ROD GEORGE, KEVIN BOLLAND, JEFF TAYLOR, GARY NORMAN AND JEFF MANNERS WIN AT TRI-CITY;
MEGAN GREENLEE TOPS LADIES MOD TOUR
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA ... The track crew battled afternoon and evening showers at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday, but their efforts paid dividends for Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Jeff Taylor (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Gary Norman (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Jeff Manners (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) as they scored feature wins on Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Night at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval. In addition, Megan Greenlee captured the 2nd Annual Ladies Modified Tour race for the benefit of Victim's Resource Center Inc.
The show was interrupted by an hour-and-a-half rain delay following the Pro Stock heats. The track crew and several Thundercar drivers worked feverishly to work the track into shape. With the added moisture, the track turned super-fast and tacky, and the entire show was completed, including the Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza.
Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., captured his fifth win of the season in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. The victory was the defending track champion's fifth of the season. It also earned George 21 career wins at Tri-City, which ties him for third on the all-time win list with Johnny Beaber.
"This track was real fast tonight," said George in victory lane with his Kittanning Dairy Queen/Rodeway Inn Gambler No. 4. "Most tracks would have given up, but I have to hand it to Tri-City because you worked real hard to get this show in. My crew worked hard too, and they put me here tonight. To tie Johnny Beaber with 21 wins is amazing. I'm in some pretty top company there."
Scott Priester beat George into turn one on the opening lap, and led the first three circuits before George took command. By the fifth lap, Ed Lynch Jr. was running second followed by Brian Ellenberger, Priester and Daryl Stimeling. Lynch pressured George for several laps. On a lightning fast track, things got dicey in lapped traffic. On the 14th lap, Lynch made contact with the lapped car of Mel Straley off turn four and spun on the frontstretch. The jam-up behind him also caused Ellenberger to spin.
Once Lynch was out of contention, George cruised to the win on the restart over Stimeling, who finished a season-best second. Stimeling never had a chance to catch George as three lapped cars separated them on the restart. Priester, Jason Jacoby and Lynch rounded out the top five as Lynch moved from the back of the pack to the top five over the last four laps. Stimeling and Lynch won the Super Sprint heats.
Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., scored an amazing win in the 21-lap DIRT Modified feature aboard his Cintas Uniform/Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe Bicknell No. 777. Starting 15th, Bolland streaked through the field, and took advantage of a late-race crash involving Brian Swartzlander and Rex King to take his fourth win of the season. It was Bolland's third win in a row, which tied a modern-era record set by Jeff Hoffman in 1997 and matched by Swartzlander in 1999.
"Wow, that was a fun race," exclaimed Bolland after his 13th career win at Tri-City. "This track was super-fast tonight and the car worked beautiful. I feel bad for Brian and Rex. When Brian hit the wall, it took away his line, and Rex tried to take advantage. I barely got past them."
With action all over the track, Dave Schrader took command at the start and led the first seven laps before Swartzlander took over the lead in his new ride, the Rapp Racing Bicknell No. 11R. During those seven laps, point leader Jim Rasey moved up to fourth, then suffered severe suspension damage on a sixth lap restart jingle with third-place Del Rougeux Jr. Rasey ran the rest of the event with a disabled car and finished ninth.
At the halfway point and rain showers in the air, Swartzlander led Schrader, Rougeux, Bolland and King. Bolland and King were nearly tied together as they moved by Rougeux on the 15th lap, and Schrader one lap later. Moving in on Swartzlander, King had the advantage over Bolland. With two laps to go, Swartzlander hit the outside retaining wall on the frontstretch just past the flagstand. King saw an opening, and made a dive for the lead entering turn one. The two leaders came together. Swartzlander's left rear wheel flew off his car in turn two causing him to spin and King came to a halt off turn two with rear suspension damage.
As a result of that incident, Bolland took the lead with ease. He led the final three laps as the race was extended one lap due to another caution on the 19th circuit. Schrader finished a season-best second over Rougeux, Lenny Liebold Jr. and Andy Priest. For Liebold, it was a career best finish at Tri-City as he made two daring outside passes on the last two restarted to climb into the top five. Priest, Rougeux and Chanda Reitz captured the DIRT Modified heat races.
