BOBBY WHITLING TRIES TO END DRY SPELL IN TRI-CITY FINALE
By Brian Spaid

September 9, 2005 

   Tri-City Speedway’s 2005 season ends on Sunday night with the 9^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100. The 100-lap Detroit Iron Series race for the Pro Stocks pays $2,000-to-win out of a total of $13,000 in purse, prize money and special awards.

   The list of past winners of the race reads like a “who’s who” in regional Pro Stock competition. Seneca ace Bobby Whitling won the event three times (2000, 2001 and 2003). One-time winners include Rick Prosser Jr. of Geneva, Ohio, (1997), Gary Norman of New Castle (1998), Matt Lux of Franklin (1999), Darrell Bossard of Centerville (2002), and Dave Ferringer of Cochranton (2004).

   This season, other top contenders include 2005 Tri-City Pro Stock champion Garry Bruce of Franklin, Jason Johns of Oil City, Terry Wheeler of Polk, Andy Buckley of Stoneboro, Butch Lambert of Mars, and Steve D’Apolito of Boardman, Ohio. Provided they can repair the engines in their cars, Jason Reagle of Oil City and the father-and-son team of Doug Iorio and Doug Iorio II of Kennerdell will also be tough to beat.

   There have been many intriguing and exciting stories this season at Tri-City, but one that stands out is the long losing streak suffered by Whitling. The former Applefest 100 winner and two-time track champion has not won at his home track since August of 2004. With 37 wins under his belt, the driver of the potent purple and black Chevrolet No. 7W is winless in a season of racing for the first time since the track reopened.

   “The biggest difference from this year to last year is the track surface,” notes Whitling. “It’s just a little different and none of our setups that we used last year work. We’ve been chasing it all year long trying to find something that would work.”

   Dirt track racing is a sport, but it’s also an art. Learning car setups is the biggest key to success. The guy with the newest chassis and biggest engine will get nowhere without proper suspension wizardry.

   “Everyone says the class has gotten faster.  I don’t agree with that. To me, there are more cars that are competitive than there were say six years ago. I think you’ll find that the lap times are similar as before. The key is you’ve got to get through the corners perfect.”

   Whitling, 33, and his team have not raced as much this season either. Not only is Whitling winless at Tri-City, he has not tasted victory at any other track either. Early season runs at Lernerville Speedway were ended when his rig was involved in an accident on Route 8 in Sandycreek Township. At Mercer Raceway Park, he’s raced a handful of times.

   “I had a chance to win about three times at Mercer and ended up with two thirds and a fourth. One night I was racing for the win, tangled with the other car, and ended up with that fourth place finish,” recalls the union electrician.

   The amazing thing about Whitling is that he seems to take it all in stride. His lack of success is not due to a lack of effort or innovation.

   “We were close in the points deal at Tri-City until about six weeks ago. We experimented with a new motor and it caused two DNFs (did not finish).”

   To extend his nine-year win streak at Tri-City another season, Whitling will have to win a race he loves. In fact, he excels in it. In the eight Applefest 100s run to date, he has six top fives and seven top tens, including three wins. His worst showing occurred in last year’s race when he finished 24^th. He is one of only three drivers to make every race too. The others are Norman and Ferringer.

   “For this race, we’ll pretty much do the usual maintenance.  But, we’ll make more of an effort and go over everything on the car – twice. I don’t want anything stupid to happen.  Even though I haven’t won a race this year, I feel I can still win. My approach to this race is a just a little different than the rest of them.”

   Whitling's sponsors include Jim's Doors & Windows of Oil City, Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting of Oil City, Dulaney's Garage of Cooperstown, Gilmore Floors of Seneca, Double Play Sports Bar of Oil City, Daugherty Real Estate of Oil City, and Anderson's Greenhouse of Franklin.