ROD GEORGE, KEVIN BOLLAND, CARL McKINNEY, DOUG IORIO II AND BILL MYERS RECEIVE AWARDS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY 2007 SEASON BANQUET
by Brian Spaid

January 6, 2008

   FRANKLIN, PA …. Over $33,000 in point funds and contingencies were distributed on Saturday January 5^th as Tri-City Speedway officials honored the 2007 track champions at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall before a crowd in excess of 350 fans, drivers, crewmen, officials and sponsors.

   Receiving their championship awards were Rod George (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab’s Ford DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Carl McKinney (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Doug Iorio II (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Bill Myers (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars).
   For the fourth time in his career, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., garnered the Super Sprint track title at Tri-City in his Notary Express/Dr. John Crawford III Family Practice Maxim No. 4. George’s other titles came in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He held off 2006 track champion Bob Felmlee, Brent Covell, Todd Bauer and Russ Sansosti for the 2007 championship.  As announced in November, this was the final season of weekly Super Sprint competition at Tri-City as the FASTRAK Late Models will replace the class in 2008.

   “We’ve been crying about our motor program the last five years, and we got some good help on our motors this season, and had a killer year,” said George, who also thanked his crew and sponsors. “I’m going to miss running at Tri-City in 2008.”

   In addition, George was honored with Tri-City’s 2007 Outstanding Achievement Award. Overall, George earned 21 feature wins making him the top Super Sprint winner in the Northeast. He also earned two track titles (Tri-City and Mercer Raceway Park).  Tri-City announcer and Cavalcade statistician Walt Wimer also presented George with the 2007 No. 1 Cochran Cavalcade Super Sprint award for the top performance in the division throughout the Western Pennsylvania region.

   In the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., earned his third overall and second consecutive track title driving his Northland Ford/Bolland Machine Bicknell No. 777. Bolland’s other titles came in 2000 and 2006. For the fourth year in a row, Rex King finished second in points. Russell King, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Del Rougeux Jr. rounded out the top five.

   “I want to thank my entire team and all of my sponsors,” said Bolland. “My team is phenomenal for helping out in the garage. I have some championship jackets for my father, Don Bolland, and two of my crew, Todd and Don Chamberlain. Hopefully, we’ll defend our championship in 2008 and I can get more jackets for my crew guys.”

   Four drivers received awards for their performance on the 2007 Schwab’s Ford/Precise Racing/Teo Fabrications Big Block Modified Challenge Series. The five-race series involved Tri-City and Lernerville Speedways. Rougeux, Russell and Rex King, and Dave Murdick received second through fifth place point fund monies respectively. Series champion Brian Swartzlander will be honored at the Lernerville banquet in March. The series will not be run in 2008 as both tracks and BRP Modified Tour officials focus more attention on the DIRTcar Big Block Modified Western Region point chase, which honors the top 15 drivers. Swartzlander defeated Bolland for that title in 2007.

   Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., was honored for his first career E Mod track title at Tri-City. Driving Mike Hendrickson’s Holden Precision Machine/Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Pierce No. 6M, McKinney topped Shawn Shingledecker for the championship. It was the third year in a row that Shingledecker was the runner-up in the E Mod point chase. Jim Frontz, Bobby Whitling and Mike Potosky rounded out the top five in the final point standings.

   “I wasn’t expecting to do this good,” said McKinney, who also thanked his sponsors and presented Hendrickson with a championship trophy and jacket. “Mike decided in the offseason to purchase a Pierce chassis. Mike’s team put that car together for the second race, and it was a rocket ship. It was just awesome. From that point on, it was such a pleasure to come out to race with Mike and his crew. I had a really good time racing with the other E Mod drivers as well. I also want to thank Al Cressley for racing for me the night my daughter was born. Tri-City is great to race at week in and week out.”

   In addition to the track title, McKinney accepted awards for winning the 2007 Allegheny Toyota E Series title. The E Series is a four-race series of extra distance events at Tri-City. With the series title, McKinney, who will also race in the FASTRAK Late Models this season, cleaned house in the E Mod class. He defeated Frontz, Whitling, Shingledecker and Bill Thomas for the series championship. The E Series will return in 2008 with sponsorship from local company Welding Technologies.

