JAROD LARSON AND JIM RASEY LEAD BUCKEYE STATE TO SPRINT AND MOD WINS AT TRI-CITY; BRENT RHEBERGEN, BOBBY WHITLING AND DON BLAKE JR. REPEAT

by Brian Spaid

June 27, 2004

FRANKLIN, PA �. Wonderful summer weather graced Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Jarod Larson (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Jim Rasey (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 Don Blake Jr. (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) won the feature events and the fans enjoyed the Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza at the Venango County half-mile oval.

Jarod Larson of Rock Creek, OH, used an amazing slide job on a 13th lap restart to race under Bobby Clark in the second turn and take command of the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. Once out front, Larson cruised to his third win of the season and the sixth of his career at Tri-City.

�I want to apologize to Bobby for the pass because I got into him a little,� said Larson in victory lane with his Clemson Excavating/Mark Thomas Ford Eagle No. 47. �I thought I got under him enough, but we touched. The track was beautiful tonight. You could run it high and low.�

Despite Larson�s concerns, Clark was unfazed by the move and accepted the blame for the loss.

�That was just racing,� said the 1997 track champion, �I messed up on that restart because I broke loose off turn four and let them get me. Jarod did a great job.�

Clark took command at the start of the race. While Clark raced away out front, Rod George and Larson worked their way into second and third by the fourth circuit as they dueled with 16-year-old sensation Cameron Dodson. On the seventh circuit, Larson raced outside George in turn two and set his sights on the far-running Clark, who made some amazing moves in lapped traffic.

Three cautions slowed the race, but the final caution on the 13th circuit was the climax of the race. On the restart, Clark slid sideways slightly off turn four to the start-finish line. Larson dove under Clark entering turn one, and moved up the track in turn two in front of Clark. Larson tapped Clark�s left front wheel, and took the lead. George moved by Clark at the same time. Once out front, Larson was peerless as he sped to a straightaway advantage by the finish. With less than two laps to go, Clark and George diced for second amidst lapped traffic, and Clark took the spot.

At the finish, Larson was the winner over Clark, George, Rob Eyler and Dodson. Eyler�s run to fourth was a lot of work after the local favorite suffered engine problems earlier in the evening. Larson and Clark each garnered and extra $100 and $200 respectively from the family of former Super Sprint and DIRT Modified driver Danny Perrett and Five Forks Restaurant. Perrett perished in a Clarion County car accident in April.

Dodson and Dr. Bob Altmeyer won the Super Sprint heats in what proved to be a wild night for the winged machines. Butch Beasley flipped in turn one during hot laps. In the first heat race, Guy Griffin took a hard hit to the turn two wall, and a few laps later Todd Bauer tumbled in the same corner. All drivers were uninjured.

After competing on a weekly basis the last few seasons at Tri-City, in 2004, family commitments kept Jim Rasey of Southington, OH, from the track. His only other appearance of the season occurred on May 30th, when he competed in the BRP Modified Tour Dick Rankin Memorial. Rasey �invaded� Tri-City on this night, however, and scored a flag-to-flag victory in the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature for his first win of the season in his Canfield Cylinder Heads Troyer No. 32.

�We�ve played a lot of baseball with the kids this year,� said Rasey after his third career win at Tri-City and his first since August 27, 2000. �We miss coming here. The track was good and the car ran well up top, so racing high was the way to go.�

Rasey started on the pole position beside 15-year-old rookie driver Russell King. Rasey jumped into the lead at the start, but the battles behind him continued lap after lap. By the fifth circuit, Rasey led King, Joe Crawford, Chris Schiffer and Del Rougeux Jr. Rougeux, the 2003 track champion, moved through the top five over the next three circuits, and finally worked under King in turn four on the eighth lap to take second. However, Rougeux was no match for Rasey despite the third and final caution period on the 12th circuit after Chanda Reitz clobbered the front wall.

Over the last eight laps, Rasey continued his dominance to score the win. Rougeux finished second over Joe Crawford, who ran a steady third. Jeremiah Shingledecker matched a career-best fourth place finish while King earned a career-best fifth with his father, Rex King, in tow. Rasey collected an extra $100 courtesy of Coors Brewing and Glenwood Distributing for winning the fourth Coors DIRT Modified Bonus Bucks event of the season. Similar to the Super Sprint top two, Rasey and Rougeux also collected $100 and $200 respectively from the Perrett family and Five Forks Restaurant. Andy Priest, Kevin Bolland and Rex King captured the DIRT Modified heats. Newcomer Mark Chiddy won the B Main.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, continued his dominance in the E Mod division as he captured his fourth feature win of the season and the 37th of his career at Tri-City. This time, however, a late-race caution, which extended the race into a 16-lap feature, nearly cost him the win. Mike Samuelson came up short in his effort to defeat Rhebergen in a one-on-one match over the final circuit.

�Wow-wee!� exclaimed Rhebergen after climbing out of Bruce and Kathy Steadman�s Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. �I let the right rear tire cool off over the last caution. When Mike got under me in turn two, I knew it didn�t look good. I just carried the car high off turn four and held on for the win.�

Former Late Model driver Aurie Weaver led at the start. He paced the field for the first three circuits before Samuelson took the lead on the fourth lap. Behind them, Rhebergen was moving through the pack. Over the course of three laps, Rhebergen moved from fifth to second by the eighth circuit. He chased down Samuelson, and dove under him off turn four to take command at the completion of the 10th circuit.

