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Flick Wins Battle and War at Tri-City Raceway Park; Dobrosky, Laskey, Dietz, and Maskal Also Victorious; Holiday Racing Plans Altered

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Tri-City Raceway Park

FRANKLIN, PA (August 28, 2022): A.J. Flick took the lead on lap twenty-nine of thirty in the first-ever challenge between the FAST 410 Sprint Series and the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars. That pass gave Flick enough breathing room to clinch the track championship over Jack Sodeman, Jr. despite the fact that Flick passed up on one race at Tri-City Raceway Park to compete in Central Pennsylvania.

Also taking wins were Greg Dobrosky (Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Cars), Rod Laskey and Tyler Dietz (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks), and Levi Maskal (4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks).

Tri-City Raceway Park announced its divisional champions at the conclusion of each class of racing. Taking top honors in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars was Flick by six over Sodeman. Kevin Hoffman topped the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds, which had the night off due to the appearance of the Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Car Series. Teenager Tyler Wyant prevailed in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks by fourteen points over Pat Fielding. The crown in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks went to Levi Maskal, who was red hot at the start of the season. Congratulations to all competitors for a job well done and thanks to all for their support through a difficult 2022 racing season.

Tri-City Raceway Park will be in operation over the Labor Day weekend. However, the racing program has been modified. It will be a Sunday Thunder event for the track’s four regular classes. These races will not count toward the track championships. There will be no racing held on Friday or Saturday.

Sean Rayhall had the pole for the 410 Sprint Car thirty lapper run under the twin banners of the FAST 410 Series (formerly the Fremont Attica Sprint Tour) and the Shawgo Real Estate LLC Sprint Cars. Next to him was Brandon Matus, the defending Tri-City Raceway Park champion. Row two consisted of Jeremy Weaver and A.J. Flick. Brandon Spithaler came off row three, along with Nate Dussel, the FAST Series points leader. Row four paired Ricky Peterson and Carl Bowser. The fifth row had Logan McCandless and David Kalb. Bob Felmlee and Lee Jacobs departed from row six.

Brandon Matus and Flick entered turn one with the advantage, but a tangle involving Brent Matus and Nate Dussel slowed the pace and necessitated a restart. Brent Matus was able to push back off, but Dussel broke a front axle and was done for the evening.

On the second try, Brandon Matus surged ahead at the drop of the green, but Rayhall drove through the middle of the track to come off turn two with a slight lead. Taking third was Flick, ahead of Spithaler, Weaver, Bowser, Peterson, Kalb, McCandless, and Felmlee.

Flick swept past Matus on lap two but Rayhall was off and running. Rayhall maintained a comfortable lead throughout most of the race as Flick went into conservation mode. “I expected the top to get very far up and the bottom to come in, but I was too tight to run down there. In the middle of the race, I saved my tires and started to play with the wing. I would put it down when I came up on a lapped car and then I would slide it back again.”

Flick added that Tri-City was one of the places that he struggled early in his career, but now he is very comfortable here. “We’ll do all that we can to support this place.” Flick thanked track owner Merle Black and the race fans for providing a great venue for Sunday racing, He anticipates racing next Sunday if all goes well in the big holiday events being staged elsewhere in the region.

In the second half of the race, Flick began to cut into Rayhall’s lead. The critical moment came late in the contest when Rayhall slid over the cushion in turns three and four, allowing Flick to scoot by to be scored as the leader on lap twenty-nine.

Rayhall gathered things up to keep second, ahead of Brandon Spithaler. Jeremy Weaver registered a solid fourth. Brandon Matus crossed in fifth. The next six finishers were Ricky Peterson, Logan McCandless, Carl Bowser, Lee Jacobs, and Bob Felmlee. Jack Sodeman, Jr. was eleventh, which was not good enough to preserve his points lead.

Heat wins in the FAST 410 Sprint Series and Shawgo Real Estate 410 Sprint Cars went to Brandon Spithaler, Jeremy Weaver, and Brandon Matus. There was no B Main. A.J. Flick was the fastest qualifier, lapping the big half mile oval in 15.277 seconds.

