LYNCH, BLANEY, RHEBERGEN AND LUX TOPS AT TRI-CITY OPENER
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA .... A bright and sunny spring evening greeted a large crowd on Sunday night as Tri-City Speedway opened the 2000 racing season with Ed Lynch Jr. (Ashland Homes Super Sprints), Lou Blaney (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX E Mods) and Matt Lux (Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars) winning the feature events. A total of 84 cars were in the pit area, and the first four division show of the year was finished by 9:35 p.m.
Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., won the season opening 20-lap Super Sprint feature for the second year in a row. Leading every lap of the race, Lynch barely held off New York star Craig Keel for his seventh career win at Tri-City. "I ran out of fuel at the white flag," Lynch noted in victory lane. "I just barely feathered the throttle on the final lap and led with my chin trying to beat Craig to the finish."
Brian Ellenberger and Lynch started on the front row by virtue of the winning the heat races, and Ellenberger led the field into turn one before spinning to the outside of the second corner bringing out the first of six cautions. With Lynch out front, Sharon Speedway champion Jarod Larson was running second by the fifth lap followed by Keel, Craig Rankin and Jimmy Hawley, who started near the rear of the pack after a fuel line broke during his heat race. Following a restart on the sixth lap, Keel worked past Larson and started to chase down Lynch. Hawley managed to get to third before the 11th circuit when he uncharacteristically spun in the third turn bringing out the final caution. With five laps left, Lynch was leading Keel, Rankin, Larson and Ellenberger.
Although Lynch maintained a healthy advantage over Keel, it evaporated in lapped traffic with two laps to go. Keel worked under Lynch coming off turn four with the white flag in the air as Lynch's Howard Concrete Products No. 2L sputtered low on fuel. Lynch barely led that lap, and used his experience at Tri-City to forge ahead and keep the lead to the finish.
Keel ran a superb race to collect second followed by Rankin, Ellenberger and Mike Woodring. Larson slipped to sixth on the final lap and Hawley worked his way to seventh after his spin. Ellenberger and Lynch won the heats. Lou Blaney of Hartford, Ohio, won the 20-lap Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modified main in his Colonial Metal Products Blaney No. 10. Like Lynch, Blaney led every lap after starting on the front row. It was his first win at Tri-City since June 8, 1997, and the 18th of his career as he defeated Jeff Hoffman.
"We finally beat him," said Blaney. "He nipped us a couple of times in the past, like last year's Mod Madness race. He's a good racer. I'm just thrilled to win here at Tri-City because I love the track and the fans."
Blaney and Hoffman started on the front row and Hoffman snared the lead on the first lap. Coming around to complete the next lap, however, Blaney dove under Hoffman in turn three, took command and Hoffman spun at the top of turn four. Hoffman did a full 360 degree spin and continued, but Pete Bicknell also spun bringing out the caution. The Canadian DIRT 358 Modified star was the substitute driver in Josh Skarzenski's U.S. Navy Bicknell No. 9J.
On the restart, Blaney was leading Jim Weller, Kevin Bolland and Hoffman, who immediately raced back into contention for the lead by passing both Weller and Bolland off the second turn. On the seventh lap, Joe Crawford and rookie Jeremiah Shingledecker collided off turn four bringing out the third and final caution of the race.
Although Hoffman remained in second behind Blaney, he could not catch the veteran racer. Behind them, Bolland tried numerous times to pass Weller. Bicknell raced back through the field and caught fifth place runner Dave Murdick with five laps left. On the last lap, Bicknell finally slipped under Murdick in turn two.
At the finish, Blaney was the winner over Hoffman, Weller, Bolland and Bicknell. Blaney and Hoffman won the heats.
In the 15-lap E Mod feature, Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., collected his first career E Mod victory in only his third race in the Bruce and Kathy Steadman No. 69S. Rhebergen is a former Late Model winner at Tri-City.
"That was a lot of fun tonight," smiled Rhebergen in victory lane. "The Steadmans put together a great team. These cars are a little slower than the Late Models, but the competition is excellent. I'm proud to grab my first win in only my third try."
Rhebergen led all 15 laps of the feature race, but the real battle was behind him. At the start, Rhebergen raced Bill Watson into the first turn to take command. Watson's run near the front was shortlived, however. On the second lap, he looped in turn two scattering cars in all directions leaving Mike Hess' racer disabled and bringing out the first of only three cautions.
On the restart, Rhebergen led Scott Stiffler, Larry Kugel, Holly Nelson and Dale Fuller. Fuller lost fifth to Fred Bratchie on the third lap. As Rhebergen steadily pulled away, all eyes were on Nelson, Kugel, Bratchie and Ron Roncaglione, who had an excellent race for third through sixth, especially amidst lapped traffic. On the 13th lap after a restart, Nelson slipped by Kugel to grab third. Bratchie and Roncaglione then nipped Kugel on the final circuit.
