ANDY PRIEST SCORED 100^th CAREER WIN IN TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY MODIFIED RUN; BOBBY POWELL, CARL MCKINNEY, BOBBY WHITLING AND JEFF MANNERS ALSO VICTORIOUS
by Brian Spaid

July 12, 2009

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Under beautiful weather conditions, Tri-City Speedway hosted another five-star racing show on Sunday night as Andy Priest (Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Bobby Powell (4 Your Connection FASTRAK Late Models), Carl McKinney (RPM Auto Sales/Sherry 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 Ultra-Graph-X and National City/PNC Bank Night.

   Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa., celebrated a special win in the 20-lap DIRTcar Big Block Modified main event as he scored his 100^th overall career feature win. Over the years, Priest scored the majority of his wins in Big Block, Small Block, and Sportsman Modified classes throughout the region. On this night, Priest led every lap aboard Ted Hull’s Specialty Products/Image Factory Signs & Graphics Teo Pro Car No. 41, and earned his 11^th career DIRTcar Big Block Modified win at Tri-City. It was his first since September 4, 2005, however.

   “It’s been a long time,” said Priest, who dominated the race leading by 5.336 seconds at the finish. “We’ve been sitting at 99 wins for a long time, and I have to thank everyone involved over my career. I also want to thank all the fans here tonight. Without your support, I could not do this.”

   Priest leapt into the lead from the pole position at the start of the race, which was marred by three cautions in the first five laps. On one of those cautions, point leader Jeremiah Shingledecker and Kevin Bolland collided off turn four sending Shingledecker airborne into the front wall and collecting Brian Swartzlander, Brad Rapp and Rob Curtis. All cars continued at the rear of the field, and the fans were treated to a dazzling display of driving talent as all of those drivers charged back through the field, although Shingledecker’s run was stymied by a flat tire late in the race.

   Out front, Priest controlled the race from start-to-finish. Bolland worked his way through the pack taking second on the final circuit after a stirring inside-outside duel with Dean Pearson. At the finish, Priest was the winner over Bolland, Pearson, Tommy Kristyak and Dave Murdick, who barely edged Swartzlander at the finish. Bolland and Joe Crawford won the DIRTcar Big Block Modified heat races.

   Bobby Powell of Waterford, Pa., captured his second FASTRAK Late Model feature of the 2009 season passing second generation driver Kyle Zimmerman after a fantastic battle for the lead. By winning the 20-lap main event, Powell beat Zimmerman for the second time this weekend as Powell turned the same trick at Raceway 7 on Friday night in Scott Bidwell’s Maloney Tool & Mold/Fame RV Center Rocket No. B1D. It was Powell’s fourth career FASTRAK Late Model win at Tri-City.

   “I feel bad for Kyle,” said Powell in victory lane. “I passed him Friday night too, so I’m sure he’s a little bummed. But, he’s a good driver. That was a fun race. I just needed to use the bottom lane to get past him and get up to the high lane ahead of him. I can’t thank Scott and the entire crew enough. They are an awesome crew.”

   Josh Double led the first circuit before Zimmerman took control of the race. By the third circuit, Powell was in the second position. Those two drivers then diced back and forth lap after lap through restarts and fast circuits. They traded the lead at least a half dozen times. Finally, on the 13^th circuit, Powell used the low line off turn four to take command, then slid ahead of Zimmerman in turn one to finally seize the lead. Mike Pegher Jr. charged forward as well. On the final lap, as Powell took the win, Pegher bolted by Zimmerman off turn four to steal second. Zimmerman finished third ahead of Bryan Salisbury and Butch Lambert. Lambert, Pegher, and Max Blair captured the FASTRAK Late Model heats.

   Two-time defending track champion Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., finally ended his 2009 victory drought with his first win of the season in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Driving Mike Hendrickson’s Holden Precision Machining Pierce No. 6M, McKinney took command of the race on the second circuit and was never headed. It was McKinney’s 11^th career E Mod feature win at Tri-City.

   “It’s been so long since we won a feature that I almost forgot how to get to victory lane,” smiled McKinney with his excited crew. “I think we finally have something that works on this track. We have not had bad races this year, we just could not put it all together and get a feature win. I’d like to thank Mike and the entire crew for this win too.”

   Tim Peterson led the initial circuit of the race before McKinney took the lead. Shawn Shingledecker moved into second on the third circuit, but could not chase down McKinney. Those two paced the field for the remainder of the race until the final laps. On the 14^th circuit, Peterson charged back around Shingledecker to take second off turn four. As Shingledecker slowed with an apparent mechanical problem, McKinney took the win. Peterson finished a career best second ahead of McKinney’s teammate Al Cressley, Mike Potosky and Shingledecker. Potosky and McKinney won the E Mod heats.

   For the third week in a row, Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., scored the win in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. Driving his Double Play Sports Bar/Dulaney’s Garage Chevrolet No. 7W, “The Seneca Slider” led every circuit and held off the hard charging Jason Johns to earn his third win of the season and the 47^th win of his career in the Pro Stock class at Tri-City.

