ROB EYLER WINS FIRST OF SEASON IN SPRINTS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; DEL ROUGEUX JR. INHERITS DIRT MOD WIN; BRENT RHEBERGEN SCORES 40TH IN E MODS; BRUCE SMITH AND DON BLAKE JR. ALSO REPEAT WINNERS

by Brian Spaid

August 8, 2004

FRANKLIN, PA � With point races heading into the final stretch, Tri-City Speedway hosted another Sunday night of racing action as Rob Eyler (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Del Rougeux Jr. (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Bruce Smith (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Don Blake Jr. (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) scored feature wins on a beautiful summer evening for Ronald McDonald Kids Night at the Venango County half-mile oval.

Two weeks earlier, Rob Eyler of Franklin, Pa., left the track dejected. He ran out of fuel while leading with three laps to go handing the win to two-time defending track champion Rod George. This time around, Eyler experienced the thrill of victory with his first win of the season in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature passing point leader Jarod Larson with two laps to go. It was his second career win at Tri-City and his first at the track since July 1, 2001. It was also his second win of the weekend after a victory Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park in his White Heating Maxim/Kriner No. 5A.

�Ever since we had that good run with the World of Outlaws at Lernerville Speedway, we�ve really run well,� said Eyler. �I�ve been pumped up and we�re getting some money in the bank. I just watched the traffic at the end and my car came on. I had to move up in front of Jarod to make the pass for the win. I couldn�t run too low. This is a lot better than two weeks ago.�

Eyler and Jason Jacoby started on the front row, but Larson blasted into the lead on the first circuit off turn four taking the lead from Eyler. Once out front, Larson built large leads amongst three cautions. After the final restart on the 11th circuit, Larson again pulled away from Eyler while George zipped around Jacoby for third. With less than four laps to go, it became obvious that Eyler�s car was faster than Larson. Amidst lapped traffic on the 18th circuit, Eyler drove low under Larson off turn two, drifted in front of Larson, and assumed command of the race. Racing a superb line, Eyler scored the win to become the seventh different Super Sprint feature winner of 2004. Larson padded his point lead with a second place finish. George finished third while Todd Bauer slipped under Jacoby for fourth on the final circuit. Larson and George won the Super Sprint heats.

Del Rougeux Jr. inherited his third feature win of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified main when race leader Josh Skarzenski dropped out of the race with only two laps to go. The 2002 track champion was the class of the field until the bolts fell out of the left front axle under caution, which forced Skarzenski into the pits. As a result, Rougeux became the race leader and forged onward to his seventh career win at Tri-City in his Vinyl Graphics Unlimited Bicknell No. 20D.

�You hate to win one like this,� said the defending track champion. �Josh and I were talking earlier tonight about battling for the lead. I�ve got to thank the crew and Bilstein shocks. They put together a new shock package for me and it�s really working well. Combined with our new engine, we�re running a lot better than we were the last few weeks.�

Joe Crawford was the early leader of the race with Skarzenski and point leader Andy Priest right behind. After dueling side-by-side for two circuits, Skarzenski raced under Crawford off turn two on the seventh lap to take the lead. Skarzenski then blasted out to a half-straight advantage. Rougeux passed Priest for third at the halfway mark, and then battled with Crawford for second. With four laps to go, Rougeux raced under Crawford off turn four to take the runner-up position and he set his sights on Skarzenski. With two laps to go, the only caution of the race occurred when George Hobaugh spun in turn two. Under yellow, Skarzenski suffered his woes and fifth place runner Chanda Reitz suffered a flat tire. The entire top five was altered with Rougeux now the leader over Crawford, Priest, Rex and Russell King. Over the last two laps, Rougeux raced to the win unchallenged while Priest passed Crawford for second. Rex King finished fourth in an effort to stay within sight of Priest in the battle for the track title. Chris Schiffer took fifth on the final circuit from Russell King. Schiffer and Kevin Bolland captured the DIRT Modified heats.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., achieved a new milestone in his career. The two-time defending track champion captured his 40th career E Mod victory at Tri-City in the 15-lap feature event. It was the seventh win of the season for Rhebergen, who piloted Bruce and Kathy Steadman�s Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69 to all of those victories.

�When we started this deal five years ago, we never dreamed it would be this successful,� said Rhebergen. �The Steadman family gives me an excellent car to run every week. I�m just the driver, their entire crew is what makes this team a success.�

Point leaders Mike Potosky and Jim Frontz led the field to the green flag, and Frontz bolted out to the early lead. On the fourth circuit following a restart, Potosky took command while Rhebergen moved into second. After dueling with Potosky for two circuits, Rhebergen worked under Potosky in turn two to grab the lead, which he held to the end of the race. Behind him, last week�s winner Shawn Shingledecker flew through the top five over the last five circuits to finish second. Potosky slipped to third. Shawn Domhoff and Jamie Shetler rounded out the top five. Frontz finished sixth. Scott Stiffler and Shetler won the E Mod heat races.

