Toledo Speedway. A rain date of Sunday, September 30 has been established, if needed. 1972 Glass City 200 winner Danny Byrd has been named Grand Marshal for the 2012 edition of the classic.
Great Lakes Helicopter is entering its third season as the title sponsor of this prestigious event. The night of racing carries a purse of over $50,000 in cash and awards, with $5500 going to the winner. $1000 has been posted to start the 200 lap race, which will see a 20 minute break at the lap 101 mark. With prize money and special awards, a driver could walk away with over $8000 in cash and contingency awards.
In addition to the 200 lap Late Model invitational, a 40 lap Sportsman invitational and a 30 lap X car invitational (on the ¼ mile) are also part of the final race of the season at the Glass City oval. Those entries are also being mailed out to the ARCA membership. All 3 entries forms/rules may be downloaded from the track’s webpage. They are located under forms.
Special awards include bonus money for 1-10th place finishers, and the 15th and 20th place finishers, courtesy of Francis Engineering of Leroy, OH. The winner gets $400 extra, 2nd $300, 3rd $200 and $100 each for 4th through 10th, along with 15th and 20th. Dale Francis has also posted $200 for the Half-Way Leader Award and will once again provide a free dinner for those who buy pit passes at the Friday practice session. The dinner includes pulled pork, bbq chicken, potatoes, cole slaw and corn on the cob, all courtesy of Francis Engineering.
Allegiant Travel has 2 round-trip tickets set for the winner of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 and a lucky race fan will also walk away with a pair of airline tickets, courtesy of Allegiant.
PASSTIME will award $500 to the Fast Qualifier for the 200, and Port City Racecars has posted a $500 bonus to the winner if using a Port city chassis. The Most Improved Position $250 bonus is courtesy of Burge Wrecking of Toledo. Penske Shocks will award the winner a $250 gift certificate. Lane Automotive will provide $100 certificates to the 5th and 12th place finishers, while All Star Performance will give $100 awards to the 6th and 10th place drivers.
DTS Drive Train Specialists will serve as sponsor of the B Main event and will award a total of five $50 labor/parts certificates in a random draw. The 30th place driver will also get a DTS certificate.
Moran Chevrolet, title sponsor of the ARCA Late Models at Flat Rock, will award a set of four (4) tires in a random draw for drivers that have pre-paid entries for the 200 lap event.
Woodville Auto Finance of Northwood and First Choice Auto Finance of Toledo will serve as the sponsors of the X Car event on the ¼ mile for the September 29 race, the final race of the 2012 season at the Glass City oval.
In addition to Great Lakes Helicopter, associate sponsors include Francis Engineering, DTS Drive Train Specialists, R & M Recycling, First Care Ambulance, Port City Racecars, Burge Wrecking, Penske Shocks, All Star Performance, Lane Automotive, Moran Chevrolet, Allegiant Travel, Bazell Race Fuels, Sunoco Race Fuels, PASSTIME, Woodville Auto Finance and First Choice Auto Finance. Additional sponsors will be announced as they are secured.
Lap money is available at $10 per lap, and goes to the leader of each lap. Port City Racecars (10 laps), Driven Women Auxiliary (10 laps), DVD Dave (2 laps), WBVS Photos (1 lap), Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club ($25 lap 100 bonus), Luke DeLong (1 lap) and Bryce Bromley (1 lap) are the early lap money sponsors. To sponsor laps, call the track at 419-727-1100. The list will be posted on the track’s webpage beginning September 4.
Byrd, who won numerous races throughout the Midwest and Canada in the 1960’s, 70’s and early 80’s, led every lap of the 1972 Glass City 200, piloting the Bill Hill-owned #08 Chevelle. To this day, Danny is the only driver to lead every lap in a Glass City 200 event.
Friday, September 28 the pit area opens at 2 p.m. for rig parking, tech and tire sales for all 3 classes. An optional practice session will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone that purchases a pit pass on Friday will receive a FREE dinner, courtesy of Francis Engineering of Leroy, OH.
The Saturday, September 29 race day schedule has the pits open at 9:30 a.m., driver’s meeting at 11:30, practice at 12:15, time trials at 3 and racing at 5 p.m. A rain date of Sunday, September 30 has been established.
Log onto www.toledospeedway.com for more information as the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 nears! Tickets are now on sale by calling the track office at 419-727-1100. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/toledoflatrock or follow us on Twitter @toledospeedway.