   “I knew that Jason was back there and this is his type of track with a high groove that’s really fast,” said Whitling. “We’re still trying to get the FASTRAK Late Model ready to come back, but we’re having a lot of fun with the Pro Stock car.”

   Starting on the pole position, Whitling was able to take the lead at the start and hold off all comers. Matt Thomas tried to unseat Whitling first, but could not maintain pace with him. Thomas ran in second until the seventh circuit when Chris Haines and Johns raced past him, and then Johns passed Haines taking two spots in one lap. Johns chased down Whitling and took some stabs at the lead. It was to no avail as Whitling raced to the win over Johns, Haines, Thomas and Hall of Fame driver Les Myers. Randy Wyant and Johns won the Pro Stock heat races.

   Taking the lead on the final circuit, Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., captured his third Thundercar win of the season and tied Robby Switzer as the all-time feature winner in the class with 15 career victories. The 12-lap feature was dominated by fan favorite Regina Deloe, who lost the race on the final circuit when her car slowed with transmission problems allowing Manners to catch and pass her on the backstretch.

   “I actually was hoping Regina would hold on to win,” said Manners in victory lane beside his Jerry’s Auto/Manners Contracting Chevrolet No. 16. “But she slowed, and I wasn’t going to slow down for her with all the cars behind me. Robby Switzer dominated this class for a few years, and it took us a while to tie him, but I’m real happy for the entire team.”

   Deloe led from the start of the race and held off Bill Winters most of the way. The crowd was on its feet cheering Deloe to her first career win. On restarts, she outdueled Winters each time. Manners finally worked his way past Winters on the 10^th circuit. For all intents and purposes, it appeared as if Deloe would be victorious. Then, on the final circuit, Deloe suddenly slowed. Manners caught and past her on the backstretch. Deloe’s transmission recovered from its malfunction and she managed to try to charge back under him in turn three, but there was no way she could stop him. In the end, Manners was victorious over Deloe, Jon Huff, Greg Myers and Dave Baker. Baker and Joe Sloss won the Thundercar heats. Baker also captured a special four-lap National City Bank/PNC Bank Drive Thru event, which featured the drivers tossing Frisbees into garbage cans at the start-finish line while racing their cars.

   Next Sunday July 19^th, the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprints will invade Tri-City Speedway with a special 30-lap event paying $5,000-to-win.  In addition, the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series will make its first appearance of the season at Tri-City. Rounding out the huge four division show will be the E Mods competing in the Welding Technologies/Shaw Industries E Series, and the Pro Stocks will run the first Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race of 2009 in an open event. Gates open at 2:30 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Time trials for the All Star Sprints will be at 5 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $25 and student admission will be $15. Children 12 and under will be admitted free.  Pit grandstand admission will be $35. 

   DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST, 2. Kevin Bolland, 3. Dean Pearson, 4. Tommy Kristyak, 5. Dave Murdick, 6. Brian Swartzlander, 7. Brad Rapp, 8. Tommy Mattocks Jr., 9. Mike Turner, 10. Rob Curtis, 11. Carl Murdick, 12. Randy Chronister, 13. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 14. Kevin Hoffman, 15. Mark Flick, 16. Jeremy Paup, 17. Joe Crawford. DNS: Del Rougeux Jr.

   FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. BOBBY POWELL, 2. Mike Pegher Jr., 3. Kyle Zimmerman, 4. Bryan Salisbury, 5. Butch Lambert, 6. Max Blair, 7. Carl McKinney, 8. Rick Meglaye, 9. Derek Frank, 10. Andrew Wylie, 11. Kyle Thomas, 12. Dan Karalagas, 13. Jim Frank, 14. Bud Watson, 15. Tommy Shirnhofer Jr., 16. Steve Hollabaugh, 17. Joey Valenti, 18. Les Lyon, 19. Jason Fosnaught, 20. Rusty Cade, 21. Josh Double, 22. Tyler Barris, 23. Justin Lamb. DNS: Jamie Brown.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. CARL McKINNEY, 2. Tim Peterson, 3. Al Cressley, 4. Mike Potosky, 5. Shawn Shingledecker, 6. Evan Taylor, 7. Tim Engles, 8. Gary Sullivan, 9. Butch lambert, 10. Butch Southwell, 11. Rick Pratschler, 12. Jeff Deeter, 13. Kevin Miller, 14. Travis Asel, 15. Jonathan Taylor, 16. Ron Roncaglione, 17. Tyler Powell.

   PRO STOCK (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Jason Johns, 3. Chris Haines, 4. Matt Thomas, 5. Les Myers, 6. Rod Laskey, 7. Jackson Humanic, 8. Dave Ferringer, 9. Ed Deloe, 10. Jason Reagle, 11. Jim Keith, 12. Bill Myers, 13. Randy Wyant, 14. Bob Sloss.

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JEFF MANNERS, 2. Regina Deloe, 3. Jon Huff, 4. Greg Myers, 5. Dave Baker, 6. Curtis E. Bish, 7. Bill Winters, 8. Joe Sloss, 9. Jace Ferringer, 10. Alan Perry, 11. Richard Swartz, 12. Mike Dobrick.