Local Racing
Sprint Cars Tune Up For Speedweek At Tri-City Raceway Park
FRANKLIN, PA (May 26, 2021): After a week off for the ULMS Late Models presented by Donovan and Bauer Auto Group, the four divisions making up the Sunday Thunder racing program will return to Tri-City Raceway Park this Sunday, May 30. Jared Miley was the winner of that special event, and Jacob Gomola and Justin Clark split the Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Car races that supported the ULMS show.
Two-time victor, Jack Sodeman, Jr., has a commanding 31 point lead in the championship standings in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Car ranks. Brandon Matus, who recently scored a win at another area speedway, sits in second even though he has yet to cash in at the Venango County oval. Kyle Colwell will be back with the 360 engine between the rails of his Sprint Car after running against the 305s last week. Colwell had mechanical troubles, so he will be looking to return to form against the more powerful 410s. Consistency has been Colwell’s strength despite his horsepower disadvantage.
Competition will be provided by veteran Brent Matus and youngster Chase Matheny. George Hobaugh, another winner on the Western PA circuit, should be back in action, along with A.J. Flick, who has a win and a crash on his Tri-City resume so far this season.
New Yorker Matt Farnham has been fast in his Tri-City appearances, and he wants to carry the winner’s share north of the border. But Carl Bowser, Darrin Gallagher, Bob Felmlee, and Brandon Spithaler may have something to say about that.
A question in the minds of many fans is whether any 410 Sprint racers will drop in unexpectedly to log some seat time at Tri-City in preparation for the Western PA Speedweek finale coming up on June 6. You will want to be on hand for both contests as the Sprint Cars present hair-raising speeds on the big half mile.
Jeremiah Shingledecker and Kevin Hoffman, the last two winners in the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds, will square off once again. Jimmy Holden and defending track champion, Kyle Fink, are just two of the drivers looking to score their first wins of the 2021 season. Teenager Nathan McDowell is looking to improve on his recent top five finish. Could this be his moment in the sun?
A number of Empire State racers, headed by Nick Joy and Kyle Inman, and including Chad Brachmann and Greg Martin, add diversity and depth to the 358 Modified field.
Franklin’s Josh Seippel has a slim two point margin over William Hurrelbrink in the Pro Stock class, presented by Hovis Auto & Truck Supply. Veteran Bobby Whitling and teenager Tyler Wyant are divisional winners too, so fans of all ages can readily identify with the racers in this highly competitive group.
However, the closest championship contest is in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks. Dalton Speer and Justin Bailey are tied at the top of the standings, but Pat Hanlon and Evan Sobieski are within striking distance. The Mini Stocks are the most affordable class that competes at Tri-City Raceway Park, so if you are looking to join in the fun, that may be the class to start in.
Regular event ticket pricing will apply this Sunday. So, adults (ages 16-62) will be admitted for $15, and seniors (ages 62 and up) will see the show for $13. Students (ages 11-16) will be just $10. Children (age 10 and under) will be admitted free. The Family Pass will be available for two adults and two students at $45. Pit Passes will be $30.
The starting time will be 6 p.m., with practice sessions beginning a half hour earlier. Spectators can enter the grounds at 4 p.m. and the racers can get situated in the Pits beginning at 2 p.m.
Remember that you can get information regarding Tri-City Raceway Park by calling the track office, at 724-967-4601, or via e-mail at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. You can also check out the website at www.Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park. Tri-City Raceway Park is located on State Route 3430 in Oakland Township, which is a short ride outside the City of Franklin.
SARVER, PA (September 3, 2021; Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Alex Ferree took the lead from the start and survived a late restart to pick up the win in Friday night’s Precise Racing Products Late Model Feature at Lernerville Speedway.
Ferree built up a lead of over 5-seconds when the caution flag flew on lap 23 due to a spin by Clayton Kennedy. On the restart Colton Flinner tried to get the jump on Ferree but jumped the start three times and was moved back a row. Logan Zarin moved up to the front row but did not have enough for Ferree, who picked up his second feature win at ‘The Action Track’. Zarin finished second followed by Flinner.
“It’s tough racing here and the restarts can always throw a little wrench at you,” said Ferree. “Colton (Flinner) tried a couple different times and went a little early there, it just worked out in my favor at the end.”
