Local Racing
Torgerson Disqualified, Bollinger Declared Winner at Lincoln; Kepner Cruises to PASS Victory
ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (August 30, 2025): Ashton Torgerson of Glendale, AZ, was in the center of late-race and post-race drama at Lincoln Speedway on Night One of the Labor Day Duels. However, at the end of it all, he was disqualified and stripped of the apparent win. Aaron Bollinger was declared to be the winner and he received the $10,000 payday and the guaranteed starting spot for the conclusion of the two-day event, which will also offer $10,000 to the victor. If Bollinger doubles up, he would also get a $5,000 bonus.
Late-Race: Torgerson chased Anthony Macri for the first thirty laps of the twenty-sixth annual Kevin Gobrecht Memorial, which was held over from its traditional Speedweek date due to inclement weather. At the start of lap thirty-one, Torgerson threw a slider at Macri in turn one. Although Torgerson moved up the track, Macri did not check up. They were side-by-side in turn two and there was contact between them. Macri got pinched off against the outside wall just past the opening at turn two. When he came off the wall, he spun to the inside of the track, coming to rest in the opening of the inside guardrail. Torgerson kept his car moving and he was installed as the leader for the restart with five laps remaining.
Post-Race: Torgerson completed the necessary tours and he kept Bollinger at bay on several occasions. Torgerson took the checkered flag first by several car lengths. When the race was over, he led the parade to the scales in the pit area. Bobby Allen’s car was weighed three times, and it was light each time by more than ten pounds. Torgerson was sent back to his trailer and Bollinger, who met the minimum weight with room to spare, was directed out to victory lane to the astonishment of the crowd.
“That was a really good race,” Bollinger said. “It’s too bad that Ashton was light.” Bollinger, who was third and closing in on Torgerson before the fateful contact between the leaders, commented that “the track was coming into play for me. I was good, and the car kept getting better.” He was able to press Torgerson several times in the final five laps but he could not draw up beside him.
With the win, Bollinger locked into the finale on Sunday night and he will be included in the redraw for preferred starting positions in the feature. “It’s definitely a relief that I’m in the redraw,” he concluded.
The Speedweek format was utilized to determine the starting order for this event. Torgerson drew the pole and Macri got the other front row starting spot. Chase Dietz and Danny Dietrich provided added firepower from row two. Bollinger drew into row three, along with Logan Rumsey. Behind them were Cameron Smith and point leader Troy Wagaman, Jr. They were the final two drivers eligible for the redraw. Then came Tyler Ross and Dallas Schott. Dylan Norris and Freddie Rahmer, Jr. were in the sixth row.
Torgerson took the lead entering turn one and he went to the cushion. Macri followed him into the corner and turned under him coming through turn two to seize control. Dietz, and Danny Dietrich were batting for third, followed by Bollinger, Wagaman, Smith, Rumsey, Norris, and Ross.
The action was halted after just one lap for the tangle between Billy Dietrich and Jude Siegel in turn one. Neither driver was injured in the incident.
On the restart, Macri retained the lead. Dietz and Torgerson began to exchange sliders, which continued for a couple of laps, allowing Macri to stretch his advantage. Torgerson prevailed over Dietz, who then had to hold off Danny Dietrich. Bollinger had several car lengths on Wagaman. Behind him, there was a good battle going on among Norris, Smith, Rumsey, and Ross.
The caution flashed on again on lap twelve when Schott slowed in turn three before stopping at the exit to turn four.
This restart was almost a replay of the prior one. Macri ran alone out front, while Dietz resumed his attack on Torgerson. This time, though, their contest did not last more than a lap, as Dietz came up short on his attempt to slide by Torgerson.
Preston Lattomus brought out another caution on lap nineteen, setting the stage for more action between Torgerson and Dietz when the race resumed. Once again, Torgerson got the advantage over Dietz. Bollinger, who took over fourth shortly before the caution, was watching them closely.
As the race progressed through the final stage, Torgerson began to reel in Macri, who was having some difficulty lapping cars that were also running in his preferred outside groove.
