TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY RAINS OUT – MOTHER NATURE CLINCHES TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR KEVIN BOLLAND, CARL McKINNEY AND BILL MYERS
by Brian Spaid

August 19, 2007

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Mid-to-late August weather in Western Pennsylvania has historically been unkind to area race tracks, and this season is no different as Tri-City Speedway’s final point races of 2007 were washed out on Sunday night after persistent afternoon rains. This was the fourth rainout of the season at the Venango County half-mile oval.

   As a result of the rainout, Kevin Bolland (Schwab’s Ford DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Carl McKinney (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods), and Bill Myers (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) clinched track championships in their respective divisions. Rod George (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints) and Doug Iorio II (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) secured their titles last week at the track.

   All of the general admission tickets handed out by local McDonald’s Restaurants for the August 19^th show will be honored for grandstand admission only at the CSOnline Applefest 100 on September 16^th, which will now be CSOnline and McDonald’s Night at Tri-City.  In addition, the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club and Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club Night was rescheduled for September 16^th. The One-on-One Spectator Races will not be rescheduled.

   Since 2001, Tri-City has lost its final point night to the weather in four out of the last seven seasons, including this one. In fact, three of the last four title showdowns have ended with rainouts. That includes 2004, 2006 and 2007.

   “We’re disappointed about the weather, but there isn’t much we can do about it,” noted Tri-City Co-Promoter Mike Graham. “We’re looking forward now to our next events at the Oil Region Labor Day Classic. Roger Crick and I would like to congratulate all of our track champions and all of the race teams for their continued support of Tri-City Speedway.”

   Kevin Bolland of New Brighton, Pa., captured his third DIRTcar Big Block Modified track championship at Tri-City. Bolland, who currently leads the DIRTcar Big Block Modified Western Region point standings, also won the 2000 and 2006 titles at Tri-City, so this was his second consecutive track championship. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, Rex King finished a disappointing second in the DIRTcar Big Block Modified points.

   “It’s always nice to win a championship back-to-back,” said Bolland from the comfort of his living room on Sunday afternoon. “Winning a title at Tri-City is one that everyone would like to have, and we’re honored to do it again. Hats go off to my team and crew. Our consistency all season allowed us to be in contention for the title at the end of the year. We’re happy to be a part of the weekly show at Tri-City, and we wish other tracks would run their shows as well as you do up there.”

   Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., secured his first-ever E Mod track title at Tri-City. McKinney is a former two-time E Mod champion at Sharon Speedway. This season, McKinney piloted a car owned by Mike Hendrickson of Pittsfield, Pa., and the two men combined forces to capture their first career titles at Tri-City.

   “This is the third championship that I’ve won with a rainout,” laughed McKinney. “This happened to me at Sharon in 2002 and 2004. I’d like to be at the track when I won one. Seriously though, I have to give all of the credit to Mike and the entire team. They put me in a car each week that is capable of winning. The competition at Tri-City is some of the best I’ve raced against. The other drivers are true sportsman and there’s a lot of give-and-take out there. Mike and I enjoy racing there, and we hope to be able to do it again next year.”

   Second-year Thundercar driver Bill Myers of Seneca, Pa., held off stellar competition as well to capture his first career track championship at Tri-City. With five wins to his credit, Myers was able to hold off all challengers for the title and will now focus his efforts on the Pro Stock division in 2008.

   “This means a lot to me and the entire crew,” said Myers. “I wish I could have won it without the rain, but we’ll take it. Being my second year in the Thundercar division, it’s the way everyone would want to finish. I’d like to thank all my sponsors, crew and entire family for all of their support. Once we learned it rained out, we actually started to cut the car apart this afternoon. We’re upgrading it to run with the Pro Stocks, and we’ll be there for the CSOnline Applefest 100 on September 16^th.”

   Tri-City Speedway will be closed this coming Sunday August 26^th and will reopen for the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend on September 1^st and 2^nd.  The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be in competition featuring time trials, preliminary events and a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win race on each night. In addition, the E Mods and Pro Stocks will be racing each night. The E Mods will compete in two Allegheny Toyota E Series races.  Saturday’s event will be a 20-lap, $725-to-win event, and Sunday’s race will be the All Star 30 paying $750-to-win plus lap money and other contingencies. The Pro Stocks will compete in a 20-lap, $500-to-win William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race each night.

   The event schedule will be different this year for the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend. Gates open at 2 p.m. each night and racing starts at 4 p.m. with hot laps and time trials for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series only. After those are completed, the track crew will take time to work on the speedway followed by hot laps for the E Mods and Pro Stocks. Heat races will begin at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain be $30 each night and a two-day ticket costs only $50.  Pit admission is $35 each night and a two-day pit admission costs only $60.  All grandstand seating is general admission and seats may only be secured and saved for the weekend starting on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

   Also, for the third season in a row, Engles Trucking and Ray’s Racing Specialties will feature a huge bonfire and party on Saturday night. Called the “South Ghetto Party”, the event will also feature a live band. The “South Ghetto Party” will be held in the camping area near the oak grove, and there will be free camping all weekend for race attendees only.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   August 26 – Speedway Closed – No Races

    September 1 & 2 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend

   September 1 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend Night 1: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps; $10,000-to-win); RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods (Allegheny Toyota 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 Racers for Tots and 3^rd Annual Ghetto South Party Sponsored by Ray’s Racing Specialties and Engles Trucking

   September 2 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend Night 2: World of Outlaws Late Model Series (50 Laps; $10,000-to-win); RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods (Allegheny Toyota 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)

    September 7 & 8 – 2007 Extreme Dirt Track Series ATVA Quad Races

   September 16 – 11^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series), 7^th Annual Apple Core 20 (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) and Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Racing Starts at 4 p.m.)