DANNY JOHNSON INVADES AND WINS DIRT MOD MAIN AT TRI-CITY; BOB FELMLEE, MATT LUX, DOUG IORIO II AND BILL MYERS ALSO SCORE VICTORIES
by Brian Spaid

August 6, 2006

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... After a week of intense heat, beautiful weather graced Tri-City Speedway on Sunday night as Bob Felmlee (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Danny Johnson (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Matt Lux (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 Coors Bonus Bucks Night at the half-mile Venango County oval.

   After running at Eldora Speedway on Saturday night, several stars of the Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series invaded Tri-City, and Danny Johnson of Rochester, N.Y., captured the win in the 30-lap DIRT Modified main event, which was the final race of the Schwab’s Ford Big Block Modified Challenge Series. Brett Hearn led the initial 26 circuits, but a flat tire forced him pitside. Johnson then led the final four laps in Dave Thompson’s Troyer Race Cars/nativepoker.com Troyer No. 27J, and defeated his brother Alan Johnson for his second career win at Tri-City. Johnson’s first win occurred in 1997.

   “I’d like to thank all the sponsors that put this race on,” said Johnson. “It was great being able to stop here after running at Eldora. I was right there with Brett. He had his troubles and A.J. was back there pressuring me until the end.”

   Hearn started fourth and took the lead from polesitter Dave Schrader before the completion of the first circuit. Johnson followed Hearn past the front row into second and immediately put pressure on Hearn. Rex King was right there, however, and he managed to fight his way under Johnson off the second corner on the fourth circuit. King remained in second until a restart on the 14^th circuit when a lapped car slowed his progress and he slipped to fifth behind the Johnson brothers and Jeremiah Shingledecker. The Johnsons then stalked Hearn lap-after-lap. It appeared that Hearn would win the race until a flat tire on the 26^th circuit sent him to the pits under caution. Danny Johnson then held off Alan Johnson for the win. After a great duel with King over the last four circuits, Shingledecker finished third ahead King and New York invader Jimmy Phelps. Kevin Bolland finished sixth and clinched the Big Block Modified Challenge Series title ending the eight-race series between Tri-City and Lernerville Speedway. Bolland, Danny Johnson and Schrader won the heats. Jim Rasey captured the B main. Dave Murdick rolled his car in the third heat, but was uninjured.

   Bob Felmlee of Franklin, Pa., started on the pole position of the 20-lap Super Sprint feature, and led every circuit to capture his fourth win of the season in his World of Wheels Maxim No. 6. For Felmlee, it was his 25^th career feature win at Tri-City, and solidified his lead in the point standings as Todd Bauer spun on the final circuit and Rod George was absent from competition.

   “We finally had a good draw for a starting spot,” said Felmlee. “Chad Reitz had a good setup on the car tonight and the entire crew did a great job. I don’t want to talk about point titles. We race to win.”

   While Felmlee marched to his own drummer out front, Bauer ran second at the start of the race. A four-car, turn-two crash slowed the race to a halt on the fourth circuit, but flip victim Gale Ruth Jr. was unscathed. The race was non-stop after that incident, and there was a lot of action. Jody Keegan took second from Bauer on the fifth circuit and tried valiantly to catch Felmlee, but lapped traffic over the final half of the race prevented Keegan’s effort from materializing. Behind Keegan, Bauer spun in turn two on the ninth circuit, but managed to keep going dropping to sixth. He worked his way back to fourth and was battling Brian Ellenberger on the final circuit when he spun in turn two relegating Bauer to a dismal 14^th at the finish. Felmlee captured the win over Keegan, Andy McKisson, Ellenberger and John Schuyler. Felmlee and Ellenberger won the Super Sprint heats.

   After a stellar fifth place run in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series race at Lernerville Speedway on Friday night, hometown favorite Matt Lux of Franklin, Pa., captured his third win of the season in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Like Felmlee, Lux started on the pole position in Scott Bidwell’s Fame RV Center/Eddie’s Foot Long Pierce No. 21, and parlayed it into his 11^th career feature win at Tri-City.

   “It was a good overall weekend for our team,” said Lux, who also finished third in the E Mod race at Lernerville. “Our crew and all of the E Mod teams have picked up their game. I may have started up front, but these are tough races to win.”

   Lux led every circuit in the non-stop feature, but the battle for second was thrilling. Dale Applebee held the spot for the first six circuits before David Atkinson raced under him off turn four. Applebee then slipped to fifth on the next circuit as Shawn Shingledecker and Jeff Taylor slipped by him. With five laps to go, Taylor raced around Shingledecker into third. One lap later, Taylor used the same outside groove to take second from Atkinson, who started to suffer engine problems. At the finish, Lux crossed the line first followed by Taylor, Atkinson, Shingledecker and Mike Potosky. Atkinson and Carl McKinney won the E Mod heats.

   Following two weeks of bad luck, Doug Iorio II of Kennerdell, Pa., finally shook the monkey off his back to win the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. It was Iorio’s fourth win of the season in his Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Pontiac No. 28. With his seventh career feature win, Iorio also tied his father’s career win mark at Tri-City.

   “This team had a lot of bad luck with two blown motors,” said Iorio, who scored maximum points with the heat and feature race win. “We had a great run tonight and I want to race Bobby Whitling for the track title.”