At the line, Rhebergen won in convincing style over Stiffler, Nelson, Bratchie and Roncaglione. Rhebergen,
Watson and Todd Roncaglione won the heats.
Matt Lux of Rocky Grove, Pa., picked up where he left off at the end of 1999 winning the 16-lap Stock Car main. Lux assumed command of the race on the eight circuit when early pacesetter, Russ Kapalin, spun in turn three. Lux then held off Dave Ferringer for his third Stock Car win in a row at Tri-City and the sixth of his career. The race went one extra lap after a late-race caution flag.
"It's good to win the first night out," said Lux. "I was worried about Dave on the last restart because he's got a good car. I'd like to thank my entire crew. They worked hard tonight to get this win."
Kapalin took the lead from the pole position and was dominant during the first half of the race. As the field sorted itself out, by the fifth lap, sophomore driver Bruce Smith was in second followed by defending track champion Bobby Whitling, Ron Iorio and Lux. Before another lap could be scored, however, Smith spun in turn two ending a great run. After the restart, Whitling and Lux raced past Iorio for second and third. Lux then drove under Whitling for second on the seventh circuit.
Chasing Kapalin, Lux was handed the lead when Kapalin spun all alone to the topside of turn three. Once out front, Lux staved off the challenges of Whitling and Ferringer during four more caution periods. In the end, Lux was the winner over Ferringer, Iorio, Matt Cummings and Whitling. Kapalin, Smith and Mike Dolecki won the heats.
Next Sunday night May 7th, Tri-City Speedway hosts another four-star show of Ashland Homes Super Sprints, Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds, RE/MAX E Mods and Knox Auto Supply Stock Cars. It will also be the first Bonus Buck$ Weekend of 2000. If a Super Sprint or DIRT Modified driver wins three feature races at Sharon Speedway, Mercer Raceway Park and Tri-City, then he will collect an extra $3,000. Two victories will earn the driver $1,500. In the Stock Car division, three wins equals $600 whereas two wins are worth $300. Drivers must compete at all three tracks to be eligible for the Bonus Buck$ Weekend prizes.
Gates open next Sunday at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $10.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Craig Keel, 3. Craig Rankin, 4. Brian Ellenberger, 5. Mike Woodring, 6. Jarod Larson, 7. Jimmy Hawley, 8. Phil Mott, 9. Jason Jacoby, 10. Gary Rankin, 11. Dave Murdick, 12. Bruce Powell, 13. Mike Marano II, 14. Brian Hartzell, 15. Brent Covell.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. LOU BLANEY, 2. Jeff Hoffman, 3. Jim Weller, 4. Kevin Bolland, 5. Pete Bicknell, 6. Dave Murdick, 7. Rodney Beltz, 8. Chris Schiffer, 9. Del Rougeaux Jr., 10. Jeff Miller, 11. Carl Murdick, 12. Merle Mealy Jr., 13. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 14. Joe Crawford, 15. Tom Smith. DNS: Kevin Hoffman, Rick Hoctor.
E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Scott Stiffler, 3. Holly Nelson, 4. Fred Bratchie, 5. Ron Roncaglione, 6. Larry Kugel, 7. Todd Roncaglione, 8. Dale Fuller, 9. Bobby Powell, 10. Jeff Johnson, 11. Herm Myers, 12. Jim White, 13. Steve Haefke, 14. Shawn Shingledecker, 15. Bill Taylor, 16. Tom Congdon, 17. Brian Felmlee, 18. Kari Petrosky, 19. Ron Jaeger, 20. Terry Yoder, 21. Jim Abbott, 22. Jim Frontz, 23. Bill Watson, 24. Mike Hess, 25. Mike Potosky. DNS: Ryan Snow, Bill Hanna.
STOCK CARS (15 Laps): 1. MATT LUX, 2. Dave Ferringer, 3. Ron Iorio, 4. Matt Cummings, 5. Bobby Whitling, 6. Bruce Smith, 7. Brian Counselman, 8. Arthur Edwards, 9. Russ Kapalin, 10. Jamie Shetler, 11. Rick Hughes, 12. Junior Schall, 13. Craig McGinnis, 14. John K. Miller, 15. Doug Calvert, 16. Scott Peterson, 17. Herb Gordon, 18. Ben Blake, 19. Tom Vincent, 20. Mike Dolecki, 21. John Miller, 22. Billy Beiter, 23. Scott Carbaugh. DNS: Tom Scott, Dale McGinnis Sr.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 7 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars (Bonus Buck$ Weekend)
May 14 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars with Powder Puff Stock Car Races (Bill Emig
Memorial Qualifier for DIRT Modifieds)
May 21 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods and Stock Cars with Sligo Auto Salvage
Demolition Derby (Scout Night)