ROD GEORGE, DEL ROUGEUX JR., MIKE POTOSKY AND GERRY BRUCE REPEAT AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; ROBBY SWITZER ENDS CHAD MYERS’ THUNDERCAR WIN STREAK
by Brian Spaid

June 12, 2005

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Under hot and humid conditions, Tri-City Speedway featured another exciting Sunday night of five-star racing action as Rod George (Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints), Del Rougeux Jr. (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Mike Potosky (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Gerry Bruce (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Robby Switzer (4 Your Car Connection Thundercars) scored feature wins on Subway Night at the Venango County half-mile oval. Each winner received a certificate for a six-foot long Subway submarine sandwich while every crew member and driver in the pit area received a free Subway submarine sandwich during the night.

   Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., scored his fourth feature win of the season in the 20-lap Super Sprint main. After dueling with New York invader Jared Zimbardi for several circuits, George was finally able to sneak under Zimbardi in turn one on the 16^th lap. He then raced on to his 32^nd career win at Tri-City in his Delp Powder Coating/Dr. Marty’s Foot Care Maxim No. 4. It was also his second win of the weekend after a victory Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park.

   “Jared ran a great race,” said George. “We never touched out there. He just slipped up in turn one. If he didn’t do that, we wouldn’t have gotten by him. As I said last night, I have the best crew chief in all of western Pennsylvania in Rick Libeccio.”

   Andy McKisson took the lead from Dr. Bob Altmeyer at the start of the race. McKisson led until the third circuit when he spun out in turn three and collected Jarod Larson in an unfortunate accident. Larson’s car caught fire, but both drivers were uninjured. Both cars were eliminated from action as a result.

   Zimbardi inherited the lead on the restart. After finishing second on Friday night in a Patriot Sprint Group 360 Sprint race at Thunder Alley (NY) Speedway, Zimbardi was searching for victory in the Keystone State. Behind him, George quickly dashed through the traffic on the restart to run second. Zimbardi held off every challenge from the two-time track champion, who favors the inside line. Then, racing into turn one on the 16^th circuit, Zimbardi slipped out of the groove just enough for George to find room underneath him. Racing out of turn two, George took the lead and raced on to a 4.046-second victory. Zimbardi finished a career-best second followed by Bob Felmlee, Jody Keegan and Todd Bauer. George and Gary Rankin captured the Super Sprint heats.

   In the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature, Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., was a man on a mission. After watching Kevin Bolland win three consecutive features, Rougeux was determined to break that streak. After dueling with Chris Schiffer for several circuits, Rougeux finally secured the race lead on the 11^th lap and won his second feature of the season. It was his 10^th career win at Tri-City.

   “Last week, the race results story said Bolland was unstoppable,” said Rougeux. “No one is unstoppable! Pat Macauley of Bilstein Shocks and Bruce Harwood of Fastline Performance were a huge help this weekend. We owe them a lot for this win. There are a lot of strong race teams at this track and any one of them can win on any Sunday night.”

   Dave Schrader used his outside pole position to take the lead at the start over Schiffer. A caution on the third lap for Jeremiah Shingledecker’s spin in the second turn slowed the action. At the time, no one was aware that Shingledecker’s simple incident would be a major storyline of the race. Up front, Schiffer passed Schrader for first on the fourth circuit while Rougeux grabbed second one lap later. For several laps, Schiffer cruised around the topside of the track while Rougeux hugged the bottom groove. Rougeux eventually got the better of Schiffer and secured the top spot on the 11^th circuit. From there, the 2003 track champion was never headed as he scored a 1.748-second win.

   Behind Rougeux, Shingledecker put on an amazing show. Racing from the rear of the field, Shingledecker ran the race of his career. He entered the top five on the 14^th circuit. Then, he worked his way forward, including an amazing three-wide, middle groove pass for second between Lenny Leibold Jr. and Schiffer. In the end, Shingledecker and Leibold scored career-best finishes at Tri-City in second and third. Schrader and Schiffer rounded out the top five. Bolland finished sixth. Shingledecker and Brian Swartzlander won the DIRT Modified heat races.

