AL RUDALAVAGE WINS FIRST OF YEAR AT PENN CAN SPEEDWAY

Susquehanna, PA... Once again Penn Can Speedway in Susquehanna fought

with Mother Nature and prevailed with Al Rudalavage of Olyphant

picking up his first modified victory of the season in a hard fought

battle with Tim Olenski of Maine, New York. In the companion late model

feature Larry Dilello of Thompson won his fourth feature of the season

while Frank Bonham of Pleasant Mount picked up feature win number five

in the street stocks. Mike Decker was the winner in the pure stocks for

the ninth time.

Scott Seman was the early leader in the nights thirty lap feature.

He lead the twenty six car starting field early in the contest. All eyes

were on the two top point men, Mike Colsten and Brian Weaver, who both

started the feature deep in the pack. Early caution flags allowed

Colsten to move from shotgun on the field up to the top ten early. Other

battles on the track saw Tim Olenski and Al Rudalavage move into the top

five. George Kostelansky and Jeff Bronson would also come forward to

challenge for the top positions.

Seman faded as Rudalavage gained control by the mid point of the

race. Olenski moved into second with Kostelansky third. A caution would

then fall for the disabled car of Mike Colsten. This bunched the field

together for the restart. Rudalavage maintained control with Olenski

challenging lap after the. The two came to the checkers with Rudalavage

a half car length in front. Olenski settled for second with Kostelansky

third. Jeff Bronson ran a strong race and finished fourth followed by

Butch Tittle. Chuck Akulis, Brian Weaver, Kirk Horton, Carl Nagel, and

Jeff Rudalavage rounded out the top ten.

In the modified point battle Brian Weaver has retaken the lead over

Mike Colsten by a slim six points with one race remaining as a point

show.

The late model feature was just as exciting on Raceworld 98 Speed

Sport Showcase Night. The man with all the moves was three time feature

winner Larry Dilello. He started the race deep in the pack and moved

steadily to the front of the field. Early leader Warren Stone looked to

have the race in hand with a huge lead until a flat tire sidelined him.

A front stretch crash then eliminated Curt Tunilo and Jim OHara. This

left Al Coy leading the race with five laps remaining. Dilello did all

he could until lap twenty one when he raced around the outside for the

lead. Dilello then raced off for the win. Coy came home second followed

across by Gene Sharpsteen, Dan Stone, and Marty Bunker.

The street stock feature saw fourth row starter Frank Bonham jump out

to the lead early in the race. Sean Collins, Billy and Harry Marvin, and

Mike Loney all battled through early cautions to get into position for

the final shootout with Bonham. Bonham held strong and fought of all

challenges to win his fifth race of the year. Collins ran en excellent

race and claimed second followed across the line by point leader Harry

Marvin jr. The fourth position had Mike Loney making a late race pass on

Billy Marvin for the spot. Marvin got fifth followed by Chris Shupp,

Rick Davis, and Brian Taylor.

The pure stock feature was claimed by Mike Decker who was awarded the

win when speedway officials disqualified the first car across the line

for having a driver in the car other than the one scheduled to start the

race. The team knowingly started the feature without notifying the

handicapper so the car could be handicapped correctly. This act of

deception cost the race team the win.

King of the Can Championship night is scheduled for next Friday. It

will be the last regular point show with Champions crowned in all

divisions. The event, formerly the Penn Can Spectacular, will be a

closed event for Penn Can Speedway regulars who have raced at the track

at least five times this year. The races will feature the highest purse

of the year. The winner of the fifty lap modified special will win

$3000. The late model winner will take home $800 with $500 going to the

street stock feature victor. Pure stocks will race for $200 to win.

Modified Feature Finish: Al Rudalavage, Tim Olenski, George

Kostelansky, Jeff Bronson, Butch Tittle, Chuck Akulis, Brian Weaver,

Kirk Horton, Carl Nagel, Jeff Rudalavage, Scott Seman, Bob Hamm, John

Siedlecky, Bill Huff, Dave Jenkins, Garth Tompkins, Mike Frederick, Mike

Milewski, Mike Nagel, Mike Colsten, Glenn Knapp, Ron Mawson, Jerry

Colsten, Rick Virkitis, Bill Tittle, Bernie Griffin...

Late Model Feature: Larry Dilello, Al Coy. Gene Sharpsteen, Dan

Stone, Marty Bunker, Dave Passetti, Brad Shaffer, Jamie Griffiths, Keith

Stone, Dennis Latwinski, Dave Zona, Rip Durkin, Jim OHara, Curt Tunilo,

Warren Stone, Jim Sherman..

Street Stock Feature: Frank Bonham, Sean Collins, Harry Marvin, Mike

Loney, Billy Marvin, Chris Shupp, Rick Davis, Brian Taylor, Joe Domiano,

John Gage, Billy Keene, Dan Podwika, John Green, Jason Clause, Marty

Goodwin, Glen Wilcox, Craig Terrell, Mike Frost, Johnny Spencer, Jamie

Shea, Dick Vauter, Larry Mills...

Pure Stock Feature: Mike Decker, Earl Marvin, Wayne Merritt, Dan

Slezak, Dwayne Robbins, Ray Wolf, Randy Decker, Kevin Cole, Car 79, Ken

Winn...