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Dirt Racing

Farnham and Vigneri Haul Tri-City Loot Across the Border; Mollick, Scott, Seippel, and Morrison Also Score

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FRANKLIN, PA (August 27, 2023): Two New York pilots won their first career victories at Tri-City Raceway Park, and in doing so, they carried the biggest checks across the border. Taking the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Car feature was Matt Farnham and Phil Vigneri had the honors in the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds.

Also scoring a win was Jammin’ John Mollick in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Sprint Cars presented by Billy’s Garage. Mollick was also the hard charger in picking up his first victory at Tri-City Raceway Park.

David Scott captured the A & MP electric, Inc. UMP Modified Main, Josh Seippel got his third consecutive win in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and Dillon Morrison in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks.

Matt Farnham and A.J. Flick brought the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprints for the green flag in their twenty-five lapper. Andy Priest and Bob Felmlee started in row two. The third row consisted of Steven Bright and Bodey McClintock. Andy Cavanaugh and Nathan McDowell started in row four. Jack Sodeman, Jr., last week’s winner, started scratch because he was unable to start the heat race.

Farnham took the lead entering turn one and he never looked back. “The car was really good, we made a bunch of changes after the heat race,” he said. “I know that A.J. (Flick) was going to be good and that Bob (Felmlee) was also going to be good. I knew that I just had to concentrate and hit my marks.”

Flick ran second in the early going. Felmlee dipped to the inside in turns one and two and he powered by Flick. Felmlee gave chase, but he was unable to get close enough to Farnham to challenge for the lead.

A red for Nathan McDowell did close up the ranks five laps into the feature. However, Farnham got away cleanly on the restart.

Farnham led the remaining twenty laps without much ado. Felmlee raced in second, several car lengths ahead of his rival for the point championship, Flick. Flick was third. Then came Andy Priest and Bodey McClintock. Andy Cavanaugh and Steven Bright were sixth and seventh. McDowell was scored in eighth.

In the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars, there was only one heat. The win went to Bob Felmlee. There was no B Main.

Chad Reitz and Steve Slater had the front row for the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds. Phil Vigneri and Nick Joy were in the second row. Point leader Ayden Cipriano lined up next to Hayden Holden. Tom Holden and Lenny Leibold, III were in row four.

Chad Reitz wrestled the lead away from Steve Slater on the opening lap. However, on lap two, Phil Vigneri got inside of Slater to take tghe position away, and Slater spun, ending his night. The restart put Vigneri on the front row, and he soon assumed command.

Reitz continued in second, with Joy running in third. Joy had some difficulties on laps thirteen and fourteen, causing yellows on each of those laps. That moved Tom Holden into third for the restart, followed by Cipriano and Leibold.

Although Vigneri led the final six laps, he had to be getting nervous because his car developed a miss about three laps from the finish. He held on, though, to claim the win.

“I didn’t know if I could make it to the end,” he said. “But, I was going to make sure that it did.”

Reitz got second with his Ford powered 358 Modified. Cipriano, Joy, and Tom Holden took the top five spots. Then came Leibold, Hayden Holden, and Slater.

The Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds also had one heat race. The victory went to Phil Vigneri. There was no B Main.

Zack Wilson and Blaze Myers paced the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Weekly Sprint Car feature. Chad Ruhlman and A.J. McQuarrie were in row two. The third row matched Gale Ruth, Jr. and John Mollick. Row four belonged to Arnie Kent and Brian Hartzell. The fifth row paired Rick Tucker, Jr. and Brian Cressley. In the sixth row, Billy Myers was inside of Rick Regalski.

Blaze Myers grabbed the early lead, followed by Ruhlman, Mollick, Ruth, and Cressley. Ruhlman challenged early, but then dropped back into second as the race went on.

Three Rivers Karting

Mollick set a steady pace and he overhauled Ruhlman near the halfway mark. On lap thirteen, he tracked down and passed Myers. Myers fought back for a couple of laps, but Mollick was not to be denied.

After Mollick and Blaze Myers were Ruhlman, Wilson, and Ruth. Kent, Cressley, Hartzell, Zach Morrow, and Joe Buccola completed the top ten.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Weekly Series for RUSH Sprint Cars presented a pair of heats. The wins belonged to Chad Ruhlman and John Mollick. There was no B Main.