   Jason Engles led the first circuit before Dave Ferringer snared the lead. Whitling moved into third on the fourth circuit and battled with Engles for second. Then, on the sixth circuit, the two collided and spun off turn four, which forced Whitling to the rear of the field. On the restart, Iorio took to the outside groove and stole the lead from Ferringer. Scott Myers and Rod Laskey then dueled for third for several circuits. On the 12^th lap, Laskey lost the handle off turn four and spun collecting several cars, including Gerry Bruce, who drove Matt Keith’s car to fifth. After the restart, Iorio raced to the win followed by Ferringer, Myers, Rusty Kellogg and 2005 Thundercar champion Chad Myers. Point leader Whitling finished seventh. Iorio and Laskey won the Pro Stock heats.

   Bill Myers of Seneca, Pa., knocked on the door to victory lane all season long and finally broke through with his first career win in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Driving his 4 Your Car Connection Buick No. 43M, Myers held off the stout challenges of fellow rookie Bill Kluck Jr. to take the popular win.

   “It’s been a rough ride to get here,” said Myers. “I have to thank my boss, Scott Snow of 4 Your Car Connection. Without his help and the help of all my sponsors, I wouldn’t be here. Bill Kluck raced me clean the whole way and I have to thank him.”

   Kluck took the lead at the start of the race. Myers was in second by the third circuit. On the fifth circuit, Myers worked his way under Kluck to take command. Kluck made several attempts to get back around Myers, but to no avail. At the finish, Myers topped Kluck and point leader Jeff Manners ending Manners’ five-race win streak. Josh Seippel and Ed Deloe rounded out the top five. Charlie McMillen and Seippel won the Thundercar heat races.

   Tri-City Speedway will be in action next Sunday August 13^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 on McDonald’s Kids Night. Children ages 12 and under will compete in the annual bike races sponsored by Snyder of Berlin and Ray’s Racing Collectibles. Helmets are required.  It is also Racers for Tots Night at the track. Race fans are encouraged to bring a new toy to the track to benefit underprivileged children at Christmas time. 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. BOB FELMLEE, 2. Jody Keegan, 3. Andy McKisson, 4. Brian Ellenberger, 5. John Schuyler, 6. Gary Rankin, 7. Brent Matus, 8. Jason Jacoby, 9. Brent Covell, 10. Russ Sansosti, 11. Scott Rodgers, 12. Sheila Rankin, 13. Paul Kish, 14. Todd Bauer, 15. Bud Watt, 16. Chris Sweeney, 17. Gale Ruth Jr.

   DIRT MODIFIEDS (30 Laps): 1. DANNY JOHNSON, 2. Alan Johnson, 3. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 4. Rex King, 5. Jimmy Phelps, 6. Kevin Bolland, 7. Andy Priest, 8. Russell King, 9. Del Rougeux Jr., 10. Joe Crawford, 11. Sean Beardsley, 12. Chanda Reitz, 13. Keith Swartzlander, 14. Tom Winkle, 15. Dave Schrader, 16. Lenny Leibold Jr., 17. Brett Hearn, 18. Travis Shingledecker, 19. Chris Schiffer, 20. Jim Rasey, 21. Todd Town, 22. Skip Moore, 23. Brian Swartzlander, 24. Matt Sheppard. DNQ: Carl Murdick, Mike Turner, Jason Reagle, Dean Pearson, Chris Hartman, Dave Murdick, Rex King Jr.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MATT LUX, 2. Jeff Taylor, 3. David Atkinson, 4. Shawn Shingledecker, 5. Mike Potosky, 6. Carl McKinney, 7. Dale Applebee, 8. Brent Rhebergen, 9. Jason Johns, 10. Butch Lambert, 11. Russ Dempsey, 12. Mike Samuelson, 13. Evan Taylor, 14. Darrell Bossard, 15. Tin Engles, 16. Josh Rhoades, 17. Arthur Edwards, 18. Jim Frontz, 19. Bruce Powell, 20. Aurie Weaver, 21. Chip Mahood.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. DOUG IORIO II, 2. Dave Ferringer, 3. Scott Myers, 4. Rusty Kellogg, 5. Chad Myers, 6. Jeff Lockhart, 7. Bobby Whitling, 8. Ronnie Davis, 9. Jackson Humanic, 10. Denny Crawford, 11. John Winters, 12. Randy Wyant, 13. Matt Thomas, 14. Dave Shook, 15. Rod Laskey, 16. Bob Sloss, 17. Scott Lewis, 18. Gary Proper, 19. Jason Engles. DISQ: Matt Keith.

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

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   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)

   Aug. 27 – Super Sprints, DIRT Modifieds, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Thundercars (Points End)

   OIL REGION LABOR DAY CLASSIC WEEKEND

   Sept. 2 – World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps, $10,000-to-win), E Mods (Fame RV Center E Series 20 Laps) and Pro Stocks (20 Laps) (2^nd Annual Ghetto South Party After the Races)

   Sept. 3 – World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps, $10,000-to-win), E Mods (Fame RV Center E Series All Star 30) and Pro Stocks (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series 20 Laps)