Bruce Smith of Franklin, Pa., led wire-to-wire and captured his fifth feature win of the season in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. With the win, Smith maintained his point lead over two-time track champion Bobby Whitling. It was Smith�s 11th career feature win at Tri-City in his D/B&S Cabinets/J&A Tool Pontiac No. 36. Except for a brief attempt by rookie Doug Iorio II to take the lead late in the race, Smith was peerless.

�I didn�t see him at all,� said Smith. �I�d like to thank my crew for all their effort last week after that heat race accident and we came back to finish fifth. I don�t like to talk about points, but it is really close right now with Bobby, and I�d really like to win a track championship.�

Smith started on the pole position and immediately took the lead at the start from outside polesitter and last week�s feature winner Jason Engles. While Smith led, Iorio and Engles battled side-by-side for second for nearly 10 laps. With no cautions to slow the action, Smith entered lapped traffic over the last five laps. In that traffic, Iorio was able to take control of second place and closed on Smith. With two laps to go, Iorio challenged Smith on the inside of turn four, but Smith was too fast. Iorio finished a career-best second over Engles, Whitling and Doug Iorio. Jason Johns and Whitling scored wins in the Pro Stock heats.

Don Blake Jr. of Titusville, Pa., continued his march toward the 2004 Thundercar track title with his seventh win of the season in his Monaco Cycle Sales/Townville Auto & Equipment Chevrolet No. 43. Blake held off the stiff challenges of Curt Bish Sr. over the final circuits of the 12-lap feature to score his eighth career win in the class.

�I�m watching him,� said Blake. �Curt was there and we hit, but it didn�t affect the car.�

Regina Deloe led the first seven circuits. Running her best race of the season, Deloe held off Blake�s challenges for several laps. Finally, on the eighth circuit, Blake bolted outside her in turn two to take the lead. Bish managed to squeeze past Deloe following a restart with four laps to go. He then chased down Blake. The two drivers battled for the lead and made contact in turn four with the white flag waving in the air. The contact caused Bish to get loose and Blake dashed away to the victory. Bish was the runner-up for the second week in a row. Deloe matched her career-best finish in third followed by defending track champion Jeff Manners and Kevin Cooper.

Tri-City Speedway continues with its 50th Anniversary season next Sunday August 15th with a five-star racing program that includes the Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, and Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars on Molson Night. One-on-One Spectator Races will take place at the end of the racing action. Race fans will be able to compete in the event with their passenger cars and trucks, which must be licensed, registered and inspected. No modifications or special tires are allowed. All drivers must register in the pit area and must also wear a helmet. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will still be $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROB EYLER, 2. Jarod Larson, 3. Rod George, 4. Todd Bauer, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Jody Keegan, 7. Gale Ruth Jr., 8. Phil Mott, 9. Gary Rankin, 10. Mike Kaminski, 11. Butch Beasley, 12. John Schyler, 13. Kiel Woodburn, 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Jeff Kasbee, 16. Mary Anne Williams, 17. Shawn Minor, 18. Danny Kuriger, 19. Russ Sansosti.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Andy Priest, 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Rex King, 5. Chris Schiffer, 6. Russell King, 7. Dave Schrader, 8. Tom Mattocks Jr., 9. Les Myers, 10. Chanda Reitz, 11. Jeremy Paup, 12. Carl Murdick, 13. Conny Allen, 14. Josh Skarzenski, 15. George Hobaugh, 16. Chad Reitz. DNS: Kevin Bolland.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Shawn Shingledecker, 3. Mike Potosky, 4. Shawn Domhoff, 5. Jamie Shetler, 6. Jim Frontz, 7. Kari Gasser, 8. Matt Swanson, 9. Mike Samuelson, 10. Russ Dempsey, 11. Chip Mahood, 12. Aurie Weaver, 13. Bruce Powell, 14. Darrell Bossard, 15. Matt Lux, 16. Scott Stiffler. DNS: Robert Double.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BRUCE SMITH, 2. Doug Iorio II, 3. Jason Engles, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Doug Iorio, 6. Jason Johns, 7. Dave Ferringer, 8. Russ Coyne, 9. Rusty Kellogg, 10. Scott Myers, 11. Gerry Bruce, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Doug Calvert, 14. Matt Keith, 15. Matt Thomas, 16. Ronnie Davis, 17. John Sutley, 18. Bob Bean, 19. Steve Yangcek, 20. Bob Sloss, 21. Joe Lockhart. DNS: Sean Shook, Danny Exley, Denny Crawford.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. DON BLAKE JR., 2. Curt Bish Sr., 3. Regina Deloe, 4. Jeff Manners, 5. Kevin Cooper, 6. Chad Myers, 7. Jay Adams, 8. Robby Switzer, 9. Josh Seippel, 10. John K. Miller II, 11. John K. Miller, 12. Gary Ross, 13. Curt Bish Jr., 14. Wearne Cook, 15. Joe Blake.