JEFF HOFFMAN WINS KODIAK MEMORIAL RACE AT TRI-CITY

CRAIG RANKIN AND BOBBY WHITLING REPEAT WINNERS AS WELL

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA .... Another sizzling summer evening greeted race fans at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Craig Rankin (CarMate Trailer Super Sprints), Jeff Hoffman (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) and Bobby Whitling (Knox Auto Supply Pure Stocks) collected feature wins in the 4th Annual Bob "Kodiak" Graham Memorial.

The highlight of the evening was the 35-lap DIRT Modified feature, and Jeff Hoffman of Franklin, PA managed to collect the $1,500 victory. Hoffman had the superior car after his crew altered the setup on his Hoffman Door Co. Troyer No. 00 earlier in the day.

"This morning, we decided to change to a coil-over suspension, and the decision worked to our advantage," said Hoffman in victory lane. "The car was hooked up tonight and I just kept it pointed straight. We're looking forward to next week's Super DIRT Modified Series race."

Les Myers led the initial laps of the event from the pole position. Hoffman started fifth and quickly charged into second. After several laps of racing against Myers, Hoffman secured the top spot on the fifth circuit before a caution waved for Andy Priest, who spun in the frontstretch after his steering broke while running fifth.

After another quick yellow for a spin by Danny Perrett, Hoffman still led on the restart as Brian Swartzlander and Tommy Kristyak vaulted past Myers for second and third by the ninth lap. Kristyak started the race in the 14th spot and raced toward the front in rapid fashion. On the 11th lap, Kristyak used the inside groove off turn four to grab second from Swartzlander.

With Hoffman leading Kristyak, attention turned to Swartzlander, who engaged in a spirited duel with Rick Hoctor for third. Hoctor started 17th and was running behind Swartzlander by the 15th lap. Before a battle could ensue, however, Perrett spun in turn two and Jeff Miller collided with him. The incident forced both drivers to the pit area.

After the restart, Hoctor feverishly battled Swartzlander. On the 27th lap, Hoctor finally worked around the outside of Swartzlander in turn four to take third. Behind them, George Hobaugh was moving forward, and he passed Swartzlander for fourth on the 30th lap. At the completion of that circuit, Tom Glenn found himself parked atop the turn three wall, and the red flag waved to stop the race. Glenn was uninjured in the wreck.

With five laps remaining, Hoffman gradually increased the distance between himself and Kristyak to lead by four car lengths at the checkered flag. It was Hoffman's second win of the season and the 13th of his career at Tri-City. In addition, it was Hoffman's third win in this event. His other victories came in 1996 and 1997.

Kristyak finished second followed by Hoctor, Hobaugh and Jim Weller, who charged from the 25th starting spot to a fifth place finish after a wreck in his heat race. Swartzlander faded to seventh behind Scott Gurdak. As a result, Hoffman and Swartzlander are now tied for the point lead. Josh Skarzenski, Hoffman and Chris Schiffer won the heat races.

After an aborted start due to a spin by Rob Eyler, the 20-lap Super Sprint feature was a barnburner as the 14-car field took the green flag with Jason Jacoby of Franklin taking immediate command. Within two laps, point leader Jimmy Hawley was running second followed by Scott Bonnell, Craig Rankin and Bruce Powell. On the fifth lap, Hawley dove under Jacoby in turn two to take the lead as Rankin raced under Bonnell in the frontstretch for third.

The winning pass came one lap later when Rankin made a daring move entering the first turn. With Jacoby on the highside and Hawley down low, Rankin chose the middle groove to steal the first spot off turn two down the backstretch. One lap later, Jack Sodeman Jr. spun in the third turn to bring out the second caution of the race. Hawley tried to get around Rankin on the restart, but could not make the move.

