LYNCH AND WELLER TOP SPRINT AND MOD OPENERS AT TRI-CITY; RON CAGLIONE COMPLETES COMEBACK; WHITLING WINS 21ST

by Brian Spaid

April 22, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRANKLIN, PA …. A large crowd and field of cars were at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night for the 2001 season opener as Ed Lynch Jr. (Allegheny Land & Lumber Co. Super Sprints), Jim Weller (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds), Todd Roncaglione (RE/MAX E Mods) and Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars) collected the feature wins. A total of 115 cars graced the pit area at the half-mile Venango County dirt oval on a warm and partly cloudy spring evening.

In one of the most stellar drives of his career, second generation star Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Penn., won the 20-lap Super Sprint season opener for the third year in a row. Powering around Brian Ellenberger on the 17th circuit, Lynch raced home to his eighth career win at Tri-City.

“My dad loved to race here and I love to race here,” exclaimed Lynch in victory lane beside his Howard Concrete Pumping J&J No. 2L. “Sometimes you’ve got to race the track, and we managed to get the outside to work for us tonight.”

Scott Bonnell jumped into the early lead at the start of the race with Ellenberger, Todd Gracey, Brent Covell and Gary Rankin in tow. Covell struggled all night with motor problems, and his car came to a halt on the sixth circuit off turn two. The restart saw Lynch locate the preferred line around the track as he rocketed from seventh to fourth using the outside of turns one and two.

On the 11th lap, Ellenberger and Gracey both drove past Bonnell to secure first and second before the final caution waved for a Scott Priester spin. On this restart, Lynch again used the outside line to get by Bonnell and Gracey and move into second. Closing in on Ellenberger, Lynch used lapped traffic to his advantage to take the lead three laps from the end after starting 12th.

Ellenberger finished second followed by Gracey, former track champion Jimmy Hawley and Bonnell. Lynch, Hawley and Jason Jacoby captured heat race wins for the 26-car field. Gale Ruth Jr. and Jarod Larson took nasty tumbles in the third heat, but were both uninjured.

Jim Weller of Hubbard, Ohio, started on the outside pole and led every lap of the 20-lap DIRT Modified main in his Liberty Steel Bicknell No. 31. It was Weller’s seventh career win at Tri-City, and it came on a special night.

“I’d like to thank my son, Johnny,” said Weller. “It’s his birthday today and I know that helped us get the win.”

As Weller raced at ease at the front of the pack, it seemed everyone else wanted a piece of the runnerup slot. Polesitter Dave Murdick held the position for nearly the entire race as he diced with Jim Rasey. Three-time track champion Brian Swartzlander was not going to give up, however, and passed both young lions over the final two laps. It was still not enough time to catch Weller.

Weller and Swartzlander were chased to the finish by Murdick, Rasey and defending track champion Kevin Bolland. One red flag interrupted the race on the 16th lap when teammates Jason Engles and Tim Phillips crashed in turn one. Neither driver was injured. Bolland, Rex King, Ralph Spithaler Jr. and Swartzlander were the heat race winners in the 35-car field. Dave Schrader won the consolation race.

The marathon 15-lap E Mod feature was captured by Todd Roncaglione of Linesville, Penn. Forced out of racing due to medical problems midway through the 2000 season, Roncaglione won his first career main event at Tri-City despite six caution flags that slowed the event.

“I’m back,” said a tearful Roncaglione in victory lane. “All I’ve wanted to do is get back behind the wheel of a race car.”

Roncaglione and Jim Frontz led the field to the initial green and Frontz took a quick lead into turn one. Roncaglione charged back and snared the number one spot in turn three aboard his Fame Manufacturing/Chipsco No. 00.

By the fifth lap, Jeff Taylor moved into second. He chased Roncaglione the rest of the way and nearly passed him with an inside move off turn two on the final lap. Roncaglione would not be denied his chance in the spotlight, however. Taylor finished second followed by Bob McCann, Tim Henrich and Randy Hall. Heat race wins for the 28-car field went to Roncaglione, Frontz and McCann. Roger Frost won the consolation race.

Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Penn., scored his 21st career win in the 15-lap Stock Car feature. Whitling and Ron Iorio gave the fans a sterling duel in the first half of the race. Iorio led the initial three laps with Whitling on his back bumper in the Ted Karns Specialty Construction Chevrolet No. 7W. Whitling used an outside move off turn four on the fourth circuit to take the lead. He raced on unchallenged to his second consecutive win after capturing the 2000 Applefest 100.

“This is a good start to the season,” said Whitling in victory lane. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to keep it going.”

Defending track champion Dave Ferringer finished second after climbing from the eighth starting spot. Andy Buckley finished third followed by Bob Sloss and Iorio. With 26 cars in the pit area, Brian Counselman, Buckley and Sloss won the heat races.

Next Sunday night April 29th, Tri-City Speedway presents another four-star show of the Allegheny Land & Lumber Co. Super Sprints, Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Stock Cars. Adult grandstand admission is $10. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Brian Ellenberger, 3. Todd Gracey, 4. Jimmy Hawley, 5. Scott Bonnell, 6. Tommy Quarterson, 7. David Scott, 8. Mark Cassella, 9. Gary Rankin, 10. Brad Ellenberger, 11. Jason Jacoby, 12. Kevin Schaeffer, 13. Todd Bauer, 14. Ray Bullis, 15. Jeff Weaver, 16. Sheila Rankin, 17. Scott Priester, 18. Brian Hartzell, 19. Brent Covell, 20. Butch Beasley, 21. Gregg McCandless, 22. Rob Eyler. DNS: Jarod Larson, Ricky Ferkel, Chad Hill, Gale Ruth Jr.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JIM WELLER, 2. Brian Swartzlander, 3. Dave Murdick, 4. Jim Rasey, 5. Kevin Bolland, 6. Rex King, 7. Jeff Hoffman, 8. Chris Schiffer, 9. Ralph Spithaler Jr., 10. Adam Siegel, 11. Jeff Schaffer, 12. Rick Hoctor, 13. Dean Pearson, 14. Joe Crawford, 15. Kevin Hoffman, 16. Carl Murdick, 17. Del Rougeux Jr., 18. George Hobaugh, 19. Jason Engles, 20. Tim Phillips, 21. Skip Moore, 22. Josh Skarzenski, 23. Dave Schrader, 24. Brian Fink. DNQ: Pete Simpson, J.R. McGinley, Lee Miller, John Boyer, Rick Kress, Nick Ritchey, Scott Gurdak, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Les Myers, Tommy Kristyak, Dave Reges.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. TODD RONCAGLIONE, 2. Jeff Taylor, 3. Bob McCann, 4. Tim Henrich, 5. Randy Hall, 6. Holly Nelson, 7. Kari Petrosky, 8. Dave Ferringer, 9. Bill Taylor, 10. Rich Stiffler, 11. Jim White Jr., 12. Jim Abbott, 13. Mike Hess, 14. Bill Cunningham, 15. Hugo Litwiler, 16. Jim Frontz, 17. Ron Roncaglione, 18. Roger Frost, 19. Scott Stiffler, 20. Shawn Domhoff, 21. Mike Petosky, 22. Shawn Shingledecker. DNQ: Ron Loney, Ron Jaeger, Tom Congdon, Bob Craig, Dale Applebee, Brent Rhebergen.

STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Dave Ferringer, 3. Andy Buckley, 4. Bob Sloss, 5. Ron Iorio, 6. Gary Robinson, 7. Kevin Thompson, 8. Tom Scott, 9. Scotty Carbaugh, 10. Jay Feely, 11. Scott Peterson, 12. Mike Work, 13. Glenn Pupino, 14. John Shetler, 15. Bill Schall Jr., 16. Doug Calvert, 17. Rod Urey, 18. Joe Drusko, 19. Brian Counselman, 20. David Atkinson, 21. Jamie Shetler, 22. Danny Exley, 23. Jim Green, 24. Lonny Blair. DNS: Dick Pascorell, Brian Felmlee.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Apr. 29 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars

May 6 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars

May 13 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars with Powder Puff

Stock Car Race (Scout Night)