ROD GEORGE WINS ONE FOR THE AGES IN SUPER SPRINT MAIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; KEVIN BOLLAND, SHAWN SHINGLEDECKER, JASON REAGLE AND JOSH SEIPPEL ALSO CAPTURE WINS
by Brian Spaid

July 1, 2007 

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Tri-City Speedway celebrated the nation’s birth with the first of two Independence Day specials on Sunday night as Rod George (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab’s Ford DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Shawn Shingledecker (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Jason Reagle (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Josh Seippel (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) scored feature wins on Edward Jones Fireworks Extravaganza Night at the Venango County half-mile oval. Shingledecker won the second Allegheny Toyota E Series of the season.

   In a race for the ages, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., captured the 20-lap Super Sprint feature for his sixth win of the season after an amazing battle with Rob Eyler. The lead changed hands nine times in a competitive inside-outside duel that left the fans in awe and excited about Tuesday night’s All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Series race. The race reached its climax on the 17^th circuit when George took the lead for the last time and Eyler spun in turn four dropping him from contention for the win. George then raced his Notary Express/Dr. John Crawford III Family Practice Maxim No. 4 to his 46^th career win at Tri-City and his third win in a row.

   “We’ll give it a shot Tuesday night,” said George in victory lane to a mixture of cheers and boos. “Our crew has done a great job all season. That was a great race with Rob. He loves to run that top side. I’d like to thank all the fans for supporting all of the racers no matter who their favorite is.”

   George raced from third to first before the completion of one lap, but a near violent wreck ensued at the end of that circuit when Todd Bauer spun in front of the pack off turn four while running third. His car was clipped by Tracy Potter and the front end was sheered off, but all the other racers managed to avoid him. Once that accident was cleared, George and Eyler commenced their wild race. On the fourth lap, Eyler rocketed past George off turn four to lead at the line only to have George dash back under him in turns one and two to resume command of the race. The same moves occurred two more times, laps six to seven and eight to nine. On the 11^th lap, Eyler surprised George by diving under him into turn one taking away George’s momentum and the lead. Eyler held onto the top spot until the 17^th circuit. Amidst lapped traffic, George drove under Eyler in turn two. Eyler then charged hard into turns three and four and looped his car off turn four. He kept the car running and completed the spin, but fell back to fourth. A late caution closed the field, but George would not be denied the win. Bob Felmlee finished second over Jody Keegan, Eyler and Carl Bowser, who passed Andy McKisson on the last lap to round out the top five. Felmlee and Eyler won the Super Sprint heats for the 21-car field.

   Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., drove from tenth to the win in the non-stop 20-lap DIRTcar Big Block Modified feature. Driving his Cintas Uniform/Bolland Machine Bicknell No. 777, Bolland took the lead from early pacesetter Dave Murdick with three laps to go. He then cruised to his second win of the season and the 28^th feature win of his career.

   “We’ve been trying to get this new Bicknell chassis working,” said Bolland. “Our team always seems to come together about this time of the year. I’d really like to thank our fans for sticking with us. We’ve had some difficult times lately, and it means a lot for them to stay behind us.”

   Murdick started the race from the pole position and jumped out to a quick lead over Dave Schrader. Bolland was running fourth by the third circuit. He then chased down point leader Rex King for third on the 10^th circuit. Two laps later, Bolland took the outside line around Schrader for second. He then made up a 2.4-second difference to Murdick in five laps. Taking to the outside line in turn four, Bolland raced into first with three laps to go. Bolland crossed the line ahead of Murdick, Schrader, King and Rex King Jr., who scored his best career finish at Tri-City. Del Rougeux Jr. and Bolland won the DIRTcar Big Block Modified heats.

   Shawn Shingledecker of Franklin, Pa., captured his second E Mod victory in a row winning the 20-lap Allegheny Toyota E Series race in his Red Express/Venango Steel/Madera Equipment Pierce No. 54S. Taking command of the race on the sixth circuit from Bobby Whitling, Shingledecker hit every mark and survived six cautions to snare his sixth career win at Tri-City.

