Dirt Racing
Jeremiah Shingledecker and Brandon Matus WIn Big at Tri-City Raceway Park; Whitling, Speer, and Myers also Score

FRANKLIN, PA (June 27, 2021): Jeremiah Shingledecker became the first three-time winner in the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modified division at Tri-City Raceway Park. Breaking through with his first victory in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars was Brandon, “the Wheelman,” Matus.
Also scoring wins were Bobby Whitling (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks), Dalton Speer (4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks), and David Myers (Vintage Modifieds).
Shingledecker was worried when he pulled the pills for the starting lineup for the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds. The track uses a modified re-draw system based on heat finishes. “I put the two fastest cars on the front row,” he said. And, to make matters worse, he lined up in eighth as the last feature winner in the class. But, his concerns went for naught.
J.R. McGinley started from the pole position in his first appearance of the season at Tri-City Raceway Park. On his flank was Jimmy Holden. Kyle Fink and D.J. Schrader were in row two, with Travis Shingledecker and Kevin Hoffman in the third stanza. Steve Barr was lined up inside Shingledecker, who also happens to be the points leader in the division. Then came Tom Holden and Curt Bish, Jr. Lonny Riggs and Max Smoker were in the sixth row.
McGinley took the early lead, but Jimmy Holden was nipping on his heels. Fink slid into third, with Schrader, Travis Shingledecker, and Steve Barr fighting for position. Soon, they were joined by Jeremiah Shingledecker.
McGinley held control through the first five laps. After a caution for Nathan McDowell, Holden stayed close enough on the restart to nose ahead in turns one and two. However, a caution for Travis Shingledecker’s bout with the water barrels lining the wall in turns one and two negated the pass for the lead.
On the ensuing restart, McGinley got into turn one a bit too hot. He slid up out of the groove, opening the door for Holden. Holden ducked under him to take the lead.
A series of restarts over the next couple of laps enabled Jeremiah Shingledecker to climb through the ranks. As he was doing so, McGinley started to slide back through the field.
Jeremiah Shingledecker stalked Jimmy Holden for eight laps during a longer green flag session. Coming through turn four with fifteen laps completed, Shingledecker got his nose under Holden, who continued to use the high side through the race. Shingledecker powered off the corner with the lead. Holden fought back, but he was unable to overtake Shingledecker.
Over the final laps in the race, Shingledecker stretched his advantage. Holden was second, followed by Fink, Riggs, and McGinley. Kevin Hoffman crossed in sixth, followed by Travis Shingledecker, the winner’s brother, D.J. Schrader, Curt Bish, and Ryan Riffe.
In the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races for the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds, the victories went to Jeremiah Shingledecker and Jimmy Holden. There was no B Main.
Brandon Matus said after the feature that he felt badly about an hour before the green flag dropped for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars. He had experimented in his heat race and the new set-up did not work. “We went back to what I know will make the car go straight,” he said. It went straight as an arrow, and it was fast.
Leyton Wagner and Brandon Matus were third generation drivers leading the way in the Sprint Car feature event. They were followed by Brandon Spithaler. Chase Metheny was slated to start in fourth, but he opted for the tail, so that moved Bob Felmlee into row two. Darin Gallageher and Jack Sodeman, Jr. became the new third row. Sodeman rolled out an old favorite car for Sunday night action after crashing the night before at another area speedway. Then came Brent Matus and Ken Rossey. Bob McMillin and Logan McCandless made up row five. Bryan Salisbury made his first Tri-City start of the season from row six, with Francis Sesco returning to action after several years lay-off.
Brandon Matus wasted no time sailing into the lead. Wagner and Felmlee followed. Things were shaping up for a three-way battle for the lead when a red flag was thrown due to the violent crash of Ken Rossey on the third trip around the big half mile. Rossey was not hurt.
When the race resumed, Matus had the point, followed by Felmlee, Wagner, Spithaler, Gallagher, Sodeman, and Brent Matus.
Brandon Matus and Felmlee flew out front by themselves for almost the entire race. Matus was able to stretch his lead even after he encountered the slower cars. Quite a distance behind them was Wagner, who went on to log his best finish ever at Tri-City Raceway Park. Taking fourth was Gallagher. Spithaler was fifth.
Sodeman rode old reliable to the sixth spot. McCandless, Brent Matus, Salisbury and Davey Jones completed the top ten
Taking the checkers in the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heats for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars were Bob Felmlee and Brandon Spithaler. There was no B Main.
