LYNCH, BOLLAND AND RHEBERGEN REPEAT AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY;

NORMAN AND BISH WIN FIRST OF SEASON

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... The first race of the summer season was held under warm and bright weather conditions at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday evening as Ed Lynch Jr. (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Gary Norman (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Curt Bish Jr. (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) captured feature wins on Klasen Oil/Pennzoil Night at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval.

Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., triumphed for the fourth time this season in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. Taking the lead from Jason Jacoby on the fifth lap, Lynch held off former track champion Bobby Clark for his 19th career win at Tri-City aboard his Indy Recycling/Commercial Truck & Trailer J&J No. 2L.

"This is a lot better than last week," said Lynch, who spun twice in the June 15th feature race. "We broke a Jacob's Ladder last week, but we came back. The track was fast tonight on the high side. I guess Bobby was coming, so we were on the lookout. The track crew did a great job once again."

Jacoby led from the start of the race, but Lynch was quickly on his tail. Racing in the outside lane off turn two, Lynch soared into the lead on the fifth circuit. While Lynch chased after lapped traffic, Clark closed on Jacoby. The two veterans dueled for several laps before Clark was finally able to get under Jacoby in turn one to take second. After Curt Stroup hit the turn two wall on the 13th lap, Clark was unable to catch Lynch on the restart due to two lapped cars between them. Once Clark cleared the traffic, he was unable to catch Lynch. It was Clark's second appearance of the season, and he finished second to Lynch once again.

While Jacoby wound up third, Rod George finished an unusual fourth. George, who is the defending track champion and has four wins this season, raced in sixth for most of the event. In the last five laps of the race, Andy McKisson spun out of fourth in turn two and George passed Scott Priester to move into a top five finish. Priester finished fifth. George and Clark won the Super Sprint heats.

Although fan favorite Chanda Reitz almost scored an upset, Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., and Andy Priest passed her with two laps left and dueled to the end of the 20-lap DIRT Modified main. Bolland used a last lap pass of Priest to score his third win of the season at Tri-City and his 12th career win.

"We did it tonight," said Bolland after the thrilling run in his Cintas Uniform/Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe Bicknell No. 777. "Andy tried to block me with one to go, but I knew I could get him on the high side in one. The crew earned this one. We've done lots of research and development over the last few weeks, and it's paying off."

Reitz took command of the race on the third lap from early pacesetter Brian Swartzlander and pulled away from the pack in the non-stop event. With the top 12 cars in the heat races inverted for the start of the race, there were passes throughout the event all over the track. Behind Reitz, Priest and Bolland methodically moved forward from mid-pack starting spots. So fast and furious was the racing, at the halfway point, Reitz held the lead over Swartzlander, Priest, Tom Mattocks Jr. and Del Rougeux Jr. Bolland, who started 12th, was running sixth.

Using the outside cushion to his advantage, Bolland raced by Rougeux on lap 11, Mattocks on lap 13 and Swartzlander on lap 14. Priest got by Swartzlander for second on the 13th lap while Bolland was passing Mattocks. Priest and Bolland quickly reeled in Reitz and she could not hold them off. As Priest passed Reitz down low in turn four with two laps to go, Bolland went high around Reitz in turn one. Bolland tried to zip around the outside of Priest in turn three, but Priest blocked the move by sliding in front of him off turn four at the white flag. Bolland then raced around Priest off turn two to go on to the victory.

Priest finished a disappointed second. Reitz finished a career-best third over Rougeux and Swartzlander. Bolland and Rougeux captured the DIRT Modified heats.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, continued to dominate the E Mods as he won the 15-lap feature for the fifth time this season aboard Bruce Steadman's Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. It was Rhebergen's 28th career win in the division as he led every lap of the race.

"I don't know what to say," said Rhebergen. "Bruce, Kathy and Rick have done a great job all season. Without them, I wouldn't be here. I'm just excited that all these Pierce chassis are running well each week. I was worried about Mike Potosky on the start after they watered the track, and I knew I had to get by him going into turn one to have any chance."

Rhebergen used that quick outside move to blast around Potosky and Jamie Shetler on the first lap and was never headed despite three cautions. Point leader Jim Frontz continues to hold a slim lead in the standings over Rhebergen after finishing second. Mike Samuelson worked his was through the top five over the final half of the race and finished third. Kari Gasser passed Potosky on the final lap to finish fourth for the fourth time this season. Potosky was fifth. Potosky and Shetler won the E Mod heat races.

For the second night in a row, Gary Norman of New Castle, Pa., was in victory lane. After topping the Stock Car feature at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday night, Norman scored his first Pro Stock win of the season. It was the 18th career victory for 1997 and 1998 track champion at Tri-City

"My brother and I finally have the car running good," said Norman in victory lane beside his Triple-S Auto Sales/Ken Neely Lumber Buick No. 9N. "I think we've got this thing figured out. It was a great run and win."