Sye Lynch made it back-to-back wins at Lernerville after taking the Peoples Natural Gas Sprint feature. Lynch started on the pole position led the first eleven laps. On lap 12 A.J. Flick passed Lynch for the lead off turn two but two laps later Lynch’s slide job in turn 4 put him back out front. Lap traffic thwarted Flick’s chance to get back around Lynch before the checkered flag.
“(A.J.) Flick drove a great race and got around me,” explained Lynch. “I knew I had to run harder, it was one of those deals where you’re battling for the lead and working through lapped traffic, you just never know when is too hard or not hard enough. It was a very tricky race, but the car was great all night long, we’ve been trying a bunch of things and it’s just clicking.”
Rex King Jr. came out victorious in the Diehl Automotive Big Block Modified feature. Steve Feder led early while a furious battle was taking place behind him between King, Brian Swartzlander and Jeremiah Shingledecker. The trio eventually caught Feder to make it a 4-car battle for the lead. King was able to pass Feder for the lead on lap 18 and Shingledecker was able to grab 2nd on lap 22.
“That was the most fun racing I’ve had here in a long time,” said King, Jr. “The only other time was when me and my dad (Rex King, Sr.) were battling here earlier in the year, and it was slick like that. The track was good, I think it was pretty racy, I seen Shingledecker passed a bunch of cars, I think dad passed a couple, it was a good race.”
Andrew Gordon started up front and held on following a late restart to win the Penn/Ohio Pro Stocks Feature. Gordon was comfortably out front when the caution flag flew on lap 23 for Bobby Whitling, whose car slowed on front stretch. Gordon got a great restart as Chase Lambert and Daryl Charlier battled for second place with Lambert prevailing when the checkered flag flew.
“This win is for my grandma up in the stands, she makes it to all the races, she’s been sick but on the (road to) recovery so, this one is for her,” said Gordon.
Precise Racing Products Feature: (1C) Alex Ferree, (1Z) Logan Zarin, (48) Colton Flinner, (29) Ken Schaltenbrand, (10) Gary Lyle, (91) Tommy Beck, (66) Todd Bachman, (9) Levi Yetter, (9K) Clayton Kennedy, (B1) Brandon Wearing, (26) Shawn Schaltenbrand, (11) Joshua Powell, (81) Mike Miller, (77) Tyler Dietz, (41) Tony Burke, (15*) Kelvin Kohan- Did Not Start
Peoples Natural Gas Feature: (42) Sye Lynch, (2) AJ Flick, (11) Carl Bowser, (23J) Jack Sodeman Jr., (46) Michael Bauer, (08) Dan Kuriger, (11J) David Kalb Jr., (12) Darin Gallagher, (40) George Hobaugh, (13) Brandon Matus, (33) Brent Matus, (55*) Matt Sherlock, (4K) Bill Kiley, (13B) Steve Bright, (29M) Logan McCandless- Did Not Start, (250) Jared McFarland- Did Not Start
Lernerville TV 35 – Diehl Automotive Feature: (165) Rex King Jr., (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker, (45) Steve Feder, (83) Brian Swartzlander, (61) Dave Murdick, (29) Garrett Krummert, (18) Colton Walters, (65) Rex King Sr., (4J) John Mollick, (32R) Chris Rudolph, (10) Chelsie Kriegisch, (35) Steve Slater, (22) Kevin Long, (56M) Jacob McElravy, (88) Shawn Fleeger, (64) Rodney Beltz- Did Not Start
Millerstown Pic-A-Part Feature ($3,500 to-win): (25G) Andrew Gordon, (22) Chase Lambert, (114) Daryl Charlier, (C33) Corey McPherson, (55) Chris Schneider, (63) Chris McGuire, (948) Joey Zambotti, (11B) Tim Bish, (45) Todd Weldon, (J19) Jason Fosnaught, (00X) Curt Bish Jr., (27) Jake Dietz, (10) Nick Kocuba, (81) Mike Miller, (0) Larry Kugel, (25) Brett McDonald, (84S) Josh Seippel, (26) Mike Bordt, (983) Zack Gustafson, (44) Jim Challingsworth, (4) Brett Hutira, (7W) Bobby Whitling, (29) Curtis J. Bish, (13J) Jordan Peters
SARVER, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – Sye Lynch survived contact with Tim Shaffer and held on to win Friday night’s $4,000 to-win Peoples Natural Gas Sprints Main Feature as part of Lernerville Speedway’s Sprint Spectacular.
Shaffer, who started 12th, passed Lynch for the lead on lap 28 but Lynch followed Shaffer down the backstretch and made a move to the inside to the lead back when contact sent Shaffer spinning and the caution flag flying. Shaffer was sent to the rear as the caution car.