While things were tightening up between the leaders, Bollinger quietly moved into third.
Torgerson saw an opportunity when the five to go signal was displayed, and he dove into turn one on the inside. He was unable to complete the pass, as there was contact with Macri coming off turn two. That sent Macri into the wall and ended with the 39M spinning down to the opening on the inside of turn two. Torgerson kept rolling despite the contact.
The final restart, with five laps remaining, had Torgerson on the point, followed by Bollinger, Dietrich, Dietz, Rumsey, and Wagaman.
Over the course of the last five laps, Bollinger looked to the inside of the leader, but he was unable to get close enough to put a move on Torgerson. Torgerson took the checkers almost nine tenths of a second ahead of Bollinger, only to lose the race at the scales.
Bollinger inheritted the win, with Danny Dietrich moving up to second. Rimsey, Dietz, and Wagaman completed the top five. Smith, Norris, Matt Campbell, and Freddie Rahmer, Jr. rounded out the top ten.
Rumsey, Torgerson, Danny Dietrich, and Smith took the checkers in the heat races. The B Main winner was Kyle Moody. Macri had the quickest time overall with a lap of 13.294 seconds during Group A qualifying. Wgaman topped Group B with a time of 13.708 seconds.
Cruz Kepner went wire-to-wire in the twenty-lap feature for the PASS/IMCA Sprint Cars. He started on the outside of row one and took control at the drop of the green. Colton Hendershot ran second the entire distance after starting from the pole. Doug Dodson was third, ahead of a pair of New Jersey drivers, Rory Janney and Shelby Kelly. Mike Alleman was sixth, followed by Indiana invader Jordan Welch. Dylan Shatzer, Mike Melair, and Dylan Smith completed the top ten.
“The car was pretty good, I didn’t need to put much wheel into it,” Kepner said. He explained that he looked the track over before rolling out for the finale, and “I figured the top wouldn’t be there because it was too far around.” So, Kepner set his course in the middle and toward the inside of the track. He knew that he was going to be in good shape once he cleared Hendershot on the opening lap.
Welch, Hendershot, Dodson, and Reece Raudabaugh won their heat races. Owen Dimm was best in the B Main.
IMPERIAL, PA (July 25, 2026) – Michael Norris is back in Victory Lane at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway after winning Saturday night’s Jook George Steel City Classic.
The win was Norris’ fifth in seven events and the Late Model standout from Sarver, PA dedicated the win to his Grandparents.
“I want to dedicate this win to my grandma and grandpa,” said the 34-year-old Norris. “We lost them this year and miss them a lot- this one is for them. My pap would always say I want you to go down there and show them how it’s done and I showed them how it’s done for him.”
The victory was a family affair for Norris, who was driving the ND Motorsports #N1.
“I have to think Nico (Dabecco) and Vinny,” said Norris, Nico’s brother-in-law. “We really changed the car a lot from the Firecracker (Lernerville Speedway June 27) and found some things we needed to address.”
Norris and Kyle Lukon led the 26-car field to the green flag with Norris leading lap 1 but Lukon grabbing the lead on lap and holding it through lap 7.
Norris wasn’t done however, pulling a slider in turn three to lead lap 8. Norris padded his lead the next couple of laps, pulling out over a second over Lukon.
Lukon was slowed when he slid into the wall on lap 15, giving third place Dan Angelicchio the chance to catch up and the battle was on for second.
Lukon slid into the wall a second time on lap 23 and slowed to bring out the caution.
The restart lined Angelicchio up alongside Norris but ‘the crusher kid’ dropped the hammer and was gone. Demetrios Drellos was able to drive around Angelicchio on the outside to take over the runner-up spot, but was never able to get close enough to Norris to challenge in lapped traffic.
“When this track is like this, it’s so much fun and you can race all over it,” Norris explained. “They did a great job on it tonight.”
Norris took home $6,010 for the win and $6,500 for the night to bring his total take home from ‘the Jook’ to $34,000 over his five wins.
