Swartzlander Captures Modified Victory, Scott Repeats, E-Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars Postponed

By: Marcie L. Barlow

August 2, 2009

FRANKLIN, PA ... Brian Swartzlander scored his first Tri-City Speedway Big Block Modified victory of 2009 and David Scott claimed his second FASTRAK Late Model victory before an electrical problem forced speedway officials to postpone the remained of the evening’s racing action.

Andy Priest and Dave Murdick led the 20-lap Engles Trucking DIRTCar Modified feature event to the green.  Murdick quickly took command with Del Rougeux, Jr. close behind him in the second spot.  A lap two caution for Randy Chronister and a lap four caution for Carl Murdick slowed the field in the early going, but Murdick managed to stay out from each time. 

By lap ten Murdick was pulling away from the rest of the field and seventh place starter Brian Swartzlander had wrestled the second spot away from Rougeux; when the event’s final caution waved when Jeremiah Shingledecker and Joe Crawford tangled on the front stretch.  Murdick suffered a flat tire while under caution and was forced to the pit area with Swartzlander inheriting the top spot. 

Swartzlander did not waste any time capitalizing on Murdick’s misfortune as he led the final ten circuits to capture his first Tri-City Speedway victory of the season.

“I want to thank my crew for their hard work this evening.  The McCutcheon Enterprises/Precise Racing Products/BJ Motorsports/Teo was definitely hooked up tonight and that is a credit to their hard work here at the track as well as throughout the week in the shop,” stated the popular Leechburg driver.

Rougeux was the “bridesmaid” for the second consecutive week with Kevin Bolland, Andy Priest and Kevin Hoffman rounding out the top five.

Shingledecker and Swartzlander claimed the Modified heat events. 

A last minute decision by FASTRAK competitor David Scott found the John and Janet Powell owned #100 stopping by the Venango County oval as they returned from the FASTRAK event at the Eldora Speedway and the decision definitely paid off as Scott scored his second Tri-City victory of the season.

An “Invert Six” redraw placed Les Lyons and Scott on the front row of the 20-lap FASTRAK Late Model feature event.  Scott led the event from “green to checker” as he cruised to victory.

Max Blair challenged Scott in the early stages of the event and went on to finish in the second spot.  Bobby Powell, Mike Pegher, Jr. and Mike Blose finished third through fifth.

Blair and Blose were victorious in FASTRAK heat race action.

Teammates Al Cressley and Carl McKinney led the 15-lap E-Mod feature event to the green.  David Atkinson led the first circuit before the red flag was displayed when an electrical problem caused the speedway and pit area lights to go out.  The event will resume on August 23rd with the running order listed below.

Tim Engles and Rich Michael claimed the E-Mod prelims.

Speedway officials have also announced that the Pro-Stock feature event will be made up on August 30th and Thundercar feature will be run on August 16th.  Jason Johns and Dave Ferringer won the Pro-Stocks heat with Patrick Fielding and Jeff Manners scoring wins in the Thundercar prelims.  Feature lineups for both feature events are listed below.

Racing action at Tri-City resumes on Sunday, August 9th as Alturnamats presents the ULMS Late Model Series in a 30-lap, $3000 to win event.  In addition the winner of the event will receive a guaranteed starting position for the Labor Day Oil City Classic event.  The Welding Technologies/Shaw Industries E-Series as well as the Pro-Stocks and Thundercars will also be on the racing card.

Adult General Admission is only $11.00.  Gates will open at 2:30PM with racing beginning at 6:00PM.

   DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIED (20 Laps): 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER, 2. Del Rougeux Jr., 3. Kevin Bolland, 4. Andy Priest, 5. Kevin Hoffman, 6. Dave Murdick, 7. Brad Rapp, 8. Joe Crawford, 9. Dean Pearson, 10. Mike Turner, 11. Mark Frankhouser, 12. Carl Murdick, 13. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 14. Mark Chiddy, 15. Jeremy Paup, 16. Skip Moore, 17. Randy Chronister.

   FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. DAVID SCOTT, 2. Max Blair, 3. Bobby Powell, 4. Mike Pegher Jr., 5. Mike Blose, 6. Carl McKinney, 7. Steve Hollabaugh, 8. Bryan Salisbury, 9. Kyle Zimmerman, 10. Andrew Wylie, 11. Jamie Brown, 12. Dave Airgood Jr., 13. Les Lyon, 14. Joe Martin, 15. Butch Lambert. DNS: Mike Mitchell.

   E MODS (15 Laps): Race Postponed to August 23^rd – Feature Running Order After Lap One:  1. Dave Atkinson, 2. Carl McKinney, 3. Brent Rhebergen, 4. Al Cressley, 5. Butch Southwell, 6. Shawn Shingledecker, 7. Mike Potosky, 8. Rich Michael Jr., 9. Tim Peterson, 10. Jeff Deeter, 11. Jim Frontz, 12. Rick Pratschler, 13. Tom Hagberg, 14. Gary Sullivan, 15. Bobby Chrispman, 16. Tyler Powell, 17. Tim Engles. DNS: Todd Roncaglione, Ron Roncaglione.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): Race Postponed to August 30^th – Feature Lineup: 1. Matt Thomas, 2. Les Myers, 3. Randy Wyant, 4. Jason Reagle, 5. Bobby Whitling, 6. Andy Buckley, 7. Dave Ferringer, 8. Jason Johns, 9. Chris Haines, 10. Bill Myers, 11. Jim Keith, 12. Nathan Kellogg.