With one lap to go, Bruce Powell spun out of fifth place off turn four, which caused a caution and extended the race an additional circuit. On the restart, Rhebergen maintained his lead until the final lap. Entering turn one, Samuelson made a move for the lead. Off turn two, Samuelson edged ahead of Rhebergen and appeared to be on his way to an amazing victory over the perennial E Mod king. Rhebergen would not be denied victory, however, and soared back around Samuelson off turn four to take the win. Samuelson finished second over Weaver, who scored a career-best finish. Shawn Shingledecker finished fourth over Jim Frontz. Shawn Domhoff and Kari Gasser scored the E Mod heat race wins.

Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., ended the two-race win streak of point leader Bruce Smith as Whitling raced to his second feature win of the season in the 15-lap main event. It was Whitling�s 34th career Pro Stock win at Tri-City in his Ted Karns Specialty Construction Chevrolet No. 7W as he topped two-time track champion Gary Norman.

�It�s good to start up front on a slick track like tonight,� said Whitling. �I heard Norman behind me a couple of times. We�ve been trying different things to catch Smith and it finally worked tonight.�

Scott Myers led the first two circuits before Whitling drove under him off turn four at the completion of the third lap. Norman quickly established himself as a contender moving into second on the fourth circuit following a restart that occurred after Dave Ferringer belted the front wall. Whitling maintained his advantage over Norman for the rest of the race to score the win. Although Norman was close a few times, Whitling would not be denied the victory.

Behind Whitling and Norman, Jason Johns, Smith and Joe Lockhart engaged in a spirited battle for third. Johns retained the position at the checkered flag over Smith and Lockhart. Myers, Lockhart and Whitling won the Pro Stock heats.

Don Blake Jr. of Titusville, Pa., padded his point lead as he led flag-to-flag in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Driving his Monaco Cycle Sales/Townville Auto & Equipment Chevrolet No. 43, Blake started on the outside pole and survived three cautions and one red flag for his fifth win of the season and the sixth of his career in the Thundercars.

�The team really put a good car together for here,� said Blake. �We must have done something right. You could run anywhere on this track tonight.�

Second generation driver Chad Myers was in the thick of the battle for the win the entire race. After passing Kevin Cooper for second on the sixth lap, Myers dueled with Blake�s son, Joe, for the rest of the race for the runner-up honors. In the end, Myers, who is a division rookie, finished second over Joe Blake, Robby Switzer and Cooper. On the ninth circuit, Cory Botelho survived a scary flip in turn two.

Tri-City Speedway celebrates its 50th Anniversary next Sunday July 4th with a special seven-division show presented by Bossard Crawford that features 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 along with the Late Models and Sportsman Modifieds. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain at $10 in appreciation of the fans.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. JAROD LARSON, 2. Bobby Clark, 3. Rod George, 4. Rob Eyler, 5. Cameron Dodson, 6. Andy McKisson, 7. Gary Rankin, 8. Jason Jacoby, 9. Dr. Bob Altmeyer, 10. Paul Kish, 11. Leonard Ripper Jr., 12. Jeff Kasbee, 13. Sheila Rankin, 14. Bud Watt. DNS: Guy Griffin, Todd Bauer, Brent Covell, Butch Beasley.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JIM RASEY, 2. Del Rougeux Jr., 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 5. Russell King, 6. Rex King, 7. Kevin Bolland, 8. Andy Priest, 9. Skip Moore, 10. Dave Schrader, 11. Chris Schiffer, 12. Lenny Leibold Jr., 13. Chad Reitz, 14. George Hobaugh, 15. Tom Mattocks Jr., 16. Mark Chiddy, 17. Jeremy Paup, 18. Kyle Ripper, 19. Garrett Krummert, 20. Pete Simpson, 21. Les Myers, 22. Jeff Walters, 23. Chanda Reitz, 24. Kevin Dickson. DNQ: Carl Murdick, Conny Allen, Dave Reges, Jeff Walsh.

E MODS (16 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Mike Samuelson, 3. Aurie Weaver, 4. Shawn Shingledecker, 5. Jim Frontz, 6. Shawn Domhoff, 7. Mike Potosky, 8. Russ Dempsey, 9. Jamie Shetler, 10. Jeff Haefke, 11. John Lacki, 12. Chip Mahood, 13. Bruce Powell, 14. Ron Roncaglione, 15. Herm Myers, 16. Kari Gasser, 17. Bootie Petsko. DNS: Larry Walters.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Gary Norman, 3. Jason Johns, 4. Bruce Smith, 5. Joe Lockhart, 6. Gerry Bruce, 7. Rusty Kellogg, 8. Russ Coyne, 9. Denny Crawford, 10. Scott Myers, 11. Doug Iorio II, 12. Gary Sullivan, 13. Greg Beach, 14. Sean Shook, 15. Doug Calvert, 16. J.R. Ziegler, 17. Matt Keith, 18. Arthur Edwards, 19. Matt Thomas, 20. Jim Brunson, 21. Dave Gadley, 22. John Sutley, 23. Rod Laskey, 24. Josh Sopher, 25. Dave Ferringer, 26. Doug Iorio.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. DON BLAKE JR., 2. Chad Myers, 3. Joe Blake, 4. Robby Switzer, 5. Kevin Cooper, 6. Jeff Manners, 7. Curt Bish Sr., 8. Regina Deloe, 9. John K. Miller, 10. John K. Miller II, 11. Josh Seippel, 12. Curt Bish Jr., 13. Cory Botelho, 14. Wearne Cook, 15. Bryan Shaffer, 16. Travis Norman.