HOFFMAN WINS MODIFIED TOUR '98 RACE AT TRI-CITY; FELMLEE TOPS SPRINTS

by Brian Spaid

May 17, 1998

FRANKLIN, PA .... A beautiful Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway found Bob Felmlee
(CarMate Trailers Super Sprints), Jeff Hoffman (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT
Modifieds), Gary Smoker (Tri-City Sportsman Modifieds) and Gary Norman (Hoosier Tire Ohio !
Valley Pure Stocks) in victory lane at the end of the night. A total of 119 cars were in the
pits, including 39 DIRT Modifieds for the opening race of Modified Tour '98.
Jeff Hoffman of Franklin, PA captured his first Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT
Modified feature of the season in the 20-lap Modified Tour '98 event. It was Hoffman's ninth
career win at Tri-City in his Hoffman Doors Troyer No. 00. Rick Hoctor surprise!
d the field by leading the first 18 laps of the caution-plagued race. He held off veteran Lou
Blaney for several circuits. Hoffman slipped into second with four laps remaining, then a
late race restart gave him the opportunity to pass Hoctor for the win. Ho!
ctor placed second over Lou Blaney, Jeff Schaffer and Josh Skarzenski. Jason Engles, Blaney,
George Hobaugh and Tom Mattocks Jr. won the heat races. Joe Crawford topped the consolation.
In the 20-lap CarMate Trailers Sprint event, Bob Felmlee of Franklin, PA led every lap
to score his initial win of the season at Tri-City. Giving thanks to crew chief Steve
Anderson, Felmlee noted in victory lane that the team was sporting a World of Outla!
ws wing as he prepped for the race at Lernerville Speedway on May 19th. While Felmlee was
unmatched out front in his World of Wheels J&J No. 6, a great battle took place for second
until the final lap. Bill Jones was the runnerup at the checkered flag follo!
wed by Craig Rankin, Jamie Smith and Jason Jacoby. J.J. Ketola and Felmlee won the heat
races.
Gary Smoker of Mercer, PA won the 15-lap Tri-City Sportsman Modified event in his
Kristyak's Pennzoil No. 401. It was Smoker's second win of the weekend after a Saturday night
victory at Mercer Raceway Park and his first career triumph at Tri-City. Tim She!
pard led the opening lap before Dean Pearson moved to the front of the pack. Pearson held the
lead until the 11th circuit, when Smoker slipped past on a restart. Smoker soared to the win
over Pearson, George Ruth, Lonny Riggs and Gerry Bruce. Chanda Reitz a!
nd Smoker won the heats.
For the first time in 1998, Gary Norman of New Castle was the winner of the 15-lap
Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Pure Stock event. Jerry Huff and Chuck Taylor shared the lead the
first three laps before Norman pulled out front with his D'Andrea Auto Wrecking No!
. 9. Two-time feature winner Bobby Powell lost a wheel early in the race, which helped
Norman's flight to victory. Huff finished second over Denny Diegelman, Taylor and Kim
Legnosky. The results were unofficial at press time pending a technical overview of !
the top five finishers. Taylor, Gary McClintock, Legnosky and Norman won the heats. Travis
Biggs win the B Feature.
This coming Sunday night May 24th, it will be the second Super Sprint Sunday of the
season with a 25-lap feature for the Super Sprints. The DIRT Modifieds and Pure Stocks will
also be in action along with a Powder Puff Derby. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and ra!
ces start at 6:00 p.m.
SPRINTS (20 Laps): BOB FELMLEE, Bill Jones, Craig Rankin, Jamie Smith, Jason Jacoby,
Gary Rankin, James Wray, Gale Ruth Jr., J.J. Ketola, Bruce Powell, Todd Bauer, Brian Staph,
Troy Preston, Skip Dougherty, Brent Matus, Billy Shearer, Kevin Schaeffer, Shei!
la Rankin, Kevin Andrusky, Brad Ellenberger. DNS: Brent Covell, Phil Mott.
MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): JEFF HOFFMAN, Rick Hoctor, Lou Blaney, Jeff Schaffer, Josh
Skarzenski, Brian Swartzlander, Mike Sutton, Jim Weller, Rex King, Bill Dorman, Tom Glenn,
George Hobaugh, Carl Murdick, Brian Fink, Joe Crawford, Chip Ritchey, Jim Rasey, Tomm!
y Kristyak, Randy Myers, Tom Mattocks Jr., Dean Pearson, Shane McElhaney, Chris Schiffer,
Scott Rogers, Billy Van Pelt, Jason Engles. DNQ: Tom Smith, Scott Gurdak, Del Rougeaux, Tim
Phillips, Merle Mealy, Dave Reges, Lynn Woods, Pete Simpson, Dick Rankin, T!
im Engles, Jim Davis, Rodney Beltz, Merle Black.
SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS (15 Laps): GARY SMOKER, Dean Pearson, George Ruth, Lonny Riggs,
Gerry Bruce, Chanda Reitz, John Confer, Gary Bollinger, John Buchanan, Allen Ferry, Rob
Curtis, Fred Lary, David Myers, Jim Reagle, Tim Shepard, Marty Kristyak. DNS: George!
Hobaugh, Andy Priest.
PURE STOCKS (15 Laps) (Unofficial): GARY NORMAN, Jerry Huff, Denny Diegelman, Chuck
Taylor, Kim Legnosky, Danny Exley, Barry Wilson, Wayne Pyle, Ron Becker, Kevin Reeves, Keith
Mohnkern, David Phillips, Eric Van Valkenberg, Bobby Whitling, Doug Calvert, Ma!
tt Cummings, Gary McClintock, Curt Bish, Bobby Powell, Jim Slater. DNS: Matt Lux.
PURE STOCKS B FEATURE (15 Laps): TRAVIS BIGGS, Craig Sanford, Mike Dolecki, Jamie
Shetler, Terry Feely, Greg Becker, Arthur Edwards, Jeff Manners, John Miller, Jay Feely,
David Atkinson. DNS: Bill Oswald, Ben Blake, Pete Stearns, No. 141.

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