Lynch grabbed the lead on the restart and crossed the finish line followed by Carl Bowser in second and Jack Sodeman Jr. in third.
“I look up to him as a driver,” said Lynch. “We raced hard, misjudgment there in (turn) three and I own up to it. All race I drove hard, in a perfect world I would’ve loved to have won the race with no contact.”
Ruhlman Rules RUSH Sprints:
Chad Ruhlman grabbed the lead from the outside of the front row and never looked back taking the checkered flag in the 20-lap RUSH Sprint Car Series feature. The win was Ruhlman’s 31st RUSH Sprint win. Pole sitter John Mollick finished second followed by Rod George in third.
“I love everything about these cars (RUSH Sprints), they’re so much fun,” said Ruhlman. “This track tonight was right in my wheelhouse, I love the cushion right on the edge, it slicks up everywhere else. I just love this place.”
Dobrosky Takes Allegheny Sprint Tour 305’s:
Greg Dobrosky picked up his second Allegheny Sprint Tour win of 2021, holding off Steve Kenawell Jr. in the 305 feature. Kenawall Jr., came home second followed by Justin Clark in third.
“I think we could have run wherever we wanted to, I just tried to keep my momentum up around the top, that’s what you need to do when it’s this slick here,” explained Dobrosky.
Peoples Natural Gas Feature ($4,000 to-win): (42) Sye Lynch, (11) Carl Bowser, (23J) Jack Sodeman Jr., (6) Bob Felmlee, (22) Brandon Spithaler, (35) Jared Zimbardi, (40) George Hobaugh, (12) Darin Gallagher, (46) Michael Bauer, (08) Dan Kuriger, (C1) Clay Riney, (29M) Logan McCandless, (13) Brandon Matus, (33) Brent Matus, (28) Tim Shaffer, (7K) Dan Shetler, (55*) Matt Sherlock, (11J) David Kalb Jr., (2) AJ Flick, (4K) Bill Kiley, (21) Bryan Salisbury, (23) Darren Pifer- Did Not Start
RUSH Sprint Car Feature: (68) Chad Ruhlman, (14) John Mollick, (41) Rod George, (24) Gale Ruth Jr., (18) Arnie Kent, (43JR) Blaze Myers, (12) Ryan Frayley, (57) Tyler Newhart, (9J) Zach Morrow, (25) Nolan Groves, (40) Brad Church, (29) Brandon Shughart, (1T) Ricky Tucker, (62) Brian Cressley, (20) Jeff Metsger
Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Car Feature: (88) Greg Dobrosky, (17K) Steve Kenawell Jr., (78) Justin Clark, (4J) Jake Gomola, (5) John Walp, (X7) Andy Cavanaugh, (16) Jim Morris, (21) Rob Felix, (56) Steve Cousins, (26) Ryan Lynn, (21C) Jarrett Cavalet, (20M) Vivian Jones, (25) Jarrett Rosencrance, (4G) Mike Hite, (34) D.J. Cassler, (80JR) Kyle Colwell, (12G) Tommy Jasen, (72) Mike Mathieson, (4B) Walt Tutak Jr., (82M) Roman Jones (DQ)
IMPERIAL, PA (Pittsburgh Racing Now) – A full slate of action is on tap Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway as the 410 Sprint Cars take center stage on dirt’s ‘Monster Half Mile’.
In addition to the Sprint Cars, Saturday night’s racing card will also feature the RUSH Sportsman Modified Series, the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series, the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series as well as the Hobby Stocks, 4-Cylinders and Young Guns.
Gates open at 5 p.m., with hot laps starting at 6 p.m., and the racing action beginning will at 7 p.m.
For more information fans can visit the tracks website, www.ppms.com.
Last weekend, Monongahela’s Todd Weldon took home the checkered flag in the Wee Willie White Memorial in an intense battle with Nick Kocuba.
Cole Petrelle picked up his first career win in the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series. Petrelle passed Colton Flinner on lap six and survived a couple of late restarts to take home the checkered flag.
Kayla McManus also was a first time winner, grabbing the victory in the Hobby Stocks feature.
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Logan Wagner Wins Tuscarora 50
Alex Ferree, Sye Lynch, Rex King Jr and Andrew Gordon claim wins at Lernerville
Championship battles heating up at Lernerville
Krummert, Miley, Brandon Matus, and Daughtery Win at Lernerville
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