ED LYNCH JR., REX KING, BRENT RHEBERGEN, BOBBY WHITLING AND JEFF MANNERS SCORE FEATURE WINS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY
by Brian Spaid

July 9, 2006

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... After two consecutive rainouts, Tri-City Speedway was back in action on Sunday night under hot and humid conditions as Ed Lynch Jr. (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Rex King (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Jeff Manners (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) captured feature wins on Buyer’s Fair Pennzoil Night at the Venango County half-mile oval. Rhebergen’s win was the opener for the 2006 Fame RV Center E Series. The fans also enjoyed the Giant Eagle/Edward Jones Investments Fireworks Extravaganza at the end of the night.

   In the final practice run before next week’s National Sprint Tour (NST) event, Ed Lynch Jr. of Apollo, Pa., captured the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. Taking the lead from John Schuyler with a bold move on the outside of turn one on the second lap, Lynch blasted to an insurmountable lead. Three cautions and one red flag slowed the pace, but Lynch was never headed as he raced to his first win at Tri-City since June 6, 2004, aboard his Howard Concrete J&J No. 2L. It was Lynch’s 24^th career win at Tri-City.

   “They’ve made some changes to this track, and it’s really improved it,” said Lynch. “The lapped traffic is tough because you know someone can catch you in it. We hope to be ready for next week. We’ll be here!”

   Todd Bauer and Schuyler led the field to the green flag. Schuyler took command, but Lynch quickly established his dominance. Taking the lead on the second circuit, Lynch opened up a huge advantage over Bauer, who battled with Schuyler for second until it was secured by the sixth circuit after a restart following back-to-back cautions. Although Lynch was fast, Bauer ran strong and kept Lynch within his sights at times, especially in lapped traffic. Behind them, Bob Felmlee and Rod George dueled for third after the midpoint of the race. On the 18^th circuit, New York invader Chuck Hebing nailed the second turn wall and flipped causing a red flag. Hebing was uninjured. After the restart, Lynch cruised to the win over Bauer, Felmlee, George and Andy McKisson. Brent Covell and George won the Super Sprint heats.

   Rex King of Bristolville, Ohio, captured his second feature win of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified main. King held off a last lap passing attempt by former track champion Andy Priest for a thrilling victory. Entering the third turn, Priest caught King in lapped traffic. He dove under him and pulled off a slide job to the top of the track taking the lead from King. The move was daring, but caused Priest to spin at the top of turn four. King simply drove under Priest and grabbed his eighth career win at Tri-City.
   “My tires started to go away and I knew Andy had a head of steam,” said King in victory lane beside his King Bros./Alltell/Cortland Banks Bicknell No. 65. “He made that move and I was just going to drive under him off the turn coming the finish line. Then, he spun. I never thought that last year could be topped, but this has been a great season so far with wins at Lernerville Speedway, Sharon Speedway and here.”

   Chris Schiffer jumped into the early lead, but a caution after one lap allowed King to restart beside Schiffer. At the drop of the green, King bolted in front of Schiffer and shut him out of the high groove entering he first turn on the second lap. Priest jumped into third and chased down Schiffer making an inside pass in turn two to snare second on the fourth circuit. On the seventh lap, Jeremiah Shingledecker hit the outside wall in turn two while racing with Dave Schrader for position, and the contact sent Shingledecker flipping high in the air. He was uninjured. After the restart, King opened up ground on the field before his tires began to fade. Although Priest made his last ditch effort on the final circuit, in the end, King came home the winner over Schiffer, Chanda Reitz, Del Rougeux Jr. and Schrader. King and Priest won the DIRT Modifieds heats.

   Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., opened the 2006 Fame RV Center E Series with a commanding victory in the 20-lap E Mod feature. Driving Shawn Shingledecker’s Lucky Hills Golf Course/Madara Equipment Pierce No. 45S, Rhebergen captured his 44^th career win at Tri-City. Shingledecker finished second making the race the second consecutive 1-2 finish for the team.

   “I can’t say enough about the Shingledeckers,” said Rhebergen. “They’ve given me a great car to drive. Shawn is coming on strong and he’s going to beat me soon. I want to dedicate this win to my father, Larry. He was diagnosed with cancer recently, and it’s been hard to focus on racing the last few weeks. This one’s for him.”

   A ragged start found Todd Roncaglione passing Aurie Weaver at the completion of the first circuit before a wild incident. Coming off turn two after completing the second lap, Roncaglione suddenly slowed. The second and third place cars of Russ Dempsey and Weaver then crashed into Roncaglione causing a caution, which vaulted Matt Lux and Rhebergen into first and second. On the restart, Rhebergen worked under Lux to take command. Shingledecker moved into second on the sixth circuit. From there, it was a Rhebergen-Shingledecker benefit event as the two leaders raced to a convincing 1-2 finish. Behind them, Jeff Taylor engaged in a race-long duel with Lux for third. Taylor topped Lux at the end followed by Evan Taylor in fifth. Jim Frontz and Mike Potosky won the E Mod heat races. In the second heat race, Roncaglione set a brand new track record for the E Mods at 20.066 seconds, which equates to 89.704 mph.

   Three weeks ago, Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., ended a near two-year losing streak with a win. Although two rainouts slowed him down, he was not done and returned to victory lane for his second consecutive victory in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. Driving his E&K Equipment/Double Play Sports Bar Chevrolet No. 7W, Whitling battled with Rusty Kellogg for the lead over the first half of the race, then drove to his 39^th career win at Tri-City.

