BOLLAND SCORED DIRT MODIFIED WIN;

ROD GEORGE WINS THIRD OF THE SEASON IN TRI-CITY SPRINTS;

RHEBERGEN AND BOSSARD ALSO WIN

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... As the summer season kicked into high gear on a hot, sunny Sunday evening at Tri-City Speedway, Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX E Mods) and Darrell Bossard (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating) captured features events on Klasen Oil/Student Appreciation Night.

In the 20-lap Super Sprint main, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., increased his point lead with his third win of the season and the 12th of his career at Tri-City. George took advantage of horrible luck for Scott Priester and led the final half of the race.

"The track was beautiful tonight," said George as he stood next to his Delp Family Powder Coating/Dairy Queen/Dr. John Crawford Gambler No. 4. "It was real bitey and we actually had too much forward bite, which lifted the front tires. I feel bad for Scott. If I had to finish second, I wouldn't mind if he won because he needed it."

Priester suffered a tough loss. In a stunning performance, he led the first half of the race from the front row. Behind him, George ran second from the start, but could not get close enough to challenge Priester. On the 11th lap, Paul Kish flipped in turn two bringing out the red flag. While the cars were stopped under red, Priester's car started to leak rear end grease, and his crew pulled him into the pit area.

George inherited the lead at that point with Ed Lynch Jr. and Brian Ellenberger in tow. While George pulled away, Lynch fended off a fast and furious Ellenberger. On the 14th lap, the red flag was displayed a second time when Goob Schuller hit the third turn wall. When Lynch lifted in turn two for the accident, Ellenberger hit Lynch and forced him into the outside wall. Lynch suffered heavy front end damage and stopped inside turn three. He walked over and had angry words Ellenberger, who parked in between turns three and four under the red flag conditions. Ellenberger indicated that he did not see the red flag and he accidentally hit Lynch.

After the final restart, George was not challenged as he raced to the popular win. Ellenberger finished second over Jason Jacoby, Kevin Andrusky and Andy McKisson. Lynch and Andrusky captured the Super Sprint heats.

Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., engaged in a stirring duel with Del Rougeux Jr. and scored his first win of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified main. It was his fifth career win at Tri-City and his first victory since May 14, 2000, during his championship season.

"The groove was here, there and everywhere," smiled Bolland in victory lane. "Del was tough. He's learning and he's getting tougher to beat. My crew did a magnificent job. We've had a great season so far."

Rougeux, who was the 2001 Original Coors Hard Charger Award winner, led the race from the start and appeared to be heading to his first career win. Joe Crawford ran second for the first half of the race while Bolland moved toward the front. Bolland raced into second past Crawford on the 12th lap and reeled in Rougeux. For over four circuits, Bolland tried to pass Rougeux, but the leader continued to hold him off. After several attempts, Bolland finally made the pass stick off turn four on the 18th lap. He then led the last two laps in his Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe/Cintas Uniform Bicknell No. 777.

Rougeux finished second for his best career finish at the half-mile Venango County oval. Crawford was third over Jim Rasey and defending track champion Brian Swartzlander. Josh Skarzenski and Dave Murdick won the DIRT Modified heats.

Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., was the winner once again in the E Mod division. Piloting the Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69 owned by Bruce Steadman, Rhebergen romped to his third win of the season and the 15th of his career at Tri-City.

"This was a strange night," noted Rhebergen. "Two tough cars in Mike Potosky and Jim Frontz scratched and we got to start up front. They would have been hard to beat tonight. But, the Steadman family does a good job and they don't put any pressure on me to win."

Starting from the outside pole, Rhebergen outraced Kari Petrosky into the first turn to take the lead. From there, Rhebergen was never challenged. Behind him, the rest of the field diced for second. Petrosky held the spot for the first ten laps while Bruce Powell, Jack Andrew, Mike Samuelson and Butch Lambert diced for third. As the race would down, Powell finally secured second with five laps to go. Andrew spun on the 11th lap, but Powell could not catch Rhebergen on the restart. In the end, Powell scored the runnerup finish over Lambert, Petrosky and Shawn Shingledecker. The E Mod heats were won by Petrosky and Frontz.

Like Rhebergen, Darrell Bossard of Titusville, Pa., was on cruise control in the 15-lap Stock Car main. The 2001 Sportsman's Speedway champion started on the front row and raced into the lead at the start. Bossard was never headed in his Bossard Crawford GM Store Chevrolet No. 22B, and he scored his first career win at Tri-City.

"This is an incredible feeling," said Bossard in victory lane. "This is definitely the fastest track I've ever driven, and it is tough to beat the competition here."

While Bossard raced alone out front, the race for second was undeniably the best of the night. At times, cars raced three wide at the start-finish line. Doug Iorio Sr. held the spot for most of the race, but he gradually faded from contention. Danny Exley vaulted into second late in the race and finished there about a half straight behind Bossard. Point leader Gary Norman nailed down third as he held off Bobby Whitling and Bruce Smith at the wire. Exley, Smith and Whitling won the heats. David Atkinson scored the win in the B Main.

At the end of the night, Eric Gourley of Cranberry, Pa., won the first Lowry Auto Wrecking Demolition Derby of the season.

This coming Sunday June 16th, Tri-City Speedway features another four-star racing program of the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars on Snyder of Berlin Night. It will also feature the annual visit of the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $10.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Brian Ellenberger, 3. Jason Jacoby, 4. Kevin Andrusky, 5. Andy McKisson, 6. Daryl Stimeling, 7. Gary Rankin, 8. Brent Matus, 9. Gale Ruth, 10. Todd Allen, 11. Ed Etzel, 12. Butch Beasley, 13. Sheila Rankin, 14. Ed Lynch Jr., 15. Goob Schuller, 16. Scott Priester, 17. Paul Kish. DNS: Brent Covell.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Del Rougeux Jr., 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Jim Rasey, 5. Brian Swartzlander, 6. Dave Murdick, 7. Kevin Hoffman, 8. John Braymer, 9. Andy Priest, 10. Chris Schiffer, 11. Dave Schrader, 12. Dean Pearson, 13. Skip Moore, 14. Josh Skarzenski, 15. Carl Murdick, 16. Chanda Reitz, 17. Jeff Miller, 18. Clint Baker, 19. Scott Ferry, 20. George Hobaugh. DNS: Nick Ritchey, Dan Weaver.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Bruce Powell, 3. Butch Lambert, 4. Kari Petrosky, 5. Shawn Shingledecker, 6. Mike Samuelson, 7. Matt Swanson, 8. Herm Myers, 9. Jack Andrew, 10. Jeff Christy, 11. Jim Abbott, 12. Dan Ames, 13. Ron Jaeger. DNS: Jim Frontz, Mike Potosky.

STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. DARRELL BOSSARD, 2. Danny Exley, 3. Gary Norman, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Bruce Smith, 6. Doug Iorio Sr., 7. Scotty Carbaugh, 8. Dave Ferringer, 9. Tom Scott, 10. Rick Lanigan, 11. Phil Kaufman, 12. David Atkinson, 13. Jamie Shetler, 14. Arthur Edwards, 15. Jason Johns, 16. Bret McCarthy, 17. Andy Thompson, 18. Doug Calvert, 19. Denny Crawford, 20. Lonny Blair, 21. Jason Reagle, 22. Rod Laskey, 23. Dick Pascorell, 24. Bob Bean. DNQ: John Shetler, John Sutley, Mike Miller, Jesse Armstrong, Dave Gadley, Rod Urey.