ROD GEORGE, BRENT RHEBERGEN AND DARRELL BOSSARD WIN FEATURES AND TITLES AT TRI-CITY; JOE CRAWFORD NABS DIRT MOD WIN WHILE DEL ROUGEUX JR. TAKES FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP; DAVE PHILLIPS WINS BATTLE WHILE JEFF MANNERS WINS WAR IN THUNDERCARS
by Brian Spaid

 August 24, 2003

    FRANKLIN, PA  … Point champions were declared in all divisions on a warm and sunny Sunday night at Tri-City Speedway as Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Joe Crawford (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1^st Oil Country E Mods), Darrell Bossard (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Dave Phillips (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) captured feature events on Fan Appreciation Night at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval. The Twin State Auto Racing Fan Club and Pittsburgh Circle Track Club also visited the track.

   In the title chases, Rod George (Super Sprints), Del Rougeux Jr. (DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (E Mods), Darrell Bossard (Pro Stocks) and Jeff Manners (Thundercars) all collected track championships in their respective divisions.

   Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., set some records in the 20-lap Super Sprint feature. Taking the lead from early pacesetter Jarod Larson on the fourth circuit, George ran away to his eighth win of the season in his Rodeway Inn/Kittanning Dairy Queen/United Expressline Gambler No. 4. That tied the record for most wins in a season with Ed Lynch Sr. (1977) and Brad Doty (1980). He also tied Buddy Cochran with 24 career wins at Tri-City. Lou Blaney has the most at 29 wins. George also secured his second consecutive track title.

   “It means a lot to be in the same league with those guys,” said George. “The track was perfect tonight. My crew always does a good job setting up the car, and they deserve this championship. You could run the track from top to bottom. There were some new guys on the scoreboard tonight, and I want to congratulate Jason Jacoby for his win last week. He stomped us.”

   Ed Lynch Jr. finished second to George. He tried to close on George several times in lapped traffic, but it was to no avail. Andy McKisson charged through the top five in the latter half of the race and scored a season-best third. Larson and Jacoby rounded out the top five. Lynch and Gary Rankin won the Super Sprint heats.

   Joe Crawford of Polk, Pa., whooped and hollered with joy in victory lane after his second win of the season in the 20-lap DIRT Modified feature. He even performed a roof dance on his Crawford Chiropractic/Fletcher’s Artic Car Sales & Service Bicknell No. 25. This all followed a stunning late-race pass on Kevin Bolland.

   “I beat that red 777,” exclaimed Crawford in reference to Bolland. “I made that pass on him and he would have done the same to me. The car wasn’t hurt by the contact at all. This is my best night of the season. I didn’t win the track title, but I’ll take this victory instead. I have to thank everyone from my family to my sponsors. This is great!”

   Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., finished fourth, which secured his first career DIRT Modified track championship. Rougeux, who earned three wins this season, will collect $3,000 at the DIRT Motorsports Banquet in November.

   “I thought it would take a few more years to earn a title,” said Rougeux, who pilots the Vinyl Graphics Bicknell No. 20D. “I thank my entire crew and my father for all their hard work to make this happen. I also want to dedicate this title to (famed DIRT Modified crew chief) Charlie DeAngelis, who recently passed away. He was a great man and a big help to me.”

   In the race, Rougeux led the first two laps from the pole position before Bolland assumed command. Behind him, Rougeux was fighting with his main challenger, Jim Rasey, for second. The race for the championship ended on the fifth lap when Rasey spun out in turn two. Crawford slipped by Rougeux on the sixth circuit and chased down Bolland. Crawford nearly spun at the halfway point, but a caution on the 12^th lap allowed him to close back in for the winning move.

   Crawford made the pass for the victory on the 16^th circuit. Racing out of turn four, Crawford dove under Bolland, who appeared to have some handling problems. As Crawford slipped by Bolland across the start-finish line, their cars collided. Both continued and Crawford led the final four laps for his fourth career win at Tri-City. Brian Swartzlander passed Bolland for second on the 18^th lap to score his best finish of the season. Bolland was third over Rougeux and Dave Schrader. Rasey and Bolland captured the DIRT Modified heats.

   Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, NY, capped another fine season with his 10^th win of 2003 in the 15-lap E Mod feature. Piloting Bruce Steadman’s Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69, Rhebergen also secured his second consecutive track championship with his 33^rd career E Mod win. It was his fifth win in a row, and he will carry that streak into the 2004 season.

