TODD ANDREWS, DEL ROUGEUX JR. AND DOUG IORIO II TRIUMPH IN TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY�S OIL REGION LABOR DAY CLASSIC
by Brian Spaid
September 5, 2004
FRANKLIN, PA �. Fast and furious racing dominated the 2004 Oil Region Labor Day Classic on a warm, summer Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway as Todd Andrews (MACS Late Models), Del Rougeux Jr. (BRP Modified Tour Kodiak Memorial/Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series) and Doug Iorio II (Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series) collected feature event wins at the half-mile Venango County oval. There were total of 124 cars in the pit area for the three-division show.
Todd Andrews of Eldred, Pa., pocketed $4,000 capturing the 40-lap MACS Late Model Series event sponsored by Bossard Crawford, Bert Transmission and Hover Racing. Taking the lead on the ninth circuit from Keith Barbara, Andrews led the rest of the race, but barely held on for his first career win at Tri-City in his Andrews Auto Salvage Rayburn No. 42. While Andrews tried to lap slower traffic on the last circuit, Barbara dove underneath both cars off turn four and nearly pulled off a winning pass.
�I didn�t see Barbara until turn three,� said Andrews, who set a new track record in time trials with a lap of 17.983 seconds. �I kept trying to pace myself tonight. I had to make a move there to stay ahead. We got a flat tire while leading the race last night (at McKean County Raceway), so this is a little redemption for that one.�
David Scott and Barbara led the field to the initial start, and Scott led the first circuit. Barbara, who is second in the MACS Late Model points, assumed command on the second circuit while Andrews moved past Scott on the next lap. Andrews dogged Barbara until he made the winning move around Barbara on the ninth circuit. Those two paced the rest of the pack with MACS Late Model point leader Robbie Blair in third followed by Dan Stone and Scott at the halfway point of the race, which was slowed by four cautions. Both Scott and Stone fell out on the 21st and 23rd circuits respectively with mechanical problems, which moved Rod Conley and Alan Dellinger into the top five.
As Andrews, Barbara and Blair ran out front, most of the fans focused their attention on the battle for fourth and fifth. Dellinger tried to pass Conley for many laps, and finally made a move for the position with an inside pass off turn four on the 32nd circuit. Then, Keith Berner, who qualified for the race by winning the second B Main, zipped around Conley with three laps to go and chased down Dellinger.
On the final circuit, Andrews held off Barbara as they sandwiched the lapped car of Mike Johnson across the finish line with Andrews in the outside lane and Barbara down low. Blair finished a steady third, and Berner worked to the outside of Dellinger to beat the newly crowned Raceway 7 track champion to the line for fifth. As noted above, in time trials, Andrews set a new track record with the fast time. Blair, Barbara, Dellinger and Scott won the heat races for the 46-car field. Dave Lyon and Berner captured the B Mains. Scott won the dash race to determine the lineup for the feature race.
Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., earned $2,000 for winning the 30-lap 12th Annual BRP Modified Tour Kodiak Memorial. It was Rougeux�s first-ever win in the event and he also collected a guaranteed starting spot for the Syracuse Eckerd 200 in the non-point Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series race. In what could be dubbed a �race of champions,� the 2003 and 2004 DIRT Modified track champions dueled for the win. Rougeux (2003) passed Andy Priest (2004) on the ninth circuit and held him off for his fourth win of the season. It was Rougeux�s eighth career win at Tri-City and his second win in a row at the track on the BRP Modified Tour. He also won the series event in May.
�I owe this win to Paul Macauley of Bilstein Shocks,� said Rougeux in victory lane with his Vinyl Graphics Unlimited Bicknell No. 20D. �These shocks were fantastic. I knew we were going to run well during our heat race. We just killed the competition tonight. Andy�s a tough racer, but the car was awesome tonight, and I knew we could hold him off.�
Priest outdueled Chris Schiffer at the start of the feature. While Priest paced the field, Rougeux passed Schiffer for second on the fifth circuit and set his sights on the leader. On the ninth circuit, Rougeux used the outside cushion in turn two to rocket by Priest on a restart. The move seemed to surprise Priest, who tried valiantly to recover. He was unable to keep pace with Rougeux, however. As those two raced out front, New York drivers Chuck Hebing and Ron Smoker moved into third and fourth and engaged in a battle of their own for several circuits. At the halfway point, Rougeux led Priest, Hebing, Smoker and Schiffer.
Following the second and final caution of the race on the 24th circuit, Priest tried every move in the book to get around Rougeux, but the former track champion fought off every challenge. Behind them, Smoker, who is the two-time defending BRP Modified Tour champion and current point leader, drove around Hebing off turn four on the 26th circuit to take third. One lap later, Hebing tried to dart inside Smoker into turn one, lost control of his car, and spun in front of the field. He continued without causing a caution, but wound up a disappointing 10th at the pay window. The quick spin allowed Josh Skarzenski and Schiffer into the top five.
At the checkered flag, Rougeux was the winner over Priest, Smoker and Skarzenski. Brian Swartzlander passed Schiffer for fifth on the last lap. Swartzlander, Hebing and Skarzenski won the DIRT Modified heat races for the 32-car field. Jeremiah Shingledecker won the B Main. At the start of the B Main, George Hobaugh hit the outside wall and stalled below the starter�s tower. Visiting New York driver John Pfeffer slammed into the rear of Hobaugh�s car and flipped violently destroying his car. Both men were uninjured.
