DEL ROUGEUX JR. WINS BRP MODIFIED TOUR KODIAK MEMORIAL; ROD GEORGE, BOBBY WHITLING, DOUG IORIO II AND BILL MYERS ALSO COLLECT WINS
by Brian Spaid

July 15, 2007

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Another sunny summer Sunday featured hot racing action on Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway as Del Rougeux Jr. captured the 15^th Annual Kodiak Memorial for the BRP Modified Tour 2007 and Schwab’s Ford DIRTcar Big Block Modified Challenge Series.

   In other action, Rod George (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Bobby Whitling (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Doug Iorio II (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Bill Myers (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) captured feature wins on Atkinson Fire Safety Equipment Night at the Venango County half-mile oval.

   Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., a two-time track champion at Tri-City, finally ended a long win drought at the track as he captured his first win since August 28, 2005. Taking the lead from Jeremiah Shingledecker on the 24^th circuit, Rougeux held off the three-time race winner for his 13^th career win at Tri-City aboard his Maloney Tool & Mold/Vinyl Graphics Unlimited Bicknell No. 20D. It was his second win of the weekend after winning Saturday night at Sharon Speedway. IN fact, it was Rougeux’s fourth win in the last five DIRTcar Big Block Modified races in Western Pennsylvania.

   “I have to thank a lot of people,” said Rougeux. “We’ve run well everywhere else this season, but the track where we have two championships. We tried a new shock package and it worked. Jeremiah’s a good wheel. He gave me some room to race. Towards the end, he stuck it in there earlier than I anticipated, but our car had the better bite in the middle of the track. Sometimes luck is on your side, and the lapped cars were in our favor tonight.”

   Shingledecker beat Brian Swartzlander into turn one on the opening lap to take immediate command of the race. Four cautions slowed the pace in the first five circuits, but once the field settled into a groove, Shingledecker was the leader over Kevin Bolland and Andy Priest. Rougeux made his presence known on the fifth circuit when he passed Priest for third. Those two dueled for a couple of laps before Rougeux was secure in the spot. Ahead of him, Bolland tried every trick in the book to move under Shingledecker for the lead, but could not overtake him. At the halfway point, the top three where being chased by Joe Crawford, who returned to action the week before after an off-track injury sidelined him before the start of the season.

   The last half of the race found the leaders mired in lapped traffic, which proved to be their undoing. On the 19^th circuit, Carl Murdick’s lapped car slid up into Bolland’s groove off turn four, and Rougeux quickly darted under Bolland for second. Using the bottom groove, Rougeux closed the gap on Shingledecker. With six laps remaining, Rougeux made the same move under Shingledecker in turn four using lapped traffic to his advantage. With one circuit to go, Shingledecker made a last ditch effort under Rougeux through turns three and four, but it was to no avail. Rougeux crossed the line victorious over Shingledecker. Crawford slipped under Bolland on the 22^nd circuit, and finished a fine third. Bolland and Priest rounded out the top five. Russell King, Rougeux, Swartzlander and Ron Smoker won the DIRTcar Big Block Modified heat races for the 34-car field. Veteran Les Myers returned to action in Jason Reagle’s car, and won the B Main.

   For the 47^th time in his career, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., was the winner of the Super Sprint main at Tri-City. After early race leader, Jody Keegan fell out of contention, the battle for the win came down to George and Bob Felmlee in the 20-lap main event. Clicking off the fastest lap of the race, George sailed by Felmlee on the 17^th circuit to take the lead and his seventh win of the season. It was George’s 15^th victory of 2007 in regional Super Sprint competition aboard his Notary Express/Dr. John Crawford III Family Practice Maxim No. 4.

   “That was a close one,” said George in reference to his battle with Felmlee. “I don’t like to run the top side on this track, but it was real fast up there tonight. Bob showed it to me last week, and it worked well tonight. This season is all because of this team and crew. They’ve done a super job all year. I have to thank Doc Crawford and crew chief, Rick Libeccio, for all they do.”

