ED LYNCH JR. AND DARRELL BOSSARD REPEAT WHILE DEL ROUGEUX JR., BRENT RHEBERGEN AND JEFF MANNERS

WIN FIRST OF THE SEASON AT TRI-CITY

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... On another beautiful spring Sunday night, Tri-City Speedway hosted its second show of the 2003 season as Ed Lynch Jr. (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 Jeff Manners (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) scored victories at the Venango County half-mile oval.

Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., established several records with his win in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. He set a modern era record of five feature wins in a row dating back to three wins at the end of the 2002 season. His 17th career Super Sprint victory at Tri-City also makes Lynch the top winner at the track since it reopened in 1996. Counting records since 1968, Lynch is now tied with former racer Bob Felmlee for fourth on the overall Super Sprint win list. Ahead of them are Lou Blaney (29 wins), Buddy Cochran (24) and Johnny Beaber (21).

Rod George led the first two laps of the race before Lynch drove underneath him in turn two in his Indy Equipment J&J No. 2L. On the next circuit, George used the same move to resume command, however, a caution for a spinning car relegated scoring back to last completed lap, which put Lynch out front.

"This was Rod's kind of track tonight," said Lynch. "When he got past us, I knew we'd have a tough time with him. Thankfully, that caution saved us and we held him off to the end."

Although George made a valiant effort to catch him in the late stages of the race, Lynch would not be denied his second win of the season. George was second over Brian Ellenberger, Jason Jacoby, and former track champion Scott Bonnell. Jacoby and Bonnell won the Super Sprint heats.

Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., captured his second career DIRT Modified win at Tri-City Speedway in the 20-lap main event. Taking advantage of Andy Priest's bad luck, Rougeux led the final two laps to score his first win of the season after a tough start to the weekend in his Vinyl Graphics Bicknell No. 20D.

"This car was wrecked bad Friday night at Lernerville," said Rougeux. "Josh Skarzenski helped us get it back together and here we are in the winner's circle. I can't thank him and all my sponsors and team enough. I kept adjusting the brake and panhard bar setups in the car during the race because the track was changing, and it worked."

Priest had the toughest luck of the night. He led the first 18 circuits aboard Ted Hull's MPR Lumber Dirt Wheels No. 41. First, Priest fended off the challenges of last week's winner, Joe Crawford. Crawford tried to use the outside lane to his advantage, but that setup faded. On the 16th lap, Rougeux passed Crawford on the inside of turn four for second. It appeared that Rougeux would not have enough time to catch Priest. Then, with less than two laps to go, the engine in Priest's car succumbed off turn two, and Rougeux assumed command. Rougeux cruised to victory over Crawford, Jim Rasey, Gary Risch Jr. and Chanda Reitz. Rasey and Rougeux captured the DIRT Modified heats.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., dominated the 15-lap E Mod main event for his first win of the season in the Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. Passing early leader Jeff Taylor of the third lap, Rhebergen stretched his advantage to nearly a half track by the finish of the non-stop race.

"Unbelievable," said the 2002 track champion after his 24th career E Mod win at Tri-City. "Last week, the track was heavy and I couldn't catch Dave Hess Jr. Tonight, the track was perfect for our setup. I'm amazed that we were that far ahead at the end."

Taylor led the first two laps before Rhebergen used an inside pass off turn two to take the lead for good on the third lap. Taylor held on for second over Russ Dempsey, Al Cressley and Mike Samuelson. Rhebergen and Dempsey scored wins in the E Mod heats.

Darrell Bossard of Centerville, Pa., started on the pole position in the 15-lap Pro Stock main. He led every lap and withstood challenges on five restarts to score his second win of the season. Dating back to the 2002 Applefest 100, it was Bossard's third victory in a row. It was also his fifth career triumph at Tri-City.

"Starting on the pole always helps. I had to pick it up this year because I was told I'd be fired if I didn't start to run better," joked Bossard in victory lane beside his Bossard Crawford GM Store Chevrolet No. 22B. It was also Bossard's second win of the weekend after a victory Friday night at Raceway 7.

Defending track champion Bobby Whitling ran second holding off Gary Norman and Doug Iorio Sr. in a fierce late-race battle. Danny Exley overcame last week's mechanical ills to finish fifth. Buckley, Norman and Dave Ferringer won the Pro Stock heats. Joe Drusko held off rookie Shawn Smith to win the B Main.

Scotty Carbaugh survived a scary accident on the opening lap of the third heat. His throttle stuck entering turn one. His car slammed through the guardrail and fence, then bounded into one of the ponds off turns one and two. Submerged, Carbaugh unstrapped his belts and swam from the scene. He was uninjured, and the program was delayed over 20 minutes while track crews repaired the damage.

In the nightcap, Jeff Manners of Franklin, Pa., led every circuit of the 10-lap Thundercar main to score his first career win at Tri-City. Last week's winner Dave Phillips challenged Manners until the final lap when he spun off turn two. Phillips crossed the line with a flat tire in second over Curt Bish.

This coming Sunday May 11th, Tri-City Speedway celebrates Mother's Day with a five-star racing program 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. In addition, the annual Mother's Day Powder Puff Stock Car race will occur. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be a family friendly $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Rod George, 3. Brian Ellenberger, 4. Jason Jacoby, 5. Scott Bonnell, 6. Scott Priester, 7. Brent Matus, 8. Phil Mott, 9. Sheila Rankin, 10. Scott Groves, 11. Andy McKisson, 12. Jarod Larson. DNS: Brent Covell, Gary Rankin, Ricky Ferkel.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Joe Crawford, 3. Jim Rasey, 4. Gary Risch Jr., 5. Chanda Reitz, 6. Skip Moore, 7. Lenny Leibold Jr., 8. Dave Schrader, 9. Tom Mattocks Jr., 10. Carl Murdick, 11. Jay Priest, 12. Randy Chronister, 13. Andy Priest, 14. Travis Shingledecker, 15. Lee Miller, 16. George Hobaugh, 17. Frank Johnson. DNS: Jeremiah Shingledecker.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jeff Taylor, 3. Russ Dempsey, 4. Al Cressley, 5. Mike Samuelson, 6. Jim Frontz, 7. Mike Potosky, 8. Butch Lambert, 9. Kevin Decker, 10. Shawn Shingledecker, 11. Kari Gasser, 12. Matt Swanson, 13. Jamie Shetler, 14. Ron Edward, 15. Rick Robinson.

STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. DARRELL BOSSARD, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Gary Norman, 4. Doug Iorio Sr., 5. Danny Exley, 6. Jason Reagle, 7. Andy Buckley, 8. Jason Johns, 9. Ben Blake, 10. Scott Myers, 11. Doug Calvert, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Rusty Kellogg, 14. Joe Lockhart, 15. Joe Drusko, 16. Bill Exley Jr., 17. Billy Beiter, 18. Rod Laskey, 19. Ron Iorio, 20. Russ Coyne, 21. Dick Pascorell, 22. Dave Ferringer, 23. Shawn Smith. DNS: Rick Lanigan. DNQ: Bret McCarthy, Lonny Blair, Matt Thomas, Mike Miller, John Sutley, Dave Gadley, Bob Bean, Tom Scott, Bud Shontz, Scotty Carbaugh.

THUNDERCARS (10 Laps): 1. JEFF MANNERS, 2. Dave Phillips, 3. Curt Bish.