“Slow Ride” David Scott raced to the lead from his third starting spot and he controlled the pace through the A & MP electric, Inc. UMP Modifeds. Mike Potosky, the primary sponsor for the contest, ran second. Alan Atkinson, Bruce Dreistadt, and Gary Sullivan completed the field. The fifteen lapper went non-stop.

Scott has the distinction of winning in four different classes at Tri-City Raceway Park, including 410 Sprint Cars and Super Late Models. He also won a special race consisting of Super Late Models and Big Block Modifieds held in 2005.

The A & MP Electric, Inc. UMP Modifieds had a single qualifier. The winner of that event was Mike Potoski. There was no B Main.
Josh Seippel was a winner for the third race in a row in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. His was a race of attrition, as only three cars finished the main event.

There was a major crash around lap five that took out several contenders.

Following Seippel across the line was Chargin Charlie McMillen and Matt Bernard. Pat Fielding was credited with fourth and Rod Laskey, fifth. Jake Whitling, Andrew Hammond, Tyler Wyant, and Aaron Smith were the other competitors.

In the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, Josh Seippel captured the lone heat race. There was no B Main.

Dillon Morrison was the surprise winner in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. Points leader Matt Urey seemed to have the race well in hand, but a mechanical failure knocked him out of the race. For the restart, Joe Campbell and Tim Callahan had the front row, but Campbell missed a shift and Morrison slipped into the lead.

Campbell recovered to finish second, with Callahan third. Matt Daugherty was fourth and Chad Greeley was fifth. Urey, Thomas Warren, and Kevin Wice were the other competitors.

The 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks had one preliminary. The victory belonged to Matt Urey.

Tri-City Raceway Park will close out the 2023 racing season with the big holiday weekend bash. Points will be awarded for all of the track’s regular classes. Friday will be an open practice session. Saturday will have the BRP Modified Tour headline the card, with support provided by the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks, and the Old Skool Kool Vintage Tour. Sunday, the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars will top the card, with the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds, the A & MP electric, Inc. UMP Modifieds, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and the Old Skool Kool Vintage Tour. A bonfire and live music will complete the festivities. Remember that there will be free camping all weekend (no hookups provided).

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.

Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars: Matt Farnham, Bob Felmlee, A.J. Flick, Andy Priest, Bodey McClintock, Andy Cavanaugh, Steven Bright, Nathan McDowell, Jack Sodeman, Jr. (DNS).

Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds: Phil Vigneri, Chad Reitz, Ayden Cipriano, Tom Holden, Lenny Leibold, III, Hayden Holden, Steve Slater.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply RUSH Weekly Sprint Cars presented by Billy’s Garage: John Mollick, Blaze Myers, Chad Ruhlman, Zack Wilson, Gale Ruth, Jr., Arnie Kent, Brian Cressley, Brian Hartzell, Zach Morrow, Joe Buccola, Ricky Tucker, Rick Regalski, A.J. McQuarrie, Charlie Utsinger, Trent Marshall, Billy Myers, Brandon Shugart, Devon Deeter, Tyler Clark, C.J. McClintock.

A & MP Electric, Inc. UMP Modifieds: David Scott, Mike Potosky, Alan Atkinson, Bruce Dreistadt, Gary Sullivan.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Josh Seippel, Charlie McMillen, Matt Bernard, Pat Fielding, Rod Laskey, Jake Whitling, Andrew Hammond, Tyler Wyant, Aaron Smith.

4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks: Dillon Morrison, Joe Campbell, Tim Callahan, Matt Daugherty, Chad Greeley, Matt Urey, Thomas Warren, Kevin Wice, Jr.

Dirt Racing

Rahmer and Norris Get Second Wins of the Season at Lincoln Speedway in Fallen Firefighters Memorial

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Photo: Jeremy Zarfos

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 17, 2025): A brief delay for a passing shower did not dampen the spirits of those attending the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Freddie Rahmer, Jr. fought off a desperate late race charge from Chase Dietz to bank $6,000 for the 410 Sprints. Dylan Norris rebounded from a disappointing run in that race to capture the 358 Sprint finale, collecting in excess of $1,500 for his efforts. For each driver, it was their second victory of the season in the Pigeon Hills.

