ROD GEORGE, DEL ROUGEUX JR., BRENT RHEBERGEN AND DARRELL BOSSARD ALL REPEAT AT TRI-CITY;
ROBBY TORRENS WINS CAREER FIRST IN THUNDERCARS; BOB SLOSS DOES THE SAME IN SENIOR SERIES
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA ... All day rains on Saturday turned into windy and cool conditions on Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway, but that failed to stop Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Del Rougeux Jr. (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Darrell Bossard (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Robby Torrens (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) from scoring victories at the Venango County half-mile oval. In addition, Bob Sloss picked up the win in the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series event.
Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., continued his shared dominance of the Super Sprint division class with Ed Lynch Jr. Since May 19, 2002, either George or Lynch has won every feature for the winged warriors. This time, George passed Jarod Larson on the 13th lap of the 20-lap main to score his third win of the season and the 19th of his career at Tri-City.
"There are a lot of fast cars at this track," said the defending track champion beside his Kittanning Dairy Queen/Rodeway Inn Gambler No. 4 in victory lane. "I think Ed and I are just the old guys and that's why this streak keeps going. I just love this track. The surface is great, the officials are good and the fans are the best around."
Larson led the race from the start before George passed him. Larson and Jason Jacoby then engaged in a spirited duel for second that ended on the 17th lap when the two made contact in the second turn, which sent the multi-time Sharon Speedway champion into a spin. Larson continued without causing a caution, but fell out of contention for a runnerup finish.
Jacoby was second at the line over Brian Ellenberger, Lynch and Larson. Ellenberger passed Larson after the spin. Lynch got around Larson on the last lap. Lynch and Deana Barbara won the Super Sprint heats.
Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., became the season's first repeat DIRT Modified feature winner. By the luck of the draw, Rougeux started on the outside of the front row beside polesitter and early race leader Jim Rasey. Rasey led the first three laps of the 20-lap event before Rougeux slipped by him in the second turn. Rougeux survived three caution periods to score his third career victory at Tri-City in his Vinyl Graphics Bicknell No. 20D. It was also his second of the season.
"I feel bad for Jim because he had a strong car at the start," said Rougeux. "He pulled alongside and showed me he had a push in his car after the first caution. I knew we'd have a good chance to beat him then. He's a good racer. My crew did an excellent job getting our car setup for tonight. I'm real proud of them."
Behind Rougeux and Rasey, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Chanda Reitz and Andy Priest had a whale of a battle for third throughout the event. Shingledecker held the spot for most of the race while he fended off Reitz. Priest joined the battle by the seventh circuit, but struggled to pass Reitz. Running a strong race, Reitz was trying to get under Shingledecker in turn three on the 16th circuit when she spun ending her night. On the final lap, Priest finally shot around the outside of Shingledecker to grab third.
In the end, Rougeux was the winner over Rasey, Priest, Shingledecker and Tom Mattocks Jr., who earned his best career finish at Tri-City. Rasey, Rougeux and Shingledecker captured the DIRT Modified heats.
In the 15-lap E Mod main, Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, stomped the competition once again. Starting seventh, he moved into the lead by the fourth lap and won by a quarter-track at the end of the non-stop affair. It was Rhebergen's 26th career win in the class and his third of season.
"This car ran where it shouldn't have run tonight," said the driver of Bruce Steadman's Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. "The track started to take some rubber and the car would run high or low. It may not seem like it, but the competition here is strong. I can't believe we had that big of a lead on the field at the end."
Early race leader Jeff Taylor finished second. Point leader Jim Frontz battled with Bruce Powell throughout the race and barely held on for third. Powell and Mike Potosky rounded out the top five. Kari Gasser, Larry Walters and Rhebergen won the E Mod heats.
After two weeks outside of the winner's circle, Darrell Bossard of Centerville, Pa., returned to familiar territory with his fourth Pro Stock win of the season. Bossard started on the outside pole position in the 15-lap feature and held off rookie Scott Myers into the first turn to take command. Bossard withstood the challenges of two-time track champion Gary Norman for the first ten laps of the race before two cautions slowed the action. Bossard was peerless on the restarts and cruised to his seventh career win at Tri-City in his Bossard Crawford GM Store Chevrolet No. 22B.
"I hit a puddle on the inside of turn one a couple of times and saw Gary's front bumper," said Bossard. "On the restarts, the driver at the front has the advantage. I wanted this win because I topped my personal season record of seven wins with eight victories tonight."
Norman finished second at the line. Bruce Smith held off defending track champion Bobby Whitling for fourth. Myers finished a career best fifth. Smith, Norman and Bossard scored wins in the Pro Stock heats. Doug Iorio Sr. won the B Main.
Robby Torrens of Kennedy Township, Pa., ended teen star Robby Switzer's three-race win streak in the 12-lap Thundercar main. Taking the lead from Curt Bish on the first lap, Torrens was never headed as he raced to his first career feature win in his Sinicrope Contracting Chevrolet No. 22.
