ED LYNCH JR. NABS FOURTH SUPER SPRINT WIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; JOSH SKARZENSKI SCORES DIRT MOD WIN; MATT SWANSON FINALLY STOPS E MOD CHAMPION BRENT RHEBERGEN; DANNY EXLEY WINS THIRD STOCK CAR MAIN
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA … With only one week left to decide 2002 track champions, one title was decided Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway as Ed Lynch Jr. (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Josh Skarzenski (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Matt Swanson (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods) and Danny Exley (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars) captured feature events on a beautiful Joy Manufacturing Employees Night at the half-mile Venango County oval.
Although his eight-race win streak ended, Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., clinched the 2002 E Mod track championship. It was his first title at the track, where he owns 21 career E Mod feature wins over the last three seasons and one Late Model win in 1997. Last year, Rhebergen won 11 features, but lost the title by two points to Todd Roncaglione.
Using a powerful outside move through turn two, Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., swept by point leader Rod George on the 14th circuit of the 20-lap Super Sprint feature to win for the second week in row. It was Lynch’s fourth win of the season and the 14th of his career in his Indy Recycling J&J No. 2L. It ended a fine weekend for Lynch, who won Friday night at Lernerville Speedway and finished second at Mercer Raceway Park.
“I ran the inside lane for the first half of the race, then I thought to myself ‘What am I doing on the inside,’” said Lynch. “I switched lanes and the car flew. We blew a head gasket in the engine this weekend, and put some sealant in it. It held together, but we’ll tear it apart this week.”
Kevin Andrusky led the first five laps of the race while George and Lynch charged up from the sixth row. By the fifth lap, Andrusky was ahead of Scott Bonnell and George with Lynch in sixth. One lap later, George slipped under Andrusky and Bonnell in turn two to steal the lead. By the halfway point, George held the advantage over Bonnell, Jack Sodeman Jr., Lynch and Andrusky. Lynch battled with Sodeman for several laps before he drove under him off turn four on the 12th circuit and nearly collided with the Ohio racer. On the same lap, Andrusky spun in turn four and collected Ricky Ferkel in a two-car accident to cause one of two cautions in the race.
On the restart, Lynch switched to the outside lane and passed Bonnell off turn four. Heading into turn one, Lynch powered around George and raced away from him for the eventual win. George finished second to maintain a 78-point lead over Lynch in the race for the track title. Bonnell, the 2001 Tri-City Super Sprint champ, finished a season best third. Chad Hill and Daryl Stimeling made a late race charge to finish fourth and fifth. George and Lynch, who are the only feature winners at Tri-City this season other than Jeff Shepard, won the heats for the 19-car field. During the second heat, Gary Rankin’s horrible 2002 season continued when his engine blew on the cool down lap and a fire erupted. Rankin escaped uninjured, but the car was scratched for the evening.
Josh Skarzenski of Erie, Pa., marched to his first career win at Tri-City in the 20-lap DIRT Modified main. Taking advantage of Kevin Bolland’s misfortune losing a tire, Skarzenski ended a long bad luck streak at the half-mile oval to finally score a victory in his Lake Erie Speed Equipment/Stan’s Garden Center Bicknell No. 9J. After the race, the “Polish Hot Rod” completed two Polish victory laps.
“Finally!,” exclaimed Skarzenski in victory lane after a roof dance. “I have tried so hard to win here. I consider this to be my home track and I’m so happy to finally get this win. I’ve had such bad luck over the years, and the brakes on this car are messed up. The inside lane worked well for me tonight. I don’t know what happened to Kevin. I saw him slow off turn four and then his tire came off. I try not to let the points bother me and just focus on winning.”
Lenny Leibold Jr. led the first three laps of the race before a wild wreck occurred on the off turn four when Joe Crawford spun and Skip Moore plowed into him putting Moore’s car on its roof. Neither driver was injured, but Leibold’s lead was short-lived. Skarzenski took command on the fourth lap with an outside move off turn four and led until the ninth circuit.
