July 3, 2003
Violet Spencer – 724-836-6326
LATROBE, PA (July 3) – For the first time since 1981, the Big Block Modifieds raced on the surface of Chester Aretta’s Latrobe Speedway in the “Happy 4th of July Special” on Thursday evening. Winning the BRP Modified Series Tour 30-lap feature was Ron Smoker from Hamburg, NY. Joe Kelley, Mt Pleasant, sat in the Advance Auto Parts Street Stock victory lane for the first time since May 3. Winning his first Logan Painting Charger laurels in ’03, by default, was Wild Bill Sigafoes from Blairsville. Hometown driver Richie Logan won his first of the season Daugherty Settlement Services Sportsman E-Mod main event.
In the BRP Big Block Modified Tour event, Del Rougeux Jr, jumped from his outside pole starting spot to take control at starter Dean Lape’s green flag. Rougeux set the pace and was well on his way to a supposed win. However, working up from his 10th berth was king pin Ron Smoker, who had worked a 12-hour shift and drove down from the Syracuse area for the Mod event. Threading his way up toward the front, Smoker “smoked” the 24-car field and took the lead on lap 14 of the 30-lap event. Rougeux was dropped to second but was not ready to give up the battle. He dogged Smoker for the remaining distance but could not get up enough horses to regain the lead. Smoker went on to take the double crossed-checkereds and the $1,200 payday over a disappointed Rougeux, a sizzling hot sixth starting Dave Murdick in a close third, Andy Priest, starting seventh, in fourth and Kevin Bolland, up from 14th, to fifth. Four cautions marred the event. Heats for the 36 Mods went to Murdick, Rougeux, Smoker and Brian Swartzlander. The two B Main wins went to Rick Hall and Jeff Hoffman.
Rick Smith earned the Sportsman E-Mod pole and leaped to the front of the 15-car feature. As Smith led the pack around the half-mile oval, Richie Logan charged to the front from his fourth berth and started to tail Smith immediately. There was very little room for error as the two raced for the $500 prize. Finally on lap 9, Logan made his move and came out ahead to lead a close charging Smith to the crossed checkered flags. Jim Bertges moved up from eighth to finish third, newcomer Andy Teno was fourth from a seventh start and points leader Doug Glessner was fifth. Heats to Logan and Josh Cramer.
In the Street Stock 15-lapper, Joe Kelley immediately took command of the 13-car field and led the distance to his second win of the season. Tom Dembowski rode in second for a few laps but suffered mechanical woes giving second spot to point leader Jeff Detwiler who never was a challenge to Kelley. Kelley went on to win over Detwiler, newcomer Bobby Heim, Bill Pluta Jr, and John Over. Heat wins to Kelley and Detwiler.
“Wild Bill” Sigafoes took the lead on lap one of the Chargers 15-lapper as Jeremy Zufall polished his rear chrome for seven circuits. On lap 8, Zufall zoomed ahead and went to his supposedly fourth win of the 2003 season. However, in a post-race tech, Zufall’s number 20 was found with an illegal part and Jim Sigafoes was awarded the victory. It was Sigafoes’ first of the season. Moving everyone up one spot put point leader Dennis Aukerman in second, Butch Rubright third, newcomer Joey Rubic in fourth and Jim Hamerski in fifth. Winning heats for the 17 Chargers were Zufall and Aukerman.
Coming up this Saturday, July 12, Fast Track Racing will present the first race of the Latrobe Speedway Thunder Series for Super Late Models in a $1,200 to win, 30-lap main event, paying $200 to start. Also on the race card are the Sportsman E-Mods and the Chargers.
July 19 will feature the Super Late Models, Sportsman E-Mods, Street Stocks and Chargers. Also, prizes for Kid’s Most-Wildest-Hair-Do on “Wild Hair-Do Night”
Latrobe Speedway is located on Route 981 between Latrobe and Pleasant Unity. For more information contact the office at 724-583-0993 or on race day only at 724-423-2119. Visit us on the Internet at www.latrobespeedway.com.
BRP MODIFIED TOUR – 1.Ron Smoker; 2.Del Rougeux Jr; 3.Dave Murdick; 4.Andy Priest; 5.Kevin Bolland; 6.Skip Moore; 7.Brian Swartzlander; 8.Jeff Hoffman; 9.Mark Flick; 10.J.R.McGinley; 11.Rodney Beltz; 12.Chanda Reitz; 13.Rick Hall; 14.Tom Mattocks; 15.Steve Barr; 16.Doug Fleeger; 17.Jimmy Weller lll; 18.Joe Crawford; 19.Steve Young; 20.Guy Griffin; 21.Dave Reges; 22.Jim Rasey; 23.Gary Risch; 24.George Hobaugh.
E-MODS – 1.Rich Logan; 2.Rick Smith; 3.Jim Bertges; 4.Andy Teno; 5.Doug Glessner; 6.Clate Copeman; 7.Bobby Watt; 8.Todd Daughenbaugh; 9.Steve Wilson; 10.Nick Cramer; 11.Brian Jakosh; 12.Donnie Witt; 13.Rick Meglaye; 14.Josh Cramer; DNS-Shawn Narbus.
STREET STOCKS – 1.Joe Kelley; 2.Jeff Detwiler; 3.Bobby Heim; 4.Bill Pluta Jr; 5.John Over; 6.Michael Turner; 7.Joe Pluta; 8.Tim Rankin; 9.Greg Hauger; 10.Car #113; 11.Bob Nelson; 12.Tom Dembowski; 13.Steve Sickles.
CHARGERS – 1.Bill Sigafoes; 2.Dennis Aukerman; 3.Butch Rubright; 4.Joey Rubic; 5.Jim Hamerski; 6.Ray O’Neil; 7.Johnny Ritz; 8.Scott Casto; 9.Bill Kern; 10.Bob Koerber; 11.Larry McBryar Jr; 12.Bill Finlay; 13.Eric Weaver; 14.Dan Ferry Sr; 15.Jeff Compton; 16.Keith Rodgers; DQed-Jeremy Zufall.