ROD GEORGE PASSES ED LYNCH JR. ON FINAL LAP IN SPRINTS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY;

SKIP MOORE WINS CAREER FIRST IN DIRT MODS;

BRUCE SMITH STOPS DARRELL BOSSARD'S PRO STOCK WIN STREAK;

JIM FRONTZ AND ROBBY SWITZER REPEAT

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... Tri-City Speedway was back in action on Sunday night as Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Skip Moore (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Jim Frontz (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Bruce Smith (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Robby Switzer (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) scored feature wins on a cool spring evening at the Venango County half-mile oval.

Defending track champion Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., thrilled the fans with a last lap pass of point leader Ed Lynch Jr. in the 20-lap Super Sprint main. Lynch took command of the race from Brent Matus on the seventh lap, and appeared to be a lock for a third win this season. Instead, a 14th lap caution allowed Jarod Larson, Matus and George to close in on Lynch. On the restart, George dispatched Larson and Matus within two laps. Using the low groove, he narrowed the gap to Lynch. With an inside pass in turn two on the final circuit, George secured his 18th career win at Tri-City.

"We've been chasing Ed all year," said George after his second consecutive win at the track. "I woke up and started racing about halfway through, and the track was fast tonight. The inside groove really worked late in the race."

Lynch chased George's Kittanning Dairy Queen/Rodeway Inn Gambler No. 4 to the line for second. Larson, Daryl Stimeling and Matus rounded out the top five. Stimeling made his first appearance at the track this season. Matus ran a career race at Tri-City leading for six laps after overtaking early leader Andy McKisson on the second lap. Stimeling and Lynch scored heat race wins in the Super Sprints.

Skip Moore of Jackson Center, Pa., led every lap of the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature to earn his first career win in the division. He survived three cautions and a tense duel with Andy Priest to win the race. Priest tried numerous times to catch and pass Moore. On the final lap, Priest found room under Moore off turn two. They raced into the final turns side-by-side, but Moore used his outside run to power ahead off the fourth corner for the popular win in his Moore's Auto Body Bicknell No. 17M.

"This is awesome," said Moore. "I never thought I'd be here. I was ready to quit two weeks ago, but Del Rougeux Jr. called me a bunch of times and helped me with some setup advice. The car runs real good now, and I've go to thank him and a whole lot of other people, including my wife, Cindy, and Josh Skarzenski. I also have to thank Andy. He raced me clean. We're good friends, and I wasn't going to let him beat me this time!"

Following Moore and Priest to the line was Rougeux. He almost stole second from Priest after a mid-race restart. Priest tried to overtake Moore entering the first corner on the 12th lap, and he drove in too hard, which allowed Rougeux alongside. Priest managed to fight off Rougeux and did not make the same mistake on the final restart. Jim Rasey finished fourth over point leader Joe Crawford. Moore, John Braymer and Priest won the DIRT Modified heats. Nick Ritchey captured the B main.

Jim Frontz easily won his second 15-lap E Mod race in a row. Grabbing the lead from Shawn Domhoff on the second circuit, Frontz opened a large lead over the field. A late caution did not faze Frontz as he raced to his second career win at Tri-City in his Maloney Tool & Mold/Fame RV Center Pierce No. 3J.

"Scott and the team have got the car running well," said Frontz. "It's taken me a year to get used to this car, and it's all finally coming together."

Domhoff finished second for his best run of the season. Jeff Taylor placed third after a race-long duel with Russ Dempsey. Kari Gasser ran well at the end and surpassed Dempsey on the final lap for fourth. Gasser and Dempsey were the winners of the E Mod heats. Point leader Brent Rhebergen was eliminated from competition when he spun and collected another top runner, Mike Samuelson, in a wreck during the second heat.

Bruce Smith of Franklin, Pa., ended Darrell Bossard's four-race win streak as he scored a convincing win in the 15-lap Pro Stock main event aboard his DB&S Cabinets/Lowry Auto Body Pontiac No. 36. After suffering a hand injury two weeks ago, Smith sat out from racing action while his son, Shawn, piloted the car. This week, the elder Smith returned to the wheel and raced by defending track champion Bobby Whitling for the lead on the second lap. From there, Smith was never headed on his way to a fourth career win at Tri-City and his first of the season.

