TODD BAUER WINS FIRST CAREER SPRINT MAIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; ANDY PRIEST, BRENT RHEBERGEN, BOBBY WHITLING AND ROBBY SWITZER ALL REPEAT WINNERS

by Brian Spaid

July 11, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRANKLIN, PA �. After two days of the Monster Jam Summer Heat, Tri-City Speedway continued with its 50th Anniversary racing season on the date the track actually opened, July 11, 1954. Instead of the NASCAR Sportsman cars on a sunny afternoon, however, today�s warriors fought in modern-day racing machines on a hot summer night as Todd Bauer (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Andy Priest (Schwab�s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Robby Switzer (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) won the feature events on Northpointe Automotive Night at the Venango County half-mile oval.

Todd Bauer of Clarion, Pa., captured his first-ever Super Sprint feature win, and he did it by defeating two of the top racers in the region, point leader Jarod Larson and two-time defending track champion Rod George. With 17 laps in the books, George actually passed Bauer on the inside of turn two, but a quick caution immediately after the pass negated it as scoring reverted to the last completed lap, which Bauer led. Bauer then held off the two champion racers for that elusive first win in his Kriebel Gas Trevis No. 45.

�Rod passed me there and I thank God that the yellow came out,� said Bauer. �I knew that I could hold them off on that restart. Dave and Charlie Fisher built me a great engine, and I owe thanks to Steve Anderson and my entire crew. Lias Tire and all my sponsors have been so supportive. I stunk up this place when I started six years ago. It�s great to finally win one.�

Gale Ruth Jr. led at the start, but Bauer immediately drove around Ruth on the first circuit to take the lead. He extended his advantage for several laps while George moved into second past Andy McKisson at the halfway point. Larson, who started 11th, moved into the top five with 11 laps in the books, but all eyes were focused on Bauer and George as the crafty veteran reeled in Bauer. Although George made the pass for the lead on the 18th circuit, Gary Rankin came to a sudden halt in turn one with terminal engine failure, which reversed George�s move and negated his fine run.

Over the last three circuits, Bauer steadily pulled away from George and Larson, who battled feverishly for second. Using the outside cushion, Larson worked around George for runner-up honors, but he ran out of time to catch Bauer. At the line, Bauer scored a popular win over Larson, George, Rob Eyler and Jason Jacoby. Eyler and Larson won the Super Sprint heats. Rookie Terry Bowser continued his frustration with another rollover in the second heat race. He was uninjured and fixed his car for the feature, only to crash into the first turn wall during the first restart following the late caution for Rankin.

Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa., held off defending track champion Del Rougeux Jr. for his third win of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature. On the 18th circuit, Rougeux, who recovered from early race contact that moved him back to seventh, made a daring inside pass of Priest into turn one. In the next corner, however, Priest recovered. As Rougeux drifted high, Priest drove back under him in the Emig Racing Dirt Wheels No. 41, and he raced to his seventh career win at Tri-City. It was also his second win of the weekend after a score Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park.

�When Del got under me, I thought �Uh-oh,�� said Priest in victory lane. �He went low in one, and I knew he�d drift up, and I just raced back under him. The track was great tonight. You could race anywhere. We�ve had a great weekend.�

Kevin Bolland jumped into the early lead over Joe Crawford and Priest. On the fourth circuit, Priest zipped under Crawford in turn four to take second and Bolland suddenly slowed with engine problems, which handed the lead to Priest. As Priest continued to lead the race, Rex King and Crawford started a duel for second, which King secured on the sixth circuit. After his brief jingle with Dave Schrader moved him back to seventh, Rougeux recovered to take third by the halfway point. Rougeux tried to catch Priest and King, but enough distance existed between the top three that only a caution would close the field. On the 15th lap, Kyle Ripper belted the first turn wall, which was the break Rougeux needed.