   “That was a tough race with Bobby,” said Shingledecker, who won the 2006 track title with his former teammate Brent Rhebergen. “We got some great momentum to get by him. This car was fast tonight, and our team has this car running excellent now.”

   Whitling held off Mike Potosky at the start of the race to take the early lead as Shingledecker slipped into second. Shingledecker hounded Whitling and found some room outside the defending Pro Stock track champion in turn four to take the lead on the sixth circuit. Behind them, Potosky and Jim Frontz engaged in a spirited duel for third. Justin Carlson joined that fray as those three drivers exchanged positions three to five several times for over half of the race. With five laps to go, Whitling suddenly suffered major handling problems. His car drifted wide in turns three and four, which allowed Frontz underneath. Potosky, Carlson and point leader Carl McKinney, who was driving Al Cressley’s car after McKinney’s primary ride suffered engine problems in hot laps, all passed Whitling over the last five laps. At the checkered flag, Shingledecker was the winner over Frontz. Carlson passed Potosky late in the race to finish third. Potosky and McKinney rounded out the top five. Potosky and Jason Johns won the E Mod heats.

   After suffering a disqualification last week due to a weight violation, Jason Reagle of Oil City, Pa., redeemed himself by winning the 15-lap Pro Stock main in his R.K. Virgile Scrap Metals Dodge No. Triple 8. Reagle passed rookie Chris Haines on the eighth circuit and raced to his second win of the season and the sixth of his career at Tri-City.

   “This track was racy tonight,” said Reagle. “You have to slow down to run fast and set the car up right. Last week, we were just five pounds light. Sometimes that happens. This makes up for it. The crew did an excellent job.”

   Haines started on the pole position and took the lead at the start of the race. Danny Exley and Matt Thomas were behind him. By the third lap, Reagle was running third after passing Thomas. One lap later, Reagle drove under Exley and set his sights on Haines. The rookie was impressive as he withstood pressure from Reagle. On the seventh circuit, Dave Ferringer stopped in turn two. On the restart, Reagle used the outside cushion to his advantage. Taking the longer way around the track, Reagle was leading the pack at the end of the eighth lap. Point leader Doug Iorio II entered the battle on the ninth circuit passing Thomas for fourth. Out front, however, Reagle was never challenged. Haines finished a career best second over Exley, Iorio and Jackson Humanic, who made a move on the last lap for the position. Iorio and Reagle won the Pro Stock heats.

   Given his experience and past success, Josh Seippel of Franklin, Pa., entered the 2007 season as a favorite to win the Thundercar track championship. However, bad luck hampered his efforts until Sunday night, when he drove his Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal/Precision Tool & Die/Paint Medics Chevrolet No. 84 to his first win of the season in the 13-lap Thundercar feature. It was his fifth career win at Tri-City.

   “We’ve had a tough season so far,” said Seippel. “Hopefully, we have things back on track.”

   Ed Deloe took the lead at the start of the race, which was marred by a rollover at the end of the first circuit by rookie Curtis E. Bish. He was able to continue after a red flag period, and Deloe still led the field after the restart. On the second circuit, Charlie McMillen raced under Deloe in turn two to take command. By the fourth circuit, Seippel was running second. He dogged McMillen for several laps both high and low. On the 10^th circuit, Seippel was able to find some bite on the inside of turn two to take the lead. A late caution extended the race by an extra circuit, but that did not slow Seippel. McMillen suffered a flat tire with less than two laps to go ending his fine run. At the checkered flag, Seippel was the winner over Bill Myers, Cody Manners, Deloe and Regina Deloe. Patrick Fielding and Myers won the Thundercar heat races.

