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BOB FELMLEE
CLINCHES SPRINT TITLE WITH WIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; JEREMIAH AND SHAWN
SHINGLEDECKER TRIUMPH IN MOD CLASSES; DAVE FERRINGER AND JOSH SEIPPEL
REPEAT AS WELL August 20, 2006 FRANKLIN, PA ... With one more point show to go, Tri-City Speedway hosted another five-division show under warm and cloudy conditions on Sunday night, and Bob Felmlee (4 Your Car Connection Super Sprints), Jeremiah Shingledecker (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Shawn Shingledecker (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods and Fame RV Center E Series), Dave Ferringer (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks), and Josh Seippel (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) collected feature wins on Maurer’s Trading Post Night at the half-mile Venango County oval. Bob Felmlee of Franklin, Pa., who nearly ended his racing career after a 1999 accident at Tri-City, clinched his third career track championship with his fourth win in a row in the Super Sprint main. Felmlee also won titles in 1996 and 1998. In the Pro Stock division, Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., unofficially clinched his third career title with a fourth place finish. All Whitling needs to do is make an appearance next week, and he is assured of the title, which would match the ones he earned in 1999 and 2002. In addition to the feature race action, David Atkinson of Titusville, Pa., and Charlie McMillen of Oil City, Pa., each won a Maurer’s Trading Post Rifle Dash. The five-car, five-lap events featured the top five pointmen in the E Mod and Thundercar divisions, which were selected at random draw at the start of the show. Each earned a new Remington 30.06 deer rifle with a scope for their dash wins. In the 20-lap Super Sprint feature, Bob Felmlee scored his sixth win of the season in a race that proved he is a deserving champion. Starting ninth, Felmlee sliced and diced his way through the field to take the lead from Andy Priest on the 15th circuit in the non-stop event. From there, Felmlee cruised to a 4.459-second victory in his World of Wheels Maxim No. 6. “This was a great car tonight,” said Felmlee after his 27th career win. “I didn’t know who was a lead car or a lapped car out there because the race went so fast. I’ve got to thank my family, my entire team, all my sponsors, and all the companies that support our race team. Without them and all of our fans, we wouldn’t be here.” Priest jumped into the lead at the start of the race with Todd Bauer right behind him. By the fourth circuit, Felmlee was running fifth, but the fast pace of the event allowed Priest to extend a huge lead on the field. At the halfway mark, Priest led Bauer, Andy McKisson, Jody Keegan and Felmlee. Then, the champion went to work. On the 12th circuit, he drove under Keegan in turn one for fourth and McKisson in turn four to take third. He closed on Priest and Bauer, who struggled with lapped traffic. On the 15th circuit, Felmlee dove under Bauer entering turn one to grab second. Using the low groove, he raced under Priest off turn four amidst lapped traffic to snare the lead. Felmlee then ran away from there leaving the fans and competitors in awe. Priest finished second over Bauer, Keegan and McKisson. Brian Ellenberger and Brent Covell won the Super Sprint heat races. Jeremiah Shingledecker of Polk, Pa., won the 20-lap DIRT Modified main driving his car until it collapsed – literally. Passing early leader Skip Moore and Del Rougeux Jr. on the fourth circuit, Shingledecker ran away with his second victory of the season. After taking the checkered flag, Shingledecker made an additional lap, but the engine blew in his Carmate Trailers/Quaker Steak & Lube Bicknell No. 37MD making for a bittersweet win. “I was running in lapped traffic, so I wasn’t sure if the race was over,” said Shingledecker after his fifth career win. “I made that insurance lap and I think the bottom half of the engine is gone. Oh well, I knew when I got out front that it was my race to lose.” Moore took command at the start of the race, which was interrupted by three