Baker Captures Career First Thundercar Victory, Griffin Scores Limited Sprint Win, Rhebergen and Whitling Capture Checkereds, Blair Picks Up Fourth FASTRAK Feature
by Marcie Barlow

June 28, 2009

Franklin, PA .... Mother Nature’s afternoon showers cleared and it was a beautiful night for holiday racing action as Dave Baker picked up his first career feature victory at Tri-City Speedway.  In addition to Baker, Guy Griffin, Brent Rhebergen and Bobby Whitling scored their initial victories of the 2009 racing season and Max Blair captured his fourth FASTRAK victory as Sanford Company and Horn’s Collision Repair Center presented an action packed evening of Five Star racing action..

A “Heads Up” start found Thundercar heat race winners Dave Baker and Greg Myers leading the field to the green.  The twosome waged a “side by side” battle throughout the 12-lap event.  Myers led the first circuit but Baker got by to lead the second lap.  Myers maneuvered to the front and led laps three through six before Baker when ahead on lap seven.  A determined Baker then held off the stout challenges of Myers to lead the final five circuits to pick up his career first Thundercar victory.

Myers held on for the runner-up spot over Jeff Manners, Jon Huff and Joe Sloss.

Youngsters Adam Anderson and Nick Miller paced the Limited Sprint field.  The initial start was called back when Rob Felix slowed in turn two.  When the green flag was once again unfurled Anderson quickly jumped into the lead with veteran Guy Griffin right behind.  The event’s second and final caution flew on lap four when Jonathan Frederick looped his mount. 

The restart  that followed provided Griffin with the opportunity that he needed to overtake Anderson and score his first Tri-City Speedway victory of the season.  Brandon Spithaler was able to get by Anderson in the closing stages of the event to capture the second sport.  Anderson, Nick Miller and Frederick completed the top five.

“I want to thank my crew for their hard work,” stated Griffin.  “Their dedication to this team is what enables me to be successful.”

Anderson captured the lone Limited Sprint heat race earlier in the evening.  In addition, rookie competitor Jeff Hughes was uninjured after taking a hard tumble in heat race action.

Clymer, NY driver Brent Rhebergen returned to the Tri-City Speedway Victory Lane for the first time since July, 2006 as dominated the 15-lap feature event for the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E-Mods.  Rhebergen wasted no time in getting to the front, as he quickly jumped into the lead from his sixth place starting position and was never seriously challenged.   Mike Potosky had another fine run to pick up the second spot with second-generation driver Evan Taylor, Todd Roncaglione and Al Cressley following.   

Cressley and Taylor won the preliminary events held earlier in the evening.

Popular Seneca driver Bobby Whitling finally “got the bad luck monkey” off of his back as he picked up the EF Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stock feature event.  Bob Sloss led the first circuit until a caution for Randy Wyant slowed the field.  Sloss led the next circuit before his ride would suffer mechanical woes and bring out the event’s second caution.  Veteran Les Myers inherited the lead and led the next circuit before Whitling shot into the top spot and cruised to the victory.  Defending divisional champion Jason Reagle came from 11th to capture the runner-up spot.  Matt Thomas, Jackson Humanic and Jason Johns rounded out the top five. 

Johns and Reagle won the Pro-Stock preliminaries.

Titusville teenager Max Blair continues garner points to what he hopes will be his second consecutive 4-You Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model title as he picked up his fourth feature victory of the 2009 season at the Venango County oval.  Bobby Powell led the first two laps before Blair went ahead for good on lap three.

The event’s only caution flew on lap 14 when Andrew Wylie spun.  When green flag racing resumed Blair once again assumed the top spot with Powell right behind.  Blair went on to lead the final six circuits and pick up yet another win.  Powell held off the ever-improving Bryan Salisbury for the second spot.  Brian Booher and Dan Angelicchio rounded out the top five.

Powell and Blair were victorious in the FASTRAK prelims.

Modified Madness is next up on the Tri-City Speedway as the 17th Annual Kodiak Memorial for the Engles Trucking DIRTcar Modifieds is scheduled for Sunday, July 5th.  In addition the Changing Times Mod Lite Mini Series will return.  The EF Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stocks and the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E-Mods will also be on the card.

Join us next Sunday as Atkinson Fire Safety presents a special night of racing action in tribute to longtime DIRT Modified car owner Bob “Kodiak” Graham.

FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. MAX BLAIR, 2. Bobby Powell, 3. Bryan Salisbury, 4. Brian Booher, 5. Dan Angelicchio, 6. Joe Martin, 7. Butch Lambert, 8. Carl McKinney, 9. Jamie Brown, 10. Les Lyon, 11. Steve Hollabaugh, 12. Kyle Zimmerman, 13. Andrew Wylie, 14. Mike Pegher Jr., 15. Michael Mitchell.

LIMITED SPRINTS (15 Laps): 1. GUY GRIFFIN, 2. Brandon Spithaler, 3. Adam Anderson, 4. Nick Miller, 5. Jonathan Frederick, 6. Chad Matthews, 7. Jim Morris III, 8. Rob Felix. DNS: Jeff Hughes.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Mike Potosky, 3. Evan Taylor, 4. Todd Roncaglione, 5. Al Cressley, 6. Butch Lambert, 7. Tim Engles, 8. Carl McKinney, 9. Ron Roncaglione, 10. Don Davies, 11. Butch Southwall, 12. Rick Pratschler, 13. Jeff Deeter, 14. Dana Wellington, 15. Tyler Powell, 16. Jonathan Taylor, 17. Gary Sullivan, 18. Shawn Shingledecker, 19. Tom Hagberg. DNS: Justin Carlson.

PRO STOCK (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Jason Reagle, 3. Matt Thomas, 4. Jackson Humanic, 5. Jason Johns, 6. Chris Haines, 7. Les Myers, 8. Denny Crawford, 9. Josh Seippel, 10. Rod Laskey, 11. Bill Myers, 12. Dave Ferringer, 13. Randy Wyant, 14. Charlie McMillen, 15. Bob Sloss.

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. DAVE BAKER, 2. Greg Myers, 3. Jeff Manners, 4. Jon Huff, 5. Joe Sloss, 6. Bill Winters, 7. Mike Dobrick, 8. Regina Deloe, 9. Richard Swartz, 10. Curt Bish Sr., 11. Jace Ferringer, 12. Kenny Alcorn, 13. Alan Perry, 14. Jason Swartz. DNS: Don Blake Jr.