JEREMIAH SHINGLEDECKER, MAX BLAIR, JUSTIN CARLSON, JACKSON HUMANIC AND CURTIS J. BISH CAPTURE FEATURE WINS AS TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY RESUMES ACTION
by Brian Spaid

August 3, 2008

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Tri-City Speedway was back in action on Sunday night with beautiful weather conditions and lightning fast action on the track as Jeremiah Shingledecker (Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Max Blair (4 Your Connection FASTRAK Late Models), Justin Carlson (RPM Auto Sales/Sherry Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Jackson Humanic (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks), and Curtis J. Bish (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) captured feature wins on Joy Employee Fund/Fisher & Father/Coors Bonus Bucks Night at the Venango County half-mile oval.

   Humanic’s victory came in the first William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series event of 2008. The five-race series will dominate the last few weeks of the year after three rainouts earlier this season.

   In addition to the regular purse money, each feature winner collected an extra $100 for the Coors Bonus Bucks award. This included Bish in the Thundercars, a division that races weekly for the win and the trophy without a purse.

   Jeremiah Shingledecker of Polk, Pa., engaged in a battle royale with point leader Kevin Bolland in the 21-lap DIRTcar Big Block Modified feature as the two continue their duel for the track title. This time, Shingledecker came out on top following a near collision on the final circuit when Shingledecker dove to the low side in turn three to block a move by Bolland. Shingledecker captured his fourth feature win of the season aboard the Lou Heath & Son Excavating/Hards Welding/Fastenal Bicknell No. 37MD.

   “Kevin is tough on restarts,” said Shingledecker after his 12^th career win. “He got close and I didn’t think I’d carry enough momentum into turn three, so I went low. I had to do it to win.”

   Les Myers jumped into the lead at the start of the race. By the fifth circuit, Shingledecker was running second. Bolland, who started 11^th, worked his way into the top five on the sixth circuit. He was running third two laps later. The two point leaders then hounded Myers. Shingledecker took command of the race on the ninth circuit, and Bolland followed him past Myers into second at the halfway point.

   Following three successive cautions, on the third restart, Shingledecker used the high line while Bolland hugged the low line around the half-mile oval. The two raced side-by-side in the turns for two circuits before Shingledecker started to pull away. It appeared that the race was in Shingledecker’s hip pocket. Then, after the leaders took the white flag, the final caution waved.

   With a green-white-checkered finish required, Shingledecker and Bolland battled hard for the win. On the final circuit, Bolland was able to pull even with Shingledecker in turn two. Down the backstretch, Shingledecker pulled ahead, then dove hard to the inside entering turn three. With Bolland just behind Shingledecker in the same line, Bolland was forced to checkup to avoid major contact. As a result, he barely tagged Shingledecker’s left rear and pushed up high in the corner.

   As a result, Shingledecker escaped with the win. Bolland finished second over Myers, Joe Crawford and Del Rougeux Jr. Andy Priest and Bolland won the DIRTcar Big Block Modified heats. Following the night’s competition, Bolland’s lead in the track championship standings shrunk to seven points over Shingledecker with just two events remaining on the schedule.

   Max Blair of Titusville, Pa., dominated the 20-lap FASTRAK Late Model feature by leading nearly every circuit. Driving his Bossard’s Auto Parts/Donovan & Bauer Auto Group/Specialty Products Rocket No. 111, Blair demonstrated the reason his team is the number one FASTRAK Late Model team in the nation winning the event by 4.935 seconds. It was Blair’s fifth win of the season at Tri-City and his second of the weekend after his victory Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park.

   “We’ve been in a bit of a slump,” said Blair, who increased his divisional point lead to 81 over Bobby Powell. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without my dad (Robbie Blair) helping me out. He’s the reason we’re racing. I don’t want to think about the national title just yet. We want to focus on running well and winning.”

   Rookie Kyle Zimmerman led from the pole position at the start of the non-stop race. Blair worked under Zimmerman off turn two on the second circuit to take a lead that he would never relinquish. He gradually opened more and more ground over the field for the rest of the event to win with ease.

   Behind Blair, Zimmerman tried to hold off Powell, who took second on the sixth circuit. Then, Zimmerman engaged in a tough battle for third with Steve Hollabaugh, Chris Haines and Mike Pegher Jr. Hollabaugh took third at the halfway mark of the race. Then, Pegher managed to squeeze under Zimmerman for fourth with eight laps to go.

   From that point on, the race was relatively uneventful as Blair scored the win over Powell, Hollabaugh, Pegher and Zimmerman. Pegher Jr. and Dick Barton won the FASTRAK Late Model heats.

