Fireworks in Toledo leave Simko and St. Denis suspended

By Mike Harper

Jack Landis won the 18th running of the Great Lakes Chevy Dealers/Budweiser Glass City 200 ARCA Late Model race at Toledo Speedway on Sunday afternoon, but the win has been overshadowed by an on-track confrontation between driver’s Michael Simko and Don St. Denis.

At the re-start after a lap 112 caution, St. Denis sent Simko crashing into the wall. During an interview on Monday with cable news channel MSNBC, St. Denis said, "I seen him turn to the bottom of the race track, so to avoid him I jumped on the brake pedal. I couldn’t slow the car enough, I ended up tagging him in the left rear quarter panel sending him into the wall."

After the crash, Simko exited his car and as St. Denis’ car approached him under the caution, Simko ran and jumped through St. Denis’ windshield and then threw his helmet at the driver side window. Simko was then instructed to leave the racing surface by a track official. When St. Denis jumped from his car, he bolted towards Simko and the shoving match began. The two were separated and were retired for the day.

After St. Denis made his appearance on MSNBC, an apologetic Simko was able to share his side of the story via a telephone interview with the same cable news outlet. "I was coming to the green flag, entering turn 3 and the next thing I know I was going for a ride," said Simko. "I hit the wall at a severe rate, got out of the car and saw the damage to my car, and I just….I don’t know what came over me."

The video of the incident circulating the Internet on Monday and the one shown on MSNBC doesn’t show the actual incident that caused Simko’s reaction.

When Simko was asked if he thought St. Denis was targeting him Simko replied, "I don’t think he was appreciative that I passed him, to be honest with you. But I absolutely am apologetic for every one of my reactions. It was totally uncalled for."

Simko closed the interview by saying, "I apologize to Don. I apologize to all of ARCA and to all the fans. This is not acceptable and I take full responsibility for it."

ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) released a statement late Monday afternoon regarding this incident saying, "As a result of their unsportsmanlike actions during Sunday’s Glass City 200 ARCA Late Model race at Toledo Speedway, drivers Michael Simko and Don St. Denis have been suspended from further participation in ARCA sanctioned racing events for an indefinite period of time. The suspensions were issued for violation of ARCA Rulebook Section 3, #10: Conduct or actions detrimental to the sport, unsportsmanlike driving, fighting, and/or taking part in any demonstration which impedes the orderly process of an event shall be subject to penalty."