ED LYNCH JR. AND ANDY PRIEST WIN ON OPENING NIGHT AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; SHAWN DOMHOFF AND DAVE FERRINGER END LOSING STREAKS; CURT BISH JR. RACES TO THUNDERCAR WIN

by Brian Spaid

May 9, 2004

FRANKLIN, PA � Tri-City Speedway kicked off its 50th Anniversary Season despite a late afternoon thunderstorm that delayed the start of racing by two hours on Sunday night, and Ed Lynch Jr. (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Andy Priest (Schwab�s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Shawn Domhoff (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Dave Ferringer (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Curt Bish Jr. (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) captured feature wins in the twice-delayed season opener at the Venango County half-mile oval.

Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., dominated the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. He passed Jason Jacoby on the second lap through turns one and two and led the rest of the race in his Indy Recycling/Commercial Truck & Trailer J&J No. 2L. Jarod Larson moved in to challenge Lynch just after the halfway mark, but could not catch him in lapped traffic.

�My mom told me last night that it would be a nice Mother�s Day present to win tonight, so this one�s for her,� said Lynch, who has five overall Super Sprint wins this season. �We tested some new stuff during February in Florida and it didn�t work, so we went back to our old setups and we�re back to winning races.�

Larson faded late in the race trying to battle with the lapped cars, and settled for second. Chad Hill placed third ahead of Jacoby and defending track champion Rod George. Jerry Moyer flipped his car in turn one on the opening lap of the feature, but he was uninjured. Gary Rankin and Hill won the Super Sprint heats.

This was Lynch�s 22nd career win at Tri-City, which moved him into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time win list behind Lou Blaney, George and Buddy Cochran. Lynch also won the opening races at Lernerville and Sharon Speedways this season.

Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa, emerged the winner of the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature after a nip-and-tuck duel with Rex King. The two veterans exchanged the top spot three times and made contact down the frontstretch, but Priest would not let this win slip out of his hands. He raced on to score his fifth career victory at Tri-City.

�The track crew did a great job tonight,� said Priest beside Ted Hull�s Emig Racing Inc. Dirt Wheels No. 41 in victory lane. �Rex is always tough on the outside, but I wasn�t going to give him an inch. I�d like to thank the fans for sticking around through the rain delay. I�d also like to thank Ted and his crew for putting a great car together.�

Joe Crawford led the first six laps before Priest slipped under him in turn four when Crawford drifted wide. Then, King grabbed the lead with a power move outside of Priest on the 13th lap. One circuit later, King drifted wide in turn four and Priest drove under him. Although they rubbed rail bars, Priest held on and scored the win. King settled for a close second followed by Crawford, Josh Skarzenski and Jim Weller. Crawford, Dave Murdick and Priest captured the DIRT Modified heats. During the first heat, Gary Risch Jr. blew his engine in a ball of flame while leading with one lap to go. Risch was uninjured.

Shawn Domhoff of Harmony, Pa., followed up his win one week earlier at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway with his second career win at Tri-City in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Domhoff passed Mike Potosky on the eighth lap and raced on to his first win at the track since August 13, 2000, aboard his Domhoff Racing Engine Cyclone No. 13.

�I saw Mike was pushing into the corners pretty hard, so I waited to make the pass,� said Domhoff. �When he drifted high, I got by and raced on from there. We�re running well right now, and I�ll take it.�

Potosky finished a disappointed second as he still seeks his first win at Tri-City. Shawn Shingledecker, who led the first two laps of the race, placed third. Russ Dempsey and Kari Gasser rounded out the top five. Domhoff won the lone E Mod heat. The car count was down significantly. Two-time defending track champion, Brent Rhebergen, and other drivers were in Arkansas for a national E Mod event.

In a stellar performance, Dave Ferringer of Cochranton, Pa., celebrated his birthday with his first Pro Stock feature win since May 19, 2002. After an early wreck eliminated four cars, including title contender Bruce Smith and defending track champion Darrell Bossard, the 15-lap feature event was a non-stop affair. Ferringer led every lap from the outside pole position and dodged heavy lapped traffic for a popular victory in his Lowry Auto Body/Denlawn/Griffin Motors Chevrolet No. 02.

�It�s been a long dry spell,� said Ferringer after his 12th career win at Tri-City. �The middle groove was perfect tonight, and I didn�t realize there were that many cars out there when I got into traffic. The crew did a great job. We have a new engine program and it works great so far.�

Ron Iorio chased the 2000 track champion to the line. He barely held off Doug Iorio Sr. and Andy Buckley. Over the final circuits, the Iorios and Buckley traded paint and positions while they raced inside, outside and through the lapped traffic. Russ Coyne matched a career best run in fifth. The Iorios and Ferringer scored wins in the Pro Stock heats. Gerry Bruce won the B Main.