   Justin Carlson of Sherman, N.Y., ended a year-long victory drought with his first overall win of the 2008 season in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Taking the lead on the fifth circuit from perennial division winner and champion Brent Rhebergen, Carlson was unstoppable in his Phantom Graphics/Quick Stop/IBEW Electricians Crocket No. 16. It was Carlson’s second career win at Tri-City.

   “It’s been a long dry spell,” said Carlson with a huge smile on his face in victory lane. “We could not catch a break this season, and we really need this win. I knew Carl (McKinney) was there at the end, and he can run anywhere on this track, so I was a little worried about that last restart.”

   Starting on the pole position, Rhebergen, who was subbing for Jim Frontz, took the lead at the start of the race. Behind him, cars were dicing for position all over the track. Carlson jumped into second quickly. After a restart on the fifth lap, Carlson drove under Rhebergen off turn two and took the lead. McKinney used the same move one lap later in turns three and four to take second from Rhebergen. The three-time track champion was not about to give up his position, and challenged McKinney for the next four laps. By the 10^th circuit, McKinney was alone in second.

   A restart with three laps to go allowed McKinney one shot at Carlson, but the Empire State driver was up to the challenge. At the finish, Carlson was the winner over McKinney, Rhebergen and McKinney’s teammate, Al Cressley. Evan Taylor passed Bruce Powell for fifth off turn four on the final lap. Mike Potosky and McKinney won the E Mod heat races. In the feature, Potosky suffered front end damage that forced him pitside on the fourth lap. With Potosky’s DNF and McKinney’s runner-up finish, McKinney took the point lead from Potosky. McKinney now leads by 14 markers.

   Fifteen-year-old phenom Jackson Humanic of Titusville, Pa., demonstrated that he is a future dirt track star as he captured the Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series 20-lap main event after a stirring battle with veteran Dave Ferringer. In a race that almost seemed like a passing of the torch, Humanic dueled Ferringer in a close race, and finally took the lead on the ninth circuit. Humanic then held off the former track champion to capture his second feature win of the year and his career aboard Ken Humanic’s River Salvage Co./Blue Ox Timber Chevrolet No. 17.

   “I have a lot of respect for Dave, and it’s an honor to beat him,” said Humanic. “I want to thank my dad and ARCA car owner Darrell Basham for helping to setup the car tonight. We were at Pocono helping him yesterday. This is my biggest win, and it feels great.”

   Andy Buckley led the first circuit of the race from his pole position before outside polesitter Ferringer used the high line in turn three to take the lead on the second circuit. Humanic was in third by the third lap, and he then raced hard with Ferringer for the win. With Ferringer comfortable in the high groove, Humanic drove under him several times to try to take the lead. Each time, Ferringer got the best of Humanic. The amazing battle continued for six laps before Humanic finally made the pass for the lead at the start-finish line on the ninth circuit. Just after the leaders crossed the line, the first caution of the race for a spinning car waved.

   On the restart, Humanic maintained command of the race. Only one other caution slowed the pace, but it did not faze the young star. Behind him, Ferringer held off Jason Johns to finish second. Division point leader Jason Reagle parlayed a poor pre-race draw of the 12^th starting spot into a fourth place finish. Chris Haines finished fifth. Reagle, Humanic and defending Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series champion Bobby Whitling won the Pro Stock heats. It was Whitling’s first outing in a Pro Stock this season. Reagle still has a 53-point lead in the race for the 2008 Pro Stock title.

   Repeating the feat accomplished by his brother in the last race on July 13^th, Curtis J. Bish of Oil City, Pa., captured the win in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Driving the Beast Boutique/Grandview Auto Body Chevrolet No. 30, Bish passed early race leader and hard luck candidate Joe Blake with two laps to go to win his first feature of the season.

   “That was a good and tough race with Joe,” said Bish following his second career feature win. “We never touched out there. I wanted to match my brother’s win from last time. We suffered cosmetic damage in our heat race crash, and we were able to race hard for the win tonight.”

   The non-stop race featured lots of passing. Blake took the lead at the start and held off Don Blake Jr. for the first six laps. Bish was in third on the fourth circuit, and bided his time racing Blake Jr. On the seventh circuit, he managed to find racing room under Blake Jr. to take second and set his sights on the leader. On the 10^th circuit, Bish drove under Blake off turn four to take the lead. Blake did not give up easily and he battled with Bish for another lap. However, Blake’s car pushed hard into turn one on the final circuit, which allowed Bish to race to victory.

