Partridge hopes for better luck at 'home' track
7/7/2006When the teams of the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series race tonight at Toledo Speedway, it will be a homecoming for 18-year-old Kyle Partridge of Newport, Mich.
"Toledo is only about 45 minutes away from my house," said Partridge. "While I was a kid I raced a lot of the
local divisions there before we started touring with the ARCA Lincoln Welders Trucks."
But the last time that the truck series was in Toledo, the 1/2-mile asphalt oval was not good to Partridge.
"Last time I went there we qualified third and we ended up in the fence," said Partridge. "It was hard, because we qualified so good and really seemed like we had a chance for the win during practice, and I am really hoping for some better luck this time."
Partridge hopes this time will be different.
"It's really fast with these ARCA trucks. At the beginning of the season we went there and tested and the truck was really good, but the track was pretty green then so it could be a little different when we head back. Toledo would be an awesome place to bring home my first ARCA Trucks win and that is what I hope to do."
Tonight's card includes the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series for Signature and Toledo Harley Davidson Night, A-1 Auto Parts Factory Stocks, ARCA 4 Cylinders and the Michigan Legends Cars. The "All Odds Beaten" Motorcycle Stunt Show will also take place. All fans that ride their motorcycle to the track will receive a $5 discount on admission price. Time trials are at 6:15 and racing begins at 7:30.
DOUBLEHEADER EVENT: Hemelgarn Racing and Super Fitness will sponsor a doubleheader show of the USAC Sprint Cars and USAC Midgets tomorrow night at Toledo Speedway. Each class will run without wings.
As of July 5, 21 Sprint and 29 Midget teams have filed entries. Several more potential entrants have tested the past few weeks.
The one-lap track record holder, Cameron Dodson, has indicated that he will be at the USAC Sprint Car portion. Dodson and car owner Dick Myers tested at the track last week. Dodson blistered the track June 16 with his winged AVSS Sprint Car turning in a one-lap time of 12.902 seconds. Dodson will have to wheel his way around the track tomorrow without a wing, however. Defending race winners are Michael Lewis in the Sprints and Josh Wise in the Midgets.
A complete race program is slated for both groups, including practice, qualifying, heat races, last-chance races and the main events. Tomorrow's schedule has the pits opening at 1, practice at 3, time trials at 5 and racing at 7.