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Weekend Racing Roundup: Weaver Gets 1st Career Win and 2-Nights of Racing At Sharon

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Steve Skarupa Photography

PITTSBURGH, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – A big weekend of racing in the Tri-State area saw a first-time winner and some familiar names in victory lane.

Jeremy Weaver picked up his first-career RUSH Sprint Car Series victory Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Weaver started second in the 20-lap feature on the outside of pole-sitter David Hawkins with Brian Ruhlman and Zach Morrow making up the second row.

Weaver grabbed the early lead with Morrow moving up to second place on lap three as Hawkins fell to third and Ruhlman back in fourth. The lead-pack cars encountered lap traffic on lap 15 but Weaver was able to work his way through the traffic to pick up his first-career victory. Morrow continued his strong season finishing second followed by Hawkins.

  1. Jeremy Weaver
  2. Zach Morrow
  3. David Hawkins
  4. Brian Ruhlman
  5. Brian Hartzell
  6. Steve Pedley
  7. Greg Beach
  8. Matt Sherlock III

 

Justin Lamb took home the checkered flag in the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series feature Saturday night at PPMS. Lamb started on the pole with Daryl Charlier on the outside of the front row. Christian Schneider started third and Ron Hall qualified fourth. The caution flag flew quickly shortly after the green flag fell. On the restart Lamb led Schneider and Charlier as Ben Policz survived the early mayhem to move into the third spot. Caution came out on lap 5 and on the restart Policz moved up to second place and Tommy Schirnhofer worked his way into the top 3.

Policz took the stop spot on lap 9 and he held the lead at halfway of the 20-lap feature with Lamb in second, Schirnhofer in third, Charlier in fourth and Schneider in fifth. Caution came out on lap 14 and on the restart, Lamb got back out front with Policz in second. Policz took the lead back on the next lap and held the lead until the caution flag flew two laps from the end for oil on the track from Schneider’s car. A two-lap shootout ensued with Lamb taking the lead at the line followed by Policz with Schirnhofer in third place.

  1. Justin Lamb
  2. Ben Policz
  3. Tommy Schirnhofer
  4. John Mollick
  5. Zach Gunn
  6. Ryan Frazee
  7. Daryl Charlier
  8. Braeden Dillinger
  9. Bill Kessler
  10. Christian Schneider
  11. Paul Jablonski
  12. Brian Goebel
  13. Ron Hall
  14. Pete Wearing
  15. Scott Gunn
  16. Eric Hamilton Jr.

 

Nick Kocuba grabbed his first win of the season in the PPMS Pro Stocks feature. Kocuba started on the outside of the front row alongside pole-sitter Chase Lambert. Bill Slade started in third and Danny Rich started on the outside of row two. Kocuba grabbed the early lead followed by Rich in second place. Disaster struck for Rich on lap three when his car came to a stop between turns three and four. Kocuba retained the lead on the restart with A.J. Poljack moving into second place on lap 7 followed by Daryl Charlier, Dave McManus and Lambert. Lap 12 saw the caution come out for Lambert, who was able to continue. The restart found Kocuba back out front followed by Charlier, Poljak, McManus and Heath Close, who moved into the top 5. Kocuba would hold on to grab his first PPMS win of the season.

  1. Nick Kocuba
  2. Daryl Charlier
  3. A.J. Poljak
  4. Dave McManus
  5. Heath Close
  6. Bill Slade
  7. Chase Lambert
  8. Danny Rich

 

Three Rivers Karting

Sharon Speedway held two nights of racing as the “Apple Festival Nationals” took place on Friday and Saturday nights.

Trevor Baker picked up his first career Sharon Speedway victory taking the checkered flag in the “410” Sprint Car feature. Baker started on the pole position and nearly made contact with Carl Bowser trying to get to the high side going into turn one with Dan Kuriger in third followed by Jimmy Morris III and two-time Lernerville Champion Jack Sodeman Jr.

The caution flag flew with seven laps completed when Steve Haefke Jr slowed on the track. Baker jumped back out front when the green flag dropped but Bowser kept charging getting to Bakers tail by lap 14. The pair battled side-by-side, trading slide jobs on laps 16 and 17 with Baker maintaining the lead when the caution flag flew with 17-laps completed for Sodeman, who blew a right-rear tire.

