ROD GEORGE, KEVIN BOLLAND, BRENT RHEBERGEN, BOBBY WHITLING, JEFF MANNERS AND BOB SLOSS

REPEAT WINNERS AS TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY FINALLY BEATS THE WEATHER

by Brian Spaid

August 10, 2003

FRANKLIN, PA ... After two weeks of rain, Tri-City Speedway finally dodged the wet weather on Sunday night as Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks), Jeff Manners (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) and Bob Sloss (Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series) collected feature event wins on Buyer's Fair-Pennzoil/Molson Night at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval.

Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., cruised to his seventh win of the season at Tri-City. Piloting his Rodeway Inn/United Expressline/Kittanning Dairy Queen Gambler No. 4, George took the lead from Daryl Stimeling on the seventh circuit of the non-stop 20-lap event. With point leader Ed Lynch Jr. heading west to the Knoxville Nationals, George was peerless and captured his 23rd career win at Tri-City. He also snared the point lead.

"Daryl was tough tonight," said George. "This car works great on the bottom. There weren't a lot of cars here tonight with the threatening weather, but it's still tough to run against these guys because they're all getting better."

Stimeling finished a distant second. Jason Jacoby nearly caught him at the end, but settled for third. Todd Bauer and Gary Rankin rounded out the top five. Stimeling and George won the Super Sprint heats.

Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., scored his sixth DIRT Modified feature win of the season in his Cintas Uniform/Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe/Budisak Boys Bicknell No. 777. Starting 12th, Bolland raced around the topside of the track quickly moving forward. By the sixth lap, Bolland surpassed early race leader Jim Rasey for the lead. From there, he cruised to his 15th career win, which tied four-time track champion Brian Swartzlander for fourth on the all-time win list.

"We struggled early in the season with some motor problems, which took us out of point races," said Bolland. "We're focused on wins now. We've got 12 wins and our goal is 15. And we're getting into the late season races with the big money."

Defending track champion Josh Skarzenski moved from 11th starting spot into second behind Bolland on the 16th lap. He was no match for Bolland, however, and finished in the runnerup position. Rasey held onto third over Del Rougeux Jr. and Chanda Reitz. Joe Crawford kept himself in the point battle with Rasey and Rougeux by finishing sixth. Andy Priest, who is another title contender, dropped out with mechanical woes on the second lap. Bolland and Skarzenski also won the DIRT Modified heats.

In the 15-lap E Mod feature, it was another clinic performance by Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y. Driving Bruce Steadman's Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69, Rhebergen led every circuit after starting on the pole position by the luck of the draw. He faced some stiff challenges from Kari Gasser during parts of the race, including a final restart with six laps to go. Rhebergen withstood Gasser's charge, however, and raced to his eighth win of the season and his 31st career E Mod win at Tri-City.

"Bruce, Kathy and Rick (Steadman) put a great car together for me every week and it's a pleasure to drive for them," said Rhebergen. "Kari ran great tonight. On the last restart, she kept hitting my back bumper and I thought she'd be tough to hold off. She'll win one of these soon."

Gasser finished a career-best second over Shawn Domhoff, Jim Bickerstaff Jr. and Jeff Taylor, who barely held off Jim Frontz for fifth at the line. With the win, Rhebergen surpassed Frontz for the E Mod point lead. Gasser and Bidwell won the E Mod heats.

Defending track champion Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., returned to old form as "The Seneca Slider" scored his second Pro Stock win of the season in his Ted Karns Specialty Construction Chevrolet No. 7W. Whitling took command of the 16-lap race on the third circuit from early pacesetter Ron Iorio, then survived three cautions and one red flag period to capture his 31st career win at Tri-City. Bruce Smith challenged Whitling for most of the race, and barely held off Gary Norman for second at the end.

"The track was perfect tonight," said Whitling. "Bruce was running well, but I wasn't too concerned because the crew did an excellent job getting this car running tonight. The red flag period allowed the tires to cool, but we had no problems after that."

Iorio held onto fourth at the finish over point leader Darrell Bossard. Rod Laskey continued his bad luck streak rolling over amidst a six-car crash in the second turn on the seventh lap. He was uninjured. The race went an extra lap due to a late race caution. Iorio, Whitling and Jason Johns scored wins in the Pro Stock heats. Scott Myers won the B Main.

Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., continued to build his point lead in the Thundercars as he captured his third win of the season in his Jerry's Auto Service Oldsmobile No. 16. Robby Switzer was on his way to his sixth win in the Thundercars when his car suddenly slowed on the seventh circuit of the 12-lap feature. That allowed Manners to sneak past him off turn two for the lead and eventual win. Switzer recovered and almost came back to win, but nearly spun with two laps to go when he charged too hard into turn one.