   “I know I say it every week, but this is unbelievable,” said Rhebergen. “This crew did an excellent job. We crawled out of the hole we created early this season with a couple of bad races to win the title. Jim Frontz and Jeff Taylor made it a tough fight all season. The Steadmans do a great job getting this car ready for me. It’s a fun car to race.”

   After three early cautions with Matt Swanson out front, the race settled into a battle between Rhebergen and Frontz. Swanson lost the lead to Frontz on the fifth circuit while Rhebergen climbed into second one lap later. Rhebergen then worked the outside cushion on Frontz for several laps. Finally, on the ninth circuit, Frontz lost traction at opposite ends of the track, and Rhebergen took command off turn two. Once out front, Rhebergen raced away. Mike Potosky made some good moves to race into second over the final laps. Frontz finished third over Kari Gasser and Swanson. Taylor and Potosky won the E Mod heat races.

   Like his run to the championship, Darrell Bossard of Centerville, Pa., led from start to finish in the 15-lap Pro Stock feature. Starting on the outside pole position aboard his Bossard Crawford GM Store/Maloney Tool & Mold Chevrolet No. 22B, Bossard held off the mid-race charges of Bobby Whitling to capture his fifth win of the season and his first track title.

   “We started out strong this season and got a little cold,” said Bossard, who won four of the first seven races, including three in a row to start the season. “We didn’t have a single DNF, which helped us win the title. All these guys are great to race with, and my crew did a fantastic job all season. We’re running the Pro Stock and Late Model next week, so we’re looking forward to it.”

   Starting on the outside pole by the luck of the draw, Bossard took immediate command of the race. Jason Johns ran second for the first four laps before Whitling climbed into the spot. Although the defending track champion tried to make a race of it, Whitling was no match for Bossard, who led every lap for his eighth career win at Tri-City. Whitling finished second over Dave Ferringer, Gary Norman and Doug Iorio Sr. Iorio, Norman and Bruce Smith scored wins in the Pro Stock heats. Russ Coyne won the B main.

   Dave Phillips of Franklin, Pa., won his second 12-lap Thundercar feature while other drivers suffered from the bad luck that plagued Phillips all season after winning on opening night. Six-time winner Robby Switzer challenged Phillips first before breaking the right front wheel. Late in the race, Joe Blake made a bid for the win only to spin on the final lap.

   “I knew those guys were there,” said Phillips in victory lane beside his Hargenrader Cabinet Shop/Heffern Septic Tank Service Buick No. 00D. “I blew the engine I won with on the first night, and a friend of mine got another engine for $250. I put a different carburetor on it tonight and here we are in the winner’s circle. I guess I should have made that carburetor change earlier.”

   Kevin Cooper finished a career-best second over Andy Miller, Dan Slagle and Blake. Curt Bish Jr. rolled onto his roof on the frontstretch on the second circuit of the race. He was uninjured.

   Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., locked the inaugural Thundercar track title before the night started, which was advantageous because he dropped out of the race with a flat tire on the second lap. With three wins this season in his Jerry’s Auto Service Oldsmobile No. 16, the former Pro Stock racer was thrilled to be the first divisional champion.

   “This is a fun class,” said Manners. “It means a lot to win this title against all these drivers. They are a good group of guys. I hope we can do well in the Thundercar race on Sept. 28^th.”

   In the nightcap, Doug Iorio Jr. drove his father’s car to victory in the 12-lap Pro Stock Mechanics Race. Iorio topped D.J. Schrader, Mike Swope, Travis Norman and Randy Zachman for the winner’s trophy.

   This coming Sunday August 31^st, Tri-City Speedway hosts the Oil Region Labor Day Classic with four divisions of racing to include the NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints, Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds, Late Models and E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks. For the Super Sprints, Chevron East presents the York Triathlon Super Sprint Series 25-lap special paying $2,000-to-win. DIRT Modified division sponsor Schwab’s Ford presents the BRP Modified Tour Kodiak Memorial 30-lap season finale paying $2,000-to-win. That event will also be part of the 2003 Advance Auto Parts Super DIRT Modified Series and the race winner will earn a guaranteed starting spot to the Eckerd Drug Syracuse 200 at the New York State Fairgrounds on October 12^th. Good Tire Service and Em’s Broidery present “The Return” of the Late Models to Tri-City in a 30-lap event paying $2,000-to-win. The Pro Stocks will complete the four-star show in the Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series 25-lap special paying $600-to-win. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be $15 for this special event.

