April 30, 2006

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Tri-City Speedway started its 2006 season under beautiful skies on Sunday night, and Rod George (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds), Matt Lux (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Dave Ferringer (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Curt Bish Sr. (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) captured the feature wins at the Venango County half-mile oval.

   Like the 2005 season opener, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., led every lap of the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. The Notary Express Maxim No. 4 was unbeatable as George led by over five seconds at one time. In the end, the three-time and defending track champion scored his 38^th career feature win at Tri-City.

   “It seems like a long time since I won a race,” said George. “We’ve been consistent this season, but just struggled to get our first win. The track was slick like we like it, and the track crew did a great job. I’d like to thank the fans for coming out tonight.”

   George and Ed Lynch Jr. started on the front row. After two cautions delayed the start of the race, George outraced Lynch into turn one and then started to outdistance him. As George opened out to a huge lead, Todd Bauer dashed under Lynch in turn three to grab second. Laps ticked off quickly, and it took Lynch until the 11^th circuit to get back around Bauer. Jason Jacoby followed Lynch by Bauer, but caused the final caution of the race when his sprinter stopped on the inside of the third turn on the 15^th circuit. Lynch was unable to mount any challenge against George, who raced on to the popular win by 2.072 seconds. Lynch finished second over Bauer, Andy Priest and Rob Eyler. George and Lynch won the Super Sprint heat races.

   Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., used the extreme inside cushion to wrestle the lead from Joe Crawford just past the halfway mark of the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature. Once out front, Bolland cruised to his 23^rd career win at Tri-City in his Cintas Uniforms/Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe Bicknell No. 777. Bolland is now one win away from tying Lou Blaney and Ed Lynch as the all-time DIRT Modified winner at Tri-City. The win also broke a tie between Bolland and the late Jeff Hoffman for the most DIRT Modified wins in Tri-City’s modern era, which started in 1996 when the track reopened.

   “This one’s for mom,” said Bolland, whose mother, Rosalie, is fighting a bout with leukemia. “We had to run inside the inside groove tonight. The track was just the way we like it. I’m sure the other guys will catch up to us. It’s an honor to be nearing the win mark set by Lou and Ed. Those guys were leaders, and it means a lot. But, we have to take it one win at a time.”

   Crawford and Jeremy Paup led the field to the green, and Crawford jumped into the early lead. By the second lap, Bolland, who started fifth, was running second. He caught Crawford, but could not find a room to pass him amidst heavy lapped traffic. Two cautions slowed the race enough that Bolland was able to make his move. As the two drivers raced off the fourth turn at the halfway mark, Bolland sliced his way under Crawford. Although Crawford led the 10^th circuit, Bolland led into turn one. From there, he cruised to a 5.871-second win. Crawford finished second over Rex King. Matching his run in the Super Sprint main, Andy Priest finished fourth ahead of Jim Rasey. Defending track champion Del Rougeux Jr., Priest and Russell King captured the DIRT Modified heats.

   Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa., picked up where he left off at the end of his 2005 championship season as he won the 15-lap E Mod feature. Driving Scott Bidwell’s Fame RV Center/Eddie’s Foot Long Pierce No. 21, Lux took the lead on the 10^th circuit from Justin Carlson and held off Dave Hess Jr. for his ninth career win in the class at Tri-City.

   “We’ve struggled with this car at the other tracks this season,” said Lux. “The team worked hard and came together to get this win. The track was great tonight. We tried a new set of Hoosier tires, and I just couldn’t get them to fire. It seemed to take us a little bit to get them to run well. They worked at the end, and we’re here in victory lane.”

   Jim Frontz and Todd Roncaglione led the 24-car field to the green flag, and Frontz jumped out to the early lead. Six cautions slowed the race, but those delays kept the field close and promoted wheel-to-wheel racing and multiple passing. Roncaglione led two circuits before newcomer Justin Carlson took the lead. Racing out of the Stateline-Eriez circuit, Carlson led seven circuits in an amazing first-time run at Tri-City. Behind him, Lutz managed to work his way forward. On the ninth circuit, he drove under Frontz in turn two. One lap later, on the fifth restart, Lux drove under Carlson, who left some room on the bottom of the track in turn one. Hess followed Lux by Carlson off turn four on the following lap. The final caution allowed Hess to close on Lux with two laps to go, but Lux would not be denied the win. Hess finished second over Carlson. Brent Rhebergen teamed with Shawn Shingledecker for a two-car assault this night. Rhebergen, who has two track titles and 41 career wins in the class, finished fourth. Sharon Speedway track champion Bill Thomas slipped by Frontz for fifth. Lux, Carlson and Roncaglione won the E Mod heats. Shingledecker won the B main.

   The last time Dave Ferringer was in victory lane, he was celebrating his win in the 2004 CSOnline Applefest 100. Winless in 2005, the Cochranton, Pa., racer came back with a vengeance and scored the opening night win in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. Ferringer passed Scott Myers for the lead on the ninth circuit, and won with a 2.385-second advantage in this Donovan Bauer Auto Group/Lowry’s Auto Body Chevrolet No. 02.

   “We tried real hard to win last season, but little things kept breaking,” said Ferringer after his 14^th career win, which ties him for third on the all-time Pro Stock win list with Bobby Powell. “We worked the bugs out of this car late last year. Scott gave me some room and I had to take it. I couldn’t give up that bottom groove.”

