(TOLEDO, Ohio—July 6, 2012) - Despite
temperatures nearing the 100 degree mark and a searing sun, Harold Fair Jr. grabbed
the victory in Friday night’s ARCA Allegiant Late Model Gold Cup 100 lap
feature event. Dennis Whisman took the
25 lap Road Course race, on a course that used parts of the ¼ mile, ½ mile and
pit road. The heat kept the crowd down
but a hearty group of fans showed for the night of racing at the Glass City
oval.
The 100 lap feature saw a
lap 50 break so the drivers could get a drink of water as the hot and very
humid weather continues to engulf the area.
Claude Plante Jr. and Chad
Guinn made up the front row, via the 11 car inversion. Plante jumped into the lead and held the
point until lap 22 when Guinn came charging back to take the lead. Prior to that, Fastime Racing Engines and
Parts fast qualifier JR Roahrig (15:306) had moved up to 6th by lap
12. At lap 24, Fair Jr. had moved to 3rd,
with Roahrig in tow in 4th spot, but JR encountered mechanical woes
and called it a day on lap 26. On the
re-start, Guinn gave way to Fair and by lap 31 Harold was in the lead, with
Dakota Carlson moving to 2nd spot at the lap 35 mark. A hard crash by Plante on lap 36 brought out
the yellow again, as Claude was able to somehow get his heavily damaged car to
pit road. Fair Jr. held the point to the
lap 50 5 minute water break.
The second half of the race
was all Fair Jr., but Carlson stayed within striking distance until lap 75 when
Fair pulled away to a straight-away lead and on to the victory. Carlson’s great run netted him second, Guinn
rode home third, Nick Grodi had a solid run to take fourth and Dennis
Strickland was fifth, followed by Jack Varney Jr., Mike
Root, Ron Allen, Steve Cronenwett Jr. and Joe Hawes. Brent Jack, Steve Hawes, Mike Luberda Jr.,
Craig Everage, Plante, Roahrig, Lori Hall and Howard Kelley Jr. completed the
rundown of the 18 car field. Chris
Benson withdrew from the event due to a family illness.
Dennis Whisman took top
honors in the 25 lap Road Course race over Tom O’Leary IV, Anthony Terris,
Archie Padgett, Troy Brehmer and Jeff Wells Jr.
Santa Claus is readying his
sleigh for the annual Christmas in July prize giveaway to be held at Toledo
Speedway next Friday, July 13. Lakeshore
Utility Trailer Sales and Velvet Ice Cream will team up to sponsor the Toledo night of
racing. The ARCA ACME Dismantling
Sportsman will stage a 50 lap feature, while the Parts Galore Figure 8’s and R
& M Recycling Street Stocks will also be in action. The Great Lakes Mini Cup cars will also make
a visit to Toledo
for the event.
The front gates open at 5 at
Toledo, time
trials begin at 6:15 and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.