After another restart for a multi-car accident, Bolland used the same outside move that worked for Lynch in the Super Sprint main to vault into first. Two laps later, however, Bolland lost his left rear tire in turn two handing the lead back the Skarzenski. It was an ironic twist of events because Skarzenski lost a feature win earlier this season with a bobble in turn two that allowed Bolland to pass him.
Andy Priest pressured Skarzenski on the final restart, but the former DIRT Modified Rookie of the Year raced onto his first Tri-City win. Priest finished second over Del Rougeux Jr., Dave Murdick and Chanda Reitz, who scored her best career finish in the DIRT Modifieds. Skarzenski now leads Murdick by 14 points heading into final point race next weekend. Bolland and Priest won the heats for the 24-car DIRT Modified field.
Matt Swanson of Frewsburg, N.Y., led every lap of the 15-lap E Mod feature, including two wild final circuits, to score his first career win in the division. He held off a last lap charge by nine-time feature winner Brent Rhebergen to score an upset win in his TS Machine No. 40.
“This one is for all the E Mod drivers because we’ve tried to beat Brent for a long time,” said Swanson. “I saw him coming at the end, and I just held on. This is our first E Mod win and it feels great.”
Swanson took the lead on the first lap from Shawn Shingledecker and raced out to a large lead while Mike Potosky moved into second. Behind the leaders, Jeff Taylor and Rhebergen put on a fantastic duel for third. Lap after lap, Rhebergen tried to race under Taylor, but the former York Triathlon Series champion held off Tri-City’s perennial E Mod winner. Then, with one lap left, Bruce Powell spun in turn four and collected three other cars bringing out the only caution of the race and setting up a two-lap shootout.
When the race restarted, Rhebergen drove under Taylor entering turn one. The two veterans closed on Potosky. As they raced out of turn four, Rhebergen worked by both drivers and Potosky drifted high putting Taylor in the wall. Taylor bounced off the steel barrier and fell out of contention. On the final circuit, Rhebergen closed on Swanson and caught him in turn three. Using the inside line, Rhebergen tried to take the win, but Swanson withstood the challenge for his first career win. Rhebergen finished second to claim his first track title.
“I’ve never won a championship before in all my years of racing,” said Rhebergen. “I owe this title to the Steadman family. They deserve it. Jeff and I ran a great race. Matt deserved to win. We’ll get them next time.”
Potosky finished third over Kari Petrosky and Jim Frontz. Rhebergen and Frontz won the E Mod heats for the 22-car field.
In the 15-lap Stock Car main, Danny Exley of Rocky Grove, Pa., would not be denied victory after a runnerup finish last week as he scored his third win of the season. With three laps left in the race, Exley raced around former two-time track champion Gary Norman to score a popular win in his Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal/Wooden Nickel Chevrolet No. 23H. He became the first three-time Stock Car feature winner this season.
“I didn’t think I had anything for Gary,” said Exley. “The car hooked up on the outside groove though, and we got the win. I can’t believe I’ve won three races this season. I’d like to thank the entire team for this one.”
Andy Thompson led the first two laps of the race before he flew off turn two when his car broke. That vaulted Norman into the lead. Norman appeared to be on the way to his third win this season as Exley, who grabbed second when Thompson broke, could not keep up with Norman. As the race entered the last half, however, the handling on Exley’s car gradually increased. On the 12th lap, Exley whipped to the outside of Norman off turn two to steal the lead. From there, Exley raced unchallenged to a popular win. Norman finished second over Jason Reagle, Darrell Bossard and Bobby Whitling, who maintained a 51-point lead over Norman in the race for the 2002 title. Bossard, Jamie Shetler and Exley won the Stock Car heats for the 32-car field. Ben Blake topped the B Main.
In the nightcap, Terry Wheeler of Stoneboro, Pa., won his second Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series race of the season at Tri-City. Wheeler took command from Don Gamble on the fourth circuit, then held off the Pittsburgh radio personality for the 15-lap feature win. Bill Wheeling finished third over Bill Exley Jr. and Ron Spangler. Wheeling and Jerry Huff won the heat for the Senior Series drivers.
