ROD GEORGE, JOE CRAWFORD AND BRENT RHEBERGEN EACH WIN FIRST OF 2004 AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY WHILE BRUCE SMITH AND DON BLAKE JR. REPEAT

by Brian Spaid

May 23, 2004

FRANKLIN, PA �. Despite the threat of thunderstorms throughout the evening, hot and sunny conditions prevailed at Tri-City Speedway for its third show of its 50th Anniversary Season, and Rod George (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Joe Crawford (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) captured feature wins at the Venango County half-mile oval on Coors Brewing Night.

Two-time defending track champion Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., captured his first win of the season at Tri-City with a dominant performance in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. Starting on the pole position, George immediately took command of the race, survived one caution, and led every lap in his Rodeway Inn/Kittanning Dairy Queen Gambler No. 4. It was George�s 26th career win at Tri-City. With three more victories, George will tie the legendary Lou Blaney as the top Super Sprint winner at Tri-City since 1968.

�That would be a neat record to break,� said George. �Our butt got kicked the last two weeks, but we made it tonight. I have to thank American Racer tires. We�re working on a new tire, and it worked great. It helps to start out front, but the rest of the guys are getting tougher.�

Last week�s feature winner Jarod Larson finished second. Larson ran alone most of the race until Andy McKisson showed his nose to the Buckeye State star on the 15th circuit. When that happened, Larson blasted away from him. McKisson closed late in the race, and finished a fine third. Right behind them, 16-year-old Cameron Dodson, fresh from a win the night before at Mercer Raceway Park, recovered from a spin on the third lap to race through the pack for a close fourth at the line. Former track champion Scott Bonnell finished fifth. George and Larson won the Super Sprint heats.

Joe Crawford of Polk, Pa., used the outside groove to his advantage as he swept from fourth to first early in the race, and cruised to his first victory of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature. It was Crawford�s fifth career win at Tri-City in his Fletcher�s Artic Cat/Lepley�s Bus Service Bicknell No. 25.

�I thought I was going to be a bottom feeder tonight, but the track crew made a perfect outside lane,� said Crawford. �I�ve got to thank my entire crew. We crashed at Sharon Speedway last night, and they worked hard to put this car back together for tonight. Without them, we wouldn�t be here.�

Chanda Reitz led the race from the pole position. As the fourth circuit was scored, Reitz was the leader over Tom Mattocks Jr., Kevin Bolland, Del Rougeux Jr. and Crawford. Over the next two laps, Crawford blasted around the outside of all five drivers taking the lead from Reitz off turn two. He then survived two cautions to lead the last 15 laps of the race.

Behind him, Reitz drove a stellar race as she held off the advances of Bolland, who stalked Reitz for the last half of the race. On the final lap, Bolland dove under her in turn four and made contact, which forced Reitz into the wall. Bolland unofficially crossed the finish line in second over Rex King, who also took advantage of the move to grab an extra spot. Reitz was fourth with Chris Schiffer in fifth. After the race, race officials ruled Bolland�s move rough driving, and docked him two positions. That decision elevated King and Reitz into second and third. Bolland was credited with fourth over Schiffer, who scored a second consecutive top five finish after taking a year off from racing. Due to the fact that he did not have a Coors Light decal on his car, Crawford was ineligible for the Coors DIRT Modified Bonus Bucks. Jeremiah Shingledecker and King captured the DIRT Modified heats.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., grabbed a hard-earned victory in the 15-lap E Mod feature. The two-time defending track champion battled with current point leader and two-time winner Shawn Domhoff for most of the race. On the 13th lap, Rhebergen drove under Domhoff in turn four to take the lead and his first victory of the season in Bruce Steadman�s Sharp Tool & Die/Finish Line Machine Pierce No. 69. It was Rhebergen�s 34th career E Mod win at Tri-City.

�Boy, Shawn is really tough,� said Rhebergen. �He�s a good racer and he�s giving us a run for our money. A lot of teams did their homework over the winter. As for the race, I could see Shawn was drifting high the corners, so I timed my pass. We touched a little, which I didn�t like to do, but it worked out.�

Kari Gasser led the initial seven circuits and appeared to be on her way to a first career win. Her performance thrilled the crowd as she led Domhoff and Rhebergen. Under caution, however, the driveshaft snapped on her car, and the popular Gasser coasted to the pit area dejected with her misfortune.

Once Gasser fell out of the race, the lead battle shifted to Domhoff and Rhebergen. Domhoff led the next five laps before Rhebergen made the winning move off turn four. Domhoff finished second. Behind the lead duo, Fred Bratchie used the same outside groove perfected by DIRT Modified feature winner Joe Crawford to snatch third at the finish line over Bruce Powell. Mike Potosky finished fifth. Domhoff and Gasser grabbed wins in the E Mod heats.

