LARSON, SWARTZLANDER AND PETSKO EARN FIRST WINS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; WHITLING CONTINUES HOT STREAK WITH THIRD IN A ROW
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA .... The summer season kicked into high gear on Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway as Jarod Larson (Ashland Homes Super Sprints), Brian Swartzlander (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds), Bootie Petsko (RE/MAX E Mods), Bobby Whitling (Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars) and Bob Egley (End of School Bus Races) won feature events on Tech Tool & Mold Night. Track officials dodged rain showers all night long, but the capacity crowd enjoyed excellent racing on the tacky and smooth half-mile clay oval.
For the fifth week in a row, a new winner visited victory lane in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature as Jarod Larson of Rock Creek, Ohio, collected his first career win at Tri-City. Larson, who is the three-time defending champion at Sharon Speedway, took the lead on the opening lap of the race from his outside pole position and staved off the strong challenges of Craig Rankin to score the win.
"It's been a tough season for our team," said Larson in victory lane. "We really needed this win and the entire crew deserves the credit. I'd like to thank the Clemsons for giving me a great car."
Larson bolted into the lead at the green aboard his Clemson Excavating J&J No. 47. Rankin charged through the field quickly overtaking Todd Bauer and Bruce Powell for second on the third lap. By the fifth circuit, Larson had a big lead over Rankin, Bauer, Ed Lynch Jr. and Powell. Point leader Brian Ellenberger brought out the first and only caution on the sixth lap when he spun off turn two. He was able to continue in the race.
After the restart, the fans cheered for a great battle between Bauer and Lynch for third. On the 11th circuit, however, Larson entered lapped traffic and Rankin closed fast. Two laps later, Larson drifted high in turn one and Rankin dove underneath for the lead. In less than a second, Rankin slid sideways in turn two and Larson drove to the inside of him for first. Once he reassumed command, Larson was never headed. Rankin finished second followed by Lynch, Craig Keel and Bauer. Keel used the lapped traffic to his advantage to make several quick moves at the end of the race and snag fourth. Ellenberger and Rankin won the heat races for the 18-car field.
Brian Swartzlander of Leechburg, Pa., entered his first DIRT Modified competition of the season at Tri-City and showed an impressive display of power in his McCutcheon Enterprises Teo Pro Car No. 83. Starting 12th, the three-time defending champion at Tri-City gradually moved through the field during the 20-lap feature, which was run without any cautions. He passed Joe Crawford off the final corner to score his first win at the season and the 14th of his career at Tri-City.
"This car is fantastic and my crew did a great job," smiled Swartzlander after the win. "I didn't even know the race was over. I just kept pushing to pass cars. I touched Joe on the backstretch, but we came out of it O.K. He just drifted wide in four and I got under him."
Crawford started on the pole position and appeared to be on the way to his first win of the season at Tri-City. Driving a car he purchased from DIRT Modified star Alan Johnson and car owner Jim Beachy over the winter, Crawford drove a superb race. He first fended off the challenges of veteran Carl Murdick. He then distanced himself from Murdick leaving the veteran to battle Josh Skarzenski. On the 13th lap, Skarzenski finally dashed by Murdick for second. Skarzenski caught Crawford in lapped traffic with five laps left and tried valiantly to pass him.
Meanwhile, Swartzlander flew through the field. Into the fifth position on the 12th circuit, Swartzlander snared fourth from Kevin Hoffman three laps later. With five laps left, he raced under Murdick off turn four to grab third. He quickly closed on Skarzenski and moved under the 1999 DIRT Modified Rookie of the Year with one lap remaining.
The final lap left the fans on their feet. Swartzlander slipped under Crawford off turn two and they touched wheels. Crawford stayed out front, but drove too hard through turns three and four. As Crawford drifted high, Swartzlander raced past for the popular win. Crawford finished a disappointed second over Skarzenski, Lou Blaney and Murdick. Blaney passed both Murdick and Hoffman on the final lap. Heat winners for the 23-car field included Swartzlander, Skarzenski and John Braymer.
In the 15-lap E Mod feature, long-time veteran Bootie Petsko of Brookfield, Ohio, won his first career E Mod feature at Tri-City and in the process became the fifth different E Mod feature winner of 2000. Piloting his Scharba Excavating/DAF Racing No. 00, Petsko started on the pole position and was never headed despite six caution flags.
Behind Petsko, perennial Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway winner Larry Kugel hand his hands full the entire race trying to fight off Mike Hess. Kugel managed to hold onto second at the finish over Hess, Todd Roncaglione, who started 19th, and Kari Petrosky. Heat winners were Petsko, Dale Fuller and Dale Applebee for the 27-car field. Roncaglione won the consolation.
Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., captured his third consecutive 15-lap Stock Car feature victory for his 18th career win at Tri-City. Whitling inherited a hard fought win when early leader Bruce Smith tangled with Ron Iorio with two laps remaining. Smith led the race from the start and Iorio was glued to his back bumper the entire distance. Whitling knifed his way through the field and was right behind them when Iorio tried an inside pass of Smith in turn three. Smith got loose and nearly spun, Iorio suffered a flat tire, and Whitling dashed to the outside of both drivers to take the lead.
In the end, Whitling took his E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Chevrolet No. 7W to victory lane. Smith was second followed by Dave Ferringer, Matt Lux and Doug Iorio Sr. Ben Blake, Ron Iorio, Lux and Matt Cummings won the heats for the 42-car field. Ron Iorio won the Ledderhead Graphics Dash for Cash.