In the Allegheny Sprint Tour contest for the 305 Sprint Cars, Greg Dobrosky started on the pole, with Nolan Groves as his wing man. Andy Priest and Jacob Gomola were in row two. The third row matched Shane Shook and Roman Jones. Vivian Jones started inside row four, with Jim Morris beside her. Row five had Jarrett Rosencrance and Mike Mathieson paired up. The final row belonged to John Jerich and Andy Cavanaugh.

Dobrosky got out front early and ran away from the rest of the field to score the win. Nolan Groves drove a steady race for the second spot. Veteran Andy Priest was third, ahead of Jimmy Morris, and Roman Jones. Vivian Jones was sixth, with Jacob Gomola, Jarrett Rosencrance, Shane Shook, and Andy Cavanaugh completing the top ten.

The heat races for the 305 Sprint Cars of the Allegheny Sprint Tour went to Andy Priest and Vivian Jones. There was no B Main.

Three Rivers Karting

The first race of the night was the make-up feature for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. This race was carried over from a rain-shortened program on August 7. Bobby Whitling grabbed the early lead over Tyler Dietz, Joey Zambotti, Pat Fielding, and Josh Seippel. Five laps into the fray, Dietz got inside of Whitling coming through turns three and four. Dietz powered off the corner to take the lead, which he never surrendered in the remaining ten laps. Just past the halfway mark, Tyler Wyant mounted a charge to try to overtake Pat Fielding for third. However, the veteran, Fielding, held his line and prevailed over his younger foe.

At the checkers, it was Dietz scoring his second victory of the season at Tri-City Raceway Park. Whitling, Fielding, Wyant, and Charlie McMillen were in the top five. Then came Aden Boozel, Aaron Smith, Matt Bernard, Joey Zambotti, Josh Seippel, and Doug Iorio, II. Hunter Exley did not start the race.

In the regular feature for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, Aden Boozel had the pole with Bobby Whitling on the outside. Doug Iorio, II and Rod Laskey started from row two. Tyler Wyant and Russ Coyne were in row three. Pat Fielding and Charlie McMillen made up the fourth row. Matt Bernard and Ron Boardman started from row five. The sixth row had Brayden Seippel at the wheel of his father’s racer.

Laskey grabbed the early lead and held off a persistent Whitling over the course of the fifteen laps. Tyler Wyant challenged for second briefly, but settled into third. He held off Pat Fielding in the final laps to preserve his points championship. Doug Iorio, II was fifth. Sixth through tenth went to Aden Boozel, Matt Bernard, Ron Boardman, Charlie McMillen, and Brayden Seippel.

The pair of heat races for the regularly scheduled race went to Rod Laskey and Bobby Whitling.

In the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks, Levi Maskal led wire to wire to put an exclamation mark on his outstanding season at Tri-City Raceway Park Maskal started the season hotter than a firecracker. In the middle of the season, he had a bit of a lull, but he has now two out of three.

Maskal moved to the pole position when Bodey McClintock elected to start at the tail due to a steering problem. That moved Joe Campbell to the front row.

D.J. Macrae and Thomas Warren were in the second row. The third row was Adam Aley and Dalton Speer. Row four matched Matt Urey with Paul Marsh, Jr. The fifth had Chad Greeley and Mike Barr, while Kevin Wice and Tyler Ellenberger made up row six.

Maskal the Rascal led the entire distance to triumph over Matt Urey, who also placed second in the championship standings. D.J. Macrae was third. Fourth went to Thomas Warren, and fifth to Adam Aley. Dalton Speer, Chad Greeley, Dillon Thorne, Tyler Ellenberger, and Kevin Wice, Jr. completed the top ten.
Heat races for the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks went to Urey and Maskal. There was no B Main.

As noted, Tri-City Raceway Park has made a schedule change for the Labor Day weekend. The three-day extravaganza will be cut back to a Sunday-only racing program. All four of the track’s normal divisions will race; however, no points will be awarded for the program. Point champions were announced in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars, the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks at the conclusion of the racing on August 28. The grounds will be open for camping for the entire weekend. There will be a bonfire on Saturday evening and all in attendance must bring their own refreshments of choice.