“I have to thank Branden (Lockwich),” said Norris. “He does such a great job, puts a lot of effort into this, and tries different things every year to make it better and get more people here. We’ll keep supporting it as long as they keep having it. Thanks to all the fans for coming out and Blair (Cress) for keeping this place open.”
SARVER, PA (July 17, 2026): Alex Ferree survived a caution-filled late Model feature to score his third feature victory of the season at the Lernerville Speedway, where he leads the seasonal points. In the Big Block Modifieds, Garrett Krummert came on strong in the second half of the race to secure his fourth win of the season, vaulting him into the lead in the championship standings. With his win, A.J. Flick expanded upon his slim two point lead in a quest for a tenth title in the 410 Sprint Car ranks. Corey McPherson became the most successful driver in the rich history of the Pro Stock division at the track.
“Running down on the bottom in (turns) one and two was better for me. I didn’t know where to go in (turns) three and four. I didn’t see (Michael Norris) until he came across my nose down there. I didn’t like it, but that’s how it’s done these days.” Fortunately for Ferree, a caution negated the aggressive pass and, then, on the following restart, Norris jumped the cushion in turn one, forcing his retirement from the race with two to go. Ferree kept Jared Miley at bay for the final trips around the Action Track.
Alex Ferree drew the pole position for the Late Model twenty-five lapper. Tyler Wyant was on his flank. Chris Schneider debuted his new machine in the third spot, and he was paired with former Modified kingpin Del Rougeux. Colton Flinner and Jared Miley were in row three. Josh Ferry and Levi Yetter occupied row four, followed by Clinton Hersh and Michael Norris, in row five, and John Garvin and Mike Miller, in row six.
Ferree took the early lead over Wyant, Flinner, and Ferry. Flinner took second in the early going, but he did not challenge Ferree until a restart five laps into the event.
Things heated up after that restart. Flinner and Ferree swapped the lead on several occasions. Ferree took control again by lap ten and he maintained the lead despite a number of restarts.
Flinner faded from the second position, turning the position over to Norris, who was flying on the outside. Ferree switched up his line in turns one and two, running the bottom and driving up to the top coming off turn two to block a flyer from Norris around the rim of the speedway.
In the closing laps, Norris drew closer to Ferree. He threw caution to the wind in turn four with two laps to go. He slid across into the lead, almost crashing himself and Ferree in the process, but a caution negated the wild pass. On the ensuing restart, Norris took to the high lane in turn one, but he jumped the cushion. Whatever damage he sustained by his excursions sidelined him for the remainder of the race.
Miley inherited the second spot, but he had nothing for Ferree. Ferree cruised to the win, followed by Miley, Schaltenbrand, Wyant, and Ferry. Hersh, Rougeux, Schneider, Will Britsky, and Travis Hayes completed the top ten.
Ferree and Norris were the heat race winners. There was no B Main for the nineteen car field.
Dr. Brad Rapp and Jeremiah Shingledecker drew into the first row for the twenty-five lap Modified go. Mike Kinney and Kyle FInk made up row two, followed by Garrett Krummert and rookie Karston King, who was making his first Modified start ever. Steve Feder and Rick Regalski staked out row four, with Rex King, Jr. and Ayden Cipriano, in row five, and Tyler Dietz and Shawn Kozar, in row six.
Rapp took the early lead but he gave way to Shingledecker on the second trip around the speedway. That duo maintained a comfortable advantage over Kinney, Krummert, and Feder through the first several laps.
King Jr. moved into the top five, along with Cipriano in the middle stage of the race, with Krummert still holding fifth place.
Krummert got rolling soon thereafter. He surged into the lead coming off turn two on the thirteenth lap. Shingledecker remained in second, followed by Rapp, King, and Cipriano.
Shingledecker began slipping back in the field as the race progressed to the third stage. However, he rallied to regain a position in the closing laps.
Krummert took the win over Rapp, Cipriano, Shingledecker, and Dave Murdick. King Jr. was sixth, ahead of Dietz, J.C. Boyer, Feder, and Karston King.
“I wasn’t any good at the start of the race,” Krummert said. “I went to the bottom and got going again.”
