ROD GEORGE, REX KING, BRENT RHEBERGEN AND BOBBY WHITLING WIN AGAIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; GARY SMOKER TRIUMPHS IN SPORTSMAN MODS; DOUBLE FEATURES FOR THUNDERCARS ON AUG. 1

by Brian Spaid

July 25, 2004

FRANKLIN, PA � Despite light rain showers throughout, Tri-City Speedway hosted a stellar show on Sunday night as Rod George (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Rex King (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Gary Smoker (Bossard Crawford Sportsman Modifieds) and Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) won the feature events on Joy Employee Fund Night at the Venango County half-mile oval. The Thundercar feature was rained out near the end of the show, and will be run next week.

Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., raced to his second win of the season in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. The two-time defending track champion actually appeared to be heading for a second place finish before local favorite Rob Eyler ran out of fuel with three circuits remaining.

�Rob was really strong tonight and he took away my low line on those restarts,� said George beside his Mike Wilt Racing Gambler No. 4 after his 27th career win at Tri-City. �He started to slow there, and we just got past him. We�ve had some bad luck this season, and we just need to build some consistency and get some race wins under our belt.�

Andy McKisson led the first lap of the race before George moved into the lead. After starting eighth, Eyler was running third at the end of the first lap. The first three circuits were marred by three cautions, including two spins by Cameron Dodson, with the second incident collecting Mike Kaminski, who flipped Dr. Bob Altmeyer�s sprinter in the second turn. Kaminski was uninjured, but both cars were eliminated from the race. A total of five cautions slowed the action, which played havoc with at least one team that decided to run a lower fuel load.

Eyler dashed to the outside of George on the fourth circuit to take command. Eyler held off George�s advances as Bobby Clark and point leader Jarod Larson weaved their way through traffic. By the halfway point, Eyler led George, Clark, Larson and McKisson. They continued to run in that order until Eyler began to slow on the 16th circuit. He finally ran out of fuel heading down the backstretch one lap later, and George dodged Eyler�s slowing car. George led the final three laps to win over Clark, Larson, Jody Keegan and Jason Jacoby. Keegan and Jacoby inherited fourth and fifth on the final lap when McKisson and Todd Bauer tangled in the second turn and spun to the outside of the track. Jacoby and Dodson won the Super Sprint heats.

Rex King of Bristolville, Ohio, collected his first win of the 2004 season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature. Driving his King Bros. Ready Mix/ALLTEL/Cintas Uniform Bicknell No. 65, King took the lead on the third circuit from Josh Skarzenski, and fended off the 2002 track champion for his fourth career win at Tri-City. King also earned an extra $100 in Coors DIRT Modified Bonus Bucks.

�We watched the sprints blow a little dust off the track during their race and decided to change a few things before we went out, and they worked,� smiled King. �We�ve got a few seconds and thirds this season, and we just couldn�t get that win. Now, we�ve got it and we can make a run at the title.�

Skarzenski beat defending track champion Del Rougeux Jr. into the first corner at the drop of the green, but King was right behind Skarzenski at the start. King raced outside Skarzenski to take the lead on the third circuit. Despite this move, Skarzenski continued to dog King while running the low groove. On the sixth circuit, Rougeux spun in turn two while running fourth. Joe Crawford ran into Rougeux�s front end, which knocked Rougeux out of the race and a possible bid for a second title.

On the restart, King needed about one circuit to outdistance Skarzenski leaving him to battle with point leader Andy Priest. Over the final half of the race, Skarzenski and Priest traded the second position four times before Skarzenski secured runner-up honors in his best race of the season. Priest maintained his point lead over King with a third place finish ahead of Chanda Reitz and Kevin Bolland. Rougeux and Skarzenski won the DIRT Modified heat races.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, continued his dominance in the E Mod class as he scored his sixth win of the season in the 15-lap feature. Taking the lead on the second circuit, Rhebergen cruised to victory in Bruce and Kathy Steadman�s Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. It was the 39th career E Mod win for Rhebergen at Tri-City.

�Bob Pierce was here last Sunday and it rained out, so we were all disappointed,� said Rhebergen. �We actually dodged the raindrops on Monday afternoon and got a few laps in with some of the Pierce guys. He was really impressed. The car is perfect, and the crew did another great job.�

While Rhebergen raced out front, all eyes watched the battles throughout the rest of the top five. Jim Frontz moved into second on the fourth circuit passing early race leader Kari Gasser. Shawn Shingledecker and point leader Mike Potosky had a stirring battle for third in the latter stages of the race after they each passed Gasser. Shingledecker traded the position with Potosky twice. In the end, Rhebergen topped Frontz, Shingledecker, Potosky and Gasser for the win. Rhebergen, Potosky, Shawn Domhoff and Aurie Weaver collected a total of $200 extra in purse money posted by the division sponsors, RPM Auto Sales and Shawgo Real Estate. Rhebergen and Domhoff won the E Mod heat races.

In the division�s only appearance of the 2004 season, Gary Smoker of Mercer, Pa., captured the 15-lap Sportsman Modified feature. Smoker took the lead on the 11th lap from Jeff Walters, and raced to his third career win at Tri-City in his Flexospan/Eastern Inc. Bicknell No. 516. It was Smoker�s first win at the track since April 25, 1999. The race was originally slated as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebration on July 4th.