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.

FAST 410 Sprint Series/Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars: A.J. Flick, Sean Rayhall, Brandon Spithaler, Jeremy Weaver, Brandon Matus, Ricky Peterson, Logan McCandless, Carl Bowser, Lee Jacobs, and Bob Felmlee, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Gale Ruth, Jr., Brent Matus, Leyton Wagner, David Kalb, Bob Lime, Nate Dussel, Andy McKisson (DNS).

Allegheny Sprint Tour 305 Sprint Cars: Greg Dobrosky, Nolan Groves, Andy Priest, Jimmy Morris, Roman Jones, Vivian Jones, Jacob Gomola, Jarrett Rosencrance, Shane Shook, Andy Cavanaugh, Mike Mathieson (DNS), John Jerich (DNS).

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks (make-up from August 7): Tyler Dietz, Bobby Whitling, Pat Fielding, Tyler Wyant, Charlie McMillen, Aden Boozel, Aaron Smith, Matt Bernard, Joey Zambotti, Josh Seippel, Doug Iorio, II, Hunter Exley (DNS).

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Socks (regularly scheduled race): Rod Laskey, Bobby Whitling, Tyler Wyant, Pat Fielding, Doug Iorio, II, Aden Boozel, Matt Bernard, Ron Boardman, Charlie McMillen, Brayden Seippel, Russ Coyne, Joey Zambotti (DNS), Tyler Dietz (DNS), Aaron Smith (DNS).

4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks: Levi Maskal, Matt Urey, D.J. Macrae, Thomas Warren, Adam Aley, Dalton Speer, Chad Greeley, Dillon Thorne, Tyler Ellenberger, Kevin Wice, Jr., Paul Marsh, Jr., Trevn Schaffer, Mike Barr, Benjamin Aley, Randy Miller, Joe Campbell, Bodey McClintock (DNS).

Dirt Racing

Macri Makes Comeback at Lincoln

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Photo by Paul Arch

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (March 3, 2024): Anthony Macri lost the lead in traffic before a red flag stopped the action, but he regained the top spot soon after the feature event restarted at Lincoln Speedway. The victory was his ninth career score in the Pigeon Hills and, importantly, it marked the first since being reunited with his family-owned race team.

“Anytime you can get a win, that’s great, (but) this was special because we haven’t won since last July,” Macri said. The driver from nearby Dillsburg explained that he was concerned that his mistakes could have cost him the victory. “I almost gave it away, but I got it back on the restart. I was too conservative in lapped traffic.” with a clean track ahead of him and the leader, Kyle Moody, Macri drove harder following the mid-race restart. “I had a good run on him,” he said of his charge to the front in turn three. He added that he ran harder in lapped traffic after that.

Moody, who fought off others in the second half of the race to maintain second, likewise commented that he was more aggressive after the restart. “I tried to be aggressive and slid myself in one.” While that strategy worked at the east end of the track, it did not hold up, for Macri was able to slide by him in turn three. “I couldn’t get back by him.”

Danny Dietrich, who booked another podium finish, noted that he “hated to see the red, we had a good car in traffic.” After the restart, he was caught up in an intense battle with Matt Campbell and Gerard McIntyre for third. By the time that Dietrich salted the position away, he did not have enough time to mount an attack on Moody for second.

The luck of the draw put Macri on the pole with Moody on his flank. Campbell and McIntyre occupied row two, with Steve Owings and Kody Hartlaub in row three. Danny Dietrich was inside row four, with Justin Whittal as his partner. Austin Bishop made his season debut in row five, accompanied by Brandon Rahmer. Chad Trout and Emerson Axsom were in row six. Freddie Rahmer, Jr. missed the re-draw and he held position thirteen for the initial start. Opening day winner, Troy Wagaman, Jr., was less fortunate. He was the last car to transfer from the B Main and he was the caboose for this train.

Macri blasted to the lead on the opening lap. Moody held second briefly, but McIntyre took it away by the time that lap one was completed. Campbell, Owings, Hartlaub, Danny Dietrich, Whittal, Bishop, and Trout made up the top ten in the early going.

