YOUNG, RASEY, HESS AND LUX WIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; RANKIN, BOLLAND, POWELL AND FERRINGER ARE SEASON CHAMPS
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA ... Despite midafternoon rains, Tri-City Speedway completed its final four-star Sunday program of the 2000 season with Terry Young (Ashland Homes Super Sprints), Jim Rasey (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds), Mike Hess (RE/MAX E Mods), Matt Lux (Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars) and Terry Wheeler (Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series) in victory lane on Knox Auto Supply/Pennzoil Night.
In addition, the 2000 Track Champions were decided on the final night of points. Craig Rankin of Clarion, Pa., won his first career Super Sprint title at Tri-City. Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., used a little misfortune by Josh Skarzenski to earn his second career DIRT Modified title at the half-mile Venango County oval. Bobby Powell of Titusville, Pa., clinched the E Mod championship, and Dave Ferringer rode a string of consistency to his first career title in the Stock Car division.
Terry Young of Mercer, Pa., led from start to finish in the 20-lap Super Sprint main to earn his first career victory ever in the division. Young assumed the driving duties of the John Sloss-owned Avenger No. 00 only three weeks ago.
With his stout run, he is looking to secure the ride for 2001.
"Finally!" exclaimed Young in victory lane. "John and J.R. Sloss do a great job putting this car on the track each night. I'm so happy to finally win one of these races."
Sloss took the lead from the outside pole and held off two-time winner and Lernerville Speedway track champion David Scott the entire race. Behind them, however, the action was a little topsy-turvy. On the 13th circuit, Craig Rankin, who clinched the Super Sprint title by starting the race, spun in turn three while running fourth. He was hit by Jimmy Hawley and Rankin's car rolled over as a result. Rankin complained of back pain and left the speedway before the end of the race to be checked by medical personnel. There was no update on his condition at press time.
After the restart following Rankin's accident, Young still led Scott with Jarod Larson in third. Larson, who is a two-time winner this season, then took a tumble in turn three. Larson also flipped two weeks ago. The second place pointman appeared to be uninjured in the wild wreck.
After the second restart, it was smooth sailing for Young as he topped Scott, Rob Eyler, Jason Jacoby and Todd Bauer. With the win, Young earned a guaranteed starting spot in the Sharon Nationals. Skip Dougherty and Larson won the heat races.
Jim Rasey of Southington, Ohio, nabbed his second 20-lap DIRT Modified feature of the season in a fine run on the tacky oval. Jim Weller led the initial two circuits before Rasey used an outside move on a restart to take the lead in his Twin Oaks Services Troyer No. 32.
Once out front, Rasey opened up ground over the competition even though a total of three caution periods slowed the race. Last week, Rasey lost the feature on the last lap when he was passed by Lou Blaney. This time, Blaney could not master lapped traffic to catch Rasey and the veteran finished second. After a good battle at the midpoint of the race, Weller wound up third over John Braymer and Kevin Bolland. Brian Swartzlander and Andy Priest won the heats.
Bolland captured the DIRT Modified track championship by four points over Josh Skarzenski, who entered the night as the point leader. Skarzenski was caught in a traffic jam around on the fourth lap of the feature. It damaged his car and he lost several positions. Skarzenski salvaged a 13th place finish, but it was not enough to overcome Bolland, who also won the DIRT Modified title at Tri-City in 1985.
In the 15-lap E Mod main, Mike Hess of Waterford, Pa., survived a marathon event to win his second feature of the season in his Pepsi Racing No. 44. In a race slowed by seven cautions, Hess beat Ron Roncaglione and Bob McCann in a stirring three-car battle. Herm Myers led the first two laps before McCann took the point. Dale Applebee ran in second for half the race before mechanical gremlins forced him pitside. By the 10th lap, McCann led Roncaglione and Hess.
Shortly thereafter, Hess dashed by Roncaglione and tried to take first from McCann. He could not make the move and Roncaglione reassumed second off turn four. Racing into turn two, Roncaglione used the outside groove to try and pass McCann on the 13th lap, but they made contact. As both drivers drifted high, Hess went into second and raced side-by-side with McCann taking the lead off turn four. McCann tried to get around Hess on the final lap, but he drifted wide in turn two allowing Roncaglione past.
At the checkered flag, Hess defeated Roncaglione, McCann, Bruce Powell, who made his first career E Mod start, and Mike Samuelson. Bobby Powell of Titusville clinched the 2000 E Mod track championship when he showed up at the track for his appearance points, but he crashed on the first lap of the feature. Holly Nelson and Roncaglione won the heats.
In the 15-lap Stock Car main, Matt Lux of Rocky Grove, Pa., won his fourth feature of the year and the ninth of his career at Tri-City. Russ Kapalin led the first 10 laps while he fended off the challenges of Ron Iorio, Danny Exley and Lux. Exley tried to make a bold pass of Kapalin on the ninth lap, but Kapalin held onto the lead. Exley then spun in the second turn ending a nice run.
On the restart, Lux used the outside cushion of turn four to take the lead in his Dulaney's Garage/Jez Heating & Cooling Buick No. 21. He held on through one more caution for the win. Kapalin was second followed by Iorio, Rich Allen and Brian Counselman of Cochranton. Dave Ferringer used a conservative run to finish sixth and win the Stock Car title by 15 points over Iorio. Iorio, Bobby Whitling and Kapalin won the heats with Ohio's Jeremy Dickerson winning the consolation race.
Terry Wheeler of Stoneboro, Pa., led every lap of the 15-lap Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series race. Bill Wheeling finished second over Ed Rogers, who drove his own car normally piloted by Bobby Whitling. Tom Knight Sr. and Don Gamble rounded out the top five. Wheeling and Tim Lowry won the heats.