cautions. Rougeux challenged him for the first three circuits until Shingledecker used an outside move in turn four around both cars to take the lead. Moore dropped out of the race on the sixth circuit handing second to Rougeux with point leader Kevin Bolland slotted in third. Bolland made several moves to take first and second off the inside groove. On the 12th circuit, Bolland drove under Rougeux off turn four, but the two collided and Rougeux’s car smacked the outside fence breaking the front end. Bolland was sent to the rear of the field by track officials for his involvement in the incident. As a result, Dave Murdick moved up to second. He was no match for Shingledecker. With three laps to go, Russell King and Andy Priest drove past Murdick, then they engaged in a spirited duel for second. At the finish, Shingledecker won over King, Priest, Murdick and Chanda Reitz. Title contenders Rex King (7th) and Bolland (12th) finished outside the top five. Murdick and Reitz won the DIRT Modified heats. Shawn Shingledecker of Franklin, Pa., captured the 21-lap E Mod feature, which was the second race of the season on the Fame RV Center E Series. Taking the lead at the start of the race, Shingledecker held off his teammate and point leader Brent Rhebergen for his second win of the season in his Main Auto Parts/Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting Pierce No. 54S. It was the third time this season that the team finished 1-2, but the first time Shingledecker was the winner. “I saw Brent stick his nose under there a couple of times,” said Shingledecker after his third career win. “I was hoping he would just give me a chance. We tried a bunch of different setups this season and we’ve gone back to an old one. This car runs real well now.” While Shingledecker led at the start, Rhebergen dueled with Ron Roncaglione for the first three circuits for second. Todd Roncaglione and Alan Dellinger worked their way into the mix as well. By the seventh lap, Shingledecker led Rhebergen, Todd Roncaglione and Dellinger, who broke the following circuit causing the third of five cautions. On the restart, Rhebergen managed to work his way under Shingledecker to lead the 10th circuit; however, Shingledecker used the outside cushion to perfection and reassumed command of the race off turn two. Roncaglione then made a valiant charge. On the 15th circuit, Roncaglione used the inside cushion and was running second at the line. Rhebergen fought back to reclaim the runner-up position. With the white flag waving in the air, the three leaders were three-wide through turns three and four. Coming off the fourth corner, Rhebergen and Roncaglione went for the same real estate. Roncaglione spun out of third ending a great run for the former track champion. That incident extended the race an additional circuit. At the finish, Shingledecker was the winner over Rhebergen. Mike Potosky finished a fine third ahead of Russ Dempsey and Bobby Whitling. For Whitling, it was his first career top five finish in an E Mod feature in only his second night of competition in the class. Dellinger, Dempsey and Shingledecker won the E Mod heats. Aktinson held off Rhebergen to win the Maurer’s Trading Post Rifle Dash for the E Mod division. Dave Ferringer of Cochranton, Pa., started off the season with two consecutive wins before his engine failed him. Since then, Ferringer has struggled to reach victory lane once again. Everything aligned this week as he captured the 15-lap Pro Stock feature for his third victory of the season and the 16th win of his career in his Donovan Bauer Auto Group/Lowry’s Auto Body Chevrolet No. 02. “It’s been a long time to get back here,” said Ferringer in victory lane. “After we lost that engine the third or fourth week of the season, it’s been a struggle. I thought I wouldn’t make it tonight because the engine was sputtering and missing again.” Bob Sloss led from the pole position at the start of the race, which was delayed by a first turn spin that caused the only caution. Ferringer immediately moved into second. Challenging Sloss, Ferringer drove under him off turn four on the third circuit to take command. Once out front, Ferringer