Just three laps into the fray, Cameron Smith and Tyler Ross tangled in between turns three and four. Smith was done, but Ross was able to push off again.

Macri resumed the lead, while McIntyre kept Moody at bay. Campbell continued in fourth, but Danny Dietrich broke into the top five.

Three Rivers Karting

As the race approached the midpoint, Macri was into traffic, and Moody was able to close in. Moody was pressing for the lead, which he was able to wrestle away from Macri soon after the crossed flags were shown to the field. Macri came storming back but he could not make the pass in turn three.

Hartlaub’s strong run came to an end soon thereafter, as he took a tumble between turns three and four. He was not hurt in the process, but the crash did change the complexion of the race.

On the restart, with sixteen laps on the board, Moody held the lead, but Macri had a full head of steam coming to turn three, and he made the slide job stick. McIntyre was challenging Moody as Macri began to separate himself from that contest for second.

The last fourteen laps were run under the green. Moody settled into second and the action was for third. McIntyre, Campbell, and Danny Dietrich were the contestants. Dietrich was superior and claimed that spot as his own. “That was a fun race with Matt and Gerard,” Dietrich remarked. “We were throwing haymakers and there was no contact.”

Following Macri, Moody, and Danny Dietrich were Devon Borden and McIntyre. Campbell, Chase Dietz, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., Aaron Bollinger, and Brandon Rahmer completed the top ten.

Thirty-one cars signed in for the event. Taking the four heat wins were Owings, Macri, Brandon Rahmer, and Bishop. Billy Dietrich topped the B Main.

The support for this program was provided by 500 cc and 300 cc Micro Midgets. Ryan Roost, Sam Miller, Jeremy Sperlien, Justin Care, and Jonathan Schill were the top five in the 500s. Chris Ott, Dustin Harman, Alyssa Hackart, Barry Thomas, and Timothy Colliflower were the top five in the 300s.

Next Saturday, Lincoln Speedway will present another 410 Sprint program with the Central PA Legends backing up the headliners. This will be the final 3 p.m. start. March 16 will see the start time pushed back to 6 p.m. for the first Sprint Car doubleheader. The 410s will be joined by the 358s. Legends will be back on March 23 and the 358s will return on Easter Eve.

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Dirt Racing

Wagaman Works Magic in Lincoln Icebreaker

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Lincoln Speedway

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (February 25, 2024): Troy Wagaman, Jr. scored the biggest win of his career on opening day at the fabulous Lincoln Speedway. His second career win in the Pigeon Hills was worth $6,000, his biggest payday to date.

Wagaman, who took the seat in Michael Heffner’s potent machine midway through the 2023 season, commented, “we had some big ones get away from us last year, we hope we can hang onto some more of them this season.” Well, if the Icebreaker 30 is an indication of what may come, he just may do that.

Wagaman lamented that it was hard for him to develop any kind of rhythm, particularly in the first half of the race, which was disrupted by several cautions and two red flags. “I just had to keep pace. I was moving around,” trying to dirty up the air for the big dogs that were chasing him. Then, his strategy changed. “I was trying to make it as wide as I could, and not leave it open for them to get a nose under me and push me out of the way.”

Danny Dietrich, who became his challenger in the second half of the contest, commended Wagaman for his performance. “I wish we could have gotten to Troy a little sooner. He did a great job clearing traffic atthe right time.” Dietrich explained that his car wasn’t very good at the beginning of the race, and he was hovering in fourth, “it wasn’t very grippy.” He added, “thank God for that red, we made some wholesale changes.” His car was substantially better after those adjustments during the fuel stop, and he did close to the rear bumper of Wagaman, but Wagaman was able to negotiate the lapped traffic quite well.

Freddie Rahmer, Jr., charged from thirteenth to second in the first half of the race, but he could not get close to Wagaman. But, his downfall came after the fuel stop. “It wasn’t meant to be, we were a little off after the red.” That enabled Dietrich to move into the role of the first chaser.

Dominic Melair and Wagaman paced the field for the start of the northeast’s first 410 Sprint event. Cameron Smith had his new ride, the Lefervre 75, in the third spot, next to Double D. Lucas Wolfe was flanked by Indiana racer Emerson Axsom in row three. Then came Slick Rick Lafferty and Jordan Givler. Chase Dietz and T.J. Stutts made up row five. Aaron Bollinger and Chad Trout followed in row six.

