GEORGE WINS FIFTH SPRINT MAIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY;

DEL ROUGEUX JR. CAPTURES FIRST CAREER DIRT MOD WIN;

RHEBERGEN AND NORMAN ALSO WIN

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... Tri-City Speedway celebrated the Independence Day holiday on a hot summer Sunday night as Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Del Rougeux Jr. (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX E Mods) and Gary Norman (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars) picked up feature wins as the fans also enjoyed the Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza at the half-mile Venango County oval.

Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., continued his dominance of the Super Sprint division at Tri-City as he scored his fifth win of the season in his Delp Family Powder Coating/Kittanning Dairy Queen Gambler No. 4. The victory brought George within one win of the modern record of six victories in a season set by Bob Felmlee in 1996 and Bobby Clark in 1997.

"It's taken a lot of luck to win this many races here," said George. "The competition is good at Tri-City, and it was a tough race on a nice track. I had no idea how far ahead I was. I just hope we keep our good luck streak going."

Displaying amazing talent, George diced his way through traffic in the early stages of the 20-lap feature, which was run caution-free. Chad Hill led the first six circuits before George, who ran outside and inside on the half-mile dirt oval, slipped by for the lead. As George entered lapped traffic, he continued to open his lead. By the end of race, George led a half-track for his 14th career win at Tri-City.

Behind him, Hill ran a strong race, but lapped traffic proved to be his undoing. By the seventh lap, Ed Lynch Jr. was in fourth and he gradually closed on third place Daryl Stimeling. After he worked by the former Clinton County Speedway champion on the 11th lap, Lynch set his sights on Hill. Amidst lapped traffic, Lynch passed Hill for second on the 17th lap. By then, George was gone in the distance, so Lynch settled for the runnerup slot. Stimeling just nipped Hill at the line for third with lapped traffic all around once again. Hill finished a fine fourth with Rob Eyler close behind him in fifth. Ricky Ferkel, George and Eyler won the Super Sprint heats.

In the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature, Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., finally scored his first win in the division. Rougeux, who won the 2001 Original Coors Hard Charger of the Year Award, finished second on two occasions this season. On June 9th, he was leading with three laps to go when good friend Kevin Bolland passed him for the win. This time, Bolland was no match for Rougeux (pronounced roo-zhee).

"First, I'd like to thank my Dad," said Rougeux in victory lane beside his Bicknell No. 20D. "This is a family deal, and Dad is my only crewman. He works hard and this just feels so good to finally win. Also, the Bollands help me a lot. I didn't worry about Kevin. He beat me a few weeks ago, but we did it tonight. I just love this track and the fans are great."

Dave Schrader led the opening five rounds of the race. Rougeux tried several times to dive under Schrader in the turns before the move finally stuck in turn four on the sixth circuit. Rougeux drove the final 15 laps like a true veteran as the battle for second was heated behind him.

Bolland and Josh Skarzenski ganged up on Schrader on the seventh circuit as they went inside and outside of Schrader to move into second and third. One lap later, point leader Dave Murdick was in fourth. Those three drivers diced with each other lap after lap, but Bolland continued to hold the edge in second. Then, on the 16th lap, Skarzenski went outside and Murdick inside in the backstretch to move by Bolland.

Now running second, Skarzenski quickly closed on Rougeux. It looked like Skarzenski might pass for the win. Then, like last week, he got on the inside berm in turn two and nearly spun. Murdick hit the brakes and just slipped under Skarzenski while Bolland went by on the outside. On the final circuit, Bolland went around Murdick into second. Meanwhile, out front, Rougeux cruised to a popular win over Bolland, Murdick, Skarzenski and Schrader. Murdick and last week's winner Alan Dellinger won the DIRT Modified heats.

The 15-lap E Mod race proved anticlimactic. By the luck of the weekly fan draw, Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., started on the front row for the second week in a row. When the green flag waved, Rhebergen raced away from the pack to score his 18th career win at Tri-City. In addition to being his sixth win of the season, it was his fifth in a row aboard Bruce Steadman's Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69.

"I don't know what to say," said Rhebergen. "We had good luck tonight because a fan drew for the starting lineup and put us on the front row again. I also watched the Super Sprints and DIRT Modifieds, and they all hugged the bottom groove, so I knew where to run tonight."