Baker got back out front on the restart and held off Bowser over the final 13-laps for the 0.753-seconds victory, just Baker’s second in his young career. Kuriger rounded out the podium in third.

  1. Trevor Baker
  2. Carl Bowser
  3. Dan Kuriger
  4. Michael Bauer
  5. Dan McCarron
  6. Adam Kekich
  7. Jimmy Morris III
  8. Frankie Nervo
  9. Darren Pifer
  10. Jeremy Kornbau
  11. Darin Gallagher
  12. Russ Sansosti
  13. Eric L. Williams
  14. Gale Ruth
  15. Sye Lunch
  16. Jack Sodeman Jr.
  17. Dave Blaney
  18. Steve Haefke Jr.
  19. Bob Lime

 

Rex King Jr. made it two-for-two Friday night at Sharon holding off Garrett Krummert to take the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modified win. King also won the “Lou Blaney Memorial” back in July. King took the lead away from Krummert on a restart following a lap 13 caution. Krummert chose the high side for the double-file restart, leaving King the inside line. King took the lead down low in turns one and two as Krummert had to deal with Jeremiah Shingledecker who was charging hard from third. King Jr. was too strong over the final 12-laps as he picked up his 27th career win.

  1. Rex King Jr.
  2. Garrett Krummert
  3. Jeremiah Shingledecker
  4. Rex King
  5. Will Thomas III
  6. Kevin Hoffman
  7. Skip Moore
  8. John Mollick
  9. Brandon Michaud
  10. Bill Adams
  11. Mike Turner
  12. Rick Regalski Jr.
  13. Clude Gumpp
  14. Mark Frankhouser
  15. Jim Rasey
  16. Kevin Green

 

Chad Ruhlman grabbed the RUSH Spring Car win Friday night as Sharon, holding off his brother Brian in the 20-lap feature. Chad Ruhlman started on the pole and rookie Matt Sherlock started on the outside. Brian Ruhlman got around Sherlock on the start with Jeremy Weaver and Sherlock battling it out for third. Brian Woodhall, who started sixth, drove around Shawn Smith and Sherlock on the outside to grab the fourth spot on lap four. Zach Morrow moved into the top 5 on lap 5 after starting eighth.

The battle was on for third midway through the feature as Weaver was trying to hold off Woodhall, Morrow and a hard-charging Brad Blackshear, who had moved up from this tenth starting position. Blackshear’s charge ended when he got into the fence on lap 12, bringing out the events one and only caution flag.

Chad Ruhlman jumped back out front on the restart followed by his brother as Woodhall and Weaver traded slide jobs for third, with Woodhall getting the spot-on lap 16. Morrow got by Weaver for fourth on lap 18 as Chad Ruhlman continued to set the pace out front, beating Brian Ruhlman by 0.480-seconds to take the win.

  1. Chad Ruhlman
  2. Brian Ruhlman
  3. Brian Woodhall
  4. Zach Morrow
  5. Jeremy Weaver
  6. Brandon Blackshear
  7. Andy Feil
  8. Shawn Smith
  9. Steve Pedley
  10. Matt Sherlock III
  11. Ryan Fraley
  12. Brian Hartzell
  13. Greg Beach
  14. Dave Hawkins
  15. Arnie Kent
  16. Tyler Powell
  17. Brad Blackshear
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Dirt Racing

Macri Wins Weikert Memorial Preliminary

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Photo by Paul Arch

PORT ROYAL, PA (May 27, 2023): Anthony Macri scorched the field in round one of the Bob Weikert Memorial at the Port Royal Speedway. His seventh All Stars victory at the track and twenty-second of his career was worth a hefty $10,000 and it made him the odds-on favorite to take home $29,000 more when the weekend celebration of speed concludes on Sunday evening. But finishing behind the Dillsburg pilot were four other members of the PA Posse.

Macri dominated the top like no other racer in the twenty-nine lap affair that went non-stop. His margin of victory was 9.667 seconds. Macri was unsure of his race strategy. He did not know if he should get to the front early or whether he should hold back and let his competitors “burn up their stuff.” Ultimately, he let his car make the decision for him. “I was making decent speed, so I decided to go up top. I figured that I couldn’t pass anybody running the same line as they were.” He summed, that “it was a pleasure” to drive he car this night.

