ROB EYLER DOMINATES SPRINTS AND KEVIN BOLLAND WINS DIRT MOD KODIAK MEMORIAL; MATT LUX, BOBBY WHITLING AND JEFF MANNERS ALSO WIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY
by Brian Spaid

July 23, 2006

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Tri-City Speedway was back in action on a beautiful and clear Sunday night with its traditional five-star show as Rob Eyler (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Matt Lux (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 Joy Employee Fund Night at the half-mile Venango County oval. Bolland’s win in the 14^th Annual Kodiak Memorial was the sixth event on the eight-race Schwab’s Ford Big Block Modified Challenge Series.

   One week after the National Sprint Tour dominated the headlines, Rob Eyler of Franklin, Pa., made mincemeat out of the Super Sprint field for his first win of the season. Piloting his White Heating/World of Wheels Maxim No. 5A, Eyler started on the pole position and romped to an 8.488-second victory in the non-stop 20-lap feature event, which was run in a little over six minutes.

   “The car was perfect tonight,” said Eyler after his third career win at Tri-City. “(Crew chief) Steve Anderson and me, we gel and understand each other. This is our fourth win together this season overall. It takes more than a driver to win one of these races.”

   Eyler and point leader Rod George started on the front row. Once the green flag dropped, Eyler disappeared into the distance. George held second over Bob Felmlee. The race was uneventful as the leaders drove through lapped traffic with Eyler stretching the lead every lap. On the 15^th circuit, George’s engine blew entering the first turn, which moved Felmlee into a runner-up finish behind Eyler. Todd Bauer finished third over Mike Lutz and Brent Covell. Lutz was driving Brent Matus’ No. 33 after Matus suffered a non-racing injury in a fall. Daryl Stimeling and Eyler won the Super Sprint heats.

   Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., captured the 25-lap Kodiak Memorial DIRT Modified main earning a $1,500 payday after a tough battle with defending track champion Del Rougeux Jr. in the 14^th Annual Kodiak Memorial. Rougeux and Bolland exchanged the lead several times with less than five laps to go before Rougeux’s stellar run ended in the first turn wall with two laps remaining. As a result, Bolland piloted his Cintas Uniform/Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe Bicknell No. 777 to his fourth win of the season and the 26^th of his career at Tri-City. It was Bolland’s second win in this race. He also won the 2002 Kodiak Memorial.

   “I feel bad for Del,” said Bolland. “We had a great race. My new engine is back in the car and I’m real happy with it. This was a hard one to win, and I’d like to thank the Graham family for this race. It’s an honor to win this event because Bob Graham was a great car owner.”

   Rougeux outdueled Dave Schrader for the lead at the start of the feature, but mayhem ensued before the first lap was completed. Racing though turn four, Rex King Jr. spun from the topside of the track into traffic while running sixth. The ensuing wreck collected nine cars. Once the race settled down on the restart, the fans were treated to a great show. Bolland moved into second behind Rougeux on the fourth lap. By the halfway point, the two men were dueling for the lead amidst lapped traffic. On the 17^th circuit, Bolland dove under Rougeux off turn four and took the lead. Rougeux, who has struggled with a new car all season, looked like the track champion when his car’s setup and tires seemed to come alive with five laps to go. Rougeux closed the gap to Bolland, and drove under Bolland to reassume command on the 22^nd circuit. Bolland dogged Rougeux, who made a mistake in lapped traffic with two laps to go. As the duo raced into the first turn, Rougeux slid high in the marbles and slammed the water barrels and concrete wall in turn one. The incident knocked Rougeux from contention. On the restart, Bolland held off Jeremiah Shingledecker, Rex King, Andy Priest and Schrader. Bolland, Shingledecker and Russell King captured the DIRT Modified heats.

   Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa., parlayed the pole position into his second win of the season in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Driving Scott Bidwell’s Fame RV Center/Eddie’s Foot Long Pierce No. 21, Lux used the inside groove to perfection throughout the race. In the end, he topped Rhebergen by over three seconds to capture his 10^th career E Mod feature win at Tri-City.

   “The inside lane worked great,” said Lux. “They didn’t water the track on the outside groove before the race, and I knew we had a chance to run well against Brent. This one goes to the crew. It seems like forever since we’ve been in victory lane. They figured out that the wrong gears were in the car before the feature, and the crew worked hard to replace them.”

   Lux and 44-time feature winner Brent Rhebergen started on the front row of the race. After two early cautions, the rest of the race ran off caution-free. Lux assumed command of the race at the start. This season, Rhebergen and his teammate and car owner, Shawn Shingledecker, have appeared unstoppable. This time, however, Lux had the upperhand. Rhebergen was no match for Lux, and with no outside groove to grab a bite, his race was done. Behind the leaders, Shingledecker and Russ Dempsey engaged in a stirring battle for third most of the event. On the 11^th circuit, contact sent Shingledecker around in turn three, but he continued to race without a caution. Eventually, Dempsey was unable to hold off Mike Potosky for the third spot. In the end, Lux picked up the win over Rhebergen, Potosky, Dempsey and Jim Frontz. Lux and Rhebergen won the E Mod heat races.

   Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., took the lead on the fifth circuit of the 15-lap Pro Stock feature, then raced his E&K Equipment/Double Play Sports Bar Chevrolet No. 7W to his third win in four feature races. It was his 40^th career Pro Stock feature victory at Tri-City. In addition, with point leader Doug Iorio II pitside following a mechanical failure in his heat race, Whitling capitalized from Iorio’s misfortune and assumed the point lead as well.