Rahmer had no idea that Dietz was closing until he saw the nose of car a split second before he lost the lead at the scoring loop. However, Rahmer rallied to regain the lead in turn three heading for the white flag. Dietz wasn’t quite finished, though, as he dove low off turn four heading for the checkers. Rahmer nipped him at the line to score the exciting win.

Rahmer, who rode the rim for most of the race, said that he was starting to struggle with the lapped cars. So, when the field aligned for teh final restart with six laps remaining, he decided to move to the bottom groove. He thought that there would be some clean rubber there. However, he added, “it slowed the pace down too much.” Then, after Dietz charged by on the insdide, Rahmer moved up to the middle of the track, picking up enough speed to drive by on the back stretch so he could close the door at the entry to turn three.
Dietz, who came so close to picking up his second win of the weekend, commented that he waited too long to move back to the top after passing Rahmer for the lead.

With the starting line-up determined by PA Speedweek procedures, Rahmer was fortunate to draw the pole position. He was flanked by Aaron Bollinger. Matt Campbell and Kyle Moody were in row two. The last driver in the re-draw, Tyler Ross, was inside of row three, with Ashton Torgerson as his runningmate. Cameron Smith and point leader Troy Wagaman, Jr. made up row four. The fifth belonged to Ryan Newton and Brandon Rahmer. Then came Chad Trout and Chris Frank.

Rahmer, Jr. claimed the early lead over Bollinger, Moody, Campbell, Torgerson, Ross, Wagaman, Smith, Brandon Rahmer, and Frank. While the first three ran in single file formation, Torgerson, Campbell, and Ross were battling for the fourth spot. Torgerson took iy moments before the first caution, on lap four, for a spin by Dallas Schott to turn four.

Campbell regained the position soon after the race resumed. When the leaders entered lapped traffic, Campbell began to gain on them.

He moved into third by lap eighteen, the midpoint of the race. After another brief stoppage, on lap twenty-one, Campbell moved into second. Although he got within a car length of Rahmer, Jr., Campbell could not make a move for the lead.

Campbell was not the only racer making progress in the event. Dietz, who started thirteenth, was running in the middle of the pack through the first half of the contest. In the second half, though, his car came to life, and he began to move ahead.

He was sitting eighth for the restart on lap twenty-one, and he cracked the top five by lap thirty, when the final caution was displayed.
When the green light came on again, Dietz was ready. He picked off Moody and Bollinger almost immediately. Soon thereafter, be shot past Campbell. The excitement built as he closed in on Rahmer. As the lead duo crossed the scoring loop for lap thirty-three, Dietz was a nose ahead of Rahmer, Jr. Dietz cleared him in turn one, but Rahmer fought back. Rahmer got a good run down the backstretch and he was able to shut the door on Dietz entering turn three,

Three Rivers Karting

Rahmer stayed in the middle groove and Dietz went back to the top. He built some moementum on the final lap and turned under Rahmer coming through the final corner. Dietz came up short in the stretch run by .045 seconds.

Campbell crossed in third, followed by Bollinger, and Moody. Torgerson, Wagaman, Ross, Smith, and Newton rounded out the top ten.

The three heat winners were Moody, Campbell, and Bollinger. They each picked up $100. Kody Hartlaub won the B Main. He also earned a $500 bonus as the evening’s fastest qualifier with a lap of 14.430 seconds. Dietz was the hard charger, good for an extra $400.

In the nightcap for the 358 Sprint Cars, Ayden Hare and Bo Gordon drew the front row. Jude Siegel and Seth Schnoke were in the second row, followed by Aistin Reed and Ashley Cappetta. However, a multi-car tangle in turn one on the opening lap substantially altered the remainder of the line-up.

When the race got going, Hare led Gordon, Cameron Merriman, Cappetta, Siegel, Dylan Norris, Andy Best, Frankie Herr, Jayden Wolf, and James Roselli. Merriman quickly moved into second and took over the point on lap four. Norris followed into third.

Cautions on laps seven, nine, and ten interrupted the flow of the race, but they did not dter the advancement of Norris into second position.

Norris charged past Merriman on lap eleven and was never headed.

Merriman held on for second and Hare for third, followed by Gordon and Cappetta. Siegel, Wolf, Best, Herr, and Steve Owings completed the top ten.

The four heat wins, with an undisclosed bonus for each winner, went to Tyler Ulrich, Herr, Austin Reed, and Norris. Chase Guttshall won the B Main. Owings received the $200 hard charger bonus.