   Rusty Kellogg and Matt Thomas were on the front row at the start of the race. However, Myers used his third starting spot to dash under Kellogg and Thomas on the opening lap. Behind him, Doug Iorio II and Ferringer quickly moved into second and third before the race’s lone caution slowed the event on the fifth circuit. On the restart, Ferringer drove under Iorio in turn two and took second. He caught Myers and waited for the right moment. It came on the ninth circuit when Myers drove a little high into turn three. Ferringer pounced and drove his way past Myers for the lead and eventual win. While Ferringer paced the field, Myers and Iorio dueled for second in a fantastic show for the fans. They traded paint and spots before Iorio secured second at the finish. Myers finished third. Tim Engles and Mike Pegher Jr. rounded out the top five. Pegher passed Bobby Whitling on the final circuit. For Pegher, it was a disappointing end to a winning weekend as he entered the event following victories at Lernerville Speedway and Mercer Raceway Park. Ferringer, defending Thundercar champ Chad Myers and Whitling won the Pro Stock heat races.

   Curt Bish Sr. of Titusville, Pa., captured his second career feature win in the 12-lap Thundercar main event. Piloting his Dennis Baker Construction Chevrolet No. 29, Bish took the lead on the fourth circuit and never looked back. The former Mercer Raceway Park champion last won at Tri-City on August 22, 2004. This event was also the 50^th Thundercar feature race at Tri-City since the division started in 2003.

   “This car runs great and the team did a fantastic job,” said Bish. “I think I may give up the driving seat to my boy, Curtis J. Bish, after this win.”

   After a jumbled start to the race, Bill Myers took the lead from polesitter Jeff Manners off the first turn on the first lap to pace the field initially. Bish was running third at a restart on the fourth circuit, and used the inside cushion to perfection. At times running three-wide, Bish took the lead of the race from Myers and Manners. From there, he was never headed. In his class debut, Myers finished second ahead of Manners, Ed Deloe and Regina Deloe. After Bish took the lead and completed the fourth lap, Patrick Fielding rolled his car in turn one, but was uninjured. Josh Seippel and Bish captured the Thundercar heats.

   Tri-City Speedway will be back in action next Sunday May 7^th with a five-star racing program of action that includes the 4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRT Modifieds, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and Klapec Auto Body Thundercars. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be a family friendly $11.

   SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Ed Lynch Jr., 3. Todd Bauer, 4. Andy Priest, 5. Rob Eyler, 6. Bob Felmlee, 7. Skip Dougherty, 8. Russ Sansosti, 9. Gale Ruth , 10. Jason Jacoby, 11. Jeff Kasbee, 12. Riki Likowski, 13. John Schuyler, 14. Brent Covell.
   DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Joe Crawford, 3. Rex King, 4. Andy Priest, 5. Jim Rasey, 6. Del Rougeux Jr., 7. Dave Murdick, 8. Russell King, 9. Lenny Leibold Jr., 10. Travis Shingledecker, 11. Dave Schrader, 12. Chanda Reitz, 13. Dean Pearson, 14. Skip Moore, 15. Mike Turner, 16. Kevin Hoffman, 17. Chris Schiffer, 18. Gary Risch Jr., 19. Rexy King Jr., 20. Carl Murdick, 21. Dave Walters, 22. Jeremy Paup, 23. Jason Reagle, 24. Chris Hartman, 25. Jeremiah Shingledecker.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MATT LUX, 2. Dave Hess Jr., 3. Justin Carlson, 4. Brent Rhebergen, 5. Bill Thomas, 6. Jim Frontz, 7. Carl McKinney, 8. Shawn Shingledecker, 9. Dale Applebee, 10. Jeff Walters, 11. Todd Roncaglione, 12. Russ Dunn, 13. Aurie Weaver, 14. David Atkinson, 15. Tim Henrich, 16. Russ Dempsey, 17. Ron Seeley, 18. Evan Taylor, 19. Bruce Powell, 20. Jason Johns, 21. Jeff Taylor, 22. Mike Potosky, 23. Mike Samuelson, 24. Andy Sweetland. DNQ: Tim Rhoades, Mike Butler, Jesse Deloe, Gerry Kielar, Dustin Fraley, Hugo Litwiler, Dustin Eckman, Josh Skarzenski, Jamie Shetler, Dave Willoughby.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. DAVE FERRINGER, 2. Doug Iorio II, 3. Scott Myers, 4. Tim Engles, 5. Mike Pegher Jr., 6. Bobby Whitling, 7. Joe Lockhart, 8. Rusty Kellogg, 9. Russ Coyne, 10. Bob Sloss, 11. Jason Engles, 12. Andy Buckley, 13. Denny Crawford, 14. Terry Wheeler, 15. Mike Miller, 16. Rod Laskey, 17. Chad Myers, 18. Gary Proper, 19. Bobby Sutley, 20. Jim Tucker, 21. Matt Thomas, 22. Jackson Humanic, 23. Bruce Powell. DNS: Jeff Lockhart, Dick Smith, Matt Keith.
   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. CURT BISH SR., 2. Bill Myers, 3. Jeff Manners, 4. Ed Deloe, 5. Regina Deloe, 6. Charlie McMillen, 7. Bill Winters, 8. Bill Hale, 9. John K. Miller II, 10. Jeremy Gates, 11. Joe Blake, 12. Andy Miller, 13. Cody Manners, 14. Josh Seippel, 15. Bill Kluck Jr., 16. Dave Airgood Jr., 17. Patrick Fielding, 18. Gary Bedow, 19. Ken Klock. DNS: Kenny Alcorn, Jon Huff.

   UPCOMING EVENTS
   May 7 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars

   May 14 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks, Thundercars and Powder Puff Pro Stock Race

   May 21 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars

   May 28 – Rankin & Sons Excavating Presents 3rd Annual Dick Rankin Memorial (Super Sprints, BRP Modified Tour 2006/Schwab’s Ford Big Block Modified Challenge Series, E Mods, William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series, Thundercars)