ED LYNCH JR., ANDY PRIEST, BRENT RHEBERGEN, GARY NORMAN AND ROBBY SWITZER

ALL REPEAT WINNERS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... The fans were treated to sunny skies and fast action on Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway as Ed Lynch Jr. (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Andy Priest (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Gary Norman (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks), and Robby Switzer (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) were repeat winner on Cranberry Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Night at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval.

Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., continued his co-dominance of the Super Sprints as he captured his sixth feature event of the season. Starting on the outside pole by the luck of the draw, Lynch led the entire 20-lap feature with his main nemesis, Rod George, running in second the whole way. The victory was not all that easy for Lynch because he slowed at the midpoint of the non-stop race before he finally picked up the pace in his Indy Equipment/Commercial Truck & Trailer J&J No. 2L for his second win in a row.

"The brake pedal fell off," said Lynch to the amazement of the fans following his 21st career win, which tied him for fourth on the all-time victory list with Johnny Beaber. "The track had a cushion tonight, and I wouldn't have won without it."

Although Lynch and George walked away from the field, a stirring battle for third developed during the closing stages of the race. Jarod Larson zipped by Rob Eyler and Jason Jacoby over the last two laps to nail down third. Eyler and Jacoby rounded out the top five. Eyler and Lynch won the Super Sprint heats.

For the second time this season, New Castle, Pa., driver Andy Priest hooked up with car owner Ted Hull to win the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature. Priest inherited his fourth career win at Tri-City after five-time winner and race leader Kevin Bolland broke the drivetrain on this DIRT Modified with four laps to go. Once out front, Priest cruised to the victory in Hull's MPR Lumber/Bossard Crawford Dirt Wheels No. 41.

"I would have liked to have beat Bolland on the track tonight, but we'll take this one," said Priest in victory lane. "I'd like to thank all the fans for coming out and supporting us every week, and Ted and his guys. They give me a good car to run every week."

Dave Schrader led the first nine laps of the race before Bolland finally passed him for the lead with an inside move at the start-finish line to complete the 10th lap. Bolland was the man to beat as he raced out to a near straightaway lead. Behind him, Priest used a power move on the outside cushion to rocket into second by Schrader and third place runner Skip Moore on the 14th lap. Two laps later, Bolland pulled high in turn four out of the race. Once out front, Priest pulled away for the win over Moore, Chanda Reitz, Brian Swartzlander and defending track champion Josh Skarzenski. This was Skarzenski's first race back in the DIRT Modifieds at Tri-City since he retired at the beginning of the season. Schrader fell out of a top five finish with a broken draft on the final lap. Rex King and Joe Crawford won the DIRT Modified heats.

Other than Priest's win, the big news of the night was the shake-up in the DIRT Modified championship battle. Point Leader Jim Rasey blew an engine during his heat race, which opened the door for Crawford and Del Rougeux Jr. to close the gap in the feature. In an amazing turn of events, Crawford lost four laps when he blew a tire and Rougeux dropped out with engine woes. Despite those troubles, Crawford assumed the point lead over Rougeux and Rasey. In addition, Priest and Moore both climbed into the title chase with only five point races to go.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, achieved a milestone with his 30th career win in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Rhebergen took the lead on the opening circuit as he rocketed past front row starters Jim Frontz and Bruce Powell. He then raced on to his seventh win of the season in Bruce Steadman's Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69.

"I can't believe it, I don't know what to say," said Rhebergen after his win. "I had a great heat race battle with Frontz. That was the most fun I've had all year. I knew he'd be tough at the start and I wanted to get by him. Bruce, Kathy and Rick have this car tuned perfectly."

While Rhebergen paced the field, the battle for second exchanged three times. Powell held it until the fifth lap when Frontz finally got past him. Then, Jeff Taylor entered the fray mid-race. Following a restart, on the seventh lap, Taylor worked past Frontz for second. Knowing he's still in the hunt for the track title, Frontz pressured Taylor until he under him off turn two on the 12th circuit. From there, Frontz finished second for the fourth time this season. Taylor was third over Mike Potosky and Powell. Kari Gasser and Brent Rhebergen captured the E Mod heat races. Butch Lambert and Frank Brocious both flipped their E Mods in the heat races. Brocious took a violent tumble in the first turn during his maiden voyage in his new E Mod.

