HAWLEY, SWARTZLANDER AND VAN PELT SNARE TRI-CITY WINS

August 23, 1998

DEMPSEYTOWN, PA .... Hot and humid conditions once again graced Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Jimmy Hawley (CarMate Trailers Super Sprints), Brian Swartzlander and Billy Van Pelt (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) and Gary Norman (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Pure Stocks) captured feature victories on Galaxy Federal Credit Union Night. A total of 77 cars were in the pit area.

The 20-lap Super Sprint victory was an emotional one for Jimmy Hawley and the entire Dr. John Crawford No. CIII crew. A tearful Hawley dedicated his fifth win of the season to Connor Hoffman, the young cousin of crewman Don Stefanak, who passed away earlier in the Sunday after a near drowning on Thursday.

James Wray of Cooperstown led the initial 11 laps of the feature as yellow flags dotted the event. The only red flag of the race occurred on the second lap when Mike Sub flipped off turn two. Just before that incident, Hawley and Brad Ellenberger made hard contact that altered the handling of Hawley's car, however, both drivers continued. After the restart following Sub's flip, second place runner Craig Rankin lost control of his sprint in turn two anc collected hard luck Brian Ellenberger eliminating both cars from the race.

Hawley moved forward throughout the caution periods and slipped under Phil Mott for second on the 10th circuit. In lapped traffic on the 12th circuit, Hawley dashed under Wray off turn four and bolted away from the field. Behind the West Middlesex, PA star, Wray maintained second ahead of Mott, Jason Jacoby and point leader Bob Felmlee. Brad Ellenberger and Todd Bauer won the heats.

The win was Hawley's second of the weekend after a victory at Lernerville Speedway, where Hawley earned his first track title.

The first 20-lap DIRT Modified feature was rain-delayed from August 9, and Tom Glenn appeared to be on his way to his first career victory. Glenn took command of the race from the pole position. He first battled with Tommy Kristyak, but Brian Swartzlander slid under Kristyak for second on an eighth lap restart. Kristyak then spun after a mechanical problem and he was eliminated for the night.

Glenn led the first 18 laps of the race, but struggled twice to pass the lapped car of Steve Barr. The first time, Glenn barely held off Swartzlander. The second time, Swartzlander slipped under Glenn and Barr off turn two on the 19th lap to take the lead. Once out front, the Leechburg, PA hotshoe dashed to his sixth feature win of the season at Tri-City and his 24th regional win of 1998 in the McCutcheon Enterprises/Ferrante Oldsmobile Bicknell No. 83. Glenn wound up a disappointed second followed by Joe Crawford, Billy Van Pelt and Dean Pearson.

The victory was Swartzlander's third of the weekend after wins at Lernerville and Sportsman's Speedways.

After two rocky starts int he second 20-lap DIRT Modified feature, rookie Jason Engles led the first three laps before Jeff Hoffman moved out front on the fourth circuit. Engles and Van Pelt then dueled for second, and Van Pelt slipped under Engles in turn two on the seventh lap just as Engles did a full 360 spin in front of the pack and continued.

Van Pelt chased down Hoffman, and using the outside cushion, Van Pelt took over first place on the ninth lap. Hoffman tried valiantly to reassume command on a late race restart, but Van Pelt was smooth on the hard, slick track and the Harrison Valley, PA native scored his second win of the season in the Rapp Racing Bicknell No. 11R. Hoffman finished second over Rodney Beltz, Andy Priest and Chris Schiffer. Randy Myers and Swartzlander won the heats.

Of note, Van Pelt was able to make up a little ground in the chase for the 1998 track title as Swartzlander, who currently leads the standings, was involved in one of the original start accidents and suffered mechanical problems that dropped him to 20th at the finish.

In the 15-lap Pure Stock main, Bobby Powell started on the outside pole and led every lap of the race for what appeared to be his seventh win of the season. Point leader Gary Norman of New Castle, PA hounded Powell over the last half of the race after Powell's early competition, Dave Ferringer and Matt Lux, suffered mechanical problems. Norman was unable to overcome Powell, who crossed the finish line first.

After the event, Powell was disqualified for a technical infraction after he refused technical inspection following a protest lodged by Norman. As a result, Norman inherited his fourth win of 1998 and appeared to solidify his second consecutive track title.