disappeared from the rest of the field. Sloss initially had to fend off Russ Coyne. Coyne nearly stole second, but a flat tire with five laps to go caused Coyne to drift wide in turns one and two, which caused contact with Sloss. As a result, Doug Iorio II and Scott Myers both made their way by Sloss. At the finish, Ferringer collected the win over Iorio and Myers. On the final circuit, Bobby Whitling charged into the top five on the outside cushion and took fourth. Sloss finished fifth. Iorio and Whitling captured the Pro Stock heats. Josh Seippel of Franklin, Pa., scored his second win in a row in the 12-lap Thundercar feature. Taking the lead from Joe Blake on the second circuit, Seippel held off the hard charging Bill Myers to capture the win in his Paint Medics/Shook’s Garage Chevrolet No. 84. He remained in the hunt for the point title with his fourth career victory. “That was a fun race to win,” said Seippel. “I just want to thank all my sponsors and my team.” After taking the lead from Blake, Seippel found Myers on his rear bumper on the fourth circuit. Lap after lap, Myers tried to find racing room around Seippel. On the final circuit, Myers made a last ditch effort entering the first corner. However, the right rear tire came off Myers’ car ending a fine run. Once that occurred, Seippel was home free to the checkered flag. Blake finished second for his best run of the season. Regina Deloe charged into third on the final circuit followed by Curt Bish Sr. and point leader Jeff Manners. Deloe and Myers won the Thundercar heat races. In the Maurer’s Trading Post Rifle Dash, Charlie McMillen led Manners to the finish, which was wild as the two made contact at the line, which sent McMillen into a wild spin to the cheers of the crowd. Tri-City Speedway will end its point season next Sunday August 27th with the final five-division show of the 2006 season 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. Point champions will be decided in each division. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission remains a family friendly $11. SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. BOB FELMLEE, 2. Andy Priest, 3. Todd Bauer, 4. Jody Keegan, 5. Andy McKisson, 6. Brian Ellenberger, 7. John Schuyler, 8. Brent Covell, 9. Brent Matus, 10. Danny Holtgraver, 11. Daryl Stimeling, 12. Russ Sansosti, 13. Scott Rodgers, 14. Bud Watt, 15. Butch Beasley. DNS: Gale Ruth Jr. DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JEREMIAH SHINGLEDECKER, 2. Russell King, 3. Andy Priest, 4. Dave Murdick, 5. Andy Priest, 6. Garrett Krummert, 7. Rex King, 8. Chris Schiffer, 9. Rex King Jr., 10. Joe Crawford, 11. Travis Shingledecker, 12. Kevin Bolland, 13. Mike Turner, 14. Rodney Beltz, 15. Carl Murdick, 16. Dave Walters, 17. Del Rougeux Jr., 18. Dean Pearson, 19. Dave Schrader, 20. Skip Moore, 21. Jeremy Paup. DNS: Lenny Leibold Jr. E MODS (21 Laps): 1. SHAWN SHINGLEDECKER, 2. Brent Rhebergen, 3. Mike Potosky, 4. Russ Dempsey, 5. Bobby Whitling, 6. Jeff Sharp, 7. David Atkinson, 8. Dale Applebee, 9. Jason Johns, 10. Bruce Powell, 11. Ron Roncaglione, 12. Jim Frontz, 13. Todd Roncaglione, 14. Evan Taylor, 15. Mike Samuelson, 16. Dana Wellington, 17. Alan Dellinger, 18. Jeff Taylor, 19. Arlen Coy Jr., 20. Arthur Edwards, 21. Chip Mahood, 22. Aurie Weaver, 23. Jamie Shetler, 24. Tim Engles. DNS: Carl McKinney. PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. DAVE FERRINGER, 2. Doug Iorio II, 3. Scott Myers, 4. Bobby Whitling, 5. Bob Sloss, 6. Matt Thomas, 7. Rod Laskey, 8. Jeff Lockhart, 9. Jason Engles, 10. Chad Myers, 11. Joe Lockhart, 12. Jackson Humanic, 13. Gary Proper, 14. Matt Keith, 15. Randy Wyant, 16. Adam Peterson, 17. John Winters, 18. Russ Coyne, 19. Terry Wheeler, 20. Denny Crawford. THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. JOSH SEIPPEL, 2. Joe Blake, 3. Regina Deloe, 4. Curt Bish Sr., 5. Jeff Manners, 6. Charlie McMillen, 7. Bill Hale, 8. Jon Huff, 9. Dave Baker, 10. Don Baughman, 11. Patrick Fielding, 12. Kenny Alcorn, 13. Cody Manners, 14. Bill Myers, 15. Ed Deloe, 16. Bill Winters, 17. Andy Miller, 18. John K. Miller II.
UPCOMING EVENTS 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.) |