(complete results for all classes are posted on an earlier thread)

“Rumble in the SeaGate Centre,” Toledo, Ohio
Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008

Stanbrough puts on show for Schrader, crowd

By RON WARE
Classic Motorsports

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Jon Stanbrough may have had the best seat in the house Saturday, but Ken Schrader probably got the best view.

Stanbrough put on a show on the final night of the “Rumble in the SeaGate Centre,” slicing and dicing his way through lapped traffic for a convincing victory over Billy Wease and Schrader in the 60-lap midget feature. From his vantage point several car-lengths behind, Schrader could only watch in admiration as his teammate for the weekend deftly showed his skill.

Racing indoors, the longtime NASCAR Sprint Cup driver said, isn’t terribly complicated.

“It’s easy,” Schrader said with a smile. “All you’re doing is turning left.

“But he’s so good in traffic. That’s what it’s all about.”

The 41-year-old Stanbrough has long been regarded as one of the nation’s top non-winged sprint car drivers, as his 15 overall victories in 2008 attest. But now, racing indoors on concrete instead of outdoors on dirt, he’s won twice in three starts for Rick Daugherty’s Peterbilt of Northwest Ohio team.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” said Stanbrough, from Avon, Ind. “One thing I think I’ve learned is to be patient. Sixty laps is not a long way on this racetrack, but you do have to make it through all of them. Be patient, be smart and try not to make any mistakes.”

A lack of patience -- and a broken radius rod -- doomed Lou Cicconi Jr., who has qualified no worse than second in the three Rumble Series races but has yet to finish better than 10th. Glued to Stanbrough’s tail through the first 43 laps, Cicconi tried to pass high and low but eventually spun in turn two while trying the outside groove.

Stanbrough pulled away from Wease and Schrader, with Tony Elliott and Matt Westfall completing the top five in the 14-car field.

Wease, the winner here on Friday, gave car owner Randy Burrow the series point lead but, like Schrader, had nothing for Stanbrough.

“His car kind of turned better than mine did,” Wease said. “It was kind of a weird racetrack. The grip changed in ways we didn’t expect. We just kind of missed it.”

John Ivy bagged the 40-lap winged outlaw modified midget after Charlie Schultz, the winner on Friday, exited with an engine problem. Brian Sebetto, Devon Dobie, Damen Bock and Dalton Adkins won in karts, while Bryce Dickson, Austin Nemire, Nick Ley and Cooper Clouse took home quarter midget victories.

The Rumble Series wraps up its season Dec. 26-27 with the 11th annual “Rumble in Fort Wayne,” where Tony Stewart will compete both nights with the midgets. Stewart and Wease are the defending champions at the Memorial Coliseum Expo Center.

Schrader, 53, sounded like he’s open to an invitation again next season.

“It’s fun, man,” he said. “It’s good racing. You’re limited with what you can do (as a driver) in December. The Rumble Series does a great job.

“And I really like watching the kids. They’re great to watch.”

As he found out on Saturday, some of those middle-aged guys aren’t too bad to watch, either.

“It’s easy,” Schrader said with a smile. “All you’re doing is turning left.".

Then, why didn't you win? Isn't that all you do in the "doorslammer" series too, Kenny?
Just turn LEFT!?!
Give JRS the credit he deserves for kicking your ass, Kenny!

"But he's so good in traffic. That's what it's all about."

Uh, I believe he did there, bud. Why the hard-on for one of racings all-time nice guys?

SeaGate Centre race spectators evacuated as CO levels rise


Toledo firefighters said they ended the Rumble Racing Series early Saturday night when carbon monoxide levels rose too high inside the SeaGate Convention Centre.

Fire Capt. Bryce Blair said exhaust fumes from the powerful miniature race cars raised the carbon monoxide level to 350 parts per million, and the decision was made to end the last race early, open all of the exterior doors at the downtown hall, and evacuate the 1,500 spectators.

“If we go to someone’s house and they have 10 parts per million, that’s enough to red-flag it,” Captain Blair said. “The cars were putting out a significant amount of exhaust and carbon monoxide. That can cause respiratory problems.”

However, Tony Barhorst, the owner of the race, said the race was nearly done when the firefighters who had been monitoring the event took their action.

“Toledo’s fire marshals [sic] are very strict and to the letter. We didn’t have any complaints,” Mr. Barhorst said.

Mark Smyth, a midget racer mechanic at the event, said “the air wasn’t bad until the very end. When it’s real bad, you can get almost dopey. I’ve been here all day and it wasn’t at that level at all.”

The Rumble Series’ indoor events feature national midget cars, winged modified midgets, go-karts, and quarter midgets. The vehicles burn methanol fuel, Mr. Smyth said.

Well this is news. The air quality at Toledo, to me, was one of the best indoor venues I've experienced. The air was very good all day, IMO.

Here is what actually happened. The fire marshall's have always been very active with their meter's at indoor events in Toledo...They were monitoring the air again Saturday...we were fine Friday.

The fire marshalls gave their order just as the white flag waved. Eight seconds later..the race was over...fans left the building happy..and we had NO complaints...no problems.

The article is misleading...by a reporter who came to talk well after it was over...

I have ideas on how to deal with the exhaust however in the future...and...improvements will be made.

The Seagate Centre's exhaust system is not as efficient as Fort Wayne's.

One big change could help...it would be great if all the cars had starters.
A couple of our push trucks were putting out quite a bit of exhaust.

NOT ONE OUR DRIVERS HAD A PROBLEM, THEIR REFLEXES WERE TOP NOTCH IN A WILD NIGHT OF RACING.

This is a big over reaction. That being said..improvements will be made.

I rented 7 large fans to put under the doors...and the quality was great all day..except at the end....where it did pick up.

I walked...with and watched the meters all day. One they gave the order..it went out over the scanner...alerting a sleepy news room to a story that can fill space.

How does it feel to be painted in an unfair and negative light?

Karma, if you ask me.

Hey another stone thrown from nameless online chicken

We had great TV coverage all weekend in Toledo...with many interviews on multiple stations..the most TV coverage ever during our events. That includes my RCA Dome Races. They were there...and not one TV reporter had a problem.

The City Of Indianapolis NEVER sent in a squad of Fire Marshall meters to any of Ted Hollingsworth or my events at the Dome....Cities are different..and this is one that has NO indoor race history..other than my race in 1999....AND THEY WERE THE SAME WAY THEN!

You have to take the bad with the good. That being said...Have A Merry Christmas.

For those that did not attend the Toledo event, it's worth noting that the city was hit with a major storm Friday morning that closed all the skools and caused majors problems throughout the area. A promoter's nightmare. There was ice everywhere, vehicles covered with ice, major snow and slush. On the other hand the Toledo Seagate Center was a pleasant surprise and a very nice facility. A beautiful lobby, a relaxing food venue area, a local radio station broadcasting live, concessions, a special Rumble Newspaper for fans to read, entertainment etc etc. The track was good sized and very comfortable and ample seating for the spectators. This is one of the few indoor events where the specatators can see the pits, race track and almost everything going on that has anything to do with racing, all visable from the spectator seating. Once again Tony Barhorst has proven that he is one of the premiere promoters in the country.