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BOB FELMLEE,
REX KING, MIKE POTOSKY, BOBBY WHITLING AND JOSH SEIPPEL SCORE WINS AT
TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY August 13, 2006 FRANKLIN, PA ... As the point chase heads into the final stretch on a sunny and warm Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway, Bob Felmlee (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Rex King (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Mike Potosky (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), Bobby Whitling (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks), and Josh Seippel (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) scored feature wins on McDonald’s Kids Night at the half-mile Venango County oval. Bob Felmlee of Franklin, Pa., raced to his fifth feature win of the season in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. Piloting his World of Wheels Maxim No. 6, Felmlee took the lead from Brent Covell on the 16th circuit and raced to his third win in a row. Combined with an eighth place finish for Todd Bauer, it is beginning to appear more likely that Felmlee will earn his third career track championship at Tri-City. “I’d like to see Brent win his first feature, but it wasn’t meant to be tonight,” said Felmlee. “(Crew chief) Chad (Reitz) set the car up perfect tonight. We just followed Rod George’s groove on the bottom of the track. We’re still focused on racing to win. I don’t want to talk about that track title yet.” At the start of the feature, a four-car spin in turn one slowed the race causing the only caution. When the race finally kicked off, Andy McKisson jumped into the lead from the outside pole position. Covell quickly moved into second and Felmlee, who started tenth, was running third by the third circuit. On the ninth circuit, Covell dashed under McKisson off turn four to take the lead and started to outdistance the field. Felmlee raced into second on the 13th circuit and charged after Covell. Amidst lapped traffic, on the 16th circuit, Felmlee raced under Covell off turn four as Covell’s brakes started to fail. Once out front, Felmlee cruised to his 26th career feature win. Covell finished a disappointed second, but scored his career best finish at Tri-City. Daryl Stimeling finished third followed by McKisson and Sam Hafertepe Jr. Bauer and Hafertepe won the Super Sprint heats. Hafertepe, a Texas sprint car racer, made his first-ever appearance at Tri-City with crew chief Rick Ferkel. Rex King of Bristolville, Ohio, held off the hard-charging Kevin Bolland in the 20-lap DIRT Modified main and raced to his fourth feature win of the season at Tri-City. Taking the lead on the first circuit, King hugged the bottom groove of the track the entire race aboard his King Bros./Alltell/Cortland Banks Bicknell No. 65. It was his 10th career feature win at the track. “We’ve worked all season on getting me better to race on a slick track,” said King. “I’m real happy with the crew and car this season. Everything’s been good this year. I knew Kevin was there when the photographer’s flashbulbs were going off. I just kept it on the low side. I was not coming off the bottom.” Rookie Jason Reagle and Andy Priest started on the front row, but King used the inside cushion off turn four to race under both drivers and steal the lead before the completion of the first circuit. Bolland then took to the outside line and raced into second on the next circuit. King had a comfortable lead until the 13th circuit when the only caution waved. On the restart, Bolland tried several times to stick his nose under King and loosen him up. King held his ground. With two laps to go, Bolland drove high in turn one searching for a different groove to no avail. At the finish, King triumphed over Bolland, Joe Crawford, Del Rougeux Jr. and Andy Priest. Rougeux was driving his 2004 Bicknell chassis for the first time this season. Priest was initially disqualified for a tire infraction -- two right rears on the car. However, a post-race review of the DIRT Rulebook determined that a misprint exists. As a result, Priest was reinstated to the fifth position. DIRT MotorSports officials were contacted and the error will be corrected this week. Bolland and Crawford captured the DIRT Modified heats. Former track champion Mike Potosky of Guys Mills, Pa., scored his first feature win of the season in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Potosky took the lead on the fourth circuit from outside polesitter Evan Taylor and then held off point leader Brent Rhebergen for the victory in his Tech Tool/Pizza Villa Pierce No. M20. It was the sixth career win for Potosky at Tri-City, who has struggled all season. “We’ve had a lot of bad luck this season,” said Potosky. “If we haven’t had bad luck, then I’ve been driving the car badly. Brent showed his nose at the end. That low groove worked well tonight.” Jim Frontz and Taylor started on the front row. Frontz led the first circuit before Taylor took the lead on the next round. Potosky moved into third one lap later before a caution slowed the pace. On the restart, Taylor chose the outside lane and Potosky used the inside groove to his advantage. On the seventh circuit, Rhebergen moved into second. He chased down Potosky, and nearly completed a pass in traffic before a caution on the 12th circuit. After the restart, Potosky held off Rhebergen for the final three circuits for the win. Frontz finished third. Taylor was fourth after exchanging that position over the last two circuits with Matt Lux, who was fifth. Carl McKinney and David Atkinson won the E Mod heat races. Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., won the 15-lap Pro Stock feature for his fifth win of the season in his E&K Equipment/Dulaney’s Garage Chevrolet No. 7W. Unlike the other feature winners, Whitling used the high groove to score his 42nd career win on the same night that he debuted his new Pierce E Mod. “I used that high line to get to the front and I figured I would stay there,” said Whitling. “The E Mod is real different from the Pro Stock. The car’s a little tight and it will take a while to get used to it.” Terry Wheeler led the first circuit after fending off outside polesitter Jason Engles. On the second circuit, Doug Iorio II raced into the second spot. Whitling was on the charge, however. On the third circuit, he moved from sixth to fourth. On the next lap, he was third. One more circuit, and Whitling was second passing Iorio amidst lapped traffic. On the seventh circuit, Whitling drifted outside Wheeler to snatch the top spot at the line. From there, he cruised to victory despite two cautions. Iorio finished second to stay within sight of Whitling in the point chase. Wheeler finished third followed by Dave Ferringer and Jeff Lockhart. Iorio and Lockhart won the Pro Stock heats. For Lockhart, who was the 2005 Pro Stock Rookie of the Year, it was his first career heat race win and top five feature finish. Josh Seippel of Franklin, Pa., captured his second win of the season in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Driving his Paint Medics/Shook’s Garage Chevrolet No. 84, Seippel took the lead on the third circuit and raced to his third career win at Tri-City. “It’s been a long road to get here,” said Seippel. “I’d like to thank my entire crew for their efforts.” Joe Blake led the initial circuit of the race before he spun in turn two. Charlie McMillen assumed the lead on the restart, but Bill Winters raced past McMillen on the second circuit to then lead the event. Rookie Bill Kluck Jr. slammed the frontstretch wall after that pass. On the final restart, Winters elected to take the outside lane, which allowed second place Seippel to race under him into the first turn. Once out front, Seippel was never headed. Point leader Jeff Manners took second place on the sixth circuit. He closed on Seippel, but was unable to pass him before the finish. At the checkered flag, Seippel won over Manners, Bill Myers, Winters and Regina Deloe. Seippel and Myers won the Thundercar heats. Tri-City Speedway will be in action next Sunday August 20th on Fan Appreciation Night 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. The E Mods will compete in the second Fame RV Center E Series race of 2006. In addition, the Maurer’s Trading Post Rifle Dash will be run. The top five pointmen in two divisions selected at random will have an opportunity to each compete in dash events with the winner receiving a new deer rifle worth at least $500 courtesy of Maurer’s Trading Post in Franklin. Adult grandstand admission will be reduced to $6 and members of the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club will receive free grandstand admission. Student ages 15 and under and all children will receive free grandstand admission as well. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. BOB FELMLEE, 2. Brent Covell, 3. Daryl Stimeling, 4. Andy McKisson, 5. Sam Hafertepe Jr., 6. Rob Eyler, 7. Brent Matus, 8. Todd Bauer, 9. Scott Rodgers, 10. Gale Ruth Jr., 11. John Schuyler, 12. Paul Kish, 13. Butch Beasley, 14. Bud Watt, 15. Russ Sansosti. DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. REX KING, 2. Kevin Bolland, 3. Joe Crawford, 4. Del Rougeux Jr., 5. Andy Priest, 6. Travis Shingledecker, 7. Chris Schiffer, 8. Russell King, 9. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 10. Jason Reagle, 11. Dean Pearson, 12. Lenny Leibold Jr., 13. Tom Winkle, 14. Chanda Reitz, 15. Dave Murdick, 16. Dave Schrader, 17. Mike Turner, 18. Carl Murdick, 19. Rex King Jr., 20. Rodney Beltz, 21. Skip Moore. E MODS (15 Laps): 1. MIKE POTOSKY, 2. Brent Rhebergen, 3. Jim Frontz, 4. Evan Taylor, 5. Matt Lux, 6. Jeff Taylor, 7. Shawn Shingledecker, 8. Carl McKinney, 9. David Atkinson, 10. Butch Lambert, 11. Dale Applebee, 12. Jason Johns, 13. Jamie Shetler, 14. Mike Samuelson, 15. Bobby Whitling, 16. Aurie Weaver, 17. Arthur Edwards, 18. Ed Wilson, 19. Joe Ebert, 20. Russ Dempsey, 21. Dana Wellington, 22. Tim Engles. PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Doug Iorio II, 3. Terry Wheeler, 4. Dave Ferringer, 5. Jeff Lockhart, 6. Jason Engles, 7. Bob Sloss, 8. Joe Lockhart, 9. Ronnie Davis, 10. Denny Crawford, 11. Russ Coyne, 12. Rusty Kellogg, 13. Matt Thomas, 14. Scott Myers, 15. Chad Myers, 16. Rod Laskey, 17. Jackson Humanic, 18. Matt Keith, 19. John Winters, 20. Mike Pegher Jr., 21. Gary Proper, 22. Adam Peterson. THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JOSH SEIPPEL, 2. Jeff Manners, 3. Bill Myers, 4. Bill Winters, 5. Regina Deloe, 6. Curt Bish Sr., 7. Jon Huff, 8. Cody Manners, 9. Bill Hale, 10. John K. Miller II, 11. Patrick Fielding, 12. Jason Swartz, 13. Ed Deloe, 14. Charlie McMillen, 15. Bill Kluck Jr., 16. Joe Blake. DNS: Don Blake Jr., Bill Baker.
UPCOMING
EVENTS 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) (2nd 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) Sept. 8-9 – ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Nationals 2006 Sept. 17 – 10th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series Finale), Thundercars Apple Core 20, and Lowry Auto Wrecking Full-Size Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Racing Starts at 4 p.m.) |