FELMLEE, SCHIFFER AND POWELL SCORE TRI-CITY WINS
by Brian Spaid
July 12, 1998
DEMPSEYTOWN, PA .... Another gorgeous Sunday night in Western Pennsylvania found Bob Felmlee (CarMate Trailers Super Sprints), Chris Schiffer (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) and Bobby Powell (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Pure Stocks) in victory lane on CarMate Trailers Night at Tri-City Speedway. A total of 78 cars were in the pit area for the three-star action on the half-mile Venango County oval.
In the 25-lap CarMate Trailers Super Sprint Sunday Midseason Championship, Bob Felmlee of Franklin, PA started on the pole position and led every lap in his Carriage City Car Wash/CarMate Trailers J&J No. 6. Yet, Felmlee barely held on for the win as his motor soured with a few laps left. "When we came down for the checkered flag and the yellow was out for the second time, I thought we had lost the race," he said in victory lane. Felmlee survived Jimmy Hawley's challenge for his third win of the season at Tri-City and his second of the weekend after a win Saturday at Mercer Raceway Park. The last lap accidents that caused Felmlee's concern both claimed Brad and Brian Ellenberger while they were racing in the top five. Brad Ellenberger was third when the right rear tire blew and his rear suspension collapsed in turn one. Brian Ellenberger had moved up to third, then was swept into an accident with the lapped car of Sheila Rankin on the next restart. As a result, Phil Mott earned a career best third place finish at Tri-City followed by Gale Ruth Jr. and Jason Jacoby. James Wray and Felmlee won the heats.
Chris Schiffer of Franklin, PA earned his first win of the season in the 20-lap Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modified main, but the story of the race was a controversial accident on the ninth lap. George Hobaugh led from the outside pole at the start as current point leader Brian Swartzlander charged from the 12th position. Swartzlander was running second by the fourth lap. He challenged Hobaugh a few times, then made an outside pass for the lead in turn one. As the two racers drifted through turn two, they made contact and Swartzlander spun. Both drivers were sent to the rear of the field after a caution period. As a result, Billy Van Pelt inherited the lead on the restart. Schiffer was running third and surpassed Van Pelt on the 14th circuit. From there, Schiffer cruised home the winner in his Schiffer Excavating Troyer No. 7S. Van Pelt finished second followed by rookie Jason Engles, Tom Glenn and Scott Gurdak. Swartzlander recovered for sixth. Tim Engles and Swartzlander won the heats.
For the fourth time this season, Bobby Powell of Titusville, PA was in victory lane at the conclusion of the 15-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Pure Stock feature. Jerry Huff led the initial four laps before Powell moved out front after starting fourth. Once in the lead, Powell was unchallenged in his Griffin Bossard No. B20. Behind him several drivers dueled for second. Current Pure Stock point leader Gary Norman moved into the position on the 10th lap when Bobby Whitling broke a right front tie rod and hit the backstretch wall. Norman wound up second at the end of the race followed by Dave Ferringer, who passed Huff for third on the 19th lap. Huff and Matt Lux rounded out the top five. The victory was Powell's 24th regional victory of the season and the 12th of his career at Tri-City. Ferringer, Huff, Matt Cummings and Powell won the heats.
Tom Tuite of West Sunbury, PA captured a stirring 15-lap Pure Stock B feature. He battled Jason Reagle for the majority of the race before coming home the winner.
The track also celebrated Founder's Night as track founders the late Leonard and Merwin Tarr and John Hegedus and their families were honored by current promoters, Mike Graham and Roger Crick. Hegedus was present to accept his award. Several veteran racers were also on hand to sign autographs and enjoy bench racing one another.
Next Sunday night July 19th, the DIRT Modifieds will compete for the Selker Bros./Pennzoil Midseason Championship. The Super Sprints and Pure Stocks will again be part of the card on Oil City Night as the track helps kickoff Oil Heritage Week. In addition, the Pittsburgh Circle Track Senior Series will make its final appearance of the 1998 season. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and the races start at 6:00 p.m.
SPRINTS (25 Laps): 1. BOB FELMLEE, 2. Jimmy Hawley, 3. Phil Mott, 4. Gale Ruth Jr., 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Brian Ellenberger, 7. Skip Dougherty, 8. James Wray, 9. Bruce Powell, 10. Brent Matus, 11. Brian Rivers, 12. Brad Ellenberger, 13. Gary Rankin, 14. Sheila Rankin, 15. Craig Rankin, 16. Todd Bauer, 17. Mike Marano II.
MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. CHRIS SCHIFFER, 2. Billy Van Pelt, 3. Jason Engles, 4. Tom Glenn, 5. Scott Gurdak, 6. Brian Swartzlander, 7. Tim Engles, 8. Dean Pearson, 9. George Hobaugh, 10. Gerry Bruce, 11. Rodney Beltz, 12. Randy Myers, 13. Merle Mealy, 14. Dick Rankin, 15. Ed Alcorn, 16. Tim Phillips, 17. Dan Campbell. DNS: Tim Shepard.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY POWELL, 2. Gary Norman, 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Jerry Huff, 5. Matt Lux, 6. Barry Wilson, 7. Joe Drusko, 8. David Atkinson, 9. Pete Stearns, 10. Gary McClintock, 11. Wayne Pyle, 12. Kim Legnosky, 13. Mike Dolecki, 14. Curt Bish, 15. Ben Blake Jr., 16. Tom Vincent, 17. Jay Feely, 18. Ron Becker, 19. Bobby Whitling, 20. Denny Diegelman, 21. Matt Cummings, 22. Jim Slater.
PURE STOCKS B FEATURE (15 Laps): 1. TOM TUITE, 2. Jason Reagle, 3. Keith Mohnkern, 4. Greg Becker, 5. John Schreck, 6. Tom Scott, 7. Bill Kinter, 8. Bill Oswald, 9. Travis Biggs, 10. Shawn Proper, 11. Dean Speer, 12. Jamie Shetler, 13. Brian Hurt, 14. Arthur Edwards, 15. Dale McGinnis Sr., 16. Danny Exley, 17. Andy Miller, 18. Doug Calvert, 19. Terry Feely. DNS: Rick Norco.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
July 19 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Senior Series
July 26 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds Kodiak Memorial 35, Pure Stocks,
Snowmobile Races, Kids Bike Races (Christmas in July)
August 2 - Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Demo Derby