   “We had one taken away from us last week, but this one helps,” said Whitling, who lost the previous week’s race after last lap contact. “The track was awesome. It was black with rubber, but it was real fast on the outside. The car is great now. We have the engine working right. It’s just all come together.”

   Jason Engles and Whitling started on the front row. Whitling actually led the first circuit at the line, but Engles moved into the lead on the second circuit. Engles tried valiantly to hold off Whitling’s powerful steed, but it was to no avail. Taking command on the fifth circuit, Whitling left the former DIRT Modified driver in his dust. On the 11^th circuit, Dave Ferringer hooked up on the outside lane passing Engles for second. Rod Laskey also made a late-race charge to steal third from Engles with two laps to go. At the checkered flag, Whitling was the winner over Ferringer, Laskey, Engles and Joe Lockhart. Engles, Whitling and Matt Thomas won the Pro Stock heats.

   Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., managed to pad his point lead in the Thundercar division by winning the 12-lap feature in a unique way. After the engine in his primary car exploded in hot laps, Manners hopped behind the wheel of the Thundercar raced by his son, Cody. Manners was undeterred and held off the challenges of Josh Seippel to win the race, which was his fifth of the season. It was also Manners’ fourth in a row, which ties a record set in 2005 by Chad Myers.

   “I can’t believe this,” said an elated in Manners in victory lane with the renumbered Budweiser/Grandview Auto Body Chevrolet No. 16. “I have to thank Cody and my brother, Dan Slagle, for letting me use his car. I cannot believe I won with this car!”

   Curt Bish Sr. led the opening circuit of the race. On the second lap, following a restart, Bill Myers made contact with Bish. That sent Bish spinning to the bottom of turn two, and Myers was penalized. With the leaders at the back of the field, Manners took first place. Seippel challenged Manners several times, but was unable to mount a pass. In the end, Manners was the winner for the 10^th time in his career. Seippel, Regina Deloe, Ed Deloe and Bill Kluck Jr. finished second through fifth. Dave Airgood Jr. rolled his racer in turn three on the last lap. Rookie Dave Baker and Myers won the Thundercar heats.

   At the conclusion of the oval track action, Roger Blake of Titusville, Pa., won the 11-car Lowry Auto Wrecking Mid-Size Car Demo Derby.

   Tri-City Speedway will be in action next Sunday July 30^th with another five-star show featuring the 4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints, Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds, RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, and Klapec Auto Body Thundercars as Lincoln Electric and Goss Gas Presents Armed Forces Night. Units of the United States armed forces will be at the track and all personnel with a valid military identification card will receive free grandstand admission.  In addition, One-on-One Spectator Races will round out the show. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is a family friendly $11.

   SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROB EYLER, 2. Bob Felmlee, 3. Todd Bauer, 4. Mike Lutz, 5. Brent Covell, 6. Jason Jacoby, 7. John Schuyler, 8. Daryl Stimeling, 9. Danny Holtgraver, 10. Russ Sansosti, 11. Paul Kish, 12. Butch Beasley, 13. Gale Ruth, 14. Bud Watt, 15. Rod George.

   DIRT MODIFIEDS (25 Laps): 1. KEVIN BOLLAND, 2. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 3. Rex King, 4. Andy Priest, 5. Dave Schrader, 6. Chanda Reitz, 7. Jim Rasey, 8. Todd Schiffer, 9. Jeremy Paup, 10. Dean Pearson, 11. Carl Murdick, 12. Mike Clark, 13. Rick Ryder, 14. Brian Swartzlander, 15. Randy Chronister, 16. Del Rougeux Jr., 17. Mike Turner, 18. Rex King Jr., 19. Russell King, 20. Lenny Leibold, Jr., 21. Tom Winkle, 22. Tom Winkle, 23. Joe Crawford, 24. Travis Shingledecker, 25. Chris Hartman. DNS: Dave Walters

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MATT LUX, 2. Brent Rhebergen, 3. Mike Potosky, 4. Russ Dempsey, 5. Jim Frontz, 6. Dave Willoughby, 7. Bruce Powell, 8. Jason Johns, 9. Shawn Shingledecker, 10. David Atkinson, 11. Howard Fraley, 12. Evan Taylor, 13. Adam Taylor, 14. Butch Lambert, 15. Mike Samuelson, 16. Jamie Shetler, 17. Carl McKinney, 18. Bill Henry, 19. Fred Bratchie, 20. Jeff Walters, 21. Dustin Fraley, 22. Jim Nicely, 23. Arthur Edwards. DNS: Dana Willoughby.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Dave Ferringer, 3. Rod Laskey, 4. Jason Engles, 5. Joe Lockhart, 6. Andy Buckley, 7. Matt Thomas, 8. Jeff Lockart, 9. Jaskon Humanic, 10. Mike Pegher Jr., 11 Ronnie Davis, 12. Bob Sloss, 13. Scott Myers, 14. Russ Coyne, 15. Chad Myers, 16. Andy Thompson, 17. Gary Proper, 18. Denny Crawford, 19. John Winters, 20. Robby Switzer, 21. Randy Wyant, 22. Don Rambler. DNS: Terry Wheeler, Doug Iorio II.

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

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   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)

   Aug. 13 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (McDonald’s Kids Night Bike Races & Racers for Tots)

   Aug. 20 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods (Fame RV Center E Series), Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Fan Appreciation Night – Reduced Grandstand Admission) (Maurer’s Trading Post Rifle Dash) (Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club Night)