�First, I�d like to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for getting me here,� said Smoker. �Without him I wouldn�t be able to do this. Jeff ran a good race. I managed to find a hole under him there, and took the lead. I�d like to thank Tri-City for giving us a date to run here.�

The competitive race found Steve Toth out front at the start. The second generation racer led the first six circuits while Smoker and Walters dueled for second. On the seventh lap, first Walters passed Toth for the lead, then Smoker grabbed second. Smoker challenged the former Pro Stock racer relentlessly before Smoker took the lead on with four laps to go. Once out front, Smoker was unbeatable as he collected his sixth win overall on the Sportsman Modified circuit. Walters finished second over Toth, Mike Anderson and Marty Kristyak. D.J. Schrader was originally scored fourth; however, a carburetor violation resulted in his disqualification. Smoker and Jerry Schaffer won the Sportsman Modified heats.

Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., scored his third feature win in a row in the 15-lap Pro Stock main. Taking command on the ninth circuit, Whitling outraced his main rival Bruce Smith to earn his fourth win of the 2004 season and the 36th win of his illustrious career at Tri-City.

�The track had a lot of bite tonight,� said Whitling in victory lane with his Ted Karns Specialty Construction Chevrolet No. 7W. �I knew Bruce was there at the end. There is a great points battle shaping up for the end of the season.�

Former DIRT Modified driver Gerry Bruce led the first six circuits of the race while some of the best Pro Stock drivers battled with him running two and three wide. Doug Iorio was the main contender, and Iorio and Whitling both made it around Bruce on the seventh circuit. Iorio and Whitling continued the lead battle for two more circuits before they came upon the lapped car of John Sutley, who recovered from a turn two spin and was running slow enough that the leaders caught him. Iorio went high while Whitling went low. Racing down the frontchute, Iorio made contact with Sutley, which knocked Iorio out of the race continuing his bad luck streak.

Whitling took command and led the rest of the way despite a late-race challenge from Smith, who fell back to sixth at one time during the race following a slight mishap entering turn four too high on the eighth circuit. Dave Ferringer finished third over Russ Coyne and Jason Johns, who passed Bruce for fifth on the final circuit. Mike Clark, Smith and Iorio won the Pro Stock heat races.

The Thundercar feature came onto the track during victory lane ceremonies for the E Mod feature in an effort to combat a heavier rain shower. It was to no avail, and track officials decided to run the race one week later. The feature lineup is listed below.

Despite the rain, Jeff Simpson of Utica, Pa., won the 35-car Lowry Auto Wrecking Demo Derby for his first career victory.

Tri-City Speedway continues with its 50th Anniversary season next Sunday August 1st with another special six-division show featuring the return of the Bossard Crawford Late Models to the track after the rainout of their event on July 4th and 18th. The Late Models will join 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 Goss Gas/Lincoln Welders Night. The Thundercars will run double features. 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. ROD GEORGE, 2. Bobby Clark, 3. Jarod Larson, 4. Jody Keegan, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Phil Mott, 7. John Schyler, 8. Andy McKisson, 9. Todd Bauer, 10. Russ Sansosti, 11. Rob Eyler, 12. Butch Beasley, 13. Karl Baker, 14. Cameron Dodson, 15. Jared Zimbardi, 16. Mike Kaminski, 17. Leonard Ripper Jr., 18. Gale Ruth Jr. DNS: Brent Covell, Scott Bonnell, Gary Rankin.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. REX KING, 2. Josh Skarzenski, 3. Andy Priest, 4. Chanda Reitz, 5. Kevin Bolland, 6. Jim Rasey, 7. Skip Moore, 8. Dave Schrader, 9. Chris Schiffer, 10. Chad Reitz, 11. Joe Crawford, 12. Russell King, 13. Jeremy Paup, 14. Carl Murdick, 15. Steve Barr, 16. Randy Chronister, 17. Zack Moran, 18. Del Rougeux Jr. DNS: Lenny Leibold Jr.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Shawn Shingledecker, 4. Mike Potosky, 5. Kari Gasser, 6. Mike Samuelson, 7. Shawn Domhoff, 8. Jamie Shetler, 9. Russ Dempsey, 10. Ron Roncaglione, 11. Dan Ames, 12. Chip Mahood, 13. Aurie Weaver.

SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS (15 Laps): 1. GARY SMOKER, 2. Jeff Walters, 3. Steve Toth, 4. Mike Anderson, 5. Marty Kristyak, 6. Jim Rombold, 7. Bill Adams, 8. Mike Turner, 9. Pud Welsh, 10. Rick Ryder, 11. Jerry O�Rock, 12. Leroy Johnson Jr., 13. Kevin Green, 14. Kristin Jordan, 15. Matt Reheer, 16. Jerry Schaffer, 17 D.J. Schrader (DISQ).

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Bruce Smith, 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Russ Coyne, 5. Jason Johns, 6. Gerry Bruce, 7. Mike Clark, 8. Rusty Kellogg, 9. Tom Scott, 10. Scott Myers, 11. Gary Sullivan, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Scott Malone, 14. Ronnie Davis, 15. Matt Thomas, 16. Matt Keith, 17. Jason Engles, 18. Joe Lockhart, 19. John Sutley, 20. Doug Calvert, 21. Doug Iorio, 22. Terry Wheeler, 23. Doug Iorio II. DNS: Bob Bean, Denny Crawford, Sean Shook.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): Rain Delayed to August 1, 2004. Lineup: 1. Dan Speer, 2. Curt Bish Jr., 3. Don Blake Jr., 4. Dave Phillips, 5. John K. Miller, 6. Carl Feely, 7. Regina Deloe, 8. Pete Stearns, 9. Jesse Deloe, 10. Wearne Cook, 11. Chad Myers, 12. Josh Seippel, 13. Gary Ross, 14. Carl Ealy, 15. John K. Miller II, 16. Joe Blake, 17. Curt Bish Sr., 18. Robby Switzer.