JOE CRAWFORD SCORES COMBACK VICTORY; ROD GEORGE, CARL McKINNEY, DAVE FERRINGER AND BILL MYERS ALSO WINNERS AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY
by Brian Spaid

July 22, 2007

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Tri-City Speedway continued its run of sunny and warm weather before its midsummer break, and Sunday night’s feature winners included Rod George (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Joe Crawford (Schwab’s Ford DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Carl McKinney (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Dave Ferringer (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Bill Myers (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) on Joy Employee Fund Night at the Venango County half-mile oval.

   Continuing an amazing season, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., passed Bob Felmlee on the 17^th circuit amidst lapped traffic to win the 20-lap Super Sprint main. It was George’s eighth win of the season at Tri-City, and his 17^th win of 2007 in Western Pennsylvania sprint car competition. Driving his Notary Express/Dr. John Crawford III Family Practice Maxim No. 4, George is now one win away from tying his modern-era record of nine wins in a single season at Tri-City set in 2003 and matched in 2005.

   “This is an incredible season,” said George following his 48^th career win at Tri-City. “We know it can come to an end at any time, and we’re going to enjoy it while we can. I can’t thank the crew and sponsors enough for all that they do. I also have to thank the fans, even those that don’t like us. Without their support, we couldn’t do this.”

   Felmlee and Todd Bauer started on the front row of the Super Sprint feature, and Felmlee jumped into an immediate lead. Bauer and John Schuyler fought over second in the early stages of the race before Bauer secured the spot. George went to work by moving into third on the fifth circuit. Soon thereafter, Felmlee started to enter lapped traffic, and the three leaders tip-toed their way through it. On the 10^th circuit, two spins slowed the action, which closed up the field. Running nose-to-tail on the restart, Felmlee still led Bauer and George. George disposed of Bauer for second on the 11^th circuit and challenged Felmlee on the low side. The top groove was racy on this night, however, and Felmlee held him off. That is, until lapped traffic came into play again. As they raced through it, George dove under Felmlee and the lapped car of Tracy Potter on the 17^th circuit entering turn three. George took the lead and raced to the win padding his point lead as he tries for his fourth track title in five seasons. Felmlee, Bauer, Schuyler and Andy McKisson rounded out the top five. Richie Fitz and George won the Super Sprint heats. Fitz, who hails from Central Pennsylvania, made his first-ever start at Tri-City.

   Joe Crawford of Polk, Pa., completed his comeback from an off-track injury early this season to score a popular win in the 20-lap DIRTcar Big Block Modified feature event. In April, Crawford was mounting a tire on a rim when it exploded and caused a severe arm injury. It appeared as if he was sidelined for the season, but his resilience led him back to the track two weeks ago. Sunday night, Crawford took command of the race when Del Rougeux Jr.’s engine blew while leading. Crawford then raced to his first win of the season, and he celebrated with a loud cheer on the roof of his Jolley Industrial Supply/Crawford Chiropractic Bicknell No. 25 in victory lane.

   “I didn’t think I’d ever race again,” said Crawford following his sixth career win at Tri-City. “The doctors thought I’d lose my arm. This win means so much to me, my family, my crew and my sponsors. I feel bad for Del, but when he broke I knew I could win it.”

   Kevin Bolland and Rougeux started on the front row, and Rougeux took command at the start. Crawford started third and also raced by Bolland to grab second. Bolland fended off Russell King before King took third on the sixth lap. Out front, Rougeux was the class of the field. Outdistancing the pack, he was looking for his second win in a row. However, on the 15^th circuit, his car slowed in the backstretch and drifted into the pits with plumes of smoke drifting from behind. Crawford raced by to assume the lead. King was no match for Crawford, and could do nothing to catch him. At the finish, Crawford scored the win with his fist pumping in the air. King settled for second over his father, Rex King. Dave Murdick and Bolland rounded out the top five. Bolland and Rougeux won the DIRTcar Big Block Modified heats.

   Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., padded his point lead in the E Mod division as he captured his third victory of the season in the 15-lap main. Taking the lead of the race on the third circuit, McKinney marched to an easy win despite a rising oil temperature in Mike Hendrickson’s Holden Precision Machine/Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Pierce No. 6M.

   “These Pierce cars are fast,” smiled McKinney after his fourth career win at Tri-City, which he celebrated with his wife and six-week-old in victory lane. “This car was so fast tonight. I knew I could jump right into the lead. I got worried when the oil pressure rose and I kind of babied it because I didn’t hear anyone around me.”

   Butch Lambert took the lead at the start of the race. McKinney shot to the front and battled with Lambert after taking second from Evan Taylor. On the third circuit, racing through turns one and two, McKinney took to the outside groove and raced around Lambert for the lead. Once out front, McKinney was gone. Behind him, Lambert did all he could to hold off the challenges of Jim Frontz and Shawn Shingledecker. On the 11^th circuit, Shingledecker used the outside cushion to swoop past Lambert and Frontz into second. By the time Shingledecker moved into that spot, however, McKinney was way out front. At the finish, McKinney won by 3.843 seconds. Shingledecker was second over Lambert, who earned his best finish of the season. Frontz and Justin Carlson rounded out the top five. The race actually ended under red flag conditions after McKinney took the checkered flag when David Atkinson’s engine failed and erupted in flames in turn three. Atkinson, who suffered a broken foot in an opening night crash, was uninjured. Jason Johns and Mike Potosky captured the E Mod heat races.

   Dave Ferringer of Cochranton, Pa., copped a wild Pro Stock main event. In a race extended an extra circuit as the result of a late-race caution, Ferringer spoiled the stellar effort of Denny Crawford, who tried to match the winning ways of his brother, Joe, to no avail. On the final turn, Crawford drifted wide and allowed Ferringer and point leader Doug Iorio II to slip by him. For Ferringer, the win in the 16-lap feature event was his first of the season aboard his Donovan & Bauer Auto Group/Lowry Auto Body/Hall’s Excavating Chevrolet No. 02.

   “I knew Denny wanted to win on the same night as his brother, but I couldn’t let him,” said Ferringer after his 18^th career win at Tri-City. “This division is so tough. Doug tried to crowd the bottom there too, but I wasn’t going to let him.”

   Matt Thomas led the initial circuit before Ferringer took command of the race. Iorio moved by Thomas for second on the fifth circuit, then set his sights on Ferringer. Racing the inside line, Ferringer and Iorio battled wheel-to-wheel for the next five circuits. Each time, Ferringer held off Iorio’s charge. The battle was so intense, the two drivers rubbed fenders several times, but never slowed or caused each other to lose control. While they dueled, Crawford was able to catch them and surprised them by driving by them on the outside cushion off turn two on the 10^th circuit. On the next lap, Ferringer regained his focus and drove back under Crawford at the line. With Ferringer down low and Crawford up high, the two drivers gave the fans a battle royale. With one lap to go, Crawford secured the lead from Ferringer and was beating him off turn two when rookie Don Kramer spun in turn three and lost his hood on the track. Although Kramer continued, the hood remained and a caution slowed the pace adding the extra lap for a green-white-checkered finish. On the restart, Ferringer worked back under Crawford to lead at the line to complete the 15^th circuit. Crawford had momentum, however, and charged back by Ferringer off turn two. The final corner was Crawford’s undoing when he drifted too high and allowed Ferringer and Iorio back under him. At the finish, Ferringer defeated Iorio, Crawford, Rod Laskey and Danny Exley. Exley and Iorio won the Pro Stock heats.

   Bill Myers of Seneca, Pa., continued his run to the track title with his fifth victory of the season in the 12-lap Thundercar main. Driving his Color Tek/R.K. Virgile Scrap Metals/Corner Pocket Bar Chevrolet No. 43M, Myers looked like he would lose the race when Ed Deloe sped past him on the fifth circuit. When Deloe’s engine failed, Myers reassumed command of the race and scored his sixth career win holding off Jon Huff’s late race charge.