Next week, Lincoln Speedway presents the Bob Leiby Memorial for 410 Sprint Cars joined by the Limited Stocks. On May 31, the Steve Smith Tribute Race will be held for the 410 and 358 Sprints. The revived All Star Circuit of Champions will roll into town on June 7. They will be accompanied by the 358 Sprints. That will be the Elijah Hawkins Memorial.

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Dirt Racing

Macri Defends the Home Turf Against the Outlaws

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Photo by Paul Arch

MECHANICSBURG, PA (May 10, 2025): Anthony Macri remains undefeated at the Williams Grove Speedway in 2025. He led wire to wire in the World of Outlaws main event to retain the Morgan Cup for the Pennsylvania Posse. And, he added another cool $20,000 to his bank account for his first ever Outlaws triumph at the Grove.

Macri described the experience of defeating the Outlaws at the Grove as “surreal.”

He was challenged briefly in turn one by the ten-time Outlaws champion, Donny Schatz. However, Macri rode the high groove to fend off the attack. “I just figured we had the groove up top, and I had the wing back.”

David Gravel came on in the late stages of the contest to take second spot, but he was no match for Macri on this night. Gravel was fortunate to avoid a multi-car crash in turn four that claimed Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart, who were contending for teh fourth spot at the time. Gravel explained “i said “aw shit” when I went into three and that lapped car spun. I went low and they all went high.” He added, “I felt good on the bottom, but (when I got to second) only the top was open and I wasn’t as good up there.”

Danny Dietrich was in contention for much of the race but he got shuffled back on the lap fourteen restart. He battled back though to give the Posse two of the three podium positions. “I wish it would have stayed green,” he said. “I was on the inside and that wasn’t the place to be. I got freight-trained and I had to fight back from there.”

Bill Balog was the unexpected pole sitter for the thirty lap affair. after his Dash win. Macri was to his right. Schuchart and Schatz made up the second row. Then came Gravel and Dietrich. Justin Whittall and Conner Morrel were the final cars from the Dash. Row five belonged to Buddy Kofoid and Carson Macedo. Row six consisted of Troy Wagaman, Jr. and Giovanni Scelzi.

Although Balog was first into turn one, he left the top groove open for Macri. Macri took advantage of the opportunity and he powered off turn two with the lead. Balog’s time among the leaders ended on the next trip around the historic half mile. He spun in turn two to bring out the first caution. Fortunately no other competitors were collected in the incident.

Macri had the inside line for the restart with Schatz on his flank and Dietrich on his rear nerf bar. Schuchart, Gravel and Macedo were next in the running order.

Three Rivers Karting

When the green flashed on again, Macri drove away from Schatz and Dietrich. There was good separation between them until Macri entered lapped traffic. Schatz closed in and he managed to pull up next to Macri in turn one on once occasion. However, he could not complete the pass. Macri continued to lead Schatz and Dietrich until the lap fourteen calamity which required a red flag. That melee was triggered by T.J. Stutts.

The departure of Macedo and Schuchart from the lead group moved Gravel into fourth, followed by Kofoid, Whittal, Scelzi, Freddie Rahmer, Jr., Morrel, and Shelcon Haudenschild for the final restart of the night.

While Macri and Schatz held the top two positions, Gravel moved into third, followed by Whittal. Dietrich slipped back to fifth and he was being challenged by Rahmer.

Gravel picked off Schatz in traffic on lap twenty-two, but he was nearly a full straight behind Macri when he took over second.

Macri maintained a safe margin the rest of the way. Schatz held third for several laps. However, Dietrich got rolling again and he chased him down in the final laps. Dietrich took third with twenty-eight complete.

Schatz held on for fourth, followed by Whittall, who logged his first top five against the touring pros. Kofoid, Rahmer, Haudenschild, Scelzi, and Wagaman completed the top ten.

The heats were evenly split between the two factions. Schuchart and Gravel took the checkers for the visitors, and Macri and Whittal prevailed for the home team. Daryn Pittman won the C Main and parlayed that into a transfer from the B Main. The B Main winner was Ashton Torgerson. The evening’s fastest time was logged by Schuchart, who topped Group A with a lap of 16.471 seconds. Macri was the best in Group B with a time of 16.515.