Rookie driver Doug Iorio II of Kennerdell, Pa., collected $750 after winning the 25-lap Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race. With the victory, Iorio earned a guaranteed starting spot for the 8th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 to be held next Sunday. Demonstrating the skill of a veteran driver, Iorio dueled with Mercer Raceway Park champion Andy Buckley for several laps and took the lead on the 12th circuit. He then outdistanced two former track champions for his first-ever feature win in his Iorio Racing/Pizza Joes Pontiac No. 28. His only other �victory� at Tri-City occurred in 2003 when he won a mechanic�s race in his father�s Pro Stock.
�I grew up watching guys like my dad (Doug), my uncle Ron, and Gary Norman,� said the excited Iorio in victory lane. �I can�t describe how this feels. We�ve had a lot of bad luck this season. All I wanted to do was run well this year. I never believed I�d win a race.�
Polesitter Jason Fosnaught led the first three circuits of the race before Buckley moved around him after a restart. Buckley dragged Iorio past Fosnaught into second, and the two leaders then engaged in a stirring duel for the lead. Racing side-by-side, Iorio led the sixth circuit before Buckley resumed command on the next lap. Following a restart on the 12th circuit, however, Iorio used the inside lane off turn four to take the lead for good. His father, Doug Iorio, slipped into second following the third and final restart on the 13th circuit. The elder Iorio suffered mechanical problems, however, and fell out of the race three laps later.
Over the final five circuits, Iorio slaughtered the competition as he opened up a half-straightaway lead to the checkered flag. Dave Ferringer finished second over Bobby Whitling, who clawed his way through the field after starting 16th. Jason Johns and 2004 Pro Stock track champion Bruce Smith rounded out the top five. Buckley, Scott Myers, Doug Iorio and Jason Engles won the Pro Stock heats for the 46-car field. Joe Lockhart and Butch Lambert won the B Mains.
Tri-City Speedway concludes its 50th Anniversary season next Sunday September 12th with the 8th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 for the Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. The prestigious race should draw a huge field of Pro Stocks with over $13,000 in purse and prize money available. In addition, the Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars will run the Apple Core 20 and the show will conclude with the Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demolition Derby. Gates open at 2 p.m. and racing starts at 4 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $10 for this event.
MACS LATE MODELS (40 Laps): 1. TODD ANDREWS, 2. Keith Barbara, 3. Robbie Blair, 4. Keith Berner, 5. Alan Dellinger, 6. Rod Conley, 7. Dutch Davies, 8. Dave Lyon, 9. Bob Close, 10. Dick Barton, 11. John Flinner, 12. Mike Johnson, 13. Chuck Harper, 14. Brent Rhebergen, 15. Ty Myers, 16. Mike Christopher, 17. Alex Ferree, 18. Travis Asel, 19. Dan Stone, 20. David Scott, 21. Jim Bernheisel, 22. Bob Wearing Jr., 23. Mark Banal, 24. Denny Chamberlain. DNQ: Rick Isadore, Mickey Wright, Jim Yoder, Matt Lux, D.J. Miller, Todd Roncaglione, Darrell Bossard, Chevy Scott, Lou Gentile, Stephen Hollabaugh, Rick Briggs, Lynn Geisler, Ron Davies, Eric Myers, Dave Hess, Jay Watson, Robby Hoffman, Tom Tuite, George Kowatic, Tom Bateman, Ryan Markham, Scott Johnson, Bill Cunningham.
BRP MODIFIED TOUR KODIAK MEMORIAL (30 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Andy Priest, 3. Ron Smoker, 4. Josh Skarzenski, 5. Brian Swartzlander, 6. Chris Schiffer, 7. Skip Moore, 8. Rex King, 9. Chanda Reitz, 10. Chuck Hebing, 11. Dave Schrader, 12. Russell King, 13. Dave Murdick, 14. Rodney Beltz, 15. J.R. McGinley, 16. Chad Reitz, 17. Steve Young, 18. Conny Allen, 19. Tommy Kristyak, 20. Lee Miller, 21. Carl Murdick, 22. Jim Rasey, 23. Dean Pearson, 24. Jeremiah Shingledecker. DNQ: Ron Cartwright Jr., Gary Rankin, Mike Miller, Steve Barr, Rick Hall, J.R. Baker, George Hobaugh, John Pfeffer.
DETROIT IRON PRO STOCK SERIES (25 Laps): 1. DOUG IORIO II, 2. Dave Ferringer, 3. Bobby Whitling, 4. Jason Johns, 5. Bruce Smith, 6. Scott Myers, 7. Tom Scott, 8. Andy Buckley, 9. Casey Bradybaugh, 10. Jason Engles, 11. Rusty Wheeler, 12. Terry Wheeler, 13. Gerry Bruce, 14. Russ Coyne, 15. Bill Lanigan, 16. Terry Young, 17. Arthur Edwards, 18. Rod Laskey, 19. Doug Iorio, 20. Jason Fosnaught, 21. Ron Iorio, 22. Butch Lambert, 23. Scott Bochek, 24. Bob Sloss, 25. Joe Lockhart. DNQ: Wayne Carbo, Gary Sullivan, J.R. Ziegler, Dave Myers, Brian Hartzell, Clyde Roberts, Harold Reges, Jim Brunson, Chad Stevenson, Rusty Kellogg, Ben Blake, Bob Bean, Matt Thomas, Mike Turner, Steve Webb, Doug Calvert, Denny Crawford, Rich Howell, Randy Ferringer, Chuck Gabauer, Gary Norman.