RANKIN AND WELLER TRIUMPH AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY,
WHITLING DEFEATS LUX IN PURE STOCK PHOTO FINISH
by Brian Spaid
FRANKLIN, PA .... Bright, sunny skies ended a fantastic racing weekend in Western Pennsylvania at Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Craig Rankin (CarMate Trailer Super Sprints), Jim Weller (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) and Bobby Whitling (Knox Auto Supply Pure Stocks) won the feature events on the second night of action this season. A total of 67 cars were in the pit area at the half-mile dirt oval.
In the 20-lap Super Sprint main, 1998 Rookie-of-the-Year Bruce Powell led the first two laps before Scott Bonnell jumped out front. Bonnell ran well until an eighth lap restart when Craig Rankin blew past him on the inside of turn two followed by Jimmy Hawley. Bonnell tried to recover in turn three, but spun his machine collecting Brian Ellenberger, who flipped several times and was struck by Franklin's Jason Jacoby. No one was injured in the incident. When the race resumed, Rankin was the class of the field as he captured his first feature win at Tri-City since August 24, 1997. It was also Rankin's second win of the weekend after a victory Saturday night at Sportsman's Speedway in his Ashland Homes/Guzzo Motorsports Maxim No. 77. Hawley finished second over Phil Mott, Gale Ruth Jr. and Todd Bauer. Hawley and Ed Lynch Jr. won the heat races.
Jim Weller captured his fourth career DIRT Modified win at Tri-City and his first win at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval since July 27, 1997. Tim Engles led the initial eight laps of the event and survived a stout challenge by Andy Priest. Priest attempted to pass Engles for the lead on the eighth circuit when he spun in turn four and collected four other cars in an accident. On the restart, Weller powered by Engles for the lead off turn two and the eventual win in his Liberty Steel Bicknell No. 31. Two-time defending track champion Brian Swartzlander wound up second over Engles, Jeff Hoffman and Scott Gurdak. Swartzlander, Billy Van Pelt and Tom Glenn won the heats with Randy Myers collecting the consolation laurels.
The 15-lap Pure Stock main ended with a photo finish as Bobby Whitling slipped under Matt Lux to win his second feature in a row at Tri-City. Whitling also defeated Lux at Sportsman's on Saturday night. Lux led the race from the start and appeared headed to his first career win at Tri-City as he survived three caution periods and a 10th lap challenge by Denny Diegelman, who dropped out with a blown tire. Instead, Whitling charged forward and was running second with four laps to go. Off the final turn, two slower cars doomed Lux. Whitling powered up high in turn four, then used a slingshot move to pass Lux and win by inches in his E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Chevrolet No. 7W. Dave Ferringer was third over Danny Exley and Gary McClintock. Whitling, Jerry Huff and Ferringer won the heats and Billy Beiter won the consolation race.
Harry Boyer Jr. of Meadville won the Sligo Auto Salvage Demolition Derby at the end of the evening. Next Sunday night May 9th, 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, the inaugural Mother's Day Powder Puff One-on-One Spectator Races will be run. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at 6:00 p.m.
SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. CRAIG RANKIN, 2. Jimmy Hawley, 3. Phil Mott, 4. Gale Ruth Jr., 5. Todd Bauer, 6. Bruce Powell, 7. Brent Matus, 8. Scott Bonnell, 9. Brian Ellenberger, 10. Jason Jacoby, 11. Ed Lynch Jr., 12. Bob Felmlee (DNS).
MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JIM WELLER, 2. Brian Swartzlander, 3. Tim Engles, 4. Jeff Hoffman, 5. Scott Gurdak, 6. Chris Schiffer, 7. Chip Ritchey, 8. Josh Skarzenski, 9. Dean Pearson, 10. Brian Fink, 11. Tom Glenn, 12. Randy Myers, 13. Del Rougeaux Jr., 14. Dan Campbell, 15. T.J. Fleck, 16. Merle Mealy Jr., 17. Joe Crawford, 18. Tommy Kristyak, 19. Billy Van Pelt, 20. Tom Smith, 21. Andy Priest, 22. Andy Nicols. DNQ: J.R. McGinley, Dick Rankin, Gerry Bruce, George Hobaugh.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Matt Lux, 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Danny Exley, 5. Gary McClintock, 6. Tom Tuite, 7. Wayne Pyle, 8. Matt Cummings, 9. Billy Beiter, 10. Craig Curfman, 11. Mike Dolecki, 12. Andy Miller, 13. Jamie Shetler, 14. Denny Diegelman, 15. Pete Stearns, 16. Jerry Huff, 17. Barry Wilson, 18. Ben Blake, 19. Bruce Smith, 20. Brian Tarr, 21. Tom Vincent, 22. Dan Speer, 23. Ken Fultz, 25. Joe Drusko (DNS). DNQ: Brian Counselman, Jay Feely, Greg Sanford, Bud Shontz.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 9 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Powder Puff One-on-One Spectator Races
May 16 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Senior Citizens Night
May 23 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks and Scout Night