A re-draw of the top ten drivers in passing points determined teh starting line-up. Mike Wagner was the lucky fellow to grab the pole. Next to him was Justin Whittal. Tyler Courtney and Macri populated row two. Zeb Wise and Devon Borden ahd the third row. Tim Shaffer and Brent Marks mad up the fourth row. Behind them were Tyler Bear and Logan Wagner. Cory Eliason and Jeff Halligan were in row six.

Lance Dewease rolled away from the outside of row eight, and Dylan Cisney from the inside of row ten. After experiencing engine problems in his heat and failing to transfer from the B, Danny Dietrich used a track provisional to start dead last.

Mike Wagner fought off Whittal and Courtney in turn one to take the lead. Macri, Wise, Logan Wagner, who is back in black, Marks, Borden, Halligan, and Bear followed.

Mike Wagner led the first ten laps. However, toward the end of that run, he encountered lapped traffic, and many of those drivers were using the inside line, which he preferred. That enabled Macri to close in. With Mike Wagner stick behind some slower cars, Macri blasted around the top of turns one and two to take the lead with eleven laps completed.

“He (Macri) was really good. I was good the first ten laps but then the car loosened up,” the Legend noted. Mike Wagner added that he had pulled his wing all the way back, but he was still spinning his tires, and Macri just drove away from him.

While the first two positions were well settled, the rest of the top ten was in doubt. Courtney held third until the second half of the race. Logan Wagner took third with about ten laps to go. But both Logan Wagner and Courtney faded in the final few laps. Marks and Dewease chased them down to get third and fourth, respectively. Logan Wagner held on for fifth.

Wise, Halligan, and Whittal also passed Courtney in the stretch run. Courtney was ninth and Blane Heimbach was tenth.

Three Rivers Karting

Although Heimbach passed eleven cars in the race, he lost the hard charger honors to Dewease, who was plus twelve.

There were four heats. The winners were Gerrard McIntyre, Jr., Logan Wagner, Macri, and Heimbach. Heimbach also won the B Main. He was

required to run the B becasue his heat win came from the pole position, and he did not earn enough passing points to make the A Main.

The evening’s fastest qualifier was Borden, with a remarkable lap of 16.940 seconds.

In the twenty lapper for the PASS IMCA 305 Sprint Cars, Logan Spahr chased drown early leader Jared Zionkowski just past halfway. Spahr led the rest of the way to earn his sixth series win in a row!

Zionkowski, who started on the pole, held on for second. Seth Schnoke ran third the full twenty laps. Jeff Weaver, Jr. and Ken Duke completed the top five.

Kenny Heffner, Doug Dodson, Mike Melair, Austin Reed, and Zach Rhoades were sixth through tenth.

The quartet of heat winners consisted of Dodson, Jason Roush, Dustin Young, and Heffner. Mike Alleman took the B Main. Heffner was also the evening’s fastest qualifier in the timed hot lap sessions. He toured the big half mile in 18.557 seconds.

A Feature (29 Laps): 1. 39M-Anthony Macri[4]; 2. 55W-Mike Wagner[1]; 3. 19-Brent Marks[8]; 4. 69K-Lance Dewease[16]; 5. 1-Logan Wagner[10]; 6. 26-Zeb Wise[5]; 7. 45H-Jeff Halligan[12]; 8. 67-Justin Whittall[2]; 9. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[3]; 10. 12-Blane Heimbach; 11. 23-Devon Borden[6]; 12. 45-Tim Shaffer[7]; 13. 77K-Tyler Bear[9]; 14. 11-Cory Eliason[11]; 15. 29W-Danny Dietrich; 16. 5-Dylan Cisney[19]; 17. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[13]; 18. 33M-Gerard McIntyre Jr[20]; 19. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[18]; 20. 4-Chris Windom[17]; 21. 35-Austin Bishop[14]; 22. 47K-Kody Lehman; 23. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[15]; 24. 29-Sye Lynch; 25. 33W-Michael Walter; 26. 35S-Jason Shultz LAP LEADERS: Mike Wagner (1-10), Anthony Macri (11-29)