Scotty Carbaugh of Seneca, Pa., captured the 15-lap Stock Car B Main. The rookie driver earned his first career triumph when race leader Andy Buckley slowed on the last lap. Rick Hughes finished second over Buckley, Craig McGinnis and Everett Wade.
In the Tech Tool & Mold End of School Bus Races, Bob Egley of Kittanning, Pa., drove the A.J. Myers & Sons, Inc., Bat Bus No. 3 to his second career 10-lap feature win leading every lap of that event. Teri Rose of Rocky Grove collected the five-lap Powder Puff Bus Race win.
The E Mod drivers went through the grandstand in order to take a collection for fellow driver Danny Burns of Imperial, Pa. Burns, who was injured in an accident at Hickory Motor Speedway on May 29th, died of complications from his injuries on Saturday. A total of $1,750 was collected from the generous crowd.
Next Sunday night June 11th, Tri-City Speedway and A. Crivelli Chevrolet/GMC host the Western Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek Finale with a 30-lap, $5,000-to-win event for the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints. In addition, the first York Triathlon E Mod Series race will be held, which should attract a large field of RE/MAX E Mods to the half-mile Venango County oval.
Gates open next Sunday at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at the special time of 7:00 p.m. Time trials for the All Star Sprints will take place at 6:00 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $19, and fans who wish to use their rain checks from the May 28th show may do so by paying the additional admission price.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. JAROD LARSON, 2. Craig Rankin, 3. Ed Lynch Jr., 4. Craig Keel, 5. Todd Bauer, 6. Tommy Quarterson, 7. David Scott, 8. Bruce Powell, 9. Doug Kekich, 10. Scott Bonnell, 11. Jason Jacoby, 12. Brian Ellenberger, 13. Gale Ruth Jr., 14. Brent Covell, 15. Chad Hill, 16. Brian Hartzell, 17. Eric Smith, 18. Phil Mott.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER, 2. Joe Crawford, 3. Josh Skarzenski, 4. Lou Blaney, 5. Carl Murdick, 6. Kevin Hoffman, 7. Chris Schiffer, 8. Kevin Bolland, 9. John Braymer, 10. Dave Murdick, 11. Jim Weller, 12. Rodney Beltz, 13. Randy Snider, 14. Merle Mealy Jr., 15. Del Rougeux Jr., 16. Rob Kristyak, 17. Bobby Hoffman, 18. Pete Simpson, 19. Skip Moore, 20. Andy Nicols, 21. Jim Rasey, 22. Jeremiah Shingledecker. DNS: Andy Priest.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BOOTIE PETSKO, 2. Larry Kugel, 3. Mike Hess, 4. Todd Roncaglione, 5. Kari Petrosky, 6. Rick Prosser Jr., 7. Bobby Powell, 8. Dale Fuller, 9. Bill Taylor, 10. Jim Frontz, 11. Ron Jaeger, 12. Jim White Jr., 13. Jim Abbott, 14. Holly Nelson, 15. R. James Peebles, 16. Brian Felmlee, 17. Dave Ferry, 18. Scott Stiffler, 19. Richard Stiffler, 20. Chuck Schell, 21. Dale Applebee, 22. Gerry Schimp. DNQ: Jim Mechling, Mike Potosky, Shawn Shingledecker, Ryan Snow, Roger Frost.
STOCK CARS A MAIN (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Bruce Smith, 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Matt Lux, 5. Doug Iorio Sr., 6. Matt Cummings, 7. Ron Iorio, 8. Ben Blake, 9. Rich Howell, 10. Brian Counselman, 11. Gary Norman, 12. Tom Scott, 13. Steve Conway, 14. Don Blake Jr., 15. Jamie Shetler, 16. David Atkinson, 17. Scott Peterson, 18. Terry Wheeler, 19. Mike Dolecki, 20. Billy Beiter, 21. Bob Sloss, 22. Arthur Edwards.
STOCK CARS B MAIN (15 Laps): 1. SCOTTY CARBAUGH, 2. Rick Hughes, 3. Andy Buckley, 4. Craig McGinnis, 5. Everett Wade, 6. Danny Exley, 7. Doug Calvert, 8. Bob Garris, 9. Dick Smith, 10. Andy Miller, 11. John Miller, 12. Bud Shontz, 13. Travis Norman, 14. Tom Vincent, 15. Dale McGinnis Sr., 16. Chuck Sullivan, 17. Ron Yuron (DQ). DNS: Russ Dempsey, James Mohnkern, John Sutley.
END OF SCHOOL BUS RACES (10 Laps): 1. BOB EGLEY, 2. Harold Girardat, 3. Bill Clepper, 4. Ben Clepper, 5. Joe Blair, 6. Ben Mawhinney, 7. Johnny Choffel, 8. Bill Gordon, 9. Gary Egli.
UPCOMING EVENTS
June 11 - A. Crivelli Chevrolet/GMC Presents All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints Western Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek Finale ($5,000-to-win) and York Triathlon E Mod Series
June 18 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars (DIRT Modified Midseason Championship) (Fan Appreciation Night: $5 Adult and Seniors Admission - Kids Night: Bike Races and Children 12 and Under Free Admission - Autograph Night)
June 25 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars (Eat n' Park Restaurants Kodiak Memorial for DIRT Modifieds: 30 Laps, $1,500-to-win) (Sprints Midseason Championship) (Anchor Village Stock Car Pit Crew Competition) (Little League Night)