HAWLEY AND SWARTZLANDER SNARE TRI-CITY VICTORIES

by Brian Spaid

May 3, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRANKLIN, PA .... A warm and sunny evening graced Tri-City Speedway on

Sunday night as Jimmy Hawley (CarMate Trailers Super Sprints), Brian

Swartzlander (Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds) and Bobby

Powell (Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Pure Stocks) won the 1998 season openers.

There were 111 race cars and 23 demo derby cars on hand.

In the 25-lap Super Sprint Sunday main event, Hawley survived a battle of

fuel economy to snare the $1,500 victory. Ed Lynch Jr. took the lead on the

opening lap of the feature and withheld many advances by Hawley. On the

20th lap, Lynch ran out fuel handing the lead to the West Middlesex, PA

racer. Piloting Dr. John Crawford's Gambler No. CIII, Hawley won his second

career Sprint feature at Tri-City and his first since 1987.

"It was really close at the end," said Hawley in victory lane. "My car

almost stopped out of turn four the last few laps because the car was low

on fuel."

Hawley ran out of fuel on his cool-down lap. Tommy Quarterson finished

second followed by Bob Felmlee, Bobby Clark and Brian Ellenberger. Hawley,

Clark and Felmlee won the heats and Ralph Spithaler Jr. captured the B main

as a total of 34 Sprints graced the pit area. The flip victims during the

evening included Boone Covell and Phil Mott in the heats, Nathan Dallas in

the B main and Scott Bonnell in the feature.

In the 20-lap Titusville Motor & Auction Co. DIRT Modifieds, defending

track champion Brian Swartzlander of Leechburg, PA narrowly defeated

veteran Lou Blaney. Swartzlander led every lap of the race in his

MEI/Precise Tool & Die Bicknell No. 83. Scott Gurdak was the early

challenger before he spun with two laps remaining after contact with Joe

Crawford. After he secured second, Blaney made a move underneath

Swartzlander at the checkered flag, but lost by only a few feet. Billy Van

Pelt, Tommy Kristyak and Mike Sutton rounded out the top five. Chris

Schiffer, Jim Weller and Joe Crawford won the heats and Rick Hoctor won the

consi. A total of 34 DIRT Modifieds were on hand.

Bobby Powell of Titusville, PA collected another victory at the half-mile

oval as he won the 15-lap Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley Pure Stock main in his

Griffin Bossard No. B20. Powell gained command on the 12th lap after a

stirring duel with Reno's Matt Lux. Powell grabbed the win over Gary

Norman, Lux, Denny Diegleman and Leigh Wheeler. Norman, Diegelman, Powell

and Jeff Buccella won the heats. Jerry Huff won the Pure Stock B feature

after a great battle with David Atkinson. Forty-three Pure Stocks were in

action.

Tom Holbrook of Conneaut Lake won the Sligo Auto Salvage Demolition Derby.

This coming Sunday night May 10th, the All Star Circuit of Champions

Sprints will be in competition along with the Sportsman Modifieds and Pure

Stocks. Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and races start at 6:00 p.m.

SPRINTS (25 Laps): JIMMY HAWLEY, Tommy Quarterson, Bob Felmlee, Bobby

Clark, Brian Ellenberger, Arnie Kent, Gary Edwards, Phil Mott, Mike Kekich,

Daryl Stimeling, Todd Bauer, Bruce Powell, Mark Spence, Gale Ruth Jr.,

James Wray, Ed Lynch Jr., Ralph Spithaler Jr., C.W. Harshman, Scott Snook,

J.J. Ketola, Brad Ellenberger, Scott Priester, Jack Sodeman Jr., Scott

Bonnell. DNS: Jason Jacoby. DNQ: Eric Smith, Rocky Allen, Kevin Schaeffer,

Nathan Dallas, Billy Shearer, Skip Dougherty, Brent Matus, Mike Masano,

Boone Covell.

MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): BRIAN SWARTZLANDER, Lou Blaney, Billy Van Pelt, Tommy

Kristyak, Mike Sutton, Dick Rankin, Tom Glenn, Rodney Beltz, George

Hobaugh, Josh Skarzenski, Merle Mealy, Dean Pearson, Rick Hall, Tim Engles,

Rick Hoctor, Steve Young, Scott Gurdak, Pete Simpson, Chip Ritchey, Joe

Crawford, Jim Weller, Tom Smith, Chris Schiffer, Jeff Hoffman. DNQ: Skip

Moore, Tim Phillips, Steve Barr, Shane McElhaney, Clyde Gumpp, Brian Fink,

Randy Myers, Jim Davis, Mike Ritchey, Rick Kress.

PURE STOCKS (15 Laps): BOBBY POWELL, Gary Norman, Matt Lux, Denny

Diegelman, Leigh Wheeler, Matt Cummings, Bob Whitling, Dave Ferringer, Jeff

Buccella, Barry Wilson, Jim Slater, Terry Feely, Keith Mohnkern, Pete

Stearns, Kim Legnosky, Dwayne Getty, Ron Becker, Greg Becker, Wayne Pyle,

Bob Bean, Travis Biggs, Gary McClintock.

PURE STOCKS B FEATURE (15 Laps): JERRY HUFF, David Atkinson, Russ Dempsey,

Mike Dolecki, Jamie Shetler, Bill Battiste, John Miller, Curt Bish, Ken

Fultz, Greg Sanford, Tom Vincent, Everett Wade, Dick Caldwell, Danny Exley,

Jay Feely, Bobby Irwin Jr., Art Edwards, Dean Speer, Patty McCann, David

Phillips, Jeff Manners.