Next Sunday August 25th, Tri-City Speedway hosts its final four-star show of the 2002 season with the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars. It will be Buyer’s Fair/Pennzoil Night and track titles will be decided in the Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds and Stock Cars. 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. Scott Bonnell, 4. Chad Hill, 5. Daryl Stimeling, 6. Jack Sodeman Jr., 7. Gale Ruth Jr., 8. Jason Jacoby, 9. Bob Altmeyer, 10. Ed Etzel, 11. Brent Matus, 12. Chris Matthews, 13. Butch Beasley, 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Paul Kish, 16. Kevin Andrusky, 17. Ricky Ferkel, 18. Mike Dehner. DNS: Gary Rankin.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JOSH SKARZENSKI, 2. Andy Priest, 3. Del Rougeux Jr., 4. Dave Murdick, 5. Chanda Reitz, 6. Lenny Leibold Jr., 7. Chris Schiffer, 8. Carl Murdick, 9. Allen Ferry, 10. Jake Braymer, 11. Kevin Hoffman, 12. Jason Hyde, 13. John Buchanan, 14. Dave Shook, 15. Randy Chronister, 16. Rich Landgraf, 17. Clint Baker, 18. Kevin Bolland, 19. George Hobaugh, 20. Lee Miller, 21. Joe Crawford, 22. Skip Moore. DNS: Brian May, Dan Weaver.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MATT SWANSON, 2. Brent Rhebergen, 3. Mike Potosky, 4. Kari Petrosky, 5. Jim Frontz, 6. Shawn Shingledecker, 7. Russ Dempsey, 8. Butch Lambert, 9. Mike Samuelson, 10. Scott Stiffler, 11. Tim Rhodes, 12. Al Cressley, 13. Ron Jaeger, 14. Jim Myers, 15. Shawn Domhoff, 16. Jeff Taylor, 17. Keith Bidwell, 18. Bruce Powell, 19. Rick Robinson, 20. Jim Abbott, 21. Chad Wise. DNS: Dale Fuller.
STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. DANNY EXLEY, 2. Gary Norman, 3. Jason Reagle, 4. Darrell Bossard, 5. Bobby Whitling, 6. Andy Buckley, 7. Bruce Smith, 8. Joel Watson, 9. Dave Ferringer, 10. Jason Johns, 11. Tom Scott, 12. Scotty Carbaugh, 13. Jamie Shetler, 14. Ben Blake, 15. Scott Peterson, 16. Bret McCarthy, 17. Dick Pascorell, 18. Gary Sullivan, 19. Denny Crawford, 20. Mike Miller, 21. Joe McCorkle, 22. Arthur Edwards, 23. Dave Gadley, 24. Andy Thompson. DNQ: David Atkinson, Doug Calvert, John Sutley, Joe Lockhart, Rod Laskey, Lonny Blair, John Shetler, Don Baughman.
SENIOR SERIES (15 Laps): 1. TERRY WHEELER, 2. Don Gamble, 3. Bill Wheeling, 4. Bill Exley Jr., 5. Don Spangler, 6. Tim Lowry, 7. Randy Myers, 8. Bud Holben, 9. Sid Haas, 10. Joe Betz, 11. Darrell Calvert, 12. Bob Tarr, 13. Bud Shontz, 14. Jerry Huff, 15. Tom Knight Sr., 16. Larry Bruner, 17. Gary Proper. DNS: Jeff Heeter.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug. 25 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars (Points End!!!)
Sept. 14 – Mod Madness VI 100 (BRP Modified Tour Kodiak Memorial 40, York Triathlon E
Mod Series 30, Sportsman Modified 30) (Raindate Sept. 15)
Sept. 21 – ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series R.N. Goss Gas Products 50, York Triathlon E
Mod Series and Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Stock Car Series
Sept. 28 – CSOnline Applefest 100 (Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Stock Car Series), T/USA Mod
Lites Dwarf Cars and Lowry Auto Wrecking Demo Derby (Raindate Sept. 29)