2023 All Star Circuit of Champions DRIVER Standings (As of 5/27):
Tyler Courtney – 1348
Chris Windom – 1256
Hunter Schuerenberg – 1246
Tim Shaffer – 1240
J.J. Hickle – 1180
Scotty Thiel – 1178
Conner Morrell – 1114
Zeb Wise – 1066
Parker Price-Miller – 956
Sye Lynch – 898

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Dirt Racing

Dewease Dials in Win

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Photo by Paul Arch

MECHANICSBURG, PA (May 26, 2023): For Lance Dewease, his second win of the season and 113th of his career at Williams Grove Speedway was very significant. It achieved a goal that he and his car owner, Don Kreitz, Jr., set during the off-season. That was for Kreitz to overtake the late Al Hamilton as the winner of the most features as a car owner at the venerable track. Kreitz now has 93 checkers to his credit, 61 as an owner-driver and the rest as the owner for Dewease.

While Dewease thanked Kreitz for the opportunity, he dedicated the win to the third member of the Hall of Fame Dream Team. Davey Brown, his octogenarian crew chief, was absent due to an illness for the second week in a row. “Davey’s not feeling well, he’s at home watching,” Dewease explained. Then, he added with a laugh, “his daughter kept texting us all night.” Dewease added that he anticipates having Brown back for the two-day All-Stars event upcoming at Port Royal Speedway.

Dewease conceded that he may not have had the fastest car. “I think Freddie (Rahmer, Jr.) was the fastest car here, but we got some breaks.” One was for a lap ten miscue by the race leader, Chase Dietz, who did a 360 between turns three and four that collected Rahmer, who was racing in fifth at the time. The incident not only eliminated two strong contenders who had track position on Dewease, it also brought the new leader, Anthony Macri, back to him.

Dewease restarted in fifth, behind Macri, Devon Borden, Tyler Courtney, and Dylan Norris. He wasted no time moving up one position in turn one, and then he picked off another in turn three. On the next lap, Dewease was second, but he was already a good distance behind Macri.

The other break for Dewease came when Macri spun his tires and jumped the cushion in turn two with six laps remaining. At that moment, Macri was still in range to overtake Dewease as the leader, but he lost his momentum and, importantly, the runner-up position. For just two laps later, Courtney got a flat but Macri was stuck in third behind Dewease and Danny Dietrich for the final restart. Needless to say, Macri was not a factor in the last four laps.

Dietz had the pole for the start of the thirty lapper as a result of his victory in the dash. Next to him was Borden. Tim Shaffer and Macri were in row two, with Norris and Courtney in row three. Dewease and Kyle Moody were the final dash eligible drivers in the line-up. Sam Hafertepe, Jr. and Freddie Rahmer, Jr. occupied row five, with Danny Dietrich and Jimmy Siegel in row six.

Dietz seized control in turns one and two on the opening lap, but Macri was pressing him for the lead as they headed toward turn three. Borden stayed close in third, with Shaffer, Courtney, Norris, Rahmer Jr., Dewease, Moody, and Hafertepe following.

Three Rivers Karting

Dietz began to compile an advantage in the early laps while Macri and Borden battled for second. Macri was holding the spot when Dietz spun on his own with ten complete.

While Macri paced the field after the green flag dropped, it was Dewease who was making the most progress. In just two laps, he was into second and he began to whittle away at Macri’s lead.

Dewease made a couple of attempts to pass Macri, but exercising the discretion and patience of a veteran, Dewease did not force the issue. The opportunity presented itself as the duo raced off turn four to complete lap nineteen. Dewease, who was forced to search around for several laps because Macri took away his preferred low line, was able to get inside of Macri this particular time.

Dewease maintained control despite having some troubles with slower cars as the race entered its final stages. Macri’s misfortune gave Dewease some breathing room and it also provided a buffer in the form of Danny Dietrich. Then, Courtney’s flat tire reset the running order and it eliminated the lapped cars.

Dewease was not challenged in the last four rounds of the speedway. He crossed the line more than three seconds ahead of Dietrich to get win number 45 with the All Stars and $10,000. Macri was third, followed by Borden and Moody. Norris, Siegel, Cory Eliason, Zeb Wise, and Brent Marks completed the top ten.

Four heats were presented on Doug Esh Tribute night. The winners were Borden, Moody, Shaffer, and Dewease. The B Main victory went to Kyle Reinhardt. The fastest qualifier overall was Norris, with a lap of 16.999 seconds.