   At the finish, Bish was the winner over Blake, Charlie McMillen, Jon Huff and Blake Jr. Blake Jr. and Blake won the Thundercar heats.

   Next Sunday August 10^th, Barr’s Insurance and McDonald’s Present Kids Night and Five-Star Racing featuring the Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, RPM Auto Sales/Sherry Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and Klapec Auto Body Thundercars.  The Pro Stocks will compete in another William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series event. In addition, the annual Kids Bike Races will be held for children 12 and under. Helmets are required. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $11 for those 16 and older, students 13-15 will be $6, and children 12 and under receive free grandstand admission. 

   DIRTcar BIG BLOCK MODIFIEDS (21 Laps): 1. JEREMIAH SHINGLEDECKER, 2. Kevin Bolland, 3. Les Myers, 4. Joe Crawford, 5. Del Rougeux Jr., 6. Brad Rapp, 7. Mike Turner, 8. Dean Pearson, 9. Dave Schrader, 10. Matt Baker, 11. Rick Ryder, 12. Kyle Fink, 13. Brian Sadler, 14. Andy Priest, 15. Chris Schiffer, 16. Kevin Hoffman, 17. Carl Murdick, 18. Tommy Kristyak.

   FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. MAX BLAIR, 2. Bobby Powell, 3. Steve Hollabaugh, 4. Mike Pegher Jr., 5. Kyle Zimmerman, 6. Butch Lambert, 7. Dick Barton, 8. Bobby Whitling, 9. Chad Myers, 10. Chris Haines, 11. Bob Vogt Jr., 12. Carl McKinney.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. JUSTIN CARLSON, 2. Carl McKinney, 3. Brent Rhebergen, 4. Al Cressley, 5. Evan Taylor, 6. Bruce Powell, 7. Shawn Shingledecker, 8. Jeff Deeter, 9. Jonathan Taylor, 10. Butch Lambert, 11. Chip Mahood, 12. Randy Beck, 13. Jared Domhoff, 14. Gary Sullivan, 15. Billy Henry, 16. Mike Potosky. DNS: Tim Engles.

   DETROIT IRON PRO STOCK SERIES (20 Laps): 1. JACKSON HUMANIC, 2. Dave Ferringer, 3. Jason Johns, 4. Jason Reagle, 5. Chris Haines, 6. Andy Buckley, 7. Bobby Sutley, 8. Rod Laskey, 9. Bobby Whitling, 10. Matt Thomas, 11. Bob Sloss, 12. Randy Wyant, 13. Josh Seippel, 14. Jim Keith, 15. Russ Coyne, 16. Tim Engles, 17. Arthur Edwards, 18. Bill Myers, 19. Doug Iorio II, 20. Jeff Manners, 21. Terry Wheeler, 22. Ray Virgile, 23. Denny Crawford, 24. Ronnie Davis, 25. A.J. MacQuarrie.

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. CURTIS J. BISH, 2. Joe Blake, 3. Charlie McMillen, 4. Jon Huff, 5. Don Blake Jr., 6. Regina Deloe, 7. Cody Manners, 8. Mike Dobrick, 9. Bill Myers, 10. Curt Bish Sr., 11. Dave Baker, 12. Greg Myers, 13. Joe Sloss, 14. Jason Swartz, 15. Scott Kilgore, 16. John K. Miller, 17. Pat Fielding, 18. Ed Deloe. DNS: Jeff Manners, Alan Perry, Bill Winters. 

   UPCOMING EVENTS 

   Aug. 10 – Barr’s Insurance and McDonald’s Present Kids Night and Five-Star Racing with DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series and Thundercars (Kids Bike Races: Children 12 and Under)

   Aug. 17 – Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club Present Club Night and Five-Star Racing with DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars with One-on-One Spectator Races and 2008 Tri-City Speedway Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies (Points End)

   Aug. 24 – Speedway Closed

  August 30 & 31 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend

   August 30 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend Night 1: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps; $10,000-to-win); 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models; RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods (Welding Technologies 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 4^th Annual Ghetto South Party Sponsored by Ray’s Racing Specialties and Engles Trucking

   August 31 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend Night 2: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps; $10,000-to-win); 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models; RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods (United E Mod Series (UEMS)/Welding Technologies 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)

   BOTH NIGHTS: Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Time Trials at 4 p.m.; Racing Starts at 6 p.m.

    September 7 – 12^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series), 8^th Annual Apple Core 20 (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) and Lowry Auto Wrecking Mid-Sized Car Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Time Trials at 4 p.m.; Racing Starts at 6 p.m.)