Bruce Smith of Rocky Grove, Pa., captured his second 15-lap Pro Stock feature win in a row in his D/B&S Cabinets/J&A Tool Pontiac No. 36. After early race leader Dave Ferringer dropped out with a broken axle on the ninth circuit, Smith assumed command of the race and drove to his eighth career win at Tri-City.

�This is an emotional win for me tonight,� said Smith. �I�d like to thank my dad, my family and my entire crew. The track was perfect tonight.�

Ferringer, who won on opening night, jumped into an immediate lead at the drop of the green while the rest of the field diced behind him. With the top 12 heat race finishers inverted, there were numerous passes throughout the field for the entire race. Out front, Ferringer led Gerry Bruce and Smith. Bruce nearly spun on the seventh lap and lost several positions. Ferringer suddenly slowed with a broken axle on the ninth lap, which handed the lead and eventual win to Smith, who started seventh. After starting in 11th, Bobby Whitling raced his way to a runner-up finish for the second week in a row. Doug Iorio finished third over defending track champion Darrell Bossard, who started 12th, and Jason Johns. Bossard and Whitling won the Pro Stock heats.

Don Blake Jr. of Titusville, Pa., won his second consecutive 12-lap Thundercar feature in his Monaco Cycle Center/Townville Auto & Equipment Chevrolet No. 43. Taking the lead on the fifth circuit, Blake raced to an easy third career win.

�This car works great here,� said the former Pro Stock racer. �I can�t make it work well anywhere else. We�re glad to win another one tonight.�

Curt Bish Sr. was the early leader of the race. The five-time Strictly Stock winner at Mercer Raceway Park led the initial four circuits before Blake cruised past him for the win. Robby Switzer nosed out Bish at the wire for second. Chad Myers finished fourth over Curt Bish Jr.

Tri-City Speedway�s 50th Anniversary Season continues next Sunday May 30th with the inaugural Dick Rankin Memorial. The event, presented by Rankin & Son Excavating, will feature a five-star racing program highlighted by the first BRP Modified Tour 2004 event of the year for the Schwab�s Ford DIRT Modifieds. The 30-lap feature will pay $1,500 to the winner. In addition, the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods will compete in Tri-City�s new E Series while the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks open the 2004 Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. Both of those series will run 20-lap features with additional purse money on the line. The Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints and Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars will round out the five-division show. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain $10 for this special event.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Jarod Larson, 3. Andy McKisson, 4. Cameron Dodson, 5. Scott Bonnell, 6. Rob Eyler, 7. Todd Bauer, 8. Gary Rankin, 9. Phil Mott, 10. Jason Jacoby, 11. Butch Beasley, 12. Bill Kiley, 13. Gale Ruth Jr., 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Jerry Yoder. DNS: Jimmy Weller.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JOE CRAWFORD, 2. Rex King, 3. Chanda Reitz, 4. Kevin Bolland, 5. Chris Schiffer, 6. Del Rougeux Jr., 7. Andy Priest, 8. Lenny Leibold Jr., 9. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 10. Brian Swartzlander, 11. Tom Mattocks Jr., 12. Dave Schrader, 13. Gary Risch Jr., 14. Russell King, 15. Pete Simpson, 16. Chad Reitz, 17. Carl Murdick, 18. Conny Allen, 19. Jeremy Paup, 20. George Hobaugh, 21. Josh Skarzenski.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Shawn Domhoff, 3. Fred Bratchie, 4. Bruce Powell, 5. Mike Potosky, 6. Russ Dunn, 7. Jim Frontz, 8. Mike Samuelson, 9. Shawn Shingledecker, 10. Jamie Shetler, 11. John Lacki, 12. Russ Dempsey, 13. Rick Robinson, 14. Chip Mahood, 15. Dan Ames, 16. Kari Gasser.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BRUCE SMITH, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Doug Iorio, 4. Darrell Bossard, 5. Jason Johns, 6. Denny Crawford, 7. Doug Iorio II, 8. Rusty Kellogg, 9. Terry Wheeler, 10. Arthur Edwards, 11. Rod Laskey, 12. Scott Myers, 13. Matt Keith, 14. Ronnie Davis, 15. Dave Gadley, 16. George Kafantaris, 17. Gerry Bruce, 18. Bob Sloss, 19. Dave Ferringer, 20. Doug Calvert, 21. Tim Balach. DNS: Joe Lockhart, Dave Myers, John Sutley.

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