   Despite McKinney’s success, Shingledecker collected some extra awards for the 2007 Oyler Action Photo Hard Charger Award. The top five pointmen in the Hard Charger chase all received awards. Those drivers included Russell King, McKinney, Tim Engles and Denny Crawford. Schwab’s Ford will sponsor the Hard Charger Award in 2008.

   Although his arrival at the banquet was delayed, Doug Iorio II of Kennerdell, Pa., made it in time to receive his championship awards for his first career track title in the Pro Stocks. Driving his Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Chevrolet No. 28, “The Kennerdell Kid” matched his father Doug (1996) and uncle Ron (2001) as Pro Stock track champions at Tri-City. Iorio topped Danny Exley, Dave Ferringer, Gerry Bruce and Rod Laskey in the point standings.

   “I’ve got a long list of people and sponsors to thank,” said Iorio as he read off the names and companies that supported his 2007 championship efforts. “This means a lot to my entire crew. I have to thank them, and all of my family and friends. Thanks also to the Graham and Crick families for the excellent track they give us to race on. We’re waiting for some sponsorship to come through because we’d like to race with the FASTRAK Late Models. If it doesn’t, then we’ll be back in the Pro Stocks.”

   All-time Pro Stock feature winner and three-time Pro Stock track champion Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., accepted accolades for his 2007 William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series title. Whitling, who focused most of his attention on the E Mod division, ran the five-race series for his second title. The first came in 2003. Whitling defeated Jason Reagle, Ferringer, Iorio and Laskey in the point chase.

   Bill Myers of Seneca, Pa., was honored for his first career track championship in the Thundercar division. Myers will defend his championship in 2008 aboard his Color Tek/R.K. Virgile Scrap Metals/Corner Pocket Bar Chevrolet No. 43M. Myers topped Josh Seippel, Regina Deloe, Joe Blake and Charlie McMillen for the 2007 title.

   “With me starting a new business this year, I am going to stay in the Thundercars this season,” said Myers, who originally planned to move into the Pro Stocks in 2008. “I want to thank Mike Klapec and Color Tek for how nice my car was this year. I also want to thank all my sponsors and family members. There’s a ton of people that help me, and it doesn’t happen overnight.”

   Each division champion received a championship trophy and jackets. George, Bolland, McKinney and Iorio each also received point fund money and a championship watch from Kay Jewelers of Cranberry, Pa. Each division and series champion also gave his respective division sponsor a special award from the track.

   Dan Bubenheim of R.N. Goss Gas drew Regina Deloe’s name as the winner of the 2007 Lincoln Welder Ironman Award. Deloe, Rod George, Carl McKinney, Jim Frontz and Bobby Whitling all completed 100% of the laps in heat and feature race competition in their respective divisions, and all five were eligible for the top prize, a free Lincoln Welder.

   Three drivers received rookie honors from track officials. Bobby Whitling (E Mods), Chris Haines of Sandy Lake, Pa., (Pro Stocks), and Curtis E. Bish of Dempseytown, Pa., (Thundercars) were named Rookies of the Year in their respective divisions. There were no eligible rookies in the Super Sprint and DIRTcar Big Block Modified divisions.

   The 2007 Most Improved Driver Award was presented to Pro Stock driver Denny Crawford of Franklin, Pa. Crawford improved his efforts over the last several seasons with three top five feature finishes, including a runner-up finish, and a sixth place finish in the Pro Stock point standings. Crawford also came close to victory on several occasions.

   Joining him at the podium was his brother, Joe Crawford of Polk, Pa., who received the 2007 Hard Luck Award. Off-track injuries at the beginning and end of the season hampered Crawford’s DIRTcar Big Block Modified efforts. It was obvious that Crawford would have had a better season without those misfortunes because he scored three top five finishes, including one feature win, when he was able to race during July and August.

