FELMLEE, HOFFMAN AND WHITLING WIN AT TRI-CITY ON MOTHER'S DAY

by Brian Spaid

FRANKLIN, PA .... Cool and clear conditions prevailed at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Bob Felmlee (CarMate Trailer Super Sprints), Jeff Hoffman (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) and Bobby Whitling (Knox Auto Supply Pure Stocks) captured feature events. A total of 76 cars were in the pit area at the half-mile Venango County dirt oval.

In the 20-lap Super Sprint feature, Bob Felmlee of Franklin, PA started on the pole position and immediately jumped into the early lead over Brian Ellenberger. Felmlee had a comfortable lead when the yellow waved on the seventh lap following a spin in turn three by Jason Jacoby. On the restart, Felmlee was leading Ellenberger, Phil Mott, Ed Lynch Jr., Brian Paulus and Jimmy Hawley. As the cars raced through the second turn, John Nervo flipped his racer. He was uninjured, but the Jacoby and Nervo incidents sparked a rash of yellow flags that totaled nine before the race concluded. One of the cautions was for Lynch, who slowed on the track due to a vibration. He returned to action after a pit stop. In addition, during the red flag period for Nervo's wreck, track officials relegated Paulus to the rear of the pack for working on his car.

Despite numerous cautions, Felmlee withstood the stout challenges of Ellenberger and Hawley on each restart and captured his 15th career feature win and his first of 1999 at Tri-City. Ellenberger held on for second over Hawley, Brad Furr and Mott. Hawley and Furr won the heats. Furr, who hails from Pleasanton , CA, and Paulus were both in town for the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint race that was cancelled at Sharon Speedway.

Jeff Hoffman of Franklin, PA won his first DIRT Modified feature of the 1999 after a thrilling battle with veteran Ohio racer Lou Blaney. Joe Crawford started on the outside pole and grabbed the lead into turn one over former track champion Brian Fink. Crawford was immediately under pressure from Blaney. On the third lap, Blaney passed Crawford, but was forced back to second due to a yellow flag. On the restart, Blaney charged under Crawford for the lead. Behind Blaney, Hoffman moved his way into second place by the sixth lap. The red flag was displayed four laps later when Jason Engles flipped his car on the backstretch. Engles complained of knee pain and was extricated from his car by emergency personnel. He was transported to Northwest Medical Center, where he was treated and released.

When the race resumed, Hoffman surprised Blaney with an outside move entering the first and second turns. By the backstretch, Hoffman was leading in his Hoffman Door Co. Troyer No. 00. Blaney tried several times to get back under Hoffman, but to no avail. Hoffman raced on to his 12th career win at Tri-City. Blaney finished second followed by Chris Schiffer, Scott Gurdak and Jim Weller. Brian Swartzlander, Tommy Kristyak and Schiffer won the heats. George Hobaugh won the consolation.

Bobby Whitling of Seneca, PA raced to his third consecutive Pure Stock feature win to increase his point lead as he chases his first career track championship. On the opening lap, rookie driver Bruce Smith and Dan Speer collided in turn one, spun and nearly collected a number of cars in a major wreck. Matt Lux and Danny Exley were eliminated in the incident. When the race started again, Brian Counselman led from the pole position, but Whitling charged from his inside third row spot to take the lead by the third turn. Once in front, Whitling was unchallenged for his ninth career win at Tri-City. Behind Whitling, the race for second was unpredictable. Denny Diegelman held the position for three laps before he blew a tire. Counselman then held it until the seventh circuit when Gary Robinson slipped by him. On the tenth lap, Robinson's car suffered a mechanical failure and Counselman spun in turn two. As a result, Smith, who recovered from his early spin, finished a career best second followed by Barry Wilson, Speer and Jamie Shetler. Diegelman, Lux and Whitling won the heats and Billy Beiter won the consolation.

Kacie Bish of Oil City, PA won the inaugural Mother's Day One-on-One Powder Puff Spectator Races over a field of eight passenger cars and trucks.

Next Sunday night May 16th, Tri-City Speedway will feature another show of CarMate Trailer Super Sprints, Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds and Knox Auto Supply Pure Stocks. In addition, it will be Senior Citizen's Night at the track as all senior citizens age 60 and over will be charged a discounted general admission ticket of $5.00. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m.

SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. BOB FELMLEE, 2. Brian Ellenberger, 3. Jimmy Hawley, 4. Brad Furr, 5. Phil Mott, 6. Brian Paulus, 7. Ed Lynch Jr., 8. Craig Rankin, 9. Gary Edwards, 10. Jack Sodeman Jr., 11. Gale Ruth Jr., 12. Michael Roxberry, 13. Bruce Powell, 14. Gary McCann, 15. Doug Kekich, 16. Rick Anderson, 17. Jamie McKinney, 18. Tommy Quarterson, 19. John Nervo, 20. Skip Daugherty, 21. Jason Jacoby.

DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JEFF HOFFMAN, 2. Lou Blaney, 3. Chris Schiffer, 4. Scott Gurdak, 5. Jim Weller, 6. Brian Swartzlander, 7. Joe Crawford, 8. Dean Pearson, 9. Josh Skarzenski, 10. Tom Glenn, 11. Carl Murdick, 12. Jim Rasey, 13. Brian Fink, 14. Tim Engles, 15. Andy Priest, 16. Tom Smith, 17. Randy Myers, 18. Chip Ritchey, 19. George Hobaugh, 20. Jason Engles, 21. Andy Nicols, 22. Pete Simpson, 23. Gerry Bruce, 24. Tommy Kristyak. DNS: Dan Campbell, J.R. McGinley.

PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Bruce Smith, 3. Barry Wilson, 4. Dan Speer, 5. Jamie Shetler, 6. Jay Feely, 7. Denny Diegelman, 8. Jim Davis, 9. Wayne Pyle, 10. Tom Vincent, 11. Brian Counselman, 12. Craig Curfman, 13. Gary McClintock, 14. Ken Fultz, 15. Billy Beiter, 16. Jim Slater, 17. Gary Robinson, 18. David Atkinson, 19. Jim Brunson, 20. Ben Blake, 21. Tom Scott, 22. Matt Lux, 23. Danny Exley, 24. Matt Cummings. DNS: Mike Dolecki, Arthur Edwards, Ken Alcorn, Eric Gibson.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 16 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Senior Citizens Night

May 23 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Scout Night

May 30 - Sprints Hall of Fame Race, DIRT Modifieds Bicknell Racing Products Modified Tour '99 Event, Pure Stocks and Engles Trucking Services,Inc. Night