BOLLAND AND JONES CAPTURE "MOD MANIA" EVENTS; PEGHER GARNERS FIRST EVER TRI-CITY WIN; REAGLE AND MYERS GET "HAT TRICKS"; POTOSKY CLAIMS E MOD VICTORY

by Marcie Barlow

May 24, 2009

Franklin, PA— Kevin Bolland captured the 30-lap Modified Tour event and completed a “clean sweep” of the weekend’s DIRTcar Modified racing action in Western PA as Tri-City Speedway hosted a six division racing program on May 24th.  In other racing action Rod Jones picked up his first ever feature win in Changing Times Mod Lite action as did Mike Pegher, Jr. in 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model action.  Mike Potosky (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E-Mods), Jason Reagle (EF Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stocks) and Greg Myers (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) also picked up feature wins.

Brad Rapp and Dean Pearson led the 29-car Engles Trucking DIRTcar Modified feature event to the green flag.  Rapp led the first two circuits before Joe Crawford took control on lap three.  The first of seven cautions waved on lap four when Steve Feder spun in turn two.

Crawford was able to ward off the challenges of Rapp when the green came back out but it was Bolland, who had started in the sixth position that was methodically working his way to the front.  On lap ten Bolland was able to get by Crawford for the top spot.  Bolland weathered several cautions and one red flag but was able to pull away from his fellow competitors each time the green flag was unfurled as he went on to capture his third checkered flag of the weekend.

“The Bolland Machine/Cintas/Cranberry Coin Bicknell was unbelievably fast this evening.  My team has worked extremely hard this weekend and we got three victories in three events,” stated Bolland.

Mod Tour title contender Del Rougeux, Jr. claimed the runner-up spot over Tri-City regulars, Kevin Hoffman, Joe Crawford and Jeremiah Shingledecker.

Skip Moore was uninjured after a nasty tumble in turn three on lap 28 of the Modified feature event.  The incident started when last year’s Mod Tour event winner Gary Smoker made contact with another competitor and spun several times before being struck by Moore.  The accident also collected Mike Miller, Tom Mattocks, Ryan Hall and Rick Ryder.  Both Smoker and Moore were shaken up but uninjured. 

Bolland, Rex King, Jr. and Andy Priest won the qualifying events for the 29 car DIRTcar field.

Mike Pegher followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Dave Pegher, on Tri-City Hall of Fame Induction Night, as he captured his career first Tri-City Speedway 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model feature event.

An “Invert Zero” feature redraw placed Bobby Powell and Pegher, Jr. on the front row of the feature event.   Powell pulled ahead for the first two circuits before the event’s only caution flew for Carl McKinney.

When the green flag was once again unfurled, Pegher, Jr. wrestled the lead away from Powell.  Pegher, Jr. battled with defending FASTRAK Divisional Champion Max Blair for the next several laps before pulling out to a convincing win over Blair.  Powell, Bryan Salisbury and Butch Lambert completed the top five.

“I want to thank my car owner, Lynn Geisler, and the entire crew for all of their hard work this weekend.   We are in the midst of a four race weekend and their hard work is greatly appreciated,” stated Pegher.  “My grandfather won quite a few races here in the 1970’s and I am honored to follow in his footsteps.” 

Powell and Pegher, Jr. were victorious in the 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model preliminaries.

The Changing Times Mod Lite Mini Series made their first of several appearances at the Venango County oval and veteran driver Rod Jones brought home his first ever Tri-City victory.

Bill Stivason and Mark Marcucci led the 19 car field to the green flag.  Marcucci led the first seven laps before 19^th place starter Mikey Hay took command.  Hay led laps eight through ten before pitting with overheating problems.  Jones then took over the top spot and led the final five circuits to pick up the victory.

Alan Knepper, Mark Marcucci, Todd Canter, and Rick Ament completed the top five. 

Marcucci and Jones captured the heat events.

Guys Mills driver Mike Potosky overcame the “Bad Luck Demons” that struck him on opening night as he captured his first RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E-Mod victory of the season.

Veteran Tim Engles led the opening circuit before spinning in turn two and allowing Potosky to inherit the lead.  Once in front Potosky held off the challenges of Shawn Shingledecker and Carl McKinney and went on to capture his 11th career victory at the speedway.

McKinney settled for the runner-up spot over Shingledecker, Jonathan Taylor and Jeff Deter.

McKinney and Potosky were the victors in E-Mod heats.