Josh Seippel and Rod Laskey made up the front row for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock A Main. Tyler Wyant and Jason Johns were in the second row, with Curtis J. Bish and Bobby Whitling in the third row, Darr Diegelman and Pat Fielding were in row four with Doug Iorio, II and points leader WIlliam Hurrelbrink behind them.
The feature was like a flashback to a golden age of Pro Stock racing at Tri-City Raceway Park. Three well-known racers positioned themselves at the front of the pack, and they had a private contest to see who would earn the bragging rights.
For most of the race, it appeared as though Laskey would take the checkers. However, Whitling was able to cool down his tires when there was a caution with twelve of the fifteen laps completed. That was just enough to allow him to surge ahead of Laskey when the green light flashed on for the final time. Johns stayed close to the leaders, but he was never able to get his nose into the middle of the action. Following those three veterans across the line was Josh Seippel, who was a relative newcomer when the others ruled the roost. Tyler Wyant, who was not even born yet when Whitling, Laskey, and Johns were in their prime, crossed in the fifth spot.
Taking sixth was Curtis J. Bish, followed by Fielding, Hurrelbrink, Iorio, and Diegelman.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks had two Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races. The winners were Rod Laskey and Bobby Whitling, familiar names to Pro Stock fans at Tri-City. There was no B Main.
Evan Sobieski and Kevin Watson paced the field for the start of the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stock feature. Pat Hanlonand D.J. Macrae were in row two, with Levi Maskal and Brody McClintock were in row three.
Dalton Speer started in eighth but he raced his way to the front. He got the win, with Austin Fedder finishing second. He was subbing for Chad Greeley. Justin Bailey was third, with Sobieski in fourth. Fifth went to Hemi Kinneston. Positions six through ten went to Patrick Lane, Kevin Watson, Michael Barr, Joanne WIlson, and Kevin Wice.
The 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks presented a pair of Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races as well. The successful drivers in that division were D.J. Macrae and Dalton Speer. There was no B Main. Brayden Seippel flipped his Mini Stock during the heat race in a three-car incident in turn one. He was not injured in the tumble.
An added class for the evening was the Vintage Modifieds. Taking the win was David Myers, followed by his father, ageless Les Myers. Tim Natalino, Dale Zimmer, and Jeff Manners rounded out the top five. Fred Hildenbrand, Paul St. John, Dave Phillips, Don Swingle, and Tom Warburton followed. The heat race wins belonged to David Myers and Tim Natalino. The preliminaries were presented by the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group.
Next week, Tri-City Raceway Park will celebrate the July 4 holiday with another Sunday Thunder race program presented by Big Dog RC. Added to the card will be a fabulous fireworks display. Remember that there will be no racing at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday, July 11. Racing will resume on July 18 with a Sprint Spectacular, faturing the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars, the Gary Glass Automotive and Washington House RUSH Sprints, the Junior Sprints, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks.
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.
Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds: Jeremiah Shingledecker, Jimmy Holden, Kyle Fink, Lonny Riggs, J.R. McGinley, Kevin Hoffman, Travis Shingledecker, D.J. Schrader, Curt Bish, Jr., Ryan Riffe, Tom Holden, Dillon Barr, Kevin Green, Sid Unverzagt, Jr., Max Smoker, Nathan McDowell, Steve Barr, Tyler Clark.
Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprints: Brandon Matus, Bob Felmlee, Leyton Wagner, Darin Gallagher, Brandon Spithaler, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Logan McCandless, Brent Matius, Bryan Salisbury, Davey Jones, Kyle Colwell, Randy Wyant, Bob McMillin, Steven Bright, Francis Sesco, Ken Rossye, Chase Metheny.
Hovis Truck & Auto Supply Pro Stocks: Bobby Whitling, Rod Laskey, Jason Johns, Josh Seippel, Tyler Wyant, Curtis J. Bish, Patrick Fielding, William Hurrelbrink, Doug Iorio, II, Darr Diegelman, Matt Bernard, Charlie McMillen, Josh Blum.
4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks: Dalton Speer, Austin Fedder, Justin Bailey, Evan Sobieski, Hemi Kinneston, Patrick Lane, Kevin Watson, Michael Barr, Joanne Wilson, Kevin Wice, Brody McClintock, D.J. Macrae, Levi Maskal, Diezel Marvin, Pat Hanlon, Matt Dougherty, Jeremy Winslow, Nick Steiger, Brayden Seippel, Jamie Tasker, Howard Garlick.
Vintage Modifieds: David Myers, Les Myers, Tim Natalino, Dale Zimmer, Jeff Manners, Fred Hildenbrand, Paul St. John, David Phillips, Don Swingle, Tom Warburton.
Dirt Racing
Macri Wins Weikert Memorial Preliminary

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.
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
Dirt Racing
Dewease Dials in Win

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

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.
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.