   Dave Schrader of Endeavor, Pa., was honored with the 2007 Sportsmanship Award. Schrader received the award for his willingness to help other DIRTcar Big Block Modified drivers, especially Russell King. On May 27^th, Schrader loaned a backup car to the 2007 BRP Modified Tour champion, and King drove it to victory for his second consecutive win in the Dick Rankin Memorial. Without Schrader’s generosity, King would not have been in contention for the BRP Modified Tour title.

   Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting of Oil City, Pa., awarded gift certificates for chassis reconditionings to Gale Ruth Jr. (Super Sprints), Carl Murdick (DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Shawn Shingledecker (E Mods), Jackson Humanic (Pro Stocks), and Ed Deloe (Thundercars). Those drivers were chosen by random draw prior to the banquet.

   Vinyl Graphics Unlimited of Shippenville, Pa., awarded gift certificates for car letterings to Bob Felmlee (Super Sprints), Dave Murdick (DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Evan Taylor (E Mods), Matt Thomas (Pro Stocks), and Regina Deloe (Thundercars).  Those drivers were also chosen by random draw prior to the banquet.

   Other contingency and point fund sponsors included Pennzoil, Hoosier Tire, Precise Racing, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, Bassett Wheels, Sunoco Fuel, and the Oakland Township Volunteer Fire Department.

   Tri-City’s Public Relations Director Brian Spaid closed the banquet with news that the track will open for the 2008 season on Sunday April 27^th with a five-division program featuring the Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, and Klapec Auto Body “Sunday Night Thunder” Cars.

   Although the Super Sprints will not return to weekly action at Tri-City, Spaid noted that there is an open date in the 2008 calendar for a winged event at the track provided a sponsor and other support is forthcoming.

   Tri-City will continue to be sanctioned under the World Racing Group’s DIRTcar classification in 2008. As noted above, Tri-City and Lernerville Speedways will join with the BRP Modified Tour for the 2008 DIRTcar Big Block Modified Western Region point chase.  As for special events, Tri-City will run the 5^th Annual Rankin & Son Excavating Dick Rankin Memorial on Sunday May 25^th. The 16^th Annual Kodiak Memorial is scheduled for July 20^th.

   The FASTRAK Late Models will offer new weekly excitement at Tri-City in 2008. Track officials intend to work with FASTRAK NorthEast Late Model Series officials in order to schedule an event at the venerable Venango County half-mile oval.

   In the E Mod ranks, the 2008 Welding Technologies E Series will feature a four-race series of extra distance events for the E Mod race teams. This is the fourth season in a row for the E Series. In addition, the All Star 30 will return as part of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend on August 30^th and 31^st.

   Willam R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning will return as title sponsor of the Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. The five-race schedule will include the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend and the 12^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100, which will close out the season on Sunday September 7^th.  That event will also include the 6^th Annual Apple Core 20 for the “Sunday Night Thunder” Cars.

   The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will compete at Tri-City during the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend. Track officials continue to negotiate with series officials on the format for the 2008 event. Regardless of the race formet, the 4^th Annual South Ghetto celebration will be held on Saturday night.

   Although it will not return as a division sponsor for the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, Schwab’s Ford will be the new sponsor of the annual Hard Charger Award. The award honors the driver that scores the most passing points in the feature races of all divisions combined. There are some new and unique weekly awards being considered that could involve the race fans in 2008.

   R.N. Goss Gas and Lincoln Electric will combine forces for the fourth season in a row for the Lincoln Welders Ironman Award. At the end of the season, a new Lincoln Welder will be presented to the race team that completes the greatest percentage of laps in heat and feature race competition in all divisions combined.

   NorthPointe Automotive will also return to Tri-City in 2008 with a new pace vehicle to lead each night’s on-track action.

   More news about the upcoming season will be released in coming weeks, including the 2008 schedule.

   Tri-City Speedway is owned and operated by Roger and Susie Crick and Mike and Margaret Graham. They have promoted Sunday night racing at the popular facility since they reopened it in 1996. The DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and “Sunday Night Thunder” Cars will race each week at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval in 2007. Tri-City is located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa., off State Route 417.