The preliminaries went to Rex King, Jr., Fink, and Regalski. Cameron Miller was the B Main winner. Twenty-eight cars registered for the event.
The potent first row consisted of A.J. Flick and Dan Kuriger for the Sprint Car twenty-five lap feature event. Then came Dan Shetler and David Kalb. Carl Bowser and Jared Zimbardi started in row three, with John Jerich and Carmen Perigo next in line. Chris Frank made the long tow from Wellsville, in Central PA, to land in row five with Jacob Begenwald. Vivian Jones started her 305 Sprint inside row six, next to Rayce Jacobs.
Flick and Kuriger, the prime contenders for the point championship in the Sprint Car division, battled side by side for most of the first lap. However, Flick assumed command in turn three and he never looked back.
Kuriger ran a strong second place until the final lap of the race. Jerich slipped past him on the last trip around the speedway. Kuriger was third, followed by Begenwald and Perigo. Bowser, Shetler, Frank, Zimbardi, and Jacobs completed the top ten.
“This was probably the most moisture that stayed in the track all night,” Flick said. “I was able to rip the top for the first time since June,” he added.
Kuriger, and Begenwald took the checkers in their heat races. There was no B Main needed for the nineteen Sprints that checked in.
Corey McPherson achieved a career milestone in the Pro Stock division, breaking the tie with Joe Kelly atop the career win list. McPherson was patient in the early laps of the race. He took the lead on lap nine and led the remaining eleven laps.
Logan Koteles and Jason Fosnaught brought the field to the green for the final race of the night. Cody Koteles and McPheson were in row two, followed by Bill Swaney and Joey Zambotti, in row three, and Brett Hutira and Trevor McCann, in row four.
Logan Koteles grabbed the early lead, followed by Cody Koteles, Fosnaught, McPherson, and Zambotti. McPherson moved up to third on lap three, and second on lap six.
McPherson grabbed the lead on lap nine and held it until the end, while Logan Koteles remained in second, and Cody Koteles in third. Hutira and Fosnaught completed the top five. Zambotti, Tyler Schneider, McCann, Bill Swaney, and Jonathan Koteles rounded out the top ten.
Dietz, and Cody Koteles topped their heat races. No B Main was needed to set the seventeen car field.
FRANKLIN, PA (May 31, 2026): A.J. Flick claimed his third championship in the Western Pennsylvania Speedweek. His first two titles came in 2023 and 2024.
“This whole week is so cool,” he said. He added, “I think consistency is important and I think that helped me.”
Flick started the week out very strongly, with wins at Michaels Mercer Raceway and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. He was fourth at Lernerville Speedway and fifth in the finale at Tr-City Raceway Park. His worst finish of the week was ninth at Sharon Speedway on Saturday night.
Flick was especially happy with his fifth place finish in the final round because he was not very comfortable in the car.
Other race winners during Speedweek were: Dale Blaney, at Lernerville, Logan Wagner, at Sharon, and Brandon Spithaler, at Tri-City.
Flick’s total earnings for the week were $14,750, which included the $3,000 championship stipend.
One other driver earned more than $10,000. That was Spithaler, who grossed $10.175.
Flick was one of sixteen drivers to enter all five events comprising Western Pennsylvania Speedweek. A total of sixty-one racers competed in at least one round of Speedweek.
The top ten drivers in the point standings shared the point fund, as follows:
- A.J. Flick, 452 points, $3,000
- Mark Smith, 412 points, $2,500
- Brandon Spithaler, 406 points, $2,000
- Jeremy Weaver, 393 points, $1,500
- Carl Bowser, 371 points, $1,000
- Michael Bauer, 368 points, $900
- Adam Kekich, 344 points, $800
- Brandon Matus, 338 points, $700
- Ricky Peterson, 320 points, $600
- Jacob Begenwald, 302 points, $500
Interestingly, one driver in the top ten in points missed a show along the way. Ricky Peterson was absent from Sharon because he had another commitment. He won the FAST on Dirt Sprint Car Series event at Skyline Speedway instead.
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