SCOTT BONNELL WINS FIRST SPRINT MAIN AT TRI-CITY; SWARTZLANDER AGAIN IN DIRT MODS; CUMMINGS ALSO WINS FIRST IN STOCKS
by Brian Spaid
June 6, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRANKLIN, PA …. Hot and humid conditions dominated Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Scott Bonnell (CarMate Trailer Super Sprints), Brian Swartzlander (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds), Matt Cummings (Knox Auto Supply Pure Stocks) and Bob Egley (End-of-School Bus Races) won the main events on Joy Employees Night.
Scott Bonnell of Fairview, PA piloted his Bonnell Collision Center Eagle No. 3 to victory in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature to capture his first career win at Tri-City and the third overall win of his career. Mike Marano II leaped into the lead from the pole position to pace the first lap before Jason Jacoby slipped past Marano for first. Jacoby looked strong, but Bonnell slowly moved in for a battle. On the seventh lap, Bonnell raced outside Jacoby in turn two to take the lead. Behind Jacoby, third place Bob Felmlee was itching to move forward and actually passed Jacoby twice, but the second generation racer was able to reassume the position each time.
Felmlee never made the final pass as his race ended in a violent manner. Jimmy Hawley caught Felmlee in lapped traffic and tried to make a pass for third after the halfway mark. On the 13th lap, a brake rotor broke on Felmlee’s car entering turn three. His momentum carried him toward the fence and Felmlee slammed into the end of the pit guard rail. The heavy contact vaulted Felmlee’s car into the air and onto the ground. He was removed from the car by ambulance personnel and transported to Northwest Medical Center in Franklin, PA for precautionary observation.
After the red flag for Felmlee’s accident, the race ran non-stop. Bonnell stayed out front for the popular win. Ed Lynch Jr., who passed Hawley for second with two laps remaining, finished second. Hawley was third over Craig Rankin and Jacoby. Felmlee and Lynch won the heats.
In the 20-lap DIRT Modified main, Brian Swartzlander of Leechburg, PA was the star of the show for the second week in a row as he captured the feature win in his McCutcheon Enterprises/Precise Tool & Die Bicknell No. 83. The race was plagued by nine cautions, including a red flag situation following a violent wreck between Tom Smith and Randy Myers in the frontstretch on the eighth lap. The incident started when Danny Perrett and Les Myers made contact off turn four. Smith spun after Les Myers bounced off the wall into him. With Smith stationary on the track, Randy Myers flipped after slamming into Smith. Both drivers were uninjured.
The race itself found Jason Engles leading the first lap before contact with Dean Pearson spun him out of the lead. This moved Jason’s father, Tim Engles, into first place. The elder Engles led on the restart, but Tommy Kristyak managed to work past Engles for the top spot by the completion of the second lap. Meanwhile, Jim Weller and Swartzlander were marching through the field after starting 11th and 12th respectively. By the seventh lap, Swartzlander was running third behind Kristyak and Josh Skarzenski with Weller and Tim Engles in tow. On the restart after Myers’ flip, Swartzlander passed Skarzenski for second, then took over the top spot from Kristyak on the 10th lap.
Swartzlander then raced onward for his 11th career win at Tri-City. He also won Saturday night at Sportsman’s Speedway. That marks the second weekend in a row that Swartzlander won at Sportsman’s and Tri-City.
Behind him, Skarzenski drove under Kristyak for second on the 16th lap with Jeff Hoffman following into third one lap later. Hoffman, who methodically worked his way through the field, moved into second with two laps remaining, but he was no match for Swartzlander. Skarzenski finished third ahead of Kristyak and Tim Engles. Weller was running fourth on the 15th lap when he spun in turn two. He finished eighth. Swartzlander, Pearson and Weller won the heats.
The 15-lap Pure Stock main featured a thrilling finish as Matt Cummings of Cochranton, PA just edged Matt Lux for the victory in his Pennsylvania Artificial Limb & Brace Co. Buick No. 7C. Tom Scott took the lead from the pole position and led the first five laps before Lux moved out front. Cummings snared the second spot from Scott on the eighth lap and charged after Lux. It appeared Lux might win his first feature at Tri-City, however, for the second time this season, lapped traffic spoiled his opportunity.