After Skip Dougherty stopped on the frontstretch on the 15th lap, Rankin still led Hawley and Bonnell. The lapped cars of Rod Jones and Gale Ruth Jr. were between Rankin and Hawley on the restart, so Hawley never had a chance to overtake the Clarion, PA star. Behind them, Phil Mott made a triumphant return. He chased Powell for many laps and finally passed him for fifth with two laps to go. With the white flag waving, Mott moved under Jacoby for fourth in turn three.

Rankin proved unstoppable as he raced to his second consecutive win at Tri-City in his Guzzo Motorsports/Ashland Homes Maxim No. 77. It was Rankin's third win of the season and the seventh of his career at the half-mile oval. Hawley maintained his point lead with a second place finish over Bonnell, Mott and Jacoby. Mike Roxberry and Hawley won the heats.

In the 15-lap Pure Stock feature, Ben Blake grabbed the lead at the start before Billy Beiter moved out front. Beiter held the lead for two laps. On the fourth circuit, Bobby Whitling of Seneca, PA took command. Only three cautions slowed the race, but did not slow Whitling, who still leads the point standings. Last week's winner Matt Lux was running second by the halfway point and made several moves to attempt to pass Whitling. Each time, Whitling fended off Lux.

At the checkered flag, Whitling earned his sixth win of the season and the 11th of his career at Tri-City in the E.F. Rogers Plumbing Chevrolet No. 7W. Lux was second as Matt Cummings edged Dave Ferringer for third at the finish line. Barry Wilson rounded out the top five. Wilson, Whitling and Lux won the heats. Dave Ferringer won the consolation.

Next Sunday night August 1, the Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Modified Series invades Tri-City Speedway for the Pennzoil Challenge 99. The 99-lap DIRT Modified event pays $10,000 to the winner and is part of this season's Pennzoil Racing Series at the half-mile dirt oval. The Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series will also be part of the show. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. with racing slated for the special time of 7:00 p.m.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. CRAIG RANKIN, 2. Jimmy Hawley, 3. Scott Bonnell, 4. Phil Mott, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Bruce Powell, 7. Rob Eyler, 8. Mike Roxberry, 9. Eric Smith, 10. Rod Jones, 11. Gale Ruth Jr., 12. Paul Kapuchuck, 13. Skip Dougherty, 14. Jack Sodeman Jr.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (35 Laps): 1. JEFF HOFFMAN, 2. Tommy Kristyak, 3. Rick Hoctor, 4. George Hobaugh, 5. Jim Weller, 6. Scott Gurdak, 7. Brian Swartzlander, 8. Chris Schiffer, 9. Tim Engles, 10. Josh Skarzenski, 11. Kevin Hoffman, 12. Jason Engles, 13. Randy Myers, 14. Jim Faas, 15. Dean Ruth, 16. Tom Glenn, 17. Steve Barr, 18. Mark Sevin, 19. Danny Perrett, 20. Jeff Miller, 21. Les Myers, 22. Joe Crawford, 23. Shane McElhaney, 24. Andy Priest, 25. Rick Hall (Disqualified - Weight Infraction).

PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Matt Lux, 3. Matt Cummings, 4. Dave Ferringer, 5. Barry Wilson, 6. Jerry Huff, 7. Tom Scott, 8. Tom Tuite, 9. Dan Speer, 10. Jay Feely, 11. Mike Dolecki, 12. Ben Blake, 13. Billy Beiter, 14. David Atkinson, 15. Bud Shontz, 16. Craig Curfman, 17. Buck Sevin, 18. Craig McGinnis, 19. Russ Dempsey, 20. Jamie Shetler, 21. Michael Aley, 22. Arthur Edwards. DNS: Tom Vincent, Dale McGinnis Sr., John K. Miller Sr., Herb Gordon.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Aug. 1 - Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Modified Series Pennzoil Challenge '99 (99 Laps, $10,000-to-win) and Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series (Race Time is 7:00 p.m.)

Aug. 8 - Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and One-on-One Spectator Races

Aug. 15 - Super Sprints ($2,000-to-win), DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Kids Night