Gary Norman of New Castle, Pa., topped a competitive 15-lap Pro Stock feature defeating two-time and defending track champion Bobby Whitling. Starting ninth, Norman stormed to the front of the field and was running second by the second lap when the caution flew. On the restart, Norman raced by early leader Russ Coyne. From there, Norman held off Whitling's valiant charge to score his 20th career Pro Stock win at Tri-City in his Triple S Auto Sales/Gabany's Performance/Ken Neely Lumber Buick No. 9N.

"My brother, Larry, and I have finally got this car working right," said Norman, who was the 1997 and 1998 Pro Stock champion. "Bobby got by the one time before a caution, but I knew we had the car to beat tonight. The track was excellent. I've got to hand it to the track crew. They did a good job."

Behind Norman and Whitling, point leader Darrell Bossard survived a side-by-side duel with last week's winner Bruce Smith on the final lap to finish third. Coyne finished a career-best fifth. Smith, Whitling and Bossard won the Pro Stock heats.

Robby Switzer of Kennerdell, Pa., started on the outside pole of the 12-lap Thundercar feature and burst into an immediate lead. Riding the outside cushion, he survived two early cautions and a mid-race battle with Curt Bish Jr. to earn his second win in a row and his fifth of the inaugural season of the new division.

"This division is a lot of fun," said Switzer in victory lane next to his Switzer Pisa Pizza/Carbaugh's Garage Chevrolet No. 97. "The outside cushion is the best for me, and it was fast tonight. Bish touched me a couple times, but we made it here to victory lane."

Point leader Jeff Manners finished second with Bish, Kevin Cooper and Wearne Cook rounding out the top five.

At the end of the night, many race fans stuck around to watch Darrell Bossard make some hot laps in his Late Model ride. Bobby Whitling also slipped behind the wheel of Bossard's car to make his initial circuits in a Late Model. The division will return to Tri-City for races on Aug. 31 and Sept. 7.

This coming Sunday July 27th, Tri-City Speedway features another 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 on Buyer's Fair/Pennzoil Night. In addition, the first-ever Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demolition Derby will be run at the end of the racing action. 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. Rob George, 3. Jarod Larson, 4. Rob Eyler, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Bob Altmeyer, 7. Todd Bauer, 8. Andy McKisson, 9. Gary Rankin, 10. Todd Allen, 11. Brent Matus, 12. Butch Beasley, 13. Sheila Rankin, 14. Todd Zinn, 15. Paul Kish. DNS: Mel Straley.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST, 2. Skip Moore, 3. Chanda Reitz, 4. Brian Swartzlander, 5. Josh Skarzenski, 6. Rex King, 7. Lenny Leibold Jr., 8. Carl Murdick, 9. Dave Willoughby, 11. Dave Schrader, 12. Garrett Krummert, 13. Dave Reges, 14. Dan Weaver, 15. Del Rougeux Jr., 16. Kevin Bolland, 17. Joe Crawford, 18. Nick Ritchey. DNS: Jim Rasey.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Jeff Taylor, 4. Mike Potosky, 5. Bruce Powell, 6. Shawn Domhoff, 7. Jamie Shetler, 8. Kari Gasser, 9. Rick Robinson, 10. Kenny Smith, 11. Herm Myers, 12. Bootie Petsko. DNS: Bruce Crouch, Frank Brocious, Dale Fuller, Butch Lambert, Russ Dempsey.

PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. GARY NORMAN, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Darrell Bossard, 4. Bruce Smith, 5. Russ Coyne, 6. Joe Lockhart, 7. Lonny Blair, 8. Arthur Edwards, 9. Ben Blake, 10. Bob Bean, 11. Dick Pascorell, 12. Bret McCarthy, 13. Rod Laskey, 14. Dave Ferringer, 15. Jason Johns, 16. Scott Myers, 17. Rick Hughes, 18. Doug Calvert, 19. Matt Thomas, 20. John Sutley, 21. Doug Iorio Sr., 22. Chadd Uber. DNS: Rusty Kellogg, Bill Exley Jr., Bud Shontz, Dave Shook, Matt Keith.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. ROBBY SWITZER, 2. Jeff Manners, 3. Curt Bish Jr., 4. Kevin Cooper, 5. Wearne Cook, 6. Andy Miller, 7. Rick Miller Jr., 8. Joe Fabiszewski, 9. Joe Blake, 10. Dave Phillips.