Norman passed early leader Bobby Whitling on the third lap after the only restart of the 15-lap event. While Whitling tried to chase down Norman, point leader Darrell Bossard was right behind him. It wasn't until the 12th circuit that Bossard finally found some room under Whitling in turn two. They continued to battle around the track, and Bossard eventually secured the runner-up position off turn four. By then, it was too late for him to catch Norman. Whitling finished third over Doug Iorio Sr. and Dave Ferringer. Bossard, Norman and Whitling triumphed in the Pro Stock heats. Billy Beiter captured the B Main.

Curt Bish Jr. of Oil City, Pa., led every circuit of the 12-lap Thundercar feature to win his first career event at Tri-City. Bish switches off with his father driving their Dennis Baker Construction/Fox Raceway Pontiac No. 00; however, the elder Bish likely will retire after this night.

"I'd like to thank my dad for everything," said the younger Bish. "He's done a lot to get the car running and we're thrilled to be here."

Bish barely held off point leader Jeff Manners for the win. Manners made it to second by the halfway point, and it was not until the final lap that he actually closed the gap to Bish. With time running out, Manners was unable to make a move for the win. Robby Switzer finished third over Ian Tomei and Robby Torrens.

Travis Norman of New Castle, Pa., won the passenger car division One-on-One Spectator Races at the end of the night. Sam Shorts of Blooming Valley, Pa., captured the truck division trophy, but was defeated by Norman in the combined shootout.

This coming Sunday June 29th, Tri-City Speedway features a holiday celebration with the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars and the Victim's Resource Center Ladies Modified Tour charity race, which was rained out on June 8th. In addition, the annual Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza will be presented by the popular Cartwright Fireworks of Franklin. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will still be a family-friendly $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Bobby Clark, 3. Jason Jacoby, 4. Rod George, 5. Scott Priester, 6. Jarod Larson, 7. Ricky Ferkel, 8. Bob Altmeyer, 9. Andy McKisson, 10. Scott Barris, 11. Gary Rankin, 12. Butch Beasley, 13. Kyle Ganoe, 14. Brent Matus, 15. Sheila Rankin, 16. Paul Kish, 17. Curt Stroup, 18. Mel Straley. DNS: Chris Matthews.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Andy Priest, 3. Chanda Reitz, 4. Del Rougeux Jr., 5. Brian Swartzlander, 6. Tom Mattocks Jr., 7. John Braymer, 8. Jim Rasey, 9. Joe Crawford, 10. Lenny Leibold Jr., 11. Skip Moore, 12. Dave Schrader, 13. Garrett Krummert, 14. Nick Ritchey, 15. Carl Murdick, 16. Jeremy Paup, 17. Allen Ferry, 18. Lee Miller, 19. Dan Weaver, 20. Mike Miller, 21. Jay Priest, 22. Curt Matthews. DNS: Dave Reges.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Mike Samuelson, 4. Kari Gasser, 5. Mike Potosky, 6. Butch Lambert, 7. Shawn Domhoff, 8. Jeff Taylor, 9. Jamie Shetler, 10. Matt Swanson, 11. Bruce Powell, 12. Russ Dempsey, 13. Bobby Watt, 14. Shawn Shingledecker, 15. Kenny Smith. DNS: Jay Blum.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. GARY NORMAN, 2. Darrell Bossard, 3. Bobby Whitling, 4. Doug Iorio Sr., 5. Dave Ferringer, 6. Bruce Smith, 7. Bob Sloss, 8. Rod Laskey, 9. Ron Iorio, 10. Scott Myers, 11. Jason Johns, 12. Billy Beiter, 13. Rusty Kellogg, 14. Rick Hughes, 15. Russ Coyne, 16. Doug Calvert, 17. Joe Lockhart, 18. Ray Bailey, 19. Bobby Heim, 20. Ben Blake, 21. Dick Pascorell, 22. Mike Dolecki, 23. Rick Lanigan, 24. Bud Shontz. DNQ: John Sutley, Rod Urey, Bret McCarthy, Wayne Johnson, Dave Gadley, Bob Bean, Dave Shook, Matt Thomas, Don Baughman, Bill Exley Jr.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. CURT BISH JR., 2. Jeff Manners, 3. Robby Switzer, 4. Ian Tomei, 5. Robby Torrens, 6. Joe Blake, 7. Tim Folmer, 8. Dave Phillips, 9. Branden King, 10. Wearne Cook, 11. Dave Gottschalk, 12. Kevin Cooper, 13. Jay Blum.