Williams Grove Speedway will be back in action on Friday, May 16 with the 410 and 358 Sprints. May 23 will offer the 410 and 305 Sprints. The month of May will conclude with another 410 and 358 Sprint program.

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Dirt Racing

Kofoid Takes Gettysburg Clash

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Photo by Paul Arch

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 7, 2025): Buddy Kofoid captured the Northeastern opener for the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway. Although Kofoid led all thirty-five laps, he did lose the lead briefly to Chase Dietz in turn four following a lap eight restart.

Kofoid admitted that he did not anticipate Dietz’s move. After Dietz slid him at the entry to that corner, Kofoid deftly turned back under Dietz coming off the turn to regain the lead before the duo reached the scoring loop. Hence, there was no official lead change recorded. “I just could cut the middle,” Kofoid noted of his unexpected path to recovery. “As the leader, you don’t know until you know.”

Kofoid explained that his car was very maneuverable. “I could move around pretty good. But, I was good enough to stay on top.”

Track conditions favored his lane choice. He explained that the top was not very difficult in turns three and four “because it is a little wider. (Turns) one and two got kinda slick and I needed to be careful. I cut it down through one and two.”

Dietz, who has one win so far this season, said that he was “sick and tired of finishing second.” He added that his car was a “little tight on the top.” Nevertheless, “right at the end, I got closer (to Kofoid) But I couldn’t do a slider.”

Anthony Macri came on strong at the end of the race as well. He made up considerable ground on David Gravel and made a last lap pass to reach third. “There was rubber off (turn) two and I got my wing back and I had a good run down the straight. He (Gravel) got hung up behind some lapped cars.”

Kofoid earned the pole position by dominating the Dash. Gravel, the top winner on the Outlaws circuit so far this season, was his running mate. Skyler Gee and Danny Dietrich made up teh second row, with Lucas Wolfe and Dietz in the third. The final two Dash participants, Macri and Giovanni Scelzi, occupied row four. Then came Kyle Moody and Hunter Schuerenberg. Carson Macedo and Bill Balog lined up in row six.

Kofoid snatched the lead, with Gravel and Gee in hot pursuit. Dietz held fourth. Dietrich, Scelzi, Wolfe, Macri, Schuerenberg, and Haudenschild followed. In the early rounds.

A caution was displayed on lap four for the two-car tangle of Ryan Smith and Parker Price Miller in turn four. Although only one more trip around the speedway was completed before the next interruption, it was a productive lap for Dietz, who edged Gravel for second at the scoring loop moments before the pace was slowed.

Three Rivers Karting

The second caution came when Wolfe went around in turn one collecting Freddie Rahmer, Jr. and Cole Macedo. Conner Morrell was also involved.

On the restart, Gee and Gravel swapped positions a couple of times. Dietrich, who was watching that action just ahead of him, but he faded out of the top ten before stopping at the entry to turn three with a flat right rear tire. Dietrich got new rubber and returned at the rear of the field.

The remaining twenty-seven laps spun off with no other incidents. Dietz brought the Lincoln faithful to their feet with his slider in turn four, but Kofoid reclaimed the lead, disappointing the crowd.

Kofoid built his lead again as the race progressed. Dietz, Gravel, Gee, and Macri made up the top five for much of that long run.
Just after the halfway mark, Macri began his march to the front. He took fourth by lap twenty. His final five laps were masterful as he chased down and passed Gravel for the third position.

Sheldon Haudenschild was fifth, followed by Carson Macedo, Gee, Scelzi, Logan Schuchart, and Dietrich.

Schuchart was named the hard charger for advancing eleven positions.

Dietz, Dietrich, Gee, and Scelzi won their respective heat races. Matt Campbell took the B Main and Brandon Rahmer was first in teh C Main. Dietz was the fastest qualifier of the night, topping Group A with a lap of 13.344 seconds. Gee paced Group B with a lap of 13.521 seconds.

Lincoln Speedway will be dark on Saturday, May 10, in consideration of the Outlaws event at Williams Grove Speedway. Lincoln will return to action on the seventeenth with the annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial featuring the 410 and 357 Sprints. Two more memorial events will close out the month. The Bob Leiby Memorial will be on May 24 with the 410 Sprints and Stock Cars on tap.

The Steve Smith Tribute will go on May 31 for the 410 and 358 Sprints.

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