   “I think we’re back,” said Whitling. “It’s been a great three weeks. After our last win, Chrissy Dulaney and I had a baby boy on Monday. Now we’ve got a second feature win. Rusty was real tough. He got by me, which surprised me. I think he had a different tire compound though because my hard compound tires fired up after a few laps and we were able to get by him for the win.”

   Whitling started on the pole position and barely led the first circuit before Kellogg raced to the outside of him entering the first turn. Once out front, Kellogg gave his racer a stellar run leading the next six circuits. On the eighth circuit, Whitling used the outside cushion to perfection as the handling on his car improved. Taking the lead from Kellogg, he raced on to victory. Meanwhile, Kellogg battled with point leader Doug Iorio II for second. On the final circuit, Iorio finally found racing room under Kellogg, but it was too late to catch Whitling. Iorio finished second while Kellogg scored a career-best third. Rod Laskey and Dave Ferringer rounded out the top five. Jackson Humanic and Iorio won the Pro Stock heat races.

   Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., parlayed a pole position into his fourth win of the season in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Manners held off the hard charging Bill Kluck Jr. for his ninth career feature win in his Jerry’s Auto Repair/Cherrytree General Store Buick No. 16. It was Manners’ third win in a row and came on his 46^th birthday.

   “I’ve got to tell all the fans,” said Manners, “that if you want to have fun and go racing, you’ve got to build one of these cars. It’s a blast.”

   Manners took immediate command of the race at the start. Kluck quickly moved into second and chased down Manners. On the fifth circuit, Manners drifted high in turn two, which allowed Kluck to drive under him. Although Manners held off Kluck, the near pass awakened Manners. Maintaining focus around the track, Manners survived two cautions and raced home the winner. Kluck finshed second over Joe Blake, Josh Seippel and Bill Myers. Seippel and Myers won the Thundercar heats.

   Tri-City Speedway features the biggest sprint car race in track history next Sunday July 16^th with the National Sprint Tour (NST). The NST event will feature some of the best sprint car drivers in the nation, including Steve Kinser, Danny Lasoski, Tim Kaeding, Jason Solwold and Dean Jacobs in a 30-lap event that pays $10,000-to-win. In addition, the Pro Stocks will run their second William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series event of the season. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $25.

   SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Todd Bauer, 3. Bob Felmlee, 4. Rod George, 5. Andy McKisson, 6. Andy Priest, 7. Rob Eyler, 8. Jason Jacoby, 9. John Schuyler, 10. Danny Holtgraver, 11. Cory Good, 12. Dave Murdick/Gary Rankin, 13. Karl Baker, 14. Paul Kish, 15. Brent Matus, 16. Russ Sansosti, 17. Bud Watt, 18. Chuck Hebing, 19. Scott Rodgers, 20. Gale Ruth, 21. Brent Covell.

   DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. REX KING, 2. Chris Schiffer, 3. Chanda Reitz, 4. Del Rougeux Jr., 5. Dave Schrader, 6. Skip Moore, 7. Dean Pearson, 8. Kevin Bolland, 9. Mike Turner, 10. Rex King Jr., 11. Carl Murdick, 12. Jeremy Paup, 13. Andy Priest, 14. Dave Walters, 15. Ryan Haney, 16. Dave Murdick, 17. Joe Crawford, 18. Randy Chronister, 19. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 20. Russell King, 21. Kyle Ripper, 22. Lenny Leibold Jr., 23. Chris Hartman.

   E MODS (20 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Shawn Shingledecker, 3. Jeff Taylor, 4. Matt Lux, 5. Evan Taylor, 6. Carl McKinney, 7. Jim Frontz, 8. Bruce Powell, 9. Butch Lambert, 10. Mike Samuelson, 11. David Atkinson, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Russ Dempsey, 14. Aurie Weaver, 15. Chip Mahood, 16. Josh Rhodes, 17. Mike Potosky, 18. Jason Johns, 19. Todd Roncaglione. DNS: Jim Green.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Doug Iorio II, 3. Rusty Kellogg, 4. Rod Laskey, 5. Dave Ferringer, 6. Scott Myers, 7. Chad Myers, 8. Tim Engles, 9. Matt Thomas, 10. Joe Lockhart, 11. Jeff Lockhart, 12. Gary Proper, 13. Ronnie Davis, 14. Bob Sloss, 15. Mike Miller, 16. John Winters, 17. Randy Wyant, 18. Jackson Humanic, 19. Denny Crawford, 20. Matt Keith. DNS: Robby Switzer.

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JEFF MANNERS, 2. Bill Kluck Jr., 3. Joe Blake, 4. Josh Seippel, 5. Bill Myers, 6. Regina Deloe, 7. Charlie McMillen, 8. Jon Huff, 9. Bill Hale, 10. Wearne Cook, 11. Bill Winters, 12. Curt Bish Sr., 13. Cody Manners, 14. Dave Baker, 15. Kenny Alcorn, 16. John K. Miller, 17. Patrick Fielding, 18. Don Blake Jr., 19. Ed Deloe. DNS: Greg Myers.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   July 14-15 – Clear Channel Presents Monster Trucks at Tri-City Speedway!!

   July 16 – National Sprint Tour and William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks)

   July 23 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds (Kodiak Memorial/Schwab’s Ford Big Block Modified Challenge Series), E Mods, Pro Stocks, Thundercars and Lowry Auto Wrecking Mid-Size Car Demo Derby (Joy Employee Fund Night)

   July 30 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks, Thundercars and Spectator Races (Goss Gas and Lincoln Electric Presents Armed Forces Night)

   Aug. 6 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds (Schwab’s Ford Big Block Modified Challenge), E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Coors Brewing Bonus Bucks Night)