   SUPER SPRINTS (20 Laps): 1. ROD GEORGE, 2. Ed Lynch Jr., 3. Andy McKisson, 4. Jarod Larson, 5. Jason Jacoby, 6. Daryl Stimeling, 7. Brent Matus, 8. Gary Rankin, 9. Todd Bauer, 10. Mary Anne Williams, 11. Sheila Rankin, 12. Butch Beasley, 13. Gale Ruth Jr., 14. Russ Sansosti, 15. Robert Van Tassel.

   DIRT MODIFIEDS (20 Laps): 1. JOE CRAWFORD, 2. Brian Swartzlander, 3. Kevin Bolland, 4. Del Rougeux Jr., 5. Dave Schrader, 6. Josh Skarzenski, 7. Chanda Reitz, 8. Skip Moore, 9. Jim Rasey, 10. Andy Priest, 11. George Hobaugh, 12. Carl Murdick, 13. Clint Baker, 14. Dave Willoughby, 15. Nick Ritchey, 16. Andy Nicols, 17. Dan Weaver, 18. Garrett Krummert, 19. Kevin Latshaw, 20. Conny Allen. DNS: Allen Ferry.

   E MODS (15 Laps): 1. BRENT RHEBERGEN, 2. Mike Potosky, 3. Jim Frontz, 4. Kari Gasser, 5. Matt Swanson, 6. Jeff Taylor, 7. Shawn Shingledecker, 8. Butch Lambert, 9. Jamie Shetler, 10. Dave Ferringer, 11. Rick Robinson, 12. Mike Samuelson, 13. Jim Long, 14. Bruce Powell, 15. Tom Martinack, 16. Herm Myers, 17. Adam Taylor, 18. Shawn Domhoff, 19. Jeremy Kosicek, 20. Howard Fraley, 21. Nick Cramer.

   PRO STOCKS (15 Laps): 1. DARRELL BOSSARD, 2. Bobby Whitling, 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Gary Norman, 5. Doug Iorio Sr., 6. Bruce Smith, 7. Jason Johns, 8. Terry Wheeler, 9. Rusty Kellogg, 10. Andy Buckley, 11. Les Myers, 12. Joe Drusko, 13. Bret McCarthy, 14. Mike Miller, 15. Russ Coyne, 16. Lonny Blair, 17. Scott Myers, 18. Bill Exley Jr., 19. Dick Pascorell, 20. Rod Laskey, 21. Doug Calvert, 22. Sean Shook, 23. Scotty Carbaugh, 24. Ron Iorio. DNQ: Bill Myers, Tim Balach, Matt Keith, John Shetler, Matt Thomas, Clyde Roberts, John Sutley, Bob Sloss, Andy Thompson, Joe Lockhart, Arthur Edwards.

   THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. DAVE PHILLIPS, 2. Kevin Cooper, 3. Andy Miller, 4. Dan Slagle, 5. Joe Blake, 6. Kenny Alcorn, 7. Branden King, 8. Wearne Cook, 9. Curt Bish Jr., 10. Robby Switzer, 11. Jeff Manners, 12. Rick Miller Jr.

   PRO STOCK MECHANICS RACE (12 Laps): 1. DOUG IORIO JR., 2. D.J. Schrader, 3. Mike Swope, 4. Travis Norman, 5. Randy Zachman, 6. Ron Iorio Jr., 7. Mike Rice, 8. Mike Alex, 9. Kevin Brenot, 10. Bruce Thomas, 11. Everett Wade, 12. Tex Terry II, 13. Charity Blair, 14. Chris Haines, 15. Jay Kent, 16. Kevin Carter, 17. Shawn Smith, 18. Tom Harry, 19. Dave Myers, 20. Mike Winger. DNS: Ken Ion, Curt Rodgers, John Shetler, Curt Bish Sr., Jereme Bean.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   Aug. 31 – Oil Region Labor Day Classic – Chevron East Presents York Triathlon Super Sprints Series (25 Laps, $2,000-to-win); Schwab’s Ford Presents BRP Modified Tour/Advance Auto Parts Modified Super DIRT Series Kodiak Memorial (30 Laps, $2,000-to-win), Em’s Broidery & Good Tire Presents Late Models “The Return” (30 Laps, $2,000-to-win), Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series/Pro-Stock Car Series (25 Laps, $600-to-win)

   Sept. 7 – Race of Champions “Driven to Rock” with Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace and the Late Models (30 Laps, $3,000-to-win) (Gates Open 5 p.m.; Autographs at 6 p.m.; Racing Starts at 7:30 p.m.)

   Sept. 12-14 – Ford Trucks Presents USHRA Monster Jam Featuring Gravedigger and the Monster Trucks/Quad Wars/Jet Jeep (Show Times: Fri. and Sat. 8 p.m.; Sun 2 p.m.)