Rhebergen led every lap of the race. Behind him, Jim Frontz did a valiant job to hold onto second. First, Matt Swanson challenged him for several laps. Swanson actually completed the pass on the seventh circuit before the caution waved nullifying the move. Then, on the restart, Chad McClellan passed Swanson and pressured Frontz. In the end, Frontz finished second for the second time this season. McClellan was third over Swanson and Bruce Powell. Rhebergen and Frontz won the E Mod heats.

After six weeks of different winners, Gary Norman of New Castle, Pa., earned the honor of being the first repeat winner in the 15-lap Stock Car main. The 1997 and 1998 track champion took the lead on the fourth lap and held off the fierce challenges of numerous drivers in his Triple-S Auto Sales Buick No. 9N.

"That race was a long one," said Norman in reference to the unusual six caution flags. "I knew Whitling, Bossard and Exley were all there."

Dave Ferringer led the first lap before last week's winner Jason Reagle slipped by in turn two. Reagle held the advantage until the fourth circuit when Norman passed him. Two laps later, Bobby Whitling grabbed second after a multi-car duel with Reagle, Ferringer and Danny Exley. Just as Whitling took the position, Reagle blew his engine ending a fine run.

After the caution flag dotted the first six laps, the race settled down and Norman was the dominant car. As the laps ticked by, Whitling's tires heated up and he closed on Norman. At one point, Whitling nearly passed Norman for first. Then, a late caution tightened the field. It also allowed Norman and Whitling's tires to cool.

In the end, Norman was triumphant over Whitling for his 17th career win at Tri-City. Darrell Bossard passed Exley for third at the checkered flag. Scotty Carbaugh finished fifth. In the Stock Car heats, Norman, Whitling and Rod Laskey picked up the wins. Jason Johns won the B Main.

This coming Sunday July 7th, Tri-City Speedway hosts another exciting night of racing action with the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars. The Stock Cars will compete in the second Anderson Building Detroit Iron Stock Car Series event of the season. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain at $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Ed Lynch Jr., 3. Daryl Stimeling, 4. Chad Hill, 5. Rob Eyler, 6. Brian Ellenberger, 7. Kevin Andrusky, 8. Scott Priester, 9. Ricky Ferkel, 10. Arnie Kent, 11. Gary Kriess Jr., 12. Jason Jacoby, 13. Goob Schuller, 14. Bob Altmeyer, 15. Gregg McCandless, 16. Gary Rankin, 17. Andy McKisson, 18. Phil Mott, 19. Brent Matus, 20. Ed Etzel, 21. Brian Hartzell, 22. Gary McCollum, 23. Paul Kish, 24. Butch Beasley, 25. Dean Ruth, 26. Eric Turrill.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Kevin Bolland, 3. Dave Murdick, 4. Josh Skarzenski, 5. Dave Schrader, 6. Chris Schiffer, 7. Alan Dellinger, 8. George Hobaugh, 9. Andy Priest, 10. Billy Van Pelt, 11. Joe Crawford, 12. Kevin Hoffman, 13. J.R. McGinley, 14. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 15. Nick Ritchey, 16. Carl Murdick, 17. Rob Kristyak, 18. Chanda Reitz, 19. Matt Baker, 20. Jim Bickerstaff, 21. Skip Moore, 22. Dave Shook, 23. Adam Kozar.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Chad McClellan, 4. Matt Swanson, 5. Bruce Powell, 6. Russ Dempsey, 7. Mike Samuelson, 8. Butch Lambert, 9. Rick Robinson, 10. Larry Kugel, 11. Shawn Domhoff, 12. Tim Rater, 13. Ron Jaeger, 14. Shawn Shingledecker, 15. Kari Petrosky, 16. Jim Abbott, 17. Herm Myers, 18. Mike Potosky, 19. Jeff Taylor. DNS: Brett Porter, Fred Bratchie.

STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. GARY NORMAN, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Darrell Bossard, 4. Danny Exley, 5. Scotty Carbaugh, 6. Rod Laskey, 7. Bruce Smith, 8. David Atkinson, 9. Jason Johns, 10. Doug Calvert, 11. Mike Miller, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Joe Lockhart, 14. Brian Hurt, 15. Dave Gadley, 16. Dave Ferringer, 17. Ben Blake, 18. Andy Miller, 19. Jason Reagle, 20. Jamie Shetler, 21. Andy Thompson, 22. Rod Urey, 23. Steve D'Apolito, 24. Ron Iorio. DNQ: Raymond Bailey, Rick Hughes, Dick Pascorell, Tom Scott, Bret McCarthy, John Sutley, Lonny Blair, Rusty Kellogg.