On the restart, Rougeux raced under King, who drifted high in turn four, setting up the battle between Priest and Rougeux with less than three laps to go. After Priest fended off Rougeux, Priest outdistanced Rougeux for the rest of the race to win. King finished third and kept himself within sight of Priest in the battle for the DIRT Modified championship. Crawford and Chanda Reitz rounded out the top five. Although the event was a Coors DIRT Modified Bonus Bucks race, for the second time this season, Priest�s car lacked the appropriate Coors decal to collect the extra $100. Priest and King captured the DIRT Modified heats.

For the fifth time this season and the 38th time in his career, Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, was the winner in the 15-lap E Mod feature. This time, however, Rhebergen raced with a guardian angel after a near crash on the second lap damaged his car. Racing off turn four in the middle of the pack, lanes closed on four drivers. Rhebergen, Bruce Powell, John Lacki and Jamie Shetler all collided while racing four-wide with Powell vaulting high in the air. Rhebergen suffered body damage on Bruce and Kathy Steadman�s Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. Perhaps more troubling, the right front shock bolt broke from its upper mount on the chassis leaving only one-half attached. That failed to stop the two-time defending track champion.

�We were really lucky tonight,� said Rhebergen. �It was a racing deal, and everyone just came together. I was worried about the car, but it worked real well even after the contact. These Pierce cars are just amazing. I�m really glad to score another win for the Steadmans.�

Mike Samuelson was the early pacesetter in the main event. Following a caution after the incident that involved Rhebergen, which resulted in damage to Shetler and caused him to spin in the backstretch, Mike Potosky used an outside front row restart position to take command on the third circuit. By the fifth lap, Rhebergen was running second. After Shawn Domhoff lost control in turn two causing point leader Jim Frontz to spin on the sixth circuit, Rhebergen and Potosky battled on the restart with Rhebergen taking command. From there, Rhebergen raced on to a large margin of victory. Behind him, Potosky held off the stout challenges of Shawn Shingledecker for second. Samuelson and Domhoff rounded out the top five. Rhebergen, Shingledecker, Domhoff and Chip Mahood each collected an extra $50 in prize money from division sponsors, RPM Auto Sales and Shawgo Real Estate. Bootie Petsko and Rhebergen won the E Mod heats.

Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., engaged in a stellar duel with point leader Bruce Smith to win the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. In what can be considered one of his greatest drives to victory, Whitling raced side-by-side with Smith for seven circuits before lapped traffic became a factor. On the 13th circuit, the duo came upon the lapped car of Dave Gadley. Using the car as a pique, Whitling trapped Smith behind Gadley with an inside move off turn four to snare the lead. From there, he raced to his third win of the season and the 35th of his career at Tri-City in his Ted Karns Specialty Construction Chevrolet No. 7W.

�It feels good to beat him in a race like that, rather than one of starting up front and running away with it,� said Whitling. �We ran well, and I knew it would be tough to beat him. I saw that lapped car and made the move. I�d like to thank my crew and sponsors. We�ve all been working hard each week. Ed Rogers also helped with a new carburetor for this car.�

Jason Johns led the opening lap of the race before a four-car pileup in turn three slowed the action. On the restart, Smith outdueled Johns for the lead with an outside pass entering turn three. Whitling battled with Johns and Bob Sloss before he moved into the runner-up slot on the fifth circuit. Two laps later, Whitling and Smith started an amazing seven-lap duel for first. With Whitling down low and Smith in the high groove, the two veterans never touched. It appeared that Smith had the upper hand at the start-finish line as he edged Whitling nearly every time with his momentum at the top of the track. When the lapped traffic entered the picture with two laps to go, however, Smith tried to shut the door on Whitling in turn three, but the two-time track champion would not give Smith the room he needed to maintain the lead. Smith drifted high behind Gadley and Whitling made the winning move. Smith finished second over Sloss, Dave Ferringer and Gary Norman. Whitling, Norman and Sloss scored wins in the Pro Stock heats.