"We had a lot of fun running here last week, and we wanted to come back," said Torrens in victory lane. "This is my first win ever and I have to thank everyone that's involved with our team and that have supported us all this time."
Jeff Manners finished second to Torrens followed by Kevin Cooper, Switzer and Wearne Cook. Switzer was in contention for the win when he and Manners started to battle for second. On the ninth lap, Switzer tried to reassume the position from Manners in turn two, but looped the car instead. He recovered to finish fourth.
The wild 15-lap Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series race ended with Bob Sloss of Franklin, Pa., in victory lane for his first career feature race win. Driving the Coyne Lawn & Snow Pontiac No. 8C normally piloted by Pro Stock racer Russ Coyne, Sloss led every lap to defeat former DIRT Modified driver Les Myers.
"It's taken 49 years for me to get here, and I have to thank the Lord for this," said Sloss. "Russ did a good job getting this car setup for me tonight. We're trying to get an engine put together so we can race again this season in the Pro Stocks."
Following Sloss and Myers to the line were Tim Lowry, Randy Myers and Senior Series regular Joe Yakich. Gary Proper flipped Rod Laskey's Pro Stock on the eighth circuit off turn four. Proper was uninjured, but the car, which was in victory lane last Sunday at Tri-City following Laskey's first career win, was severely damaged. Lowry and Ron Spangler won the Senior Series heats races.
This coming Sunday June 8th, Tri-City Speedway and Chevron East host the 2003 season opener for the York Triathlon Super Sprints in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Victim's Resource Center Ladies' Modified Tour event. It will also be the first combined race of the season for Tri-City's Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series and the new Pro Stock Series promoted by Dave Ferry. The RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods and Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars will also be on the card. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will still be $10.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Jason Jacoby, 3. Brian Ellenberger, 4. Ed Lynch Jr., 5. Jarod Larson, 6. Andy McKisson, 7. Rob Eyler, 8. Brent Matus, 9. Butch Beasley, 10. Paul Kish, 11. Gary Rankin, 12. Deana Barbara, 13. Todd Bauer, 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Mel Straley. DNS: Charlie Holben.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Jim Rasey, 3. Andy Priest, 4. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 5. Tom Mattocks Jr., 6. Joe Crawford, 7. Carl Murdick, 8. Guy Griffin, 9. Dave Schrader, 10. Nick Ritchey, 11. Dave Murdick, 12. Dean Pearson, 13. Tommy Kristyak, 14. Allen Ferry, 15. Skip Moore, 16. George Hobaugh, 17. Jay Priest, 18. Dan Weaver, 19. Steve Toth, 20. Travis Shingledecker, 21. Jeremy Paup, 22. Frank Johnson, 23. Rick Kress, 24. Chanda Reitz, 25. Ed Alcorn, 26. Garrett Krummert.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jeff Taylor, 3. Jim Frontz, 4. Bruce Powell, 5. Mike Potosky, 6. Russ Dempsey, 7. Keith Bidwell, 8. Kari Gasser, 9. Mike Samuelson, 10. Shawn Domhoff, 11. Shawn Shingledecker, 12. Rick Robinson, 13. Jeff Johnson, 14. Matt Swanson, 15. Butch Lambert, 16. Al Cressley, 17. Larry Kugel, 18. Jamie Shetler, 19. Lou Gentile, 20. Tom Martineck, 21. Dennis Neiderriter, 22. Jim Bickerstaff Jr., 23. Larry Walters, 24. Alan Dellinger, 25. Scott Peterson.
PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. DARRELL BOSSARD, 2. Gary Norman, 3. Bruce Smith, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Scott Myers, 6. Andy Buckley, 7. Doug Iorio Sr., 8. Ben Blake, 9. Joe Lockhart, 10. Ron Iorio, 11. Jason Johns, 12. Doug Calvert, 13. Rusty Kellogg, 14. Rod Laskey, 15. Bill Lanigan, 16. Arthur Edwards, 17. Rick Hughes, 18. Joe Drusko, 19. John Sutley, 20. Dave Ferringer, 21. Dick Pascorell, 22. Shaun Hooks, 23. Bret McCarthy, 24. Rod Urey. DNQ: Bob Bean, Russ Coyne, Rick Lanigan, Dave Shook, Matt Thomas, Mike Miller, Danny Exley, Mike Dolecki, Bill Exley Jr.
THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. ROBBY TORRENS, 2. Jeff Manners, 3. Kevin Cooper, 4. Robby Switzer, 5. Wearne Cook, 6. Joe Blake, 7. Dave Phillips, 8. Curt Bish.
SENIOR SERIES (15 Laps): 1. BOB SLOSS, 2. Les Myers, 3. Tim Lowry, 4. Randy Myers, 5. Joe Yakich, 6. Fred Casagni, 7. Darrell Calvert, 8. Ron Spangler, 9. Paul Wilcox, 10. Todd Miller, 11. Grant Edwards, 12. Sid Haas, 13. Bob McWilliams, 14. Gary Proper, 15. Don Bauer, 16. Joe Betz. DNS: Curt Bish, Don Blake, Bob Holben.