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Flat Rock hosted the 4th ARCA Gold Cup long distance Super Late Model race last Saturday and one thing the fans were assured of was seeing a new winner. Scott Hantz was victorious in the two events at Toledo while Mike Luberda Jr. won the Stan Yee Memorial event at Flat Rock last month. Neither was entered at the "Level Pebble" this weekend, so it was clear there would be a new face in victory lane. Harold Fair Jr. rose to the occasion, as last year's Gold Cup champion took his first win of the season in the Royal Truck and Trailer white and red no. 71.

Eric Lee set fast time, and with the 9 car inversion, Fair Jr., started on the pole in front of the 24 car field. Harold took off at the start followed by Dennis Strickland and Jeremy Vanderhoof to pull away by several car lengths. The real mover for the first part of the race was Steve Cronenwett Jr. in his No. 21 as he set sail in the outside lane and moved from 8th to 2nd in the first 25 laps. There were a couple of minor spins and a debris caution during the first 20 laps, but Harold was able to pull away each restart and continue to lead the way without any real challenges.

At the 50 lap halfway point, Fair Jr. still had a comfortable lead over Cronenwett Jr., Justin Schroeder, and Paul Pelletier. The traffic is always tough on a quarter mile and Fair Jr. managed to handle it with ease, as he was able to maintain the lead as he worked through the lapped cars. After a short caution on lap 72, Cronenwett restarted right on Harold's bumper but was unable to get by. Justin Schroeder in his No. 4 started his big charge with just 21 laps to go and after taking 2nd from Stevie was able to drive right up to Fair's rear bumper. Lap after lap, Justin applied heavy pressure as he tried repeatedly to find a way past Harold, but to no avail.

The fans groaned as a debris caution with just 10 to go interrupted the great duel between Fair Jr., and Schroeder, but the fireworks were just starting, as the top 4 restarted nose to tail for the 10 lap shootout. The order at the restart was Fair Jr., Schroeder, Cronenwett Jr., and Pelletier. It was quickly shaping up as a fantastic finish as all four were racing just inches apart while battling for the top spot. Alas, it was not to be as Justin got a little out of shape going into turn 3 and was tagged by Cronenwett causing Stevie to make hard contact with the wall. Unfortunately, there was an altercation in the infield pits causing a red flag while the officials got things settled down. The final result of the altercation was that Schroeder was black flagged and sent to the pits for the remainder of the race, but both drivers were suspended for the next few weeks.  There was one last restart with just 4 to go and Paul Pelletier did his best to pass Fair Jr., but ran out of laps and finished 2nd followed by Eric Lee in 3rd.

In victory lane, Harold said "Not really the way we wanted to win it. The car tightened up way too much, but we'll take it any way we can get it."

A happy Paul said after a close 2nd place, "This is a new car. We are still trying to get the bugs out; all we can do is try."

Next up was the 25 lap Street Stock A Feature. Ron Allen jumped right out of his Late Model to start on the Street Stock pole in his yellow No. 57 machine. Ron jumped out to the lead at the start followed by Clyde McKee and Dave Tanner. There was an early caution on Lap 4, and on the restart, Allen pulled away followed by a great side by side battle for 2nd between McKee and Dan Ford Jr. Ford Jr. in his No. 99 finally got by McKee on Lap 13 and chased down Ron to get right on his bumper. Dan tried a last lap move on the outside, but Ron was able to maintain the advantage to win by just a fender.  Rich Abel won the Street Stock B main feature.

Last race of the night was the 20 lap Figure 8 feature. Jeremy Miller led most of the way with a strong challenge by the "Rebel" Dennis Whisman. Dennis tried lap after lap to get by Jeremy, but couldn't find a way past as Miller handled traffic beautifully. Dennis made one last bonzai move going to the checker as he spun backwards going across the line, but fell just short as Miller took the win.

Jeremy told the fans," We were having too much fun out there. I knew Dennis was back there, but I did a lot of defensive driving." With a grin he said," I guess the Figure 8 drivers must have better tempers than the Late Model guys."

The 5th and last event of the Late Model Gold Cup is next Friday 7/31 at Toledo Speedway.