   Tri-City Speedway will be back in action on Tuesday July 3^rd as the track hosts the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Series. The event, dubbed The Freedom Fifty, will feature an entire slate of time trials and preliminary races leading up to a double-point, 30-lap All Star Super Sprint event. Sharon Speedway’s Limited Sprints will also be on the card in a 20-lap special. The Klapec Auto Body Thundercars will round out the show. Gates open at 4 p.m. and time trials start at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $20.

   Tri-City then returns on Sunday July 8^th with another five-star show featuring the 4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints, Schwab's Ford DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, and Klapec Auto Body Thundercars. It will be Scout Night at the track as all Boy and Girl Scouts in uniform will receive free grandstand admission. 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. Bob Felmlee, 3. Jody Keegan, 4. Rob Eyler, 5. Carl Bowser, 6. Andy McKisson, 7. Brent Covell, 8. Cory Good, 9. Daryl Stimeling, 10. John Schuyler, 11. Danny Holtgraver, 12. Terry Bowser, 13. Paul Kish, 14. Joe Deihl, 15. Lee Stark, 16. Lindsay Enscoe, 17. Mark Whitebread, 18. Gale Ruth Jr., 19. Russ Sansosti, 20. Tracy Potter, 21. Todd Bauer.

   DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Dave Murdick, 3. Dave Schrader, 4. Rex King, 5. Rex King Jr., 6. Russell King, 7. Skip Moore, 8. Andy Priest, 9. Kevin Hoffman, 10. Carl Murdick, 11. Mike Turner, 12. Del Rougeux Jr., 13. Jeremiah Shingledecker.

   E MODS (E SERIES) (20 Laps): 1. SHAWN SHINGLEDECKER, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Justin Carlson, 4. Mike Potosky, 5. Carl McKinney, 6. Jason Johns, 7. Bobby Whitling, 8. Bruce Powell, 9. Bill Thomas, 10. Tim Engles, 11. Evan Taylor, 12. Butch Lambert, 13. Shawn Domhoff, 14. Jeff Walters, 15. Jim Turely, 16. Jonathan Taylor, 17. Jeff Deeter, 18. Gary Sullivan, 19. Jared Domhoff, 20. Scott Malone, 21. Chip Mahood. DNS: Al Cressley.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. JASON REAGLE, 2. Chris Haines, 3. Danny Exley, 4. Doug Iorio II, 5. Jackson Humanic, 6. Matt Thomas, 7. Bobby Sutley, 8. Gerry Bruce, 9. Terry Wheeler, 10. Rod Laskey, 11. Denny Crawford, 12. Jeff Lockhart, 13. Jeff Manners, 14. Don Kramer, 15. A.J. MacQuarrie, 16. Jim Keith, 17. Rusty Kellogg, 18. Dave Ferringer, 19. Russ Coyne. DNS: Randy Wyant.

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JOSH SEIPPEL, 2. Bill Myers, 3. Cody Manners, 4. Ed Deloe, 5. Regina Deloe, 6. Joe Blake, 7. Curtis E. Bish, 8. Bill Winters, 9. Patrick Fielding, 10. Chester Ralph, 11. Greg Myers, 12. Kevin Muir, 13. Bill Baker, 14. Andy Miller, 15. Dave Fleeger, 16. Charlie McMillen, 17. John K. Miller, 18. Bill Hale, 19. Jason Swartz. 

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   July 3 – “The Freedom Fifty” Featuring All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints, Limited Sprints and Thundercars

   July 8 – Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Buyer’s Fair Pennzoil Night) (Scout Night – All Scouts in Uniform Receive Free Grandstand Admission)

   July 15 – Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds (BRP Modified Tour 2007/Schwab’s Ford Big Block Modified Challenge Series 15^th Annual Kodiak Memorial), E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Atkinson Fire Safety Equipment Night)

   July 22 – Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks, Thundercars and Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby (Joy Employee Fund Night)

   July 29 – Speedway Closed – No Races