Continuing family dominance in the region, Curt Bish Jr. of Oil City, Pa., led every circuit of the 12-lap Thundercar feature for his second career victory at Tri-City. He fended off the late-race challenges of Robby Switzer of Kennerdell for the win aboard the Dennis Baker Construction No. 00X. Switzer faltered with a flat tire.

�I knew Robby would be tough,� said Bish. �It�s too bad Dad flipped his car, but we�ll get it fixed. Our success this year is all owed to him.�

In the end, Don Blake Jr. recovered from a midrace spin to finish second over Kevin Cooper, Joe Blake, and rookie Chad Myers. Curt Bish Sr., who has four wins at Mercer Raceway Park this season, flipped in turn two on the eighth lap. He was uninjured, but the car was heavily damaged.

Tammy Powell of Cochranton, Pa., captured the Powder Puff Pro Stock race for the second year in a row. Piloting the Hepler Roofing Chevrolet No. 44S normally driven by Bob Sloss, Powell led every lap to score the win.

Tri-City Speedway will be back in action next Sunday May 16th with a five-star racing program of 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. It will be the first Coors DIRT Modified Bonus Bucks event of the season. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be a family friendly $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Jarod Larson, 3. Chad Hill, 4. Jason Jacoby, 5. Rod George, 6. Brent Covell, 7. Todd Bauer, 8. Andy McKisson, 9. Gary Rankin, 10. Rob Eyler, 11. Jimmy Weller, 12. Bob Altmeyer, 13. Brent Matus, 14. Gale Ruth Jr., 15. Sheila Rankin, 17. Mel Straley, 18. Terry Bowser, 19. Scott Bonnell, 20. Chris Matthews, 21. Joe Butera, 22. Jerry Yoder. DNS: Jeff Kasbee.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST, 2. Rex King, 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Josh Skarzenski, 5. Jim Weller, 6. Chanda Reitz, 7. Dave Murdick, 8. Lenny Leibold Jr., 9. Gary Rankin, 10. Chad Reitz, 11. Kevin Bolland, 12. Del Rougeux Jr., 13. Pete Simpson, 14. John Buchanan, 15. Jeremy Paup, 16. Conny Allen, 17. Gary Risch Sr. 18. Dave Schrader, 19. Steve Young, 20. George Hobaugh, 21. Brian Swartzlander, 22. Chris Schiffer, 23. Nick Ritchey. DNS: Gary Risch Jr., Russell King.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. SHAWN DOMHOFF, 2. Mike Potosky, 3. Shawn Shingledecker, 4. Russ Dempsey, 5. Kari Gasser, 6. Fred Bratchie, 7. Chip Mahood, 8. Jamie Shetler, 9. Matt Lux. DNS: Bruce Powell, David Atkinson.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. DAVE FERRINGER, 2. Ron Iorio, 3. Doug Iorio Sr., 4. Andy Buckley, 5. Russ Coyne, 6. Rusty Kellogg, 7. Doug Iorio Jr., 8. Scott Myers, 9. Bob Sloss, 10. Chris Brown, 11. Gerry Bruce, 12. Doug Calvert, 13. Arthur Edwards, 14. Joe Lockhart, 15. J.R. Ziegler, 16. Tm Balach, 17. Jack Keesy, 18. George Kafantaris, 19. Rick Perry, 20. Bruce Smith, 21. Mike Clark, 22. Darrell Bossard, 23. Bill Lanigan. DNS: Rick Lanigan, Terry Wheeler, Joe Drusko. DNQ: Matt Keith, Dave Gadley, Matt Thomas, Denny Crawford, Chester Raup, Jason Johns, Bobby Whitling, Rod Laskey, John Sutley.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. CURT BISH JR., 2. Don Blake Jr., 3. Kevin Cooper, 4. Joe Blake, 5. Chad Myers, 6. Jeff Manners, 7. Robby Switzer, 8. Regina Deloe, 9. John K. Miller, 10. Andy Miller, 11. Curt Bish Sr., 12. Carl Feely, 13. Matt Zinz, 14. Wearne Cook, 15. Jesse Deloe, 16. John Miller. DNS: Cory Botelho.

POWDER PUFF PRO STOCKS (8 Laps): 1. TAMMY POWELL, 2. Kerri Bruce, 3. Erica Calvert, 4. Stephanie Swope, 5. Misti Lockhart. DNS: Lindi Sayers, Sonia Clark.