Robby Switzer of Kennerdell, Pa., scored his third win of the season in the 12-lap Thundercar main and moved closer to point lead as a result. Switzer started ninth in the race and moved into second on the ninth circuit when point and race leader Don Blake Jr. suddenly slowed and headed to the pit area. Blake�s misfortune was Switzer�s gain as he assumed command and drove to his ninth career feature win at Tri-City in his B&M Floor & Sealy Bedding/Switzer Pisa Pizza Chevrolet No. 97.

�I started near the back tonight, and I knew I had to keep it clean or else I�d be in trouble trying to catch Blake,� said Switzer. �This win and him dropping out will help us in the point chase. I�ve got to thank my crew and all my family for helping me do this.�

Chad Myers was the early leader of the race before Curt Bish Sr. took over the primary position on the second circuit. Blake was in immediate contention, and he battled with Bish by the fourth circuit. Behind Bish and Blake, Switzer was on the move and running fourth behind Myers. On the fifth lap, Blake worked under Bish off turn four to take the lead. Over the next three laps, Switzer used his well-known love of the outside cushion to race around Myers and Bish into second. Then, Blake slowed on the ninth circuit and Switzer took command leading the last three laps for the win. Bish finished second over Myers, Carl Feely and Curt Bish Jr. Feely�s fourth place finish was a career-best at Tri-City.

Tri-City Speedway continues with its 50th Anniversary season next Sunday July 18th with a 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. 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 DIRT Driving Experience will also be in town. 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. TODD BAUER, 2. Jarod Larson, 3. Rod George, 4. Rob Eyler, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Andy McKisson, 7. Jody Keegan, 8. Gale Ruth Jr., 9. Dr. Bob Altmeyer, 10. Sheila Rankin, 11. Butch Beasley, 12. Skip Dougherty, 13. Gary Rankin, 14. Terry Bowser. DNS: Scott Groves.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST, 2. Del Rougeux Jr., 3. Rex King, 4. Joe Crawford, 5. Chanda Reitz, 6. Chris Schiffer, 7. Steve Young, 8. Dave Schrader, 9. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 10. Lenny Leibold Jr., 11. Jeremy Paup, 12. Steve Toth, 13. George Hobaugh, 14. Carl Murdick, 15. Conny Allen, 16. Chad Reitz, 17. Kyle Ripper, 18. Kevin Thompson, 19. Kevin Bolland, 20. Mark Frankhouser, 21. Russell King.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Mike Potosky, 3. Shawn Shingledecker, 4. Mike Samuelson, 5. Shawn Domhoff, 6. Darrell Bossard, 7. Larry Walters, 8. Russ Dempsey, 9. Bruce Powell, 10. Jamie Shetler, 11. John Lacki, 12. Jim Frontz, 13. Chip Mahood, 14. Dan Ames. DNS: Bootie Petsko, Wade Mohawk, Aurie Weaver, Robert Double, Kari Gasser.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Bruce Smith, 3. Bob Sloss, 4. Dave Ferringer, 5. Gary Norman, 6. Jason Johns, 7. Doug Iorio II, 8. Rusty Kellogg, 9. Russ Coyne, 10. Joe Lockhart, 11. Doug Iorio, 12. Scott Myers, 13. Arthur Edwards, 14. Tom Scott, 15. Ronnie Davis, 16. Matt Thomas, 17. J.R. Ziegler, 18. Dave Gadley, 19. Doug Calvert, 20. Gary Sullivan, 21. Denny Crawford, 22. Matt Keith, 23. Dave Myers, 24. Gerry Bruce, 25. Rod Laskey. DNS: Sean Shook, Tim Balach, Chester Raup.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. ROBBY SWITZER, 2. Curt Bish Sr., 3. Chad Myers, 4. Carl Feely, 5. Curt Bish Jr., 6. Travis Norman, 7. Joe Blake, 8. Jeff Manners, 9. Regina Deloe, 10. John K. Miller II, 11. Kevin Cooper, 12. Matt Zinz, 13. Wearne Cook, 14. Josh Seippel, 15. Gary Ross, 16. John K. Miller, 17. Don Blake Jr., 18. Dave Phillips.