In the go kart action at the end of the night, Audrey Miller of Oil City, Pa., Shawn Hedglin of Franklin, Pa., and Devin Christie of Chicora, Pa., were the winners.
Tri-City Speedway will be dark for the next three weeks as the track prepares for Mod Madness IV and the A. Crivelli Chevrolet/GMC 150, which will be run on Saturday and Sunday September 23 and 24. The two-day show will feature the Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds as well as the York Triathlon Stahl E Mods, Sportsman Modifieds and 6 Cylinder/358 Modifieds. On Saturday, heat races will be run in all divisions and "The Mod Masters" will complete the evening as the top DIRT Modified qualifiers race one-on-one in a round robin competition to determine The Mod Master 2000. A food buffet and musical entertainment at the Coors Light Pavilion will follow the night's races.
On Sunday, after the final consolation events in all divisions, the A. Crivelli Chevrolet/GMC 150 will run led by the Kodiak Memorial DIRT Modified 50 paying $3,000-to-win. The York Triathlon Stahl E Mods will run 40 laps for $800-to-win. The Sportsman Modifieds and 6 Cylinder/358 Modifieds will each run 30 laps for $600-to-win. Gates open each day at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $15 each day or a two-day pass for $25.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. TERRY YOUNG, 2. David Scott, 3. Rob Eyler, 4. Jason Jacoby, 5. Todd Bauer, 6. Kevin Andrusky, 7. Skip Dougherty, 8. Jeff Weaver, 9. Gale Ruth Jr., 10. Phil Mott, 11. Buddy Cochran, 12. Brent Covell, 13. Brian Hartzell, 14. Jarod Larson, 15. Craig Rankin, 16. Jimmy Hawley, 17. Arnie Kent.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JIM RASEY, 2. Lou Blaney, 3. Jim Weller, 4. John Braymer, 5. Kevin Bolland, 6. Brian Swartzlander, 7. Dave Schrader, 8. Chris Schiffer, 9. Jason Engles, 10. Carl Murdick, 11. Joe Crawford, 12. Tom Mattocks Jr., 13. Josh Skarzenski, 14. Jeff Miller, 15. Merle Mealy Jr., 16. Andy Nicols, 17. Del Rougeux Jr., 18. Skip Moore, 19. Dave Price, 20. Chanda Reitz, 21. Rex King, 22. Dean Ruth, 23. Dave Murdick, 24. Andy Priest, 25. Jeff Schaffer, 26. Marty Kristyak.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MIKE HESS, 2. Ron Roncaglione, 3. Bob McCann, 4. Bruce Powell, 5. Mike Samuelson, 6. Ron Loney, 7. Matt Swanson, 8. Bill Taylor, 9. Kari Petrosky, 10. Shawn Shingledecker, 11. Holly Nelson, 12. Ryan Snow, 13. Roger Frost, 14. Herm Myers, 15. Charlie Jasinski, 16. R.J. Peebles, 17. Jim Abbott, 18. Ron Jaeger, 19. Dave Ferry, 20. Dale Fuller, 21. Dale Applebee, 22. Jake Miller, 23. Bobby Powell.
STOCK CAR A MAIN (15 Laps): 1. MATT LUX, 2. Russ Kapalin, 3. Ron Iorio, 4. Rich Allen, 5. Brian Counselman, 6. Dave Ferringer, 7. Scotty Carbaugh, 8. Bruce Smith, 9. Jamie Shetler, 10. Terry Feely, 11. Joe Drusko, 12. Bob Garris, 13. Randy Ferringer, 14. Bobby Whitling, 15. Russ Dempsey, 16. Rich Hughes, 17. David Atkinson, 18. Matt Cummings, 19. Danny Exley, 20. Jeremy Dickerson, 21. Bob Sloss, 22. Gary Norman, 23. John Sutley, 24. Mike Dolecki. DNQ: Terry Wheeler, Scott Peterson, John Miller, John K. Miller, Doug Calvert, Doug Iorio Sr., Dave Phillips, Ben Blake, William Aley, Stewart Van Tassel.
PCTC SENIOR SERIES (15 Laps): 1. TERRY WHEELER, 2. Bill Wheeling, 3. Ed Rogers, 4. Tom Knight Sr., 5. Don Gamble, 6. John Shetler, 7. Bill Cummings, 8. Jack Smith, 9. Curtis Bish, 10. John Cokor, 11. Tex Terry II, 12. Tim Lowry, 13. No. 44s, 14. No. 12, 15. Pat Wilcox, 16. No. 30, 17. Don Bauer Sr.
CORRECTION: Last week's release neglected to note that Ron Roncaglione (RE/MAX E Mods) and Bruce Smith (Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars), who won the feature events in their respective divisions on Sunday August 20, earned guaranteed starting spots for the Little Guy Nationals at Mercer Raceway Park on October 21.
UPCOMING EVENTS
FALL SEASON:
Sept 23 & 24 - Mod Madness IV A. Crivelli Chevrolet/GMC 150 (Kodiak Memorial DIRT Mods,
York Triathlon Stahl E Mods, Sportsman Modifieds and 6 Cylinder/358 Modifieds)
Sat. Sept. 23: Heats in all divisions and Mod Masters ($500-to-win)
Sun. Sept. 24: B Mains and Features (DIRT Modifieds 50 Laps, $3,000-to-win; York
Triathlon $800-to-win; Sportsman Mods and 6 Cylinder/358 Mods $300-to-win)
Sept. 30 - 4th Annual Applefest 100 (Stock Cars 100 Laps, $1,000-to-win) (Anchor Village Stock
Car Pit Crew Competition) (American Red Cross Ugly Truck Contest) (Sligo Auto
Salvage Demolition Derby) (Gates Open: 2:00 p.m.; Race Time: 4:00 p.m.)