KEVIN BOLLAND SNARES BRP MODIFIED TOUR OPENER AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY;
ED LYNCH JR., BRENT RHEBERGEN AND ROBBY SWITZER REPEAT;
ROD LASKEY WINS CAREER FIRST IN STOCKS
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA ... Former track champion Kevin Bolland captured the 30-lap BRP Modified Tour event for the Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds on a cool and cloudy Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway. Rounding out the winners on the Memorial Day Weekend card were Ed Lynch Jr. (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Rod Laskey (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Robby Switzer (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars). A record total of 141 race cars were in the pit area.
Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., became the fifth different DIRT Modified winner of the season over a field of 46 cars in the season opener for the BRP Modified Tour 2003. The 1985 and 2000 DIRT Modified track champion pocketed $1,200 for his 10th career win at Tri-City. He also won his second BRP Modified Tour race in a row at Tri-City after scoring a victory last September.
Skip Moore almost repeated his winning performance from one week ago as he led the first 24 laps of the race. Mired in lapped traffic, Bolland caught Moore with ten laps to go and gave chase in the non-stop event. Finally, on the 25th lap, Bolland found room under Moore off turn four to take command in his Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe/Cintas Uniform Bicknell No. 777. From there, Bolland cruised to victory.
"We're back baby," said Bolland. "After our motor problems, the team really came together to get our motor program back in shape. Skip drove a great race. When you're leading, the guys behind you have a strong advantage because the leader can't see you coming, and we got an opportunity to get by him."
Moore held on for second over defending BRP Modified Tour champion Ron Smoker. Smoker caught the lead duo in lapped traffic before Bolland made his winning pass. Smoker could not make a move to surpass Moore over the final five laps, however, and settled for third. Andy Priest held off Del Rougeux Jr. for fourth. Jim Rasey came from 17th to finish sixth while Steve Young, Tom Winkle, Guy Griffin and Dave Murdick rounded out the top ten. Griffin, Winkle, Bolland, Moore and Smoker won the DIRT Modified heats. John Braymer and Rasey captured the B Mains. Of note, the race was the 250th modified stock car race run at the track since 1968.
Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., led every lap of the non-stop 20-lap Super Sprint main in his Indy Recycling/Commercial Truck & Trailer J&J No. 2L. After starting on the outside pole, it was an easy victory for the current point leader as he won his 18th career feature at the Venango County half-mile oval.
"I don't know if this makes up for last week," said Lynch in reference to his last lap loss to Rod George on May 18th. "I like to run a non-stop race because you get into a rhythm and that makes the lapped traffic much easier. We'll take the win tonight."
George had to make several moves to get through the field to finish second. He entered the top five early in the race, but did not pass Jason Jacoby for fourth until the 10th circuit. Three laps later, he managed to work his way past Daryl Stimeling for third despite a near miss in traffic on the frontstretch. The rest of the race was spent tracking down Jarod Larson. George drove around Larson amidst lapped traffic with one lap to go to finish second. Larson finished third over Stimeling and Jacoby. Stimeling, Lynch and Larson won the Super Sprints heats.
Like the Super Sprints and DIRT Modifieds, the E Mods went green-to-checker in their 15-lap feature, and Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, recovered from an accident on May 18th to win his 25th career E Mod main at Tri-City. Piloting the Sharp Tool & Die, Bruce Steadman-owned Pierce No. 69, Rhebergen passed point leader Jim Frontz on the third lap, and was never headed.
"I'm real happy to win this one," said Rhebergen. "I don't know what happed in that heat race last week, but we rescued this car from the grave. It was bent up pretty bad."
Frontz finished second, but the battle for third behind him was intense. In the end, Mike Potosky survived for show honors over Kari Gasser and Jeff Taylor. Gasser has now finished fourth for three weeks in a row. Rick Robinson and Rhebergen won the E Mod heats.
Rod Laskey of Seneca, Pa., captured his first career Pro Stock feature win as he held off Andy Buckley in a thrilling 15-lap main contest. In a race with four different leaders, Laskey came out on top. Defending track champion Bobby Whitling led the first lap before contact with Doug Iorio Sr. sent Whitling spinning in turn two. Whitling's car was struck by Bobby Heim, which caused significant damage to both race cars. Andy Thompson then led on the restart before Buckley took control of the race.
Like Laskey, Buckley was searching for his first career Tri-City win. He first held off Gary Norman, but Laskey used the outside cushion to race by both drivers on the sixth lap. Then, last week's winner, Bruce Smith, made it to second and attempted to pass Laskey on the 12th circuit. Smith lost control off turn four and dropped two spots. After a late race caution, Laskey held off Buckley over the final two laps to score the popular win.
"This feels great," said Laskey beside his Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting/River Ridge Golf Course Chevrolet No. 1R in victory lane. "The team's worked all season on making the outside groove work for us, and it did tonight. Andy made me nervous when he got under me the last couple of laps, but I kept thinking about being easy on the gas."