"This is great," said Manners. "This is a fun division. I know I'm leading the points, but I'm not thinking about it. I just want to take it one race at a time."

Curt Bish Jr. finished second. Switzer managed to finish third despite his wild run. Dave Phillips and Joe Blake rounded out the top five. Newcomer Dan Slagle rolled his car twice in the third turn on the fourth lap, but he was unhurt.

Bob Sloss of Franklin, Pa., won his second Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series Pro Stock race of the season at Tri-City. The veteran Pro Stock racer piloted his Hepler Roofing/Les Frickshun Chevrolet No. 44S by Joe Yakich on the inside of turn three on the 10th lap of the 15-lap feature. From there, Sloss raced on to repeat his first Senior Series win on June 1st, although Yakich made a last ditch effort to pass him on the final lap.

"I've got to thank Tom Harry for everything he does for me working on my engines," said Sloss. "I've also got to thank God for giving me the power to do this. I've raced five times this year, won twice, and I'm having more fun that I ever had."

Tim Lowry of Franklin finished third over Joe Betz and Sid Haas. Sloss and Yakich also won the heat races.

In the nightcap, Ed Deloe of Oil City, Pa., defeated a 25-car field in the first-ever Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demolition Derby.

This coming Sunday August 17th, Tri-City Speedway will host another five-star racing program of the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars on Lincoln Electric/Racers for Tots Night. In addition, the second set of One-on-One Spectator Races is scheduled at the end of the show. Fans that bring a new toy to the track as a donation to Racers for Tots will be eligible to receive one of many door prizes to be given away. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Daryl Stimeling, 3. Jason Jacoby, 4. Todd Bauer, 5. Gary Rankin, 6. Brent Matus, 7. Butch Beasley, 8. Bill Jones, 9. Sheila Rankin, 10. Scott Groves. DNS: Scott Bonnell.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Josh Skarzenski, 3. Jim Rasey, 4. Del Rougeux Jr., 5. Chanda Reitz, 6. Joe Crawford, 7. Dave Schrader, 8. Skip Moore, 9. Nick Ritchey, 10. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 11. Carl Murdick, 12. Kevin Thompson, 13. Jeremy Paup, 14. Dan Weaver, 15. George Hobaugh, 16. Steve Toth, 17. Garrett Krummert, 18. Adam Seigel, 19. Tom Shaffer, 20. Tom Mattocks Jr., 21. Allen Ferry, 22. Andy Priest. DNS: Gary Risch Jr.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Kari Gasser, 3. Shawn Domhoff, 4. Jim Bickerstaff Jr., 5. Jeff Taylor, 6. Jim Frontz, 7. Mike Potosky, 8. Rick Robinson, 9. Bruce Powell, 10. Matt Swanson, 11. Butch Lambert, 12. Bootie Petsko, 13. Mike Samuelson, 14. Shawn Shingledecker, 15. Mike Hess, 16. Keith Bidwell, 17. Kenny Smith, 18. Dave Ferry, 19. Scott Peterson. DNS: Adam Beck, Jamie Shetler.

PRO STOCKS (16 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Bruce Smith, 3. Gary Norman, 4. Ron Iorio, 5. Darrell Bossard, 6. Andy Buckley, 7. Joe Drusko, 8. Doug Iorio Sr., 9. Jason Johns, 10. Bill Exley Jr., 11. Joe Lockhart, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Scott Myers, 14. Dick Pascorell, 15. Don Baughman, 16. Russ Coyne, 17. Matt Thomas, 18. Ben Blake, 19. Doug Calvert, 20. Scotty Carbaugh, 21. Tim Balach, 22. Rusty Kellogg, 23. Dave Ferringer, 24. Rod Laskey. DNS: Lonny Blair. DNQ: Bret McCarthy, Shawn Shook, Matt Keith, Mike Mathieson, John Miller, John Sutley, Mike Miller.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JEFF MANNERS, 2. Curt Bish Jr., 3. Robby Switzer, 4. Dave Phillips, 5. Joe Blake, 6. Wearne Cook, 7. Branden King, 8. Rick Miller, 9. Andy Miller, 10. Dan Speer, 11. Dan Slagle.

PCTC SENIOR SERIES (15 Laps): 1. BOB SLOSS, 2. Joe Yakish, 3. Tim Lowry, 4. Joe Betz, 5. Sid Haas, 6. Randy Myers, 7. Darrell Calvert, 8. Denny Gunthrum, 9. Graham Edwards, 10. Don Bauer, 11. Ron Spangler, 12. Pat Wilcox, 13. Curt Bish Sr., 14. Fred Casagni, 15. Bill Wheeling. DNS: Gary Proper, Don Blake Jr., Jerry Huff, Todd Miller, Bob McWilliams.