BLANEY SNARES $3,000 IN BONUS BUCKS AT TRI-CITY;

LARSON AND RONCAGLIONE REPEAT;

SMITH SNARES HIS FIRST

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA ... Another beautiful, sunny evening of racing was featured at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday as Jarod Larson (Ashland Homes Super Sprints), Lou Blaney (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds), Ron Roncaglione (RE/MAX E Mods) and Bruce Smith (Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars) on Ashland Homes/Sears Night.

After flipping at the start of last week's feature, Jarod Larson of Rock Creek, Ohio, redeemed himself this week winning his third 20-lap Super Sprint feature of the season. Chad Hill was the early leader as he paced the first three circuits. Larson, who started eighth, slipped under Hill in turn three to take the lead and the eventual win; however, it wasn't an easy run.

"The car tightened up and I didn't need that caution," said Larson in victory lane. "I knew Craig (Rankin) was back there and I hoped I had enough for him at the end. At least my head doesn't hurt as much as it did last week."

Rankin recovered from a ragged start to challenge Larson at the end of the race, but he was no match for Larson's Clemson Excavating J&J No. 47. Rankin's second place finish allowed him to keep the point lead. Hill finished a career best third followed by Terry Young and Jimmy Hawley, who spun twice during the race. At one point Hawley was running second when he spun in turn one on the 10th lap. He spun again four laps later in turn two while running fifth. Each time, the defending track champion continued onward without causing a caution.

The caution Larson mentioned in victory lane occurred on the 15th lap when Brent Covell spun in turn four. On the restart, Chris Matthews flipped in turn two, but was uninjured.

Larson also collected an extra $300 for winning the Funtime Motorsports bonus dollars after a lucky fan picked him to win the race. Hawley and Rankin won the heat races.

Lou Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, left the crowd in awe with another outstanding performance in his Troy-Alan Chevrolet/Colonial Metals Blaney No. 10 to capture his fifth 20-lap DIRT Modified feature win of the season. Combined with his wins on Friday at Sharon Speedway and Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park, Blaney completed a clean sweep of Bonus Buck$ Weekend IV at Tri-City to earn an extra $3,000 from all three tracks. In total, Blaney earned $6,000 over the weekend.

Jim Rasey took the lead on the opening lap of the event and held off the stellar challenges of Chris Schiffer early in the race. Schiffer took command on the fifth lap, but lost the lead to Rasey on a sixth lap restart following a rollover by Del Rougeux Jr. in turn one. Rougeux was uninjured and continued to race after the incident. Running fifth on the 10th circuit behind Rasey, Kevin Bolland, Schiffer and Dave Murdick, it appeared Blaney's chances for an extra payday were slim. However, he methodically worked his way into second by the 15th lap using the inside groove in turn three most of the time.

For the rest of the race, he closed the gap on Rasey. On the final circuit, Rasey bobbled in turn one, which was enough to allow Blaney to move alongside. As they raced around the half-mile oval, Blaney rocketed outside Rasey to score his 22nd career win at Tri-City off the final turn. Excitement filled the air with the crowd on its feet cheering as he crossed the line. Rasey finished second followed by Bolland, Schiffer and Murdick. Point leader Josh Skarzenski and Bolland won the heats.

Ron Roncaglione of Linesville, Pa., appeared to be on his way to the 15-lap E Mod feature win when Brent Rhebergen passed him with three laps to go. Rhebergen led the first eight laps of the race before he allowed Roncaglione to slip past in the second turn on a restart. Roncaglione, who was driving for his brother, Todd, pulled out to a slight advantage that disappeared late in the race. On the 12th lap, Rhebergen reassumed command. Rhebergen then vaulted out to a large lead until the final lap when his car suddenly suffered a mechanical failure. Roncaglione passed him down the backstretch and scored the emotional win in the Fame Manufacturing/Vivian & Shimmel Builders No. 00. It was Roncaglione's second win of the season at Tri-City. Larry Walters finished a career best second over Mike Hess, Dale Applebee and Kari Petrosky.

Four cautions dotted the event for mainly minor incidents. On the eighth lap, however, point leader Bobby Powell spun in turn three and collected Bob McCann. Both drivers were able to continue after quick repairs. Then, on a restart, Jeff Taylor was collected in a chain reaction incident involving Rhebergen and Hess in turn two. The accident knocked Taylor out of the race ending his hopes for a three-win weekend after triumphs at Raceway 7 and Challenger Raceway. Walters, Powell and Taylor won the heats. Jim White Jr. won the B main. Bruce Smith of Rocky Grove, Pa., finally had Lady Luck shine on him as he won his first career 15-lap Stock Car feature. Leigh Wheeler led the first eight laps of the race with Smith haunting him constantly. On two occasions, the drivers crossed the scoring pylon side-by-side. On the ninth lap, Smith used the inside groove in turn two to zip by Wheeler for the lead.

From there, Smith outdistanced runner-up Bobby Whitling over the final laps to score an emotional win in his William R. Karns Plumbing & Heating/Pennewell Sandblasting Buick No. 36.