   John Schuyler jumped into the lead at the start of the race and led the initial circuit before Keegan drove around him in turn four. Keegan was a rocket ship in the top groove. He sailed away from Schuyler, who lost second to Felmlee on the sixth circuit and third to Rob Eyler on the ninth circuit. At the halfway mark, Keegan had a near two-second lead on Felmlee. Then, the bottom fell out of the top five. First, Eyler pulled up lame entering turn three on the 11^th circuit. Then, as the lap was completed, the driveline snapped on Keegan’s ride ending a stellar run for the Ohioan. This moved Felmlee and George into first and second. After another caution on the 14^th circuit, George tried to pass Felmlee on the high side off turn two, but Felmlee closed the door on George’s move nearly sending George into the outside fence. George fought back with a vengeance, and slammed the accelerator to the floor. Using the unfamiliar outside groove for “The Kittanning Komet,” George blasted by Felmlee off turn two with three laps to go. Once out front, George cruised home the winner over Felmlee. Andy McKisson drove under Schuyler on the last lap off turn four to take third. Schuyler and Todd Bauer rounded out the top five. George and Bauer won the Super Sprint heat races.

   Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., visited victory lane in an E Mod for the first time in his career. Driving his Dulaney’s Garage/Double Play Sports Bar Pierce No. 7W, Whitling, who is a three-time track champion and 43-time winner in the Pro Stocks, won in the 14^th E Mod race of his career at Tri-City. He took the lead on the seventh circuit of the 15-lap feature, and held off Shawn Shingledecker for his initial E Mod victory.

   “I had my doubts about whether we could win in the E Mod,” said Whitling. “The crew did an excellent job and made this car feel right. It handled the best all season tonight.”

   Starting on the pole position, Mike Potosky took the lead at the outset of the race. At the end of the first circuit, Adam Beck took a wild flip on the frontstretch to slow the race. He was uninjured. Potosky still led after the race resumed. Whitling, who started on the outside pole, was glued to Potosky’s rear bumper. Behind them, several cars dueled for third through fifth, but Shingledecker was the fastest mover. He ran fifth on the fifth circuit. He then moved to third passing Carl McKinney and Justin Carlson one lap later. Out front, Whitling rocketed to the outside cushion off turn two on the seventh circuit to take command. Shingledecker soon followed as he dashed under Potosky for second two laps later. McKinney and Jason Johns moved by Potosky as well. Then, on the 10^th circuit, while passing a lapped car three-wide, Potosky spun and collected Johns sending both drivers to the tail of the field. While Whitling fended off Shingledecker out front, Bruce Powell managed to surpass McKinney for third with three laps to go. In the end, Whitling was able to score a popular win over Shingledecker. Powell finished third ahead of McKinney and Jim Frontz. Potosky and Whitling won the E Mod heat races.

   Doug Iorio II of Kennerdell, Pa., led every circuit in a non-stop, 15-lap Pro Stock feature to score his fourth win of the season. Driving his Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Chevrolet No. 28, Iorio padded his point lead with a convincing performance that found him 5.297 seconds ahead of the field at the end of the race. It was his 12^th career win at Tri-City moving him into fifth place on the all-time Pro Stock win list.

   “That’s a lot of work racing without yellows,” said Iorio. “At the same time, though, you’re able to focus on the race and hit your marks around the track. Winning the track title would mean a lot to my crew, sponsors and family. Dad did it before (in 1996), and I’d like to do it too.”

   Iorio and Gerry Bruce started on the front row of the feature, and Iorio easily took command entering turn one. Once out front, Iorio was unchallenged. His only scare came mid-race when the lapped car of Jim Keith hit the front wall and nearly stopped in front of him. Although Iorio slowed to avoid Keith, he was never in danger of losing the lead. Behind him, Bruce, Dave Ferringer and Danny Exley ran in a freight train in the bottom groove, which none of them ventured out of on the slick track. That is, until the final circuit. Ferringer tried to get a little racy with Bruce and drifted wide in turn one. That allowed Exley to shoot underneath Ferringer. At the checkered flag, Iorio was the winner over Bruce, Exley, Ferringer and rookie Bobby Sutley. Iorio and Bruce captured the Pro Stock heat races.

   Bill Myers continued his fine season in Thundercar competition as he captured his fourth win of 2007 in his Color Tek/R.K. Virgile Scrap Metals/Corner Pocket Bar Chevrolet No. 43M. Starting third, Myers was able to lead the first circuit. He then held off teenage sensation Cody Manners for his fifth career win in the 12-lap feature race.