"I've got to thank Shawn," said Smith. "He did a great job the past two weeks. I've also got to thank Rusty Whitmore. He helped setup this car, and it is easy to drive. I had no idea I was way ahead."

Whitling held on to second at the line while Bossard finished third. Bossard dueled for several laps with 1996 track champion Doug Iorio Sr. On the 14th circuit, Bossard finally secured the position, but he could not catch the leaders. Iorio and Jason Johns rounded out the top five. Pro Stock heat race winners were Johns, Gary Norman and Bossard. Joe Drusko won the B main.

In the nightcap, Robby Switzer of Kennerdell, Pa., captured his second consecutive 12-lap Thundercar feature win. He battled with point leader Dave Phillips for the first half of the race before charging ahead over the last few laps in his Switzer Pisa Pizza Chevrolet No. 97. Jeff Manners passed a faltering Phillips in the final laps for runner-up honors. Phillips finished third over Joe Blake and newcomer Kevin Cooper.

This coming Sunday May 25th, Tri-City Speedway hosts the BRP Modified Tour 2003 as part of another five-star racing program on Memorial Day Weekend. The Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds will compete in the first BRP Modified Tour race of the season, which should draw a large field of competitors. In addition, the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars will be in action. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain a family friendly $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Ed Lynch Jr., 3. Jarod Larson, 4. Daryl Stimeling, 5. Brent Matus, 6. Scott Priester, 7. Gary Rankin, 8. Jason Jacoby, 9. Andy McKisson, 10. Phil Mott, 11. Butch Beasley, 12. Paul Kish, 13. Scott Groves, 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Dwight Kingry, 16. Mel Straley.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. SKIP MOORE, 2. Andy Priest, 3. Del Rougeux Jr., 4. Jim Rasey, 5. Joe Crawford, 6. Kevin Hoffman, 7. John Braymer, 8. Brian Swartzlander, 9. Tom Mattocks Jr., 10. Tommy Kristyak, 11. Allen Ferry, 12. Dave Schrader, 13. Carl Murdick, 14. Steve Barr, 15. J.R. McGinley, 16. Chanda Reitz, 17. Chad Reitz, 18. Jay Priest, 19. Garrett Krummert, 20. Lee Miller, 21. Kyle Ripper, 22. George Hobaugh, 23. Jeremy Paup, 24. Nick Ritchey. DNQ: Dan Weaver, Dave Reges, Frank Johnson.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. JIM FRONTZ, 2. Shawn Domhoff, 3. Jeff Taylor, 4. Kari Gasser, 5. Russ Dempsey, 6. Bruce Powell, 7. Matt Swanson, 8. Al Cressley, 9. Butch Lambert, 10. Larry Kugel, 11. Larry Walters, 12. Mike Potosky, 13. Dale Fuller, 14. Dennis Niederriter, 15. Jamie Shetler, 16. Kenny Smith. DNS: Brent Rhebergen, Mike Samuelson, Shawn Shingledecker.

STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. BRUCE SMITH, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Darrell Bossard, 4. Doug Iorio Sr., 5. Jason Johns, 6. Rod Laskey, 7. Dave Ferringer, 8. Joe Drusko, 9. Russ Coyne, 10. Scott Myers, 11. Rusty Kellogg, 12. Dick Pascorell, 13. Ben Blake, 14. Wayne Johnson, 15. Doug Calvert, 16. Bret McCarthy, 17. Matt Thomas, 18. Steve Webb, 19. Joe Lockhart, 20. Scott Peterson, 21. Jason Reagle, 22. Gary Norman, 23. Rick Hughes, 24. Ron Iorio. DNQ: Bud Shontz, Don Baughman, Dave Gadley, Bill Exley Jr., Rick Lanigan, Arthur Edwards, Bob Bean.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. ROBBY SWITZER, 2. Jeff Manners, 3. Dave Phillips, 4. Joe Blake, 5. Kevin Cooper, 6. Wearne Cook, 7. Curt Bish.