Sarver, PA June 4, 2004
Young Chad Hill, the "Kittanning Charger", thrilled the crowd with his precision skills to win the 20-lap 3rd annual Bill Steinbach Memorial/St. Barnabas Health System Sprint main event collecting $1,700. Garnering their first features in 2004 were Lynn Geisler, Cranberry Twp, in the Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Models and Gary Risch Jr of Freeport, in the Ferrante Motor Cars Modifieds. Defending 2003 champion Joe Kelley became the first repeat victor in the Dingbat Restaurants Pure Stock main event.
The "King of the Hill" in Bill Steinbach Memorial/St. Barnabas Health System Sprint feature was Chad Hill, who is in his fourth racing season. Hill started on the pole and led the entire race, but it was not an easy win for him. Hill cut the right rear tire on lap seven and needed green laps to maintain air pressure. Hill said, "The right rear tire is the heart and soul of the race car!" Hill benefited from a driving error by Gary Kriess, who had shadowed him. On lap 11, determined Kriess was "reeling" him in when he went over the rim in turn two, losing three spots and eventually settling for third place. The strong running Shetler then threatened Hill, passing him at one point of the track. With five laps to go, a caution flag occurred for Glenn Noland's #34 that stopped on the back straight thwarting Shetler's best efforts. When the race resumed, runner-up, Dan Shetler was directly behind Hill, but Hill's Trueimage Tatoo/Notery Express/A-K Motors/Tomahawk Trailers #44 moved ahead with a great restart and went unchallenged the distance to finish six car-lengths in front of him. Hill said, "This is pretty cool. I saw Shetler on the bottom of the track late in the race. He is as fast as it gets; he's a heck of a driver." This was Shetler's best finish. With two wins, Hill tops the Budweiser Point Chart over Kevin Schaeffer by 23 digits. Former point leader, Ed Lynch Jr attended the World of Outlaws Sprint race at Sharon. With respect to Lynch, Hill said, "Lynch Jr is the best driver in the area. When he's not here, everyone gets a little crazy, because everyone wants to win so badly." He further lamented, "When he's not here, that's like taking away the biggest factor." Fourth place went to Arnie Kent, and following was Rod George who had started 19th. Scott Bonnell sixth was his best showing. Mike Shearer and Kevin Schaeffer came back from early mishaps to place seventh and tenth. Veteran driver Jerry Matus' eighth place was his best finish of 2004 and Gary Rankin was ninth. Bonnell, Kriess Jr, and Schaeffer won the heat races and Rod George was the B-Main victor.
Driving a superb race, Lynn Geisler was #1 in the 20-lap Friedmans Supermarket's/Bi- Foods Late Model class, claiming the first win of the season and career 98th victory at the track. Coming from eighth, Geisler's Cochran Automotive/Marshall Stamping/ Tri-State Hose #1C battled early leader Nick Jones for several laps. On lap seven, using the low line of turn two, Geisler made the winning pass and then eventually moved up to the cushion to take keep the lead. The racing was hot and heavy and Geisler said, "It was a good clean race with Nick Jones." The legendary Geisler remained up front, but was flanked by Jones, David Scott and point leader John Flinner respectively, all of whom were applying pressure. Although Geisler had a rough start early this season, he is the longest winning driver currently racing, who has won a race every year dating as far back to 1981. In all classes, Geisler ranks second in total victories to Bob Wearing Jr with 117. In victory lane Geisler said, "I would like to thank Friedman's Supermarket's Bi-Lo Food for their support. They have had a lot of problems but they are kind of like racers, they never give up!" Geisler also added, "This is a special night for my friend Bill Steinbach. I'm glad to come out here and do him justice." Fifth through tenth spots went to Tommy Kitchen, Gary Lyle, Doug Eck, Chuck Kennedy, Spanky Daugherty and Bobby Hoffman. Rob Kosecki rode the front wall flipping the 36D in front of the flag stand. He walked away from the accident. Flinner and Jones won the heat races. "
Gary Risch Jr claimed his first 2004 20-lap Ferrante Motor Cars Modified feature with a great run over Davey Murdick. Cautions help or hurt you, but tonight Justin Broerman's racer's "spinning misfortune" in turn two of lap 13, worked in Risch's favor. Murdick had a sizable lead cut, and on the restart, Risch used the inside groove to forge the G&D Beverage /Ferrante Motor Cars/Sarver Automotive Express #3G into the front spot. He never looked back, and relegated Davey Murdick to a second place finish. Risch said, "We had a heck of a car tonight. I new we were fast on the bottom. We turned a few knobs there under that caution." Risch too has had a series of problems plague him early in the season, but he said, "It's been a long season and I'm glad to be up here. My guys work so hard. Hopefully we're going in the right direction now!" This is his career third win at the track, but Murdick's second gave him enough points to place him on top of the Budweiser Point Challenge by 6 over Jim Weller. Brian Swartzlander placed third and ensuing were Kevin Bolland, Lonnie Riggs, Jim Weller Jr, Tommy Marshall, Carl Murdick, Edie Brown and Mike Sutton. Weller and Dave Murdick won the prelims.
Having a banner year, Joe Kelley battled the entire race with Butch Lambert to win his 19th career victory in the Dingbat's Restaurant Pure Stocks. Kelley took the front position from Lambert on lap three to win the event. Kelley is third on the All-Time Pure Stock Win list, tied with Chuck Kennedy for third, leads the Cavalcade points and first in the Budweiser Point Pure Stock Point Challenge. A modest Kelley said, "We've been pretty lucky this year." As Kelley accepted the Bertolini trophy the skies opened up and the rains blessed victory lane. Lambert's second place was his season's best, after warding off Scott Bochek, Rob Shook and Bob Egley efforts. Sixth through tenth place went to Greg Beach, Paul Schreckengost, Dave Spangler, Herman Bertolini and Nick Reges. Beach, Kelley and Schreckengost won the heat events and Jeff Bastin captured the B-Main. Bertolini was the Stover-Net Hard Charger moving up 12 spots in the feature.