Flat Rock, Michigan-August 11, 2012: Current Midwest Super Modified Association (MSA) point leader Trent Stephens sailed to a dominating win in Saturday’s 40 lap main event at Flat Rock Speedway. The race, the first Super Modified event at Flat Rock in over 30 years, saw 10 cars in the 10 second bracket in qualifying in an impressive display of speed and power. Heritage Newspapers served as the sponsor for the race card. Other feature winners were Rob Moore, Gary Cronenwett and Chris Metdepenningen.
The 15 MSA cars on hand used the practice sessions to get familiar with the fast ΒΌ mile paved oval, as only a few drivers had ever competed at “The Rock” in the past. Stephens got hooked up and put down a lap of 10:449 in the qualifying session. The 40 lap main saw Trent start in the 8th spot, and 3 quick yellows in the first 6 laps slowed the action. The final 34 laps were straight green flag, and Stephens and the MSA stars showed their muscle. By lap 3, Trent had moved into the lead by going both high and low to take control of the race. In fact, he was on a rail as he flawlessly zipped through the pack and ran 30 laps in the 10 second bracket during the feature! At the finish, only second place DJ Shullick and third place Charlie Schultz were on the lead lap as the furious pace set by Stephens put cars down a lap or more. Kyle Edwards was fourth and Bobby Dawson came from the back to 5th spot at the finish. Zach Gibson, AJ Lesiecki Jr., Jon Henes, Bob Reisz and Brandon Fisher rounded out the top 10. Kevin Shirey, Mike McVetta, Jim Paller and Matt Marlow completed the finishing order. Jack Smith snapped an axle during a heat race and tagged the wall, ending his night. Stephens and Schultz were the heat race winners.
Rob Moore held back the challenge of Frank Jiovani to grab his first win of 2012 in the 25 lap ARCA DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stock A Main feature. The race was slowed by a rash of yellow flags. Rob led every lap, as Rich Frantz, Clyde McKee and Tadek Stadniczuk all took shots to charge to the front using the high lane. Moore stayed out front of Jiovani at the checkered flag to take the win, marking the 9th different winner in the division this season. Stadniczuk came home third, Frantz fourth and McKee fifth, followed by Kyle Worley, Billy Cronce, Steve Chartrand, Jeff Luttermoser and Joe Haener. With several scratches, the B Main saw just 2 cars make the call for the start. Don Roberts and Anthony Camilli traded the lead until Don bobbled just a bit coming out of turn 2, allowing Anthony to slide under him going down the backstretch and then on to the victory in the B Main contest.
Grant Hedges set the Fastime Racing Engines and Parts fast time for the 28 car field at 13:556, but got caught up in a wreck in the feature that eliminated him and Scott Selmi from the feature in the early stages of the contest. Roberts led the B Main with a lap of 14:610. Heat race winners were Camilli, Haener, Craig Lange and Moore.
Mark up win number 3 of the season for Gary Cronenwett as he got by leader Robbie Loving on a double file restart to grab the victory in the 20 lap ARCA Parts Galore Figure 8 contest. That duo started on the front row, as Robbie got the jump at the green flag. A red flag came out at lap 6 when Steve Chartrand tagged Brian Norton, sending Norton for a spin, where he came to rest just past the start-finish line. On the restart, Gary held his ground and zipped by Loving on the straight-away as he stayed there for the final 13 laps to take the win over Loving, Dennis Whisman, Jeremy Vanderhoof and Jeremy Miller, who got by Greg Studt in the final 2 laps to take 5th spot. Greg was sixth, followed by Scott Apperson, Allen Bland Jr., Danny Apperson and Ian Jezylo. Loving and Danny Apperson took the heat race wins, while Miller posted the fast time at 20:693.
Chris Metdepenningen stayed a few car lengths in front of challenger Jeff Wells to win the 20 lap ARCA 4 Cylinder main event. Third was Ray McClure, fourth was Katie Coseo and fifth went to David Katafiasz. Metdepennigen made it a clean sweep of the night by setting fast time (14:814) and winning the heat race for the class.
Saturday, August 18 is UAW Local 3000/Leppen Chiropractic Autograph Night at Flat Rock Speedway! Fans can walk onto the track and meet the drivers of the Moran Chevrolet Late Models, Parts Galore Figure 8’s and DTS Drive Train Specialists Street Stocks. Many of the race teams provide treats for fans of all ages!
The track will also host Armed Forces Appreciation Night next Saturday. All military personnel will be admitted FREE, both active and retired. Please show military ID at the ticket windows on race night for admission.
The pits open at 2:30, practice begins at 3:30, time trials are at 5, the on-track autograph session takes place at 6:15 and racing begins at 7 p.m.