The “Oil City Outlaw” Jason Reagle made in “Three in a Row” as he picked up yet another victory in the 15 lap EF Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stock feature event.  An “Invert 12 redraw” placed Arthur Edwards and Bob Sloss on the front row.  Sloss took command at the start and battled Dave Ferringer before Reagle took over on lap seven and in spite of challenges from Jason Johns went on to garner the win.

Johns used the high groove to score a fine second place finish with Chris Haines, Bobby Whitling and Randy Wyant completing the top five.

Jackson Humanic and Johns captured the Pro-Stock prelims.

Like Reagle, Greg Myers picked up his third Tri-City feature win of the season.  Dave Baker led the first three circuits until he looped his mount in turn two.  Myers inherited the lead and warded off the challenges of “Lady Racer” Regina Deloe to pick up the victory. 

Last week’s winner Jonathan Huff got by Deloe on lap nine to bring home the second spot.  Deloe, Matt Thomas, who was subbing for John K. Miller, and Joe Sloss rounded out the top five.

Deloe and Myers were the winners in the Klapec Auto Body Thundercar heats earlier in the evening.

In a special ceremony held at intermission Steve Ungar, Ted Wise, Chuck Engstrom, Jim Seese, Gale Ruth and Jeff Hoffman were inducted into the Tri-City Speedway Hall of Fame.   

Racing action at Tri-City Speedway resumes next Sunday, May 31st, as the ULMS/DIRTCar Late Models make their second appearance of the season.  In addition the first Welding Technologies & Shaw Industries E Series event for the E-Mod Division will be held.  The 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, EF Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro Stocks and the Klapec Auto Body Thundercars will also be in action.

Racing action begins at 6:00PM and Adult Grandstand Admission is just $11.00.

BRP MODIFIED TOUR (30 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Del Rougeux Jr., 3. Kevin Hoffman, 4. Joe Crawford, 5. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 6. Brad Rapp, 7. Dave Murdick, 8. Dean Pearson, 9. Tommy Kristyak, 10. Rex King Jr., 11. Jim Rasey, 12. Mike Turner, 13. Jeff Miller, 14. Tommy Mattocks Jr., 15. Mark Frankhouser, 16. Ron Eperthener Jr., 17. Rick Ryder, 18. Ryan Hall, 19. Steve Feder, 20. Gary Smoker, 21. Skip Moore, 22. Mike Miller, 23. Carl Murdick, 24. Kyle Fink, 25. Garrett Krummert, 26. Rex King, 27. Andy Priest, 28. Brian Sadler, 29. Rodney Beltz. DNS: Jeremy Paup.

FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. MIKE PEGHER, JR., 2. Max Blair, 3. Bobby Powell, 4. Bryan Salisbury, 5. Butch Lambert, 6. Carl McKinney, 7. Steve Hollabaugh, 8. Kyle Zimmerman, 9. Bill Thomas, 10. Jamie Brown, 11. Shane Bambarger, 12. Tyler Barris, 13. Kyle Layton, 14. Dave Lyon. DNS: Rusty Cade.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MIKE POTOSKY, 2. Carl McKinney, 3. Shawn Shingledecker, 4. Jonathan Taylor, 5. Jeff Deeter, 6. Tim Engles, 7. Ron Roncaglione, 8. Rick Pratschler, 9. Shawn Domhoff, 10. Gary Sullivan, 11. Al Cressley, 12. Clayton Kennedy, 13. J.B. Dandy, 14. Tyler Powell, 15. Jared Domhoff, 16. Ron Boardman. DNS: Dale McCandless, Kevin Miller.

MOD LITES (15 Laps): 1. ROD JONES, 2. Alan Knepper, 3. Mark Marcucci, 4. Todd Canter, 5. Rick Ament, 6. Shane Pfeuffer, 7. Kenny Meadows, 8. Terry Young, 9. George Englert, 10. Myle Markovich Jr., 11. Josh Sliter, 12. Richard Lawson, 13. Kotie Kirkbride, 14. Bill Stivason, 15. John Gerula, 16. Cody Bova, 17. Chad Yeager, 18. Kevin Savacko, 19. Mikey Hay.

PRO STOCK (15 Laps): 1. JASON REAGLE, 2. Jason Johns, 3. Chris Haines, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Randy Wyant, 6. Jackson Humanic, 7. Bob Sloss, 8. Dave Ferringer, 9. Matt Thomas, 10. Ray Virgile, 11. Arthur Edwards, 12. Josh Seippel, 13. Bryan Wagner, 14. Nathan Kellogg, 15. Russ Coyne. DNS: Les Myers, Bill Myers.