"I was too little to watch my Dad (veteran Jack Smith) run," said Smith in victory lane. "He's got a lot of trophies and stories. Now, I can start some of my own."

Matt Cummings finished third over Scotty Carbaugh and former track champion Gary Norman. For Carbaugh, it was a career best finish too. Only three cautions slowed the race. Point leaders Dave Ferringer and Ron Iorio both suffered mechanical problems and finished way down the order. Danny Exley, Ferringer, Whitling and Wheeler won the heats. Ferringer also won the Ted Karns Specialty Construction Dash for Cash.

Dan Speer of Titusville, Pa., won the 15-lap Stock Car B Feature. Taking the lead from Michael Aley on the seventh circuit, Speer raced his ride victory lane in a dominating performance. Don Blake Jr. finished second followed by Glenn Pupino, Henry Mohney and Rick Hughes, who rolled his car during warmups at the beginning of the night.

In the Venango County 4-H Fair Back to School Bus Races, the Girardat Transportation team swept the action. Gary Egli of Cochranton, Pa., won the 15-lap main event. In the nightcap, Valley Grove school teacher Terry Rose won the Powder Puff race.

Next Sunday night August 27th, Tri-City Speedway will present the final four-star racing program of the 2000 season for the Ashland Homes Super Sprints, Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars on Knox Auto Supply/Pennzoil Night. Point championships will be decided in all divisions. In addition, the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club (PCTC) Senior Series and Go Kart Races will be an added bonus. The Super Sprint feature winner will earn a guaranteed starting spot for the Sharon Nationals. Adult grandstand admission will be $10. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. JAROD LARSON, 2. Craig Rankin, 3. Chad Hill, 4. Terry Young, 5. Jimmy Hawley, 6. David Scott, 7. Phil Mott, 8. Jason Jacoby, 9. Andy Hillenburg, 10. Brian Hartzell, 11. John Toth III, 12. Ray Bullis, 13. Brent Covell, 14. Chris Matthews, 15. Robert Van Tassel.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. LOU BLANEY, 2. Jim Rasey, 3. Kevin Bolland, 4. Chris Schiffer, 5. Dave Murdick, 6. John Braymer, 7. Josh Skarzenski, 8. Joe Crawford, 9. Andy Nicols, 10. Merle Mealy Jr., 11. Dave Price, 12. Del Rougeux Jr., 13. Dan Swartzlander. DNS: Carl Murdick.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. RON RONCAGLIONE, 2. Larry Walters, 3. Mike Hess, 4. Dale Applebee, 5. Kari Petrosky, 6. Holly Nelson, 7. Shawn Domhoff, 8. Jeff Haefke, 9. Brent Rhebergen, 10. Tim Henrich, 11. Ron Jaeger, 12. Herm Myers, 13. Bob McCann, 14. Ron Loney, 15. Mike Samuelson, 16. Bobby Powell, 17. Rich Jaeger, 18. Bill Taylor, 19. Shawn Shingledecker, 20. Alan Dellinger, 21. Jim White Jr., 22. Jeff Taylor. DNQ: Mike Hendrickson, Matt Swanson, Jim Mechling, Jim Abbott, Dave Ferry, Gary McGregor, R.J. Peebles.

STOCK CAR A MAIN (15 Laps): 1. BRUCE SMITH, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Matt Cummings, 4. Scotty Carbaugh, 5. Gary Norman, 6. Matt Lux, 7. Bob Sloss, 8. Jamie Shetler, 9, Doug Iorio Sr., 10. Russ Dempsey, 11. Bob Garris, 12. Craig McGinnis, 13. Ron Iorio, 14. Tom Vincent, 15. Leigh Wheeler, 16. Dave Ferringer, 17. Andy Miller, 18. Brian Counselman, 19. David Atkinson, 20. Scott Peterson, 21. Ben Blake, 22. Danny Exley. STOCK CAR B MAIN (15 Laps): 1. Dan Speer, 2. Don Blake Jr., 3. Glenn Pupino, 4. Henry Mohney, 5. Rick Hughes, 6. John K. Miller, 7. Michael Aley, 8. John Sutley, 9. Doug Calvert. DNS: Willie Aley, Dan Mohnkern, Delmis Nestor, Chris Cummings, Everett Wade.

SCHOOL BUS RACE (15 Laps): 1. Gary Eglie, 2. Johnny Choffel, 3. Harold Girardat, 4. Joe Blair, 5. Russ Coyne, 6. Bill Gordon.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUMMER SEASON:

Aug. 27 - Sprints, DIRT Modified, E Mods and Stock Cars (Knox Auto Supply/Pennzoil Night) (Sprints Sharon Nationals Qualifier) (Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series) (Go- Kart Races) (POINTS END)

FALL SEASON:

Sept 23 & 24 - Mod Madness IV Presented by A. Crivelli Chevrolet/GMC (DIRT Modifieds, 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 Mods 50 Laps, $3,000-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.)