Buckley wound up a career best second over Norman, Smith, Dave Ferringer and point leader Darrell Bossard. Bossard finished sixth after being involved in the Whitling accident on the first lap. Terry Wheeler, Smith, Heim and Buckley stomped to victory in the Pro Stock heat races. Danny Exley and Bill Exley Jr. won the B Mains.
Robby Switzer of Kennerdell, Pa., held off the strong challenges of Robby Turrens to win the 12-lap Thundercar feature at the conclusion of the night's racing action. Turrens, an Amateur Strictly Stock competitor at Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, appeared to be a sure winner before Switzer passed him with a slide job off turn four with four laps to go. Switzer then raced to his third win in a row in his Switzer Pisa Pizza Chevrolet No. 97.
"That new guy was tough," said Switzer. "I knew that pass was the only way I was going to get by him. I heard him behind me, and I just wanted to run my race."
Turrens finished second over Kevin Cooper, Joe Blake and point leader Dave Phillips. Jeff Manners escaped serious injury when he flew off turn two into the guard rail while battling Turrens for the lead on the fourth lap.
This coming Sunday June 1st, Tri-City Speedway will host another five division show 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 Coors Brewing Night. In addition, the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series will make its first appearance of the 2003 season. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $10.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Rod George, 3. Jarod Larson, 4. Daryl Stimeling, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Scott Priester, 7. Charlie Holben, 8. Dr. Bob Altmeyer, 9. Jeff Banyas, 10. Brent Matus, 11. Gary Rankin, 12. Jeff Weaver, 13. Curt Shoup, 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Bill Kiley, 16. Mary Anne Williams, 17. Butch Beasley, 18. Paul Kish, 19. Scott Barris, 20. Dwight Kingry, 21. Dave Wagner, 22. Scott Groves, 23. Andy McKisson. DNS: Mel Straley, Randy Kreigisch.
BRP MODIFIED TOUR/DIRT MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Skip Moore, 3. Ron Smoker, 4. Andy Priest, 5. Del Rougeux Jr., 6. Jim Rasey, 7. Steve Young, 8. Tom Winkle, 9. Guy Griffin, 10. Dave Murdick, 11. Jimmy Weller III, 12. Joe Crawford, 13. Jeff Hoffman, 14. Tommy Kristyak, 15. Tom Mattocks Jr., 16. John Braymer, 17. Rick Hall, 18. Mark Flick, 19. Chanda Reitz, 20. Gary Risch Jr., 21. Dave Schrader, 22. J.R. McGinley, 23. Rodney Beltz, 24. Steve Barr. DNQ: Carl Murdick, Kevin Hoffman, Nick Ritchey, Doug Fleeger, Lee Miller, Rick Hoctor, Brian Swartzlander, Jay Priest, Frank Fenush, George Hobaugh, Gary Risch Sr., Clint Baker, Lyle Sherwood, Jim Weller, Dale Fuller, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Garrett Krummert, Randy Snider, Dan Weaver, Dave Reges, Bob Dorman, Dean Pearson.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Mike Potosky, 4. Kari Gasser, 5. Jeff Taylor, 6. Rick Robinson, 7. Matt Swanson, 8. Shawn Shingledecker, 9. Al Cressley, 10. Doug Glessner, 11. Shawn Domhoff, 12. Larry Kugel, 13. Butch Lambert, 14. Russ Dempsey, 15. Bruce Powell, 16. Jamie Shetler, 17. Jeff Jones, 18. Lou Gentile, 19. Nick Cramer, 20. Rick Meglaye, 21. Bobby Watt, 22. Josh Cramer, 23. Randy Beck, 24. Ryan Goff (DISQ).
PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. ROD LASKEY, 2. Andy Buckley, 3. Gary Norman, 4. Bruce Smith, 5. Dave Ferringer, 6. Darrell Bossard, 7. Danny Exley, 8. Doug Foster, 9. Jason Reagle, 10. Russ Kapalin, 11. Jason Johns, 12. Ben Blake, 13. Scott Myers, 14. Dick Pascorell, 15. Rick Hughes, 16. Doug Calvert, 17. Doug Iorio Sr., 18. Andy Thompson, 19. Joe Drusko, 20. Ron Iorio, 21. Terry Wheeler, 22. Bill Exley Jr., 23. Bobby Whitling, 24. Bobby Heim. DNQ: Lonny Blair, Russ Coyne, Matt Thomas, Joe Lockhart, John Sutley, Mike Turner, Bret McCarthy, Rusty Kellogg, Arthur Edwards, Bob Bean, Rick Lanigan, Don Baughman, Mike Miller.
THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. ROBBY SWITZER, 2. Robby Turrens, 3. Kevin Cooper, 4. Joe Blake, 5. Dave Phillips, 6. Gary Ross, 7. Andy Miller, 8. Jeff Manners, 9. Curt Bish.