   “Eddie’s a good racer,” said Myers after his third win in a row. “He had this race won tonight because the top groove was so much faster than the bottom. This team has done such a great job all season. My car is for sale and it’s a good car. I know that a lot of the fans are tired of us winning, and we’re going to move up a division next year.”

   Myers took the lead from his outside pole position at the start of the race. He held that spot until Deloe challenged him. Using the outside cushion, Deloe drove by Myers to the cheers of his fans as he still searches for his first career win. On the sixth circuit, rookie Jason Swartz took a hard flip in turn three, which caused a stop in the race. Swartz was uninjured. Deloe continued to lead at the restart. Charlie McMillen moved into third on the eighth circuit and was closing on Myers when Deloe’s engine failed. Spewing oil and water into turns three and four, Deloe drifted wide and collected McMillen, who drove into the clay barrier in turn four. Although Myers assumed command on the ninth circuit, Huff challenged him the rest of the race. At the finish, Myers won over Huff, Cody Manners, Regina Deloe and Curtis E. Bish. Huff and Myers won the Thundercar heats.

   At the end of the night, Matt Zinz of Cooperstown, Pa., won the Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby.

   Tri-City Speedway will be closed this coming Sunday July 29^th for a midsummer break, and will reopen on Sunday August 5^th with only three point races left to determine track champions in 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 Coors Brewing Bonus Bucks Night at the track with extra money on the line for the feature winners. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain a family friendly $11.

    SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Bob Felmlee, 3. Todd Bauer, 4. John Schuyler, 5. Andy McKisson, 6. Jody Keegan, 7. Rob Eyler, 8. Gale Ruth Jr., 9. Scott Lutz, 10. Cole Duncan, 11. Paul Kish, 12. Tracy Potter, 13. Kyle Moffitt, 14. Russ Sansosti, 15. Nate Stein, 16. Richie Fitz, 17. Bill Jones.

   DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JOE CRAWFORD, 2. Russell King, 3. Rex King, 4. Dave Murdick, 5. Kevin Bolland, 6. Kevin Hoffman, 7. Dave Schrader, 8. Skip Moore, 9. Rob Kristyak, 10. Les Myers, 11. Tom Winkle, 12. Rex King Jr., 13. Carl Murdick, 14. Dave Reges, 15. Del Rougeux Jr., 16. Andy Priest. DNS: Jeremiah Shingledecker.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. CARL McKINNEY, 2. Shawn Shingledecker, 3. Butch Lambert, 4. Jim Frontz, 5. Justin Carlson, 6. Evan Taylor, 7. Mike Potosky, 8. Jason Johns, 9. Bruce Powell, 10. Bobby Whitling, 11. Russ Dunn, 12. Shawn Domhoff, 13. Tim Engles, 14. Gary Sullivan, 15. Jeff Deeter, 16. Jim Turley, 17. Chip Mahood, 18. Jonathan Taylor, 19. David Atkinson, 20. Herm Myers. DNS: Mike Samuelson, Vince Crisanti.

   PRO STOCKS (16 Laps): 1. DAVE FERRINGER, 2. Doug Iorio II, 3. Denny Crawford, 4. Rod Laskey, 5. Danny Exley, 6. Jason Reagle, 7. Bobby Sutley, 8. Chris Haines, 9. Russ Coyne, 10. Jeff Lockhart, 11. Jackson Humanic, 12. Matt Thomas, 13. Don Kramer, 14. Jeff Manners, 15. Rusty Kellogg, 16. Randy Wyant, 17. Arthur Edwards, 18. A.J. MacQuarrie, 19. Bret McCarthy, 20. Gerry Bruce.

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

    UPCOMING EVENTS

   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.)