   For the second week in a row, Mike Potosky of Guys Mills, Pa., was the man to beat in the E Mods. Leading every lap of the 15-lap feature, the defending track champion scored his second win of the season and the third of his career in his Tech Tool/Pizza Villa Pierce No. M20.

   “Starting up front works real well, and I’d like to thank the fan that pulled that inversion pill tonight,” said Potosky. “As I said last week, we’ve got something here. I just kept it straight and raced the track. I’d like to thank my crew for all they do to help us get here.”

   Despite starting in the second row, Potosky raced under Max Blair and Jamie Shetler off turn two at the start of the race to secure the lead. Behind him, however, the action was fast and furious. For many laps, David Atkinson ran second to Potosky. Racing the former Bruce Steadman-owned, Brent Rhebergen-driven car, it appeared as if Atkinson was in the hunt for the win. Point leader and three-time race winner Matt Lux had other ideas. Lux took second from Atkinson with four laps left in the race, but Lux was no match for Potosky. “The Polish Sausage” scored the win over Lux, Atkinson, Mike Samuelson and Blair. For Atkinson, it was a career-best run in the E Mod division. Russ Dempsey, Atkinson and Dave Hess Jr. won the E Mod heats.

   Gerry Bruce of Franklin, Pa., earned a hard fought victory in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. Using a four-wide pass on the sixth circuit in turn three, Bruce piloted Ken Humanic’s Eagle Hoist & Winch/Senesco Marine Chevrolet No. Z17 into the top spot and raced home with his second win of the season and his career at Tri-City.

   “Last year, on this very weekend, I lost a brother,” said an emotional Bruce in reference to his late brother, Ronnie Bruce. “I wanted to win this race for him. On that restart, I knew the guys in front of me would go high into the turn, but I didn’t realize we were four-wide. After driving a DIRT Modified all those years, I had to learn how to race these Pro Stocks. We’ve come a long way, and this is great to win again.”

   Doug Iorio beat Bruce into turn one at the start of the race. While Iorio ran up front, Rod Laskey challenged Bruce for second. Laskey took the spot away from Bruce on the fifth lap. A quick caution bunched the field together, and, after the restart, Bruce made his move. Entering turn three, Iorio drifted wide in order to move Laskey up the track and take his line. Bruce drove under both of them while Bobby Whitling stuck his nose in the mix too. Coming off turn four, Bruce was the new leader. Then, on an eighth lap restart, Bruce used his experience to perfection. Taking off at the right moment, he stretched the lead on Iorio until the end of the race. Iorio finished second over Laskey, point leader Jason Johns and Whitling. Whitling and Doug Iorio II scored wins in the Pro Stock heats.

   Taking advantage of the misfortunes of point leader and five-time race winner Chad Myers, Robby Switzer of Kennerdell, Pa., ended Myers’ win streak and scored his first win of the season in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Driving his B&M Floor and Sealy Bedding/Jerlin Self Storage Chevrolet No. 97, Switzer earned his 12^th career feature win.

   “The crew and I were talking just the other day about the fact that we’ve usually won by this time in the season,” said Switzer. “Chad’s been fast all season. I think we’ve got the car working well now, so we hope to be in victory lane more.”

   Starting fourth, Switzer drove past the front row of Wearne Cook and Curt Bish Sr. at the start of the race to take the lead before the completion of the first circuit. Myers spun on the frontchute after contact with Ed Deloe on the next lap, which caused a caution and slowed Myers’ pace. Two more cautions delayed Switzer’s effort temporarily as he cruised home the winner. Bish finished second while Myers climbed back to third by the checkered flag. Joe Blake and Josh Seippel rounded out the top five. Switzer and Curt J. Bish won the Thundercar heat races.