On the final lap, Cummings and Lux raced side-by-side into turn one with the lapped cars of Bud Shontz and John K. Miller II in the mix. They continued that way until the final set of corners. Lux inched ahead in turn three, and coming off the final turn, he appeared to have the advantage. Yet, Cummings powered off turn four and his momentum carried him outside of Lux for the victory. Lux was a disappointed second over Barry Wilson, five-time winner Bobby Whitling and Scott. Dave Ferringer, Lux and Bruce Smith won the heats and Billy Beiter captured the consolation.
The 15-lap End-of-School Bus Race featured eight full-size school buses and Bill Egley of Kittanning, PA triumphed over the field in his A.J. Myers Bat Bus No. 3. Gary Egli led the first lap before his teammate, Harold Girardat, tipped onto his side in turn two bringing out the red flag. After the bus was righted, Girardat climbed back aboard and continued to race.
On the restart, Egley raced outside Egli to take the lead. Once out front, no one could challenge Egley as the rest of the event ran without incident. Rounding out the top five finishers were Egli, Mark Neurohr, Girardat and Bill Clepper in a race that featured numerous laps of side-by-side action. Girardat and Clepper won the heats.
Next Sunday night June 13th, Tri-City Speedway will host the final race of the 7th Annual Western Pennsylvania All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Speedweek sponsored by A. Crivelli Chevrolet. This event will be the only All Star Sprint race at the half-mile Venango County oval in 1999. The Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series and Vintage Racing Series will also be part of the action. The DIRT Modifieds and Pure Stocks will have the night off. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 7:00 p.m.
SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. SCOTT BONNELL, 2. Ed Lynch Jr., 3. Jimmy Hawley, 4. Craig Rankin, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Kevin Andrusky, 7. Skip Daugherty, 8. Bruce Powell, 9. Mike Marano II, 10. Phil Mott, 11. Gale Ruth Jr., 12. Mike Roxberry, 13. Bob Felmlee.
DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER, 2. Jeff Hoffman, 3. Josh Skarzenski, 4. Tommy Kristyak, 5. Tim Engles, 6. Les Myers, 7. Joe Crawford, 8. Jim Weller, 9. Andy Priest, 10. Rich Ferguson, 11. Mark Sevin, 12. Scott Gurdak, 13. Chris Schiffer, 14. Ron Took, 15. Jason Engles, 16. Danny Perrett, 17. Tom Smith, 18. Randy Myers, 19. Dean Ruth, 20. Gale Ruth, 21. Todd Daniels, 22. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 23. Dean Pearson. DNS: Tom Glenn, Dave Myers.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. MATT CUMMINGS, 2. Matt Lux, 3. Barry Wilson, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Tom Scott, 6. Dave Ferringer, 7. Danny Exley, 8. Jay Feely, 9. Ben Blake, 10. Jamie Shetler, 11. Bill Wheeling, 12. Bruce Smith, 13. Jim Slater, 14. Tom Vincent, 15. William Aley, 16. Billy Beiter, 17. Dick Pascorell, 18. Terry Feely, 19. Bud Shontz, 20. John K. Miller II, 21. Dave Atkinson, 22. Dale McGinnis Sr., 23. Craig Curfman, 24. Gary Norman. DNQ: Brian Counselman, Mike Dolecki, Ken Foltz, Denny Diegelman, Michael Aley.
SCHOOL BUS RACE (15 Laps): 1. BOB EGLEY, 2. Gary Egli, 3. Mark Neurohr, 4. Harold Girardat, 5. Bill Clepper, 6. John Choffel Jr., 7. Steve Brink/Joe Blair, 8. Jeremy Heath.
CORRECTION: Last week’s press release listed Pete Simpson as the 10th place finisher in the 25-lap DIRT Modified/Bicknell Racing Products Modified Tour ’99 event. In fact, Rodney Beltz finished in that position. Simpson did not qualify for the event.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
June 13 - A. Crivelli Chevrolet Presents The 7th Annual Western Pennsylvania All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Speedweek Finale, Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Senior Series and Vintage Racing Series
June 20 - Super Sprints, DIRT Modified Midseason Championship and Pure Stocks (Fan Appreciation and Kids Night)
June 27 - Super Sprint Midseason Championship, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Demo Derby