LYNCH AND SCHIFFER BEAT THE RAIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA .... Despite early afternoon rain showers that surrounded the area, sunny skies dominated race time at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Ed Lynch Jr. (CarMate Trailer Super Sprints) and Chris Schiffer (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) won feature races on Klasen Oil/Pennzoil Night before rain showers washed out the Knox Auto Supply Pure Stock feature. In the 20-lap Super Sprint Midseason Championship, Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, PA won his second consecutive feature at the half-mile oval and his third of the season. Point leader Jimmy Hawley and Lynch started on the front row and Hawley was the early pacesetter at the drop of the green. With two laps complete, Lynch managed to race under Hawley off the second turn to take command. Once out front, Lynch was unbeatable. He stretched his advantage slightly before entering lapped traffic allowing Hawley to close the gap. Hawley never had an opportunity to make any move for the front spot, however.
Behind Lynch and Hawley, Craig Rankin ran a steady third. Unfortunately, on the 13th lap, Rankin suffered a right rear flat tire and stopped in the third turn bringing out the only yellow flag of the race. On the restart, Hawley made an attempt to race around Lynch, but the leader made the better tire selection on the smooth and racy surface.
At the checkered flag, Lynch was the victor for the sixth time in his career aboard his Howard Concrete Pumping J&J No. 2L. Hawley finished second. Rankin's bad luck resulted in career best finishes at Tri-City for Daryl Stimeling, Brent Covell and Rob Eyler, who rounded out the top five. Lynch won the special 6-lap CarMate Trailers Heat Race while rookie Mike Roxberry won the other heat. Chris Schiffer of Franklin, PA captured the rain-shortened, 16-lap Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modified main for his first victory of 1999 aboard his Schiffer Excavating Troyer No. 7S. The event featured a classic battle between Schiffer and Jeff Hoffman. Tom Glenn started on the pole and vaulted into the early lead. Schiffer quickly moved into second from his fifth starting spot with Hoffman in third by the fifth lap. Before six laps could be completed, Jason Engles spun in turn three and collected Danny Perrett and Scott Gurdak in a three-car melee. Perrett complained of leg pain and was transported to Northwest Medical Center in Franklin. At press time, the Tionesta driver was reported in stable condition, but his medical condition was not available.
When the race resumed, Hoffman dove under Schiffer in the second turn and immediately challenged Glenn for the lead. By lap eight, Hoffman was out front and Schiffer moved by Glenn for second. Hoffman stretched out a slight advantage, but Schiffer gradually closed the gap after rain showers started falling on the 12th lap.
Schiffer made his winning move on the 14th circuit. Using the outside groove, he powered around Hoffman in the second turn. The two drivers raced side-by-side for a half lap before Schiffer secured first place at the start-finish line. He then started to put some distance between himself and Hoffman. With 16 laps complete, however, the yellow flag was thrown due to the rain. After a 10-minute rain delay, track officials determined that the racing surface could not be dried in time to complete the oval track action, and the race was declared official.
Schiffer was awarded the victory, which was his fifth career triumph at Tri-City. Hoffman placed second over Tommy Kristyak, who charged through the pack to grab the third spot from Glenn on the 15th lap. Glenn finished fourth over Ransomville (N.Y.) Speedway competitor Rick Hoctor. Joe Crawford and Hoffman won the heats.
With the rain showers blanketing the track, the 15-lap Pure Stock feature was never started. That race will be run next week as the first event of the evening. Bruce Smith, Dave Ferringer and Matt Cummings won the heats. Harry Boyer Jr. of Meadville won the 26-car Sligo Auto Salvage Demolition Derby, which was run on the frontstretch at the end of the evening despite the rain showers.
Next Sunday night July 4th, Tri-City Speedway celebrates Independence Day with a four-division show. The Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds and Pure Stocks will be in competition along with the York Triathlon E Mod Series. The Pure Stocks will compete in double features, and the first race of the evening will be the rain-delayed main event from June 27th. The night will conclude with the Giant Eagle Fireworks Extravaganza. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Jimmy Hawley, 3. Daryl Stimeling, 4. Brent Covell, 5. Rob Eyler, 6. Gale Ruth Jr., 7. Mike Roxberry, 8. Craig Rankin, 9. Mike Marano II, 10. Bruce Powell.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. CHRIS SCHIFFER, 2. Jeff Hoffman, 3. Tommy Kristyak, 4. Tom Glenn, 5. Rick Hoctor, 6. Brian Swartzlander, 7. Scott Gurdak, 8. Tim Engles, 9. Randy Myers, 10. Kevin Hoffman, 11. Del Rougeaux Jr., 12. Andy Priest, 13. Chip Ritchey, 14. Shane McElhaney, 15. Jason Engles, 16. Danny Perrett, 17. Tom Smith, 18. Joe Crawford, 19. Jim Weller, 20. Merle Mealy Jr., 21. Josh Skarzenski.
PURE STOCKS (Lineup for rain-delayed event on July 4th): 1. Brian Counselman, 2. Dick Pascorell, 3. Dan Speer, 4. Tom Scott, 5. Jay Feely, 6. Bruce Smith, 7. Jamie Shetler, 8. Bobby Powell, 9. Matt Cummings, 10. Dave Ferringer, 11. Bobby Whitling, 12. Matt Lux, 13. Jerry Huff, 14. Russ Dempsey, 15. David Atkinson, 16. Dale McGinnis Sr., 17. Tom Vincent, 18. Billy Beiter, 19. Craig Curfman, 20. William Aley, 21. Michael Aley, 22. John Miller, 23. Ben Blake, 24. Danny Exley, 25. Bill Baker Jr.