For the third time in his career, Jeff Taylor of Saltsburg, Pa., scored a feature win at Tri-City in the 15-lap E Mod feature. It was Taylor's first win of the season and it came with a last lap pass of Shawn Domhoff.
"This was a great track tonight, and it worked well for us," said Taylor with his Lias Tire Racing Designs/J&M Grafix Throwin' Dirt No. 3. "We broke a fan and radiator in the heat, and Kari Gasser, Jim Frontz, and all their crews helped us put it back together, so I have to thank all of them. This was a fun race."
Domhoff led the entire, non-stop 15-lap E Mod feature until the final circuit. For the first half of the race, Butch Lambert ran second to Domhoff with defending track champion Brent Rhebergen and Jeff Taylor right behind. On the 10th lap, Taylor used a sweeping outside pass in turn two to steal second from Lambert and Rhebergen made a similar move to third. The two speed demons caught Domhoff with two laps to go. Taylor tried an inside move in turn two that did not work.
On the final lap, Taylor used the outside lane in turn two to rocket past Domhoff and score the win. Domhoff finished a disappointed second over Rhebergen, Mike Samuelson and Russ Dempsey. Lambert broke on the final lap, which caused a near wreck off turn four. Unfortunately, point leader Jim Frontz was caught in the fray and brushed the turn four wall coming to a halt and dropping to 12th in the final rundown. Frontz and Mike Potosky scored the E Mod heat wins.
Gary Norman of New Castle, Pa., started a new win streak with his second victory in a row and for the season in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. Norman took command of the race on the third lap, then held off defending track champion Bobby Whitling for this 19th career win at Tri-City.
"The track came to us tonight, and we're happy to win this," said Norman while standing next to his Triple S Auto Sales/Ken Neely Lumber Buick No. 9N. "We got tore up pretty bad last night, and I have to thank my entire crew, especially my brother, for everything they did to get this car on the track tonight."
Dick Pascorell led the first three laps before Norman, Dave Ferringer and Whitling moved past him. Ferringer suffered a flat tire that eliminated him from contention, and allowed Whitling to make every effort to take his 30th career win at Tri-City. Norman held off every challenge from Whitling, however. In fact, Whitling barely held onto the runner-up spot as point leader Darrell Bossard made a valiant charge on the final lap, but it came up short at the line by a few feet. Following Norman, Whitling and Bossard to the stripe were Bob Sloss and Joe Drusko, who scored a career-best finish. Bossard, Whitling and Bruce Smith won the Pro Stock heats. Ben Blake won the B Main.
Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., took the lead of the 12-lap Thundercar feature with two laps to go and raced on to his second win of the season in the new class. The victory allowed Manners to stretch his point lead aboard his Jerry's Auto Repair Oldsmobile No. 16.
"Joe (Blake) was fast tonight, and I knew it would to tough to pass him," said Manners in victory lane with fireworks shooting in the air after the final race concluded at 11:00 p.m."We're happy to be here tonight, and I'm happy we were able to help get the show in after the rain."
The wild affair found Kevin Cooper in the early lead. On a fifth lap restart, using a four-wide move into turn one, Blake took command of the race. Manners moved into second right behind Blake, then started to close on the former demolition derby winner. With two laps to go, Manners drove around Blake into turn three and exited the final corner with the lead. Manners then raced to the win over Blake. In a fun-filled battle for third, Cooper retained the position on the final circuit over last week's winner Curt Bish Jr. Robby Switzer finished fifth.
Megan Greenlee of Cochranton, Pa., led every lap of the eight-lap Victims Resource Center Ladies Modified Tour benefit race and she finished a half-track ahead of the rest of the field in the Schwab's Ford/World of Wheels/Action Grafix/Venango Glass Bicknell No. 9. The battle for second was wild on the final lap as Sue Priest came out ahead of Sis King, Alexis Shingledecker and Sandy Crawford in a four-car battle for the spot.