   “I knew Cody was back there, and he’s a good racer,” said Myers, whose engine was declared legal after a post-race technical review. “I tell you, the best way to go fast is to go slow. That’s all we do is run lower rpm’s and the car runs well on a slick surface that way.”

   After the green flag signaled the start of the race, Myers darted under Joe Blake and Josh Seippel on the opening circuit to take the lead off turn four. Manners moved into second on the next lap and pursued Myers the rest of the race. Late in the run, lapped traffic slowed Myers enough that Manners was able to get a wheel under Myers. But that was as close as Manners came to passing Myers. At the finish, Myers was the winner for the second week in a row. Manners was second. Ed Deloe finished third ahead of Blake. In the final laps, Charlie McMillen took fifth from Seippel. Deloe and Myers won the Thundercar heats.

   Tri-City Speedway will return with another five-star show on Sunday July 22^nd with 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 on Joy Employee Fund Night. At the end of the show, the second Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby will be run. 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. Andy McKisson, 4. John Schuyler, 5. Todd Bauer, 6. Brent Covell, 7. Gale Ruth Jr., 8. Brent Matus, 9. Paul Kish, 10. Russ Sansosti, 11. Bud Watt, 12. Lindsay Enscoe, 13. Cory Good, 14. Jody Keegan, 15. Rob Eyler. DNS: Brian Steinman.

   DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): 1. DEL ROUGEUX JR., 2. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Kevin Bolland, 5. Andy Priest, 6. Brian Swartzlander, 7. Russell King, 8. Ron Smoker, 9. Dave Murdick, 10. Skip Moore, 11. Kevin Hoffman, 12. Les Myers, 13. J.R. McGinley, 14. Tom Winkle, 15. Dave Schrader, 16. Rex King Jr., 17. Rick Hall, 18. Gary Risch Jr., 19. Chris Schiffer, 20. Ken Moy Jr., 21. Lenny Leibold Jr., 22. Gary Rankin, 23. Rex King, 24. Carl Murdick, 25. Garrett Krummert, 26. Brad Rapp. DNQ: Mike Turner, Dave Reges, Steve Feder, Chanda Leibold, Brian Fink, Jeremy Paup, Doug Fleeger, Mike Miller.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Shawn Shingledecker, 3. Bruce Powell, 4. Carl McKinney, 5. Jim Frontz, 6. Evan Taylor, 7. Mike Samuelson, 8. Justin Carlson, 9. Tim Engles, 10. Jeff Deeter, 11. Butch Lambert, 12. Chip Mahood, 13. Shawn Domhoff, 14. Gary Sullivan, 15. Jason Johns, 16. Mike Potosky, 17. Russ Dunn, 18. Dana Wellington, 19. Jared Domhoff, 20. Jonathan Taylor, 21. Robert Double, 22. David Atkinson, 23. Gary Eicher, 24. Adam Beck.

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

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. BILL MYERS, 2. Cody Manners, 3. Ed Deloe, 4. Joe Blake, 5. Charlie McMillen, 6. Josh Seippel, 7. Bill Winters, 8. Regina Deloe, 9. Jon Huff, 10. Curt Bish Sr., 11. Greg Myers, 12. Bill Hale, 13. Patrick Fielding, 14. John K. Miller, 15. Tom Kistler, 16. Jason Swartz, 17. Bill Baker, 18. Chester Raup, 19. Curtis E. Bish.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   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

   August 5 – Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Coors Brewing Bonus Bucks Night)

   August 12 – Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Maurer’s Trading Post Rifle Dash)(Armed Forces Day)

   August 19 – Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks, Thundercars and One-on-One Spectator Races (McDonald’s Night)(Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club Night)(Points End)

   August 26 – Speedway Closed – No Races

   September 1 & 2 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend

   September 1 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend Night 1: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps; $10,000-to-win); RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods (Allegheny Toyota E Series 20 Laps); E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series 20 Laps) also Racers for Tots and 3^rd Annual Ghetto South Party Sponsored by Ray’s Racing Specialties and Engles Trucking

   September 2 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend Night 2: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps; $10,000-to-win); RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods (Allegheny Toyota E Series All Star 30); E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series 20 Laps)

   September 7 & 8 – 2007 Extreme Dirt Track Series ATVA Quad Races

   September 16 – 11^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series), 7^th Annual Apple Core 20 (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) and Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Racing Starts at 4 p.m.)