   At the end of the show, the fans enjoyed the One-on-One Spectator Races. Charley Gatesman of Knox, Pa., won the car division while William Hasbrouck of Titusville, Pa., won the truck division.

   Tri-City Speedway will be back in action next Sunday June 19^th with a five-star show that features the Victim’s Resource Center Ladies Modified Tour Charity Race. In addition, the Northpointe Automotive Super Sprints, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and 4 Your Car Connection Thundercars will be in action. The E Mods will run their first E Series race of 2005 on Cranberry Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Night. The DIRT Modified drivers will take the night off in order to allow the ladies to run their cars in the fourth annual charity event. In addition, the show will conclude with the first Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby of the year. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $10.

    SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Jared Zimbardi, 3. Bob Felmlee, 4. Jody Keegan, 5. Todd Bauer, 6. Rob Eyler, 7 Brent Covell, 8. John Schyler, 9. Gary Rankin, 10. Jeff Banyas, 11. Dr. Bob Altmeyer, 12. Skip Dougherty, 13. Sheila Rankin, 14. Andy McKisson, 15. Jarod Larson. DNS: Cody Jacobs.

   DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 3. Lenny Leibold Jr., 4. Dave Schrader, 5. Chris Schiffer, 6. Kevin Bolland, 7. Brian Swartzlander, 8. Rex King, 9. Skip Moore, 10. Jeremy Paup, 11. Dean Pearson, 12. Russell King, 13. Dave Murdick, 14. Chanda Reitz, 15. Kyle Ripper, 16. Chad Reitz, 17. Carl Murdick, 18. Mike Turner, 19. Dave Walters, 20. Keith Swartzlander.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MIKE POTOSKY, 2. Matt Lux, 3. David Atkinson, 4. Mike Samuelson, 5. Max Blair, 6. Kari Gasser, 7. Bruce Powell, 8. Mike Hess, 9. Dave Hess Jr., 10. Josh Skarzenski, 11. Russ Dempsey, 12. Jamie Shetler, 13. Bill Thomas, 14. Jim Frontz, 15. Wayne Mohawk, 16. Butch Lambert, 17. Andy Sweetland, 18. Aurie Weaver, 19. Chip Mahood, 20. Kevin Miller, 21. Billy Cunningham, 22. Adam Taylor, 23. Evan Taylor, 24. Bill Watson, 25. Howard Fraley, 26. Robert Double, 27. Wade Mohawk, 28. Shawn Shingledecker.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. GERRY BRUCE, 2. Doug Iorio, 3. Rod Laskey, 4. Jason Johns, 5. Bobby Whitling, 6. Doug Iorio II, 7. Rusty Kellogg, 8. Tim Engles, 9. Jason Reagle, 10. Joe Lockhart, 11. Dave Ferringer, 12. Bruce Smith, 13. Tom Scott, 14. Russ Coyne, 15. Gary Norman, 16. Gary Proper, 17. Ronnie Davis, 18. Denny Crawford, 19. Arthur Edwards, 20. Dick Pascorell, 21. Matt Keith, 22. Jeff Lockhart, 23. Matt Thomas.

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. ROBBY SWITZER, 2. Curt Bish Sr., 3. Chad Myers, 4. Joe Blake, 5. Josh Seippel, 6. Jeff Manners, 7. Wearne Cook, 8. Curt J. Bish, 9. Regina Deloe, 10. Don Blake Jr., 11. John K. Miller II, 12. Tom Kistler, 13. Ed Deloe, 14. John K. Miller, 15. Kenny Alcorn, 16. Bill Winters.
 
   UPCOMING EVENTS

   June 19 – Super Sprints, Victim’s Resource Center Ladies Modified Tour, E Mods (E Series), Pro Stocks, Thundercars and Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby (Cranberry Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change Night)

   June 26 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (WDDH 97.5 “The Hound” Night)

   July 3 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods (E Series), Pro Stocks (William R. Karns Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series) and Thundercars (Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza)(Clarion RRR Roadhouse Road Cruise 2005)