Shingledecker, Blair and Reagle Repeat,

Huff Triumphs in Thundercar Finale

By: Marcie L. Barlow

Franklin, PA – May 17, 2009- Tri-City Speedway was back in action on a cool Sunday evening as Jeremiah Shingledecker (Engles Trucking DIRTcar Modifieds), Max Blair (4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models) and Jason Reagle (E.F. Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stocks) each scored their second feature victories of the 2009 racing season.  In addition, Jon Huff captured his first feature win in the Klapec Auto Body Thundercar finale on Schaeffer Specialty Lubricants Night.

Jeremiah Shingledecker redeemed himself for his miscue in last week’s DIRTcar Modified feature event as he grabbed the lead from Rex King on lap four and went on to score his second Tri-City Speedway victory of the 2009 racing season.  “The Shingledecker Welding/Steve’s Tee’s 37MD Bicknell was excellent this evening.  I want to thank my brother Travis and the entire crew as the car was perfect this evening,” stated Shingledecker.  

Fellow Polk resident Joe Crawford has a great run to bring home a second place finish with King holding on for third.  Del Rougeux Jr. (who started in the 20^th spot) and Dean Pearson completed the top five.

Ron Eperthener, Jr., Kevin Hoffman and King were victorious in the Engles Trucking DIRTcar preliminary events.  Second year driver Brian Sadler was uninjured after a wild flip in the third heat event.

Rookie FASTRAK competitor Bryan Salisbury and defending divisional champion Max Blair paced the 4 Your Car Connection sponsored 20 lap FASTRAK feature event.  Salisbury took command and would lead the first eight circuits until the caution flag waved for Dave Airgood, Jr. and Tyler Barris.  Salisbury was able to hold off Blair’s challenges and appeared to be on his way to a career first victory when he lost the handle on lap 13.  Blair capitalized on the “Rookie Mistake” and would lead the final seven circuits to capture his second Tri-City Speedway FASTRAK feature event.

Mike Pegher, Jr. finished second with Butch Lambert, Salisbury and last week’s winner David Scott rounding out the top five.

West Virginia driver Gary Knollinger and Salisbury won the FASTRAK heat events.

Like Shingledecker and Blair before him the “Oil City Outlaw” Jason Reagle was determined to bring home his second Tri-City Speedway checkered flag of the 2009 racing season.  Veteran Terry Wheeler led the first four circuits with Reagle slowly working his way to the front from his sixth starting spot.  Reagle took the lead on lap five and was never seriously challenged as he cruised to his second consecutive victory of the 2009 racing season.

Jackson Humanic scored a season best second place finish with Matt Thomas, Randy Wyant and Jason Johns rounding out the top five.

Wyant, Johns and Chris Haines brought home the E.F. Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stocks heat race wins.

An Invert six feature redraw placed Alan Perry and Jason Swartz on the front row if the Klapec Auto Body Thundercar finale.  Unfortunately for Swartz a mechanical problem would cause the caution to wave for him before the first lap was completed.

When the racing action resumed Curt Bish would lead the first lap before Greg Myers would take over the top spot.  Myers led laps two through six before Huff got by to lead the next three circuits.  Myers pulled ahead on lap ten but it was Huff who wrestled the lead away from Myers to lead the final two circuits.  Huff went on the claim his first victory of the season.

Myers held on for the second spot over Bish, Charlie McMillen and Joe Sloss.

Huff and Myers were the victors in the two heat events held earlier in the evening.

Racing action at the Tri-City Speedway will return next Sunday, May 24th as H&H Motorsports present Memorial Day Modified Madness featuring the BRP Mod Tour ’09 and the first ever appearance of the Changing Times Mod Lite Series.  A full slate of racing action for the 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, the RPM Auto Sales/Sherry Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and Klapec Auto Body Thundercars is also on the card. In addition six drivers (Steve Ungar, Jeff Hoffman, Gale Ruth, Chuck Engstrom, Ted Wise and Jim Seese) will be inducted into the Tri-City Speedway Hall of Fame. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be a family friendly $11. 

DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JEREMIAH SHINGLEDECKER, 2. Joe Crawford, 3. Rex King, 4. Del Rougeux Jr., 5. Dean Pearson, 6. Gary Smoker, 7. Brian Swartzlander, 8. Brad Rapp, 9. Jeremy Paup, 10. Mike Turner, 11. Kevin Bolland, 12. Skip Moore, 13. Andy Priest, 14. Ron Eperthener Jr., 15. Garrett Krummert, 16. Dave Murdick, 17. Ryan Hall, 18. Dustin Martin, 19. Kevin Green, 20. Jim Rasey, 21. Mark Flick, 22. Rex King Jr., 23. Kevin Hoffman, 24. Randy Chronister, 25. Carl Murdick, 26. Brian Sadler, 27. Rick Ryder. DNS: Steve Feder.

FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. MAX BLAIR, 2. Mike Pegher Jr., 3. Butch Lambert, 4. Bryan Salisbury, 5. David Scott, 6. Joe Martin, 7. Tom Snyder Jr., 8. Steve Hollabaugh, 9. Kyle Zimmerman, 10. John Watson, 11. Dereck Frank, 12. Gary Knollinger, 13. Dan Angelicchio, 14. Jim Frank, 15. Tyler Dietz, 16. Jamie Brown, 17. Bobby Powell, 18. Tyler Barris, 19. Dave Airgood Jr. DNS: Carl McKinney.

PRO STOCK (15 Laps): 1. JASON REAGLE, 2. Jackson Humanic, 3. Matt Thomas, 4. Randy Wyant, 5. Jason Johns, 6. Rod Laskey, 7. Terry Wheeler, 8. Dave Ferringer, 9. Andy Buckley, 10. Les Myers, 11. Chris Haines, 12. Jim Bendishaw, 13. Denny Crawford, 14. Bill Myers, 15. Josh Bendishaw, 16. Nathan Kellogg, 17. Josh Seippel, 18. Bob Swartzmiller, 19. Jake Simmons, 20. Arthur Edwards, 21. Alan Dellinger. DNS:  Scotty Carbaugh, Jim Keith.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JON HUFF, 2. Greg Myers, 3. Curt Bish Sr., 4. Charlie McMillen, 5. Joe Sloss, 6. Dave Baker, 7. Bill Winters, 8. Mike Dobrick, 9. Bill Myers, 10. Jace Ferringer, 11. Scott Kilgore, 12. Richard Swartz, 13. Alan Perry, 14. Jason Swartz.