"That was a lot of fun," said Greenlee, who drove the Sportsman Modified of her boyfriend, Chad Reitz. "I didn't know I was that far ahead. I want to thank all the ladies and the track for having this race."
Through donations from the fans, race teams, drivers, corporate sponsors and track officials, a check in the amount of $5,137.00 was delivered to Victim's Resource Center Inc. and its Executive Director Jennifer Feicht during the show. Feicht and race organizer, Cindy Moore, thanked everyone for their generous contributions.
This coming Sunday July 6th, Tri-City Speedway features a special four-division show. The the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints will be highlighted with the rain-delayed Chevron East York Triathlon Super Sprint Series race from June 8th. The Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds will be in action as well as the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, which will compete in the Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Series/Griffin Motors Pro Stock Series event. The Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars will round out the show. The RE/MAX 1st Oil Country will have the night off. 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. Scott Priester, 4. Jason Jacoby, 5. Ed Lynch Jr., 6. Scott Barris, 7. Kevin Schaeffer, 8. Brian Ellenberger, 9. Kyle Ganoe, 10. Brent Matus, 11. Paul Kish, 12. Mel Straley, 13. Sheila Rankin, 14. Shawn Minor, 15. Gary Rankin, 16. Scott Bonnell.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (21 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Dave Schrader, 3. Del Rougeux Jr., 4. Lenny Liebold Jr., 5. Andy Priest, 6. Chanda Reitz, 7. Joe Crawford, 8. Tom Mattocks Jr., 9. Jim Rasey, 10. Jay Priest, 11. Jeremy Paup, 12. Jake Braymer, 13. Mike Miller, 14. George Hobaugh, 15. Brian Swartzlander, 16. Rex King, 17. Carl Murdick, 18. Chad Reitz, 19. Garrett Krummert, 20. Dan Weaver, 21. Nick Ritchey, 22. Skip Moore, 23. Gary Risch Jr., 24. Allen Ferry. DNQ: Lee Miller, Shawn Shingledecker, Dave Murdick, Tom Winkle.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. JEFF TAYLOR, 2. Shawn Domhoff, 3. Brent Rhebergen, 4. Mike Samuelson, 5. Russ Dempsey, 6. Butch Lambert, 7. Kari Gasser, 8. Rick Robinson, 9. Shawn Shingledecker, 10. Jamie Shetler, 11. Jay Blum, 12. Jim Frontz, 13. Bruce Powell, 14. Mike Potosky.
PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. GARY NORMAN, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Darrell Bossard, 4. Bob Sloss, 5. Joe Drusko, 6. Doug Iorio Sr., 7. Scott Myers, 8. Rusty Kellogg, 9. Jason Johns, 10. Doug Calvert, 11. Russ Coyne, 12. Ben Blake, 13. John Sutley, 14. Mike Dolecki, 15. Rick Hughes, 16. Dick Pascorell, 17. Dave Ferringer, 18. Arthur Edwards, 19. Rod Laskey, 20. Matt Thomas, 21. Andy Thompson, 22. Bud Shontz, 23. Bruce Smith, 24. Joe Lockhart. DNQ: Mike Winger, Scott Peterson, Rod Urey.
THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JEFF MANNERS, 2. Joe Blake, 3. Kevin Cooper, 4. Curt Bish Jr., 5. Robby Switzer, 6. Branden King, 7. Andy Miller, 8. Dave Gottschalk, 9. Wearne Cook, 10. Dave Phillips, 11. Kenny Alcorn.
LADIES MODIFIED TOUR (8 Laps): 1. MEGAN GREENLEE, 2. Sue Priest, 3. Sis King, 4. Alexis Shingledecker, 5. Sandy Crawford, 6. Carol Schrader, 7. Daylene Schrader, 8. Megan Crispen, 9. Darlene Rembold, 10. Debbie McCord. DNS: Jennifer Stainbrook, Karen Baker.