It took two tries to get the feature race started. The first was lost when several cars tangled in turn four. Although a few cars suffered minor damage, Axsom was eliminated for the remainder of the contest. On the second attempt, Wagaman assumed control, with Smith, Melair, Dietrich, Dietz, Wolfe, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., Stutts, Trout, and Matt Campbell following. A few laps into the race, Melair fell back due to motor problems. Lafferty moved forward, cracking the top five despite leaving a trail of moisture leading into turn one.

Three Rivers Karting

On lap six, a synchronized spin in turn two by Bollinger and Brandon Rahmer slowed the action, followed by another caution on lap eight for Lafferty’s worsening wet streak, and yet another on lap thirteen for a flat on Justin Whittal’s car. That incident was converted into an open red for fuel.

The race resumed two laps shy of the halfway mark, with Wagaman ahead of Rahmer, Jr., Smith, Dietrich, Lafferty, Norris, Trout, Bollinger, Dietz, and Wolfe. Soon thereafter, Dietrich was up to second. Rahmer Jr. remained in third, followed by Smith and Trout.

The final seventeen laps were run without interruption. About midway through that sprint to the finish, Dietrich closed in on Wagaman, but Wagaman maintained his composure under heavy pressure that lasted for a few laps.

Wagaman was able to keep Dietrich at bay by running consistent laps in the middle lane and the low groove. Dietrich tried the top, but there was no cushion to lean on. Rahmer Jr. continued in third, close enough to pounce if Dietrich were to slide out a bit too far. Bollinger and Dietz completed the top five.

Smith, Trout, Lafferty, Kyle Moody, and Wolfe were the next five to cross. The 2023 track champion in the 358 Sprint division, Kody Hartlaub, was thirteenth, earning the hard charger bonus for being plus twelve.

Three heats were run for the twenty-five cars. Wins went to Lafferty, Givler, and Wagaman. There was no B Main, as all cars were allowed to start the feature event.

Next Saturday, Lincoln Speedway will present another 410 Sprint race commencing at 3 p.m. The PA Micro Midgets will provide support. The final afternoon show will be held at 3 p.m. on March 9 for the 410 Sprints and Central PA Legends Cars. Night action will kick in on March 16, when the first 410 and 358 Sprint doubleheader will take place at 6 p.m.

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Dirt Racing

Tri-City Raceway Park to Be Sold, New Owners to Continue Sunday Operation

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FRANKLIN, PA (February 25, 2024): After releasing the 2024 tentative schedule, Merle Black, the current owner of Tri-City Raceway Park, has reached an agreement in principle to sell the Venango County, PA oval to Josh and Kyrsten Shiffer. Final negotiations are in progress, and the written agreement has yet to be signed, but both sides are moving forward earnestly to complete the transaction before the first green flag waives in mid-April.

The Shiffers are entrepreneurs who live in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Their businesses include Flea Flickers LLC, a liquidation company, and Shiffer Powersports, engaged in ATV sales. They have a strong interest in ATV Motocross racing and several members of the family compete, including their son, Jayden, an aspiring professional rider.

Three Rivers Karting

The Shiffers are excited about the potential for Tri-City Raceway Park. They hope to bring back premiere sanctioned events and to introduce some new programs in the years ahead.

They plan to follow the tentative schedule recently released by Black. That calls for an April 13 Enduro, followed by two weekly practice sessions. The FAST Sprints will compete in the opener on Sunday, May 5. Other Sprint Car specials are on the docket, including the acclaimed Western PA Speedweek finale. The BRP Modified Tour will also make two appearances. The backbone of the schedule will consist of four divisions: 410 Sprint Cars, 358 Modifieds, Pro Stocks, and Mini Stocks. The season will come to a close over the Labor Day weekend. Additional details on the schedule will be released in the coming weeks.

The Shiffers recently met several key members of the current staff, and they look to fill some vacancies that currently exist. Announcements regarding employment opportunities may be forthcoming.

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