LYNCH, PRIEST AND RHEBERGEN REPEAT WINNERS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY;
BOBBY WHITLING NOTCHES 50TH OVERALL CAREER STOCK WIN
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA ... Despite cool temperatures and cloudy skies, Tri-City Speedway scored another home run with its race fans on Sunday night as Ed Lynch Jr. (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Andy Priest (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX E Mods) and Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating) captured features events on Snyder of Berlin Night with the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club members in the grandstands.
Last week, Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., collided with Brian Ellenberger off turn two under red flag conditions and crashed into the outside wall knocking him from the race. This week, Lynch outdueled Ellenberger into turn one at the start of the 20-lap Super Sprint feature and raced to his second win of the season.
"I'd like to dedicate this win to my dad," said Lynch in reference to his father, Ed Lynch Sr., who is a retired Super Sprint and DIRT Modified champion. "I'm glad the fans came out so we could convince Mother Nature to let us race tonight."
Lynch celebrated his Father's Day win in victory lane with his sons and future racing stars, Ed III and Sye. It was his 12th career win at Tri-City in his Indy Recycling J&J No. 2L.
For most of the race, point leader Rod George pressed Lynch for the win. As they raced through lapped traffic, both drivers threaded between cars in a wild battle. George tried the low groove under Lynch several times, but he was no match. In the end , George finished second to maintain his point lead. Daryl Stimeling placed third over Ellenberger, who recovered from a spin on the fifth lap to take fourth. Kevin Andrusky held off Brent Matus for fifth at the finish. Ellenberger and Lynch captured the heat race wins.
Scott Priester was running third when he flipped in turn two on the third lap of the race. It continued a string of bad luck for Priester, who was leading the feature on June 9th and dropped out with a mechanical problem. Priester was uninjured in the wreck.
Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa., drove to his second win of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature after a spirited duel with Dave Murdick. Taking the lead on the 16th lap, Priest piloted Ted Hull's MPR Lumber/Priest Speed Equipment Dirt Wheels No. 41 to another win.
"I watched Dave get into turn one and he seemed to slip up the track each lap," said Priest. "I just waited for the right chance and Dave went high. We bumped a little then and on the restart, but it was just good hard racing."
Murdick led from the start, but Priest hounded him after grabbing second from Skip Moore on the fourth circuit. Lap after lap, Priest tried to find room past Murdick, but the 2001 BRP Modified Tour Champion was up to the challenge. Behind them, however, the rest of the field changed positions at a rapid pace in a race slowed by four cautions.
At the halfway point, Murdick led Priest, Moore, Alan Dellinger and John Braymer. It was the first career DIRT Modified start for Dellinger at Tri-City. The perennial E Mod victor won a DIRT Modified feature earlier this season at Mercer Raceway Park. Behind Braymer, Josh Skarzenski was running strong in his new Bicknell chassis while last week's feature runnerup Del Rougeux Jr. also raced in the top five during the event.
On the 16th circuit, Priest finally found room under Murdick in turn one. The two drivers battled fiercely around the track before Priest secured the lead in turn four. At the completion of the lap, Murdick dove under Priest who led at the start-finish line. Racing into turn one, Murdick regained the lead, but a caution deleted the pass and Priest returned to the front.
On the ensuing restart, Murdick shoved a wheel under Priest in turn one, but could not complete the pass, and Moore used the outside groove to grab second. Another late race caution proved to be of no concern for Priest and he raced onward for the win. Moore finished a career best second over Murdick, Skarzenski and Dellinger. Brian Swartzlander and Rougeux won the heats. Swartzlander entered the night as the point leader, but the four-time track champion suffered brake problems all night that eventually caused him to spin on the 18th lap relegating him to 17th in the final rundown.
Starting from the sixth row, Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., marched toward the front in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Taking the lead from Rick Robinson halfway through the race, Rhebergen went on to score his third consecutive feature win and his fourth victory of the season. It was also Rhebergen's 16th career win at Tri-City.
"This is unbelievable," said Rhebergen about Bruce Steadman's Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. "This car is such a pleasure to drive. I got by Rick using the high side on that one restart. When we had to restart again single file, I hoped he would go high to block my move and it worked."
Robinson led the early laps from the pole position. Meanwhile, Rhebergen methodically charged forward after starting in the 11th position. By the seventh lap, Rhebergen was running second. A caution flew for a multi-car accident in turn two, and Rhebergen rocketed to the lead from the outside of the front row on the restart. However, another caution for a turn one accident slowed the pace and put Robinson back in front. This time, on a single file restart, Robinson slipped high in turn one anticipating a move by Rhebergen. Instead, the crafty veteran dove under Robinson for the lead.
Once out front, Rhebergen cruised to the win by a full straightaway. Robinson held off a hard-charging Dave Hess Jr. for second at the end of the race. Bruce Powell finished fourth after winning the B Main and starting 19th. Kari Petrosky was fifth at the finish. Rhebergen, Jim Frontz and Hess won the heat races. As noted above, Powell won the B Main for the 28-car field.
Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., achieved a milestone as he captured his 50th overall career Stock Car feature win holding off last week's winner Darrell Bossard in the 15-lap main event. It was Whitling's first victory of the season and the 28th feature win of his career at Tri-City.
"The top of the track was the place to be tonight," said Whitling in victory lane beside his Ted Karns Specialty Construction Chevrolet No. 7W. "The competition is so tough this year. I just tried to find a hole and go for the win."
Bossard led from the start of the race, which was one of the best in track history. Over the first half, Bossard battled with Dave Ferringer for the lead while Whitling and Gary Norman dueled for third as all four drivers lapped the track two-wide. The race was incredible as the four drivers also switched lanes numerous times.
On the eighth lap, Whitling found the hole he needed as dove inside Bossard and Ferringer off turn four. At the start-finish line, Whitling was barely ahead of Bossard, and Ferringer and Norman passed the teenage driver for second and third off turn two. Then, the only caution of the race flew for a spin in turn four. Due to the fact that Tri-City reverts to the running order at the line before the caution, Whitling was still the leader and Bossard resumed in second.
After the restart, Whitling held onto the lead and raced to the win unchallenged. Bossard finished second over Ferringer, Norman and Bruce Smith. Danny Exley was running third late in the race when a right rear flat tire relegated him to eighth on the last lap. Andy Buckley, Whitling and Exley won the Stock Car heats. Scotty Carbaugh won the B Main for the 24-car field.
This coming Sunday June 23rd, Tri-City Speedway will host another four-star show of NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars on Little League and Kids Night. All Little League players in uniform will be admitted free of charge to the grandstands. In addition, there will be bike races for children ages 12 and under, and all competitors must wear a helmet. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $10.
The weekend actually begins on Saturday June 22nd as the DIRT Driving Experience makes its first visit to Tri-City Speedway this season. The DIRT Driving Experience gives a race fan the opportunity to race a DIRT Modified at the half-mile oval with training from veteran drivers. For more information, contact the track office at (814) 473-4038.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Rod George, 3. Daryl Stimeling, 4. Brian Ellenberger, 5. Kevin Andrusky, 6. Brent Matus, 7. Bob Altmeyer, 8. Goob Schuller, 9. Ed Etzel, 10. Sheila Rankin, 11. Brian Hartzell, 12. Gale Ruth, 13. Paul Kish, 14. Jason Jacoby, 15. Scott Priester. DNS: Gary Rankin.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST, 2. Skip Moore, 3. Dave Murdick, 4. Josh Skarzenski, 5. Alan Dellinger, 6. Del Rouguex Jr., 7. John Braymer, 8. Chris Schiffer, 9. Joe Crawford, 10. Les Myers, 11. Nick Ritchey, 12. Dean Pearson, 13. Dave Schrader, 14. Chanda Reitz, 15. Carl Murdick, 16. Phil Evans, 17. Brian Swartzlander, 18. Kevin Hoffman, 19. Clint Baker, 20. Rob Kristyak, 21. Jim Rasey, 22. Dan Weaver, 23. George Hobaugh.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Rick Robinson, 3. Dave Hess Jr., 4. Bruce Powell, 5. Kari Petrosky, 6. Mike Potosky, 7. Kevin Decker, 8. Ron Jaeger, 9. Shawn Domhoff, 10. Mike Hess, 11. Matt Swanson, 12. Mike Samuelson, 13. Rich Stiffler, 14. Shawn Shingledecker, 15. Dale Fuller, 16. Bootie Petsko, 17. Brian Taft, 18. Dean Ruth, 19. Jim Abbott, 20. Gary Eicher, 21. Herm Myers, 22. Jim White Jr., 23. Jim Frontz, 24. Butch Lambert. DNQ: Dan Ames, Ron Loney, Brett Porter, Frank Brocious.
STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Darrell Bossard, 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Gary Norman, 5. Bruce Smith, 6. Tom Scott, 7. Jamie Shetler, 8. Danny Exley, 9. Andy Buckley, 10. Scotty Carbaugh, 11. David Atkinson, 12. Rod Laskey, 13. Bob Sloss, 14. Phil Kaufman, 15. Dick Pascorell, 16. Steve D'Apolito, 17. Mike Beck, 18. Rod Urey, 19. John Sutley, 20. Bret McCarthy, 21. Arthur Edwards, 22. Denny Crawford, 23. Jason Jones, 24. Bob Bean. DNQ: Duane Grinnell, Rusty Kellogg, Bill Schall Jr., Lonny Blair, Joe Lockhart, Dave Gadley, Doug Iorio Sr., Doug Calvert, Mike Miller, Jason Johns.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 22 DIRT Driving Experience (Sat.)
June 23 Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars (Kids Night)(Little League Night - All Little League players in uniform receive free grandstand admission)
June 30 Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars with Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza by Cartwright Fireworks
July 7 Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars (Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Stock Car Series)
July 13-14 Extreme Machine Weekend with Schwab's Ford Monster Trucks, World of Wheels Extreme Motorcycles, Jet Car Meltdown, Dr. Pyro's Amazing Pyrotechnics, American Red Cross Truck Event (Event Starts Each Nite at 6 p.m.; Pit Party Each Nite 3-4 p.m.)