Williams Grove Speedway will present the 410 Sprints along with the Bill Gallagher Memorial 5G to win USAC East Coast 360 Sprint Cars on June 2. Plus there will be a phot shoot with the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing and fireworks that night. The following week will feature the 410 and 358 Sprints on Fan Appreciation Night. All general admission ticket holders will be allowed outside before the racing begins to meet their favorite stars.

June 16 will have the 410 Sprints racing along with the USAC National Sprints as part of the annual Eastern Storm tour. Then come the two PA Speedweek events on June 23 and 30.

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Dirt Racing

Modifieds and More at Tri-City Raceway Park for Memorial Day Weekend

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Tri City Raceway Park

FRANKLIN, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Tri-City Raceway Park will present its first special of the season this Sunday, May 28. Three divisions of Modifieds will be in action on the big half mile oval. The ground pounding Big Blocks of the BRP Modified Tour will make their first appearance of the season. A return engagement is set for Labor Day Weekend. The UMP Modifieds will make their first appearance as well. And, the Vintage Modifieds will add a little nostalgia to the event when they race in the Lloyd Keith Memorial.

“We are really excited to have all of those Modifieds at the speedway,” said owner and promoter Merle Black. “The BIg Blocks and the UMP Modifieds were once part of the weekly shows at Tri City, so bringing them back for a special appearance over the Memorial Day holiday weekend is fantastic,” he added. “And, everybody likes to see the Vintage Cars because it brings back fond memories.”

The track’s 358 Modifieds are not on the card for this one, but all of those racers are invited to participate with the BRP Modified Tour. Many fans can remember when a 358 driven by Gary Smoker upset the Big Blocks at Tri-City and it could happen again. Those 358s that do take the challenge will not receive any track points for this contest, but there would be no limit to the bragging rights if Ayden Cipriano, for example, could back up his career first 358 Modified victory against the regional Big Block stars.

While those three Modified divisions alone would be enough to whet any race fan’s appetite, there is even more on-track action to enjoy. The 410 Sprint Cars and the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks are going to log their second races of the season. Ohio pilot Ricky Peterson defeated defending track champion A.J. Flick in round one for the winged warriors last Sunday. Matt Urey dominated the Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. Can they repeat?

Black went all in for this event. He added the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. Tyler Wyant captured his first of the 2023 season in the opener, so he, too, will try to double up on May 28.

Three Rivers Karting

There will be added purse money on the line for the 410 Sprint Cars, Pro Stocks, and Four Cylinder Mini Stocks thanks to Virgile Iron & Steel, Travis Harry Racing Engines, Bish Heating & Cooling, Grandview Auto Body, Singleton Family Chiropractic, Siple Racing Edits, and Bernard’s Electrical Services and Troubleshooting. The 410 Sprints will now pay $2,200 to win, the Pro Stock winner will now take home $1,000.02, and the Mini Stocks will battle for $500!

And, there are extras for the fans, too. In addition to the added classes in competition, two lucky fans will be eligible for an upgrade to the VIP section courtesy of Bernard’s Electrical Services and Troubleshooting. Plus, there will be a big bonfire and a DJ on Saturday night, as well as free camping throughout the holiday weekend!

Fans can enjoy all of this racing and the pre-race activities for the low price of $20 for Adults. Seniors (ages 60 and up) and Students (ages 10 to 16) will be admitted for $15. Children (under the age of 10) will be free, as usual. Pit Passes will be $35.

Pit gates will open at 2 p.m., with spectator gates opening at 4 p.m. Practice sessions will start at 5:30. Heat races will commence at 6 p.m.
Remember that Tri-City Raceway Park will host the final round of the Western PA Sprint Car Speedweek on June 3. The other Sunday Thunder divisions will also be in action. So come out to watch the 358 Modifieds, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks.

Also, there will be no auto racing on June 11. Instead, the track will present the All American Rodeo Company on Saturday, June 10, under the auspices of the International Professional Rodeo Association.

Further information about Tri-City Raceway Park can be obtained by calling the track office at 724-967-4601, or by e-mailing the office at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. Or, you can check the web at Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park. Tri-City Raceway Park is located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township. Professional auto racing will be presented in a family friendly atmosphere most Sunday evenings from May through Labor Day weekend.

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