Kostelansky Scores Big Win At Penn Can Speedway

Susquehanna, PA...6/4/99... George Kostelansky of Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania has been close to scoring a win at Penn Can Speedway each week. Friday, Kostelansky scored that victory over a stellar field of modifieds on B. K. Norris Night. Billy Marvin of Great Bend and Jamie Shea of South Gibson put their cars in Victory Lane for the third time this season winning the late model and street stock features respectively. Joe Cole of Binghamton, New York found his way to the winner’s circle with a hard fought win in the pure stock division while Olive Bridge, New York’s Jim Fugal claimed victory in the IMCA modified race. Brett Spoor and Harry Marvin jr lead the twenty six car modified field to the green flag. Marvin jumped out to a lead and lead the race through the first twelve circuits with Dan Hineline and Steve Babicek clued to his bumper. The first caution flew on lap ten when cars spun in turn three. The tenth lap restart saw George Kostelansky coming from his tenth starting position move into contention. The fast moving cars of Al Rudalavage, Kirk Horton, Tom McGurren, and Mike Colsten were also moving through the field. Kostelansky moved into the lead on lap twelve with Rudalavage, and Horton second and third. The field slowed again on lap twenty two when Mike Janicelli and Garth Tonkins got hooked together going down the backstretch. This set up the battle to the checkers between Kostelansky, Rudalavage, Horton, Colsten and Butch Tittle who now was a contender. Kostelansky managed to hold off the hard charging challengers the final six laps. Colsten shot from fourth into second during the closing laps. Rudalavage held on for third at the finish with Horton fourth and Tittle fifth. Rounding out the top ten were McGurren, Mike Nagel, Jeff Rudalavage, Chris Shupp, and Al Kellogg. Dave Passetti jumped out to a quick lead at the start of the late model feature. The lead was short as Larry Dilello and Dan Stone both took turns leading during the first ten laps of the race. Stone had tire trouble and gave up the lead on a lap ten restart to late model rookie Billy Marvin. Marvin had all he could do to hold off the fast running car of Warren Stone. The two raced nose to tail with late model point leader Al Coy closing fast. The race came under caution on lap eighteen when a car spun in turn four. This set up a two lap race to the finish. Marvin held strong and got his third win of the year. Warren Stone was in for second followed by Coy, Dan Stone, and Gene Sharpsteen. Jamie Shea has been the man to watch all season in the street stock division. He started the twenty lap feature in the twelveth starting spot and quickly moved to the front. Early caution flags kept the strong field of street stocks bunched together. Shea, Glen Wilcox, Ed McKernan, and Rich Keehle fought it out for the lead lap after lap. A spin for Keehle on lap twelve repositioned the field for a run to the checkers.Shea looked strong and held the point when another spin brought the field back. McKernan got by Wilcox but couldn’t chase Shea down. Joe Domiano moved into fourth at the flag with Paul Rooney getting fifth. In pure stock action, Joe Cole moved from his fifth starting spot to the lead on lap two. He held his car in a perfect line lap after lap with challenges from Chad Stone, and Charlie Gilbert. When it looked like the Five Mile Point flagger would cruise home the winner a caution slowed the race with one lap remaining. Cole stayed strong and held off Stone and Gilbert for his first win of the season. Gilbert got third while Bill Hawkins came home fourth followed by Tom Sienko. Jim Fugal of Olive Bridge, New York was making only his second Penn Can start of the season. He worked lap after lap trying to take the lead from Tom Rose. Rose held on strong until Fugal went to the top side of the track and passed on lap eleven. Fugal held back Rose’s challenges to get the win. Rose settled for second with Joe Price getting third. Dick Vauter and Jim Graves competed the top five. Penn Pointers: The IMCA modifieds have next week off as the Central New York Mini Sprints come back for their second appearance of the season. Point battles tight in all divisions. Modifieds are lead by George Kostelansky with Al Coy leading the late models. Jamie Shea is on top of the street stocks while Charlie Gilbert reclaims the pure stock lead. Joe Price takes over as the IMCA Leader.

B. K. Norris Modified Feature: G. Kostelansky, Mike Colsten, Al Rudalavage, Kirk Horton, Butch Tittle, Tom McGurren, Mike Nagel, J. Rudalavage, Chris Shupp, Al Kellogg, Rick Virkitis, Bill Huff, Jeff Bronson, Randy Decker, Al Shiffler, Chuck Akulis, Rod Hunsinger, Ja. Rudalavage, Dan Hineline, Rick Whitney, Brett Spoor, Bob Hamm, Mike Janicelli, Harry Marvin, DNQ , Carl Nagel, Garth Tonkin, Steve Babicak, Eric Bonham, Dan Morden, Mike Frost, Brian Malcom, Steve Walsh, Jim Witko Sr, Marty Bunker..

B. K. Norris Late Model Feature: Billy Marvin, Warren Stone, Al Coy, Dan Stone, G. Sharpsteen, Randell Paxton, Jeremy Stone, Jamie Griffiths, Chad Hollenback, Ernie Millon, Dean Regan, Jim O'Hara, Dave Passetti, Larry Dilello, Jason Bedford, David Zona, Bill Karp...

B. K. Norris Street Stock Feature: Jamie Shea, Ed McKernan. Glen Wilcox, Joe Domiano, Paul Rooney, John Green, Pete Gulick, Ken Sparks, Tony Nalachi,, Rich Keehle, Chris Hunsinger, Doug Nelson, Frank Bonham, Dwayne Robbins, Rick Holgate, Paul Fife, Mike Decker, Bob Janesky, Rick Brown, Jay Conroy

B. K. Norris Pure Stock Feature: Joe Cole, Chad Stone, Charlie Gilbert, Bill Hawkins, Tom Sienko Wayne Merritt, Kevin Cole, Jim Ortiz, Adam Diaz, Bob Teribury, Dean Catlin, Ron Latwinski, Eric Pribula, Nate Evans, Rob Warner

B. K. Norris IMCA Modified Feature: Jim Fugal, Tom Rose, Joe Price Jr., Dick Vauter, Jim Graves, Brian Decker, Chuck Sharpsteen, Mike Stoddard, Jason Clause, DNS John Thayer, Bob Chapman