Newcomer Mike Miller finished second followed by David Atkinson, Bobby Whitling and Wayne Pyle. Miller, Atkinson and Pyle all earned their best career feature finishes at Tri-City. Norman, Ferringer and Whitling won the heats and Pyle won the consolation. Lux won the special 10-lap Australian Pursuit race sponsored by Five Forks Restaurant, Jack Smith, Hover Racing, Rimersburg Beverage and Ray's Racing.

Of note, Galaxy Federal Credit Union honored Sprint driver Jason Jacoby and his father, Henry. The elder Jacoby took a few laps aboard his famed Little Jewel No. 4 to the delight of fans.

At the conclusion of the night, Don Mott of DuBois, PA won the passenger car one-on-one spectator races in his Ford Probe and Don Blake Jr. of Oil City, PA won with his Chevrolet in the pickup truck division.

Next Sunday night August 30th, the final 25-lap Super Sprint Sunday will be held as the Super Sprints make their final appearance of the 1998 season. The DIRT Modifieds and Pure Stocks will also compete as part of United Way of Venango County Night. It is the final night of points and the 1998 track champions will be declared. To highlight the evening, Bortner Tours of Sharpsville will award a lucky fan with a trip for two to the NASCAR Winston Cup Exide 500 at the Richmond International Raceway in September. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and the races start at 6:00 p.m.

SPRINT FEATURE (20 Laps): 1. JIMMY HAWLEY, 2. James Wray, 3. Phil Mott, 4. Jason Jacoby, 5. Bob Felmlee, 6. Daryl Stimeling, 7. Gale Ruth Jr., 8. Bobby Allen, 9. Todd Bauer, 10. Skip Dougherty, 11. Brad Ellenberger, 12. Bruce Powell, 13. Bob Cain, 14. Brent Covell, 15. Les Myers, 16. Eric Smith, 17. T.J. Stutts, 18. Brian Rivers, 19. Craig Rankin, 20. Brian Ellenberger, 21. Mike Sub. DNS: Rick Anderson.

MODIFIED FEATURE NO. 1 (20 Laps): 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER, 2. Tom Glenn, 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Billy Van Pelt, 5. Dean Pearson, 6. Chris Schiffer, 7. Gerry Bruce, 8. Merle Mealy Jr., 9. George Ruth, 10. Tim Engles, 11. Jason Engles, 12. Steve Barr, 13. Tommy Kristyak, 14. George Hobaugh, 15. Tom Mattocks Jr.

MODIFIED FEATURE NO. 2 (20 Laps): 1. BILLY VAN PELT, 2. Jeff Hoffman, 3. Rodney Beltz, 4. Andy Priest, 5. Chris Schiffer, 6. Randy Myers, 7. Del Rougeaux Jr., 8. Jason Engles, 9. Merle Mealy Jr., 10. Dean Pearson, 11. Danny Campbell, 12. George Ruth, 13. George Hobaugh, 14. Shane McElhaney, 15. Chad Reitz, 16. Rich Ferguson, 17. Steve Barr, 18. Gerry Bruce, 19. Joe Crawford, 20. Brian Swartzlander, 21. Tim Shepard. DNS: Lou Gentile, Tom Glenn, Tommy Kristyak.

PURE STOCK FEATURE (15 Laps): 1. GARY NORMAN, 2. Mike Miller, 3. David Atkinson, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Wayne Pyle, 6. Tom Tuite, 7. Denny Diegelman, 8. John Schreck, 9. Ben Blake, 10. Bill Oswald, 11. Dan Speer, 12. Greg Sanford, 13. Mike Dolecki, 14. Greg Becker, 15. Jay Feely, 16. Terry Feely, 17. Tom Scott, 18. Lynn Hostetler, 19. Matt Lux, 20. Jerry Huff, 21. Ron Becker, 22. Dave Ferringer, 23. Danny Exley, 24. Bobby Powell (DISQ). DNS: Gary McClintock, Keith Mohnkern, Barry Wilson, Brian Counselman, Tom Vincent, Travis Biggs, Andy Thompson.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

August 30 - Super Sprint Sunday, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks,

NASCAR Richmond Weekend Giveaway (Points End)

September 6 - Mod Madness II (DIRT Modifieds 50 Laps, Sportsman

Modifieds (Double Features), E Mods, 6 Cyl. Mods)

October 3 - Applefest 100 II (Pure Stocks), Demo Derby, Fireworks