Tough Day for VanDoorn at Toledo

Hantz Conquers Big Red Creme Soda 100 at Toledo

TOLEDO, OH (5-22-09)-- Pleasant Lake, IN driver Scott Hantz zipped into the lead on lap 44 and sailed to victory in the Big Red Crème Soda 100 for the ARCA Hantz Group/Allegiant Air Glass City Gold Cup Late Model Series Friday evening at Toledo Speedway. Gladys Cothern and Steve Harsh, representing Big Red, presented the Gold Cup to Scott in the Glass Bowl Lanes Winner’s Circle.
A solid field of 27 Late Models made the trip to Toledo for the first race of the 5 race series, and the first of 3 events at the Glass City oval. Hantz started the night off by ripping off a lap of 15:097 to set quick time. Dennis Strickland jumped into the lead at the start and ran strong out front, with Brent Jack, Harold Fair Jr. and Hantz played cat and mouse for second spot. John VanDoorn brought out the first yellow when his machine went up in a cloud of smoke on lap 14, bringing out the first of 6 yellow flags. The race restarted and by lap 26, both Fair Jr. and Hantz slipped by Jack, who slowed on lap 32 when a power steering belt broke, sending him to pit road. At lap 42, Scott got by Fair Jr. for second and reeled in Strickland, taking the lead on lap 44. A couple of long stretches of green helped the leaders build up a sizable lead.

A race-long battle continued behind the leaders as Justin Schroeder, Steve Cronenwett Jr., Mike Root and first-time visitor Dakota Carlson ran together in a pack for the last 30 laps. Meanwhile, on lap 58 Fair Jr. slipped by Strickland and the defending Gold Cup champ pedaled hard to catch the fleet Hantz. Fair Jr. got to Scott’s bumper by lap 71 but didn’t have quite enough for Hantz, who sailed to the big win and a $2500 payday. Schroeder’s great run ended 3 laps shy as he dove down pit road while running fourth. Hantz was followed by Fair Jr., Strickland, Mike Root and Steve Cronenwett, the top 5 cars and all on the lead lap. Root made a quick move when Schroeder’s problem developed, allowing him to get to fourth spot. Carlson ran a great race to finish sixth and Harold Fair Sr. was seventh, also on the lead lap. Bill Litogot, Joe Hawes and Schroeder completed the top ten.