CARL McKINNEY WINS FASTRAK NORTHEAST LATE MODEL TOURING SERIES AT TRI-CITY WHILE TODD RANCAGLIONE CAPTURES E MOD ALL STAR 30 AND JASON JOHNS SWEEPS WEEKEND IN PRO STOCKS
by Brian Spaid

August 31, 2008

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Another day filled with sunshine and beautiful skies graced Tri-City Speedway for Sunday evening’s finale of the Armstrong Cable Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend 2008. Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., scored a dominating win in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series 50-lap event earning $10,000 for his triumph. World of Outlaws Media Director Kevin Kovac will issue a separate story on that event.

   Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., was the big winner in the companion show winning the 30-lap FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series event featuring the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models.

   In addition, Todd Roncaglione of Linesville, Pa, captured the United E Mod Series (UEMS) E Series All Star 30 for the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, and Jason Johns of Oil City, Pa., won the William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series event for the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks.

   There were a total of 157 cars in the pit area on Sunday night, and 165 different cars and teams competed at Tri-City over the two-day event.

   Carl McKinney is the 2007 and 2008 Tri-City E Mod track champion, but he demonstrated newly found prowess in the full-fendered division scoring an upset win in the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series race. Starting on the pole position, McKinney led every lap of the event to capture his first-ever FASTRAK Late Model feature win aboard his self-owned Ehrhart Cabinets/Hufnagel Majors Trailer Sales Rocket No. 6M.

   “I have to thank Lynn Geisler for coming over to our shop on Wednesday to help us with setup advice,” said McKinney in reference to the veteran Late Model star. “He still knows his stuff. This car was on a rail all night long. I am real excited to win this race. My crew has done an outstanding job to get this win, and they deserve it.”

  In a caution-free event, McKinney was virtually unchallenged. Track champion and regional series point leader Max Blair came close to McKinney’s back bumper a few times, but lapped traffic allowed McKinney to keep Blair at bay and score the win. Veteran Dick Barton finished third followed by Georgian Aaron Ridley, who was driving Bob Williams’ FASTRAK Late Model, and Tom Snyder Jr. John Haggerty and Stephen Hollabaugh won the FASTRAK Late Model B Mains to complete qualifying for the 34-car field. Heat races were run on Saturday, and two additional cars arrived to compete on Sunday.

   Todd Roncaglione last won an E Mod feature at Tri-City on April 22, 2001, which was the springboard to his 2001 track championship. Driving his Greiner Extrusions Rocket No. 00, Roncaglione broke his drought at the Venango County half-mile oval by winning the UEMS E Series All Star 30 and earning a $1,000 pay day to boot.

   “I haven’t been in victory lane here since ’01, and this feels great,” said Roncaglione after his second career win at Tri-City. “This is my biggest win ever. I took a break from full-time racing this year to spend more time with my family. The car was great all night, and I have to thank that little child in the stands, who pointed me to pick a certain seat cushion on that redraw. I picked number one and that was the thing that helped start a great night.”

   Roncaglione leapt into the lead at the start of the race, but Carl McKinney challenged him taking the lead on the second circuit following a restart. Roncaglione would not give up easily as he held his ground in the low groove to outrace McKinney and resume the lead on the following circuit. From there, Roncaglione was peerless.

  Behind him, McKinney had fits with Randy Hall and Dave Hess Jr. Those three drivers engaged in a stirring battle for second over the last half of the race, which was slowed by only two cautions. The last 16 laps were run under green. Hall and McKinney battled back and forth, especially after McKinney gave up the bottom of the track to Hall on the 17^th circuit. Lap after lap, they swapped the position, and Hess would occasionally stick his nose in there too. By the 22^nd circuit, Hall was in a secure second and started to chase down Roncaglione. McKinney and Hess continued their duel for third until three laps to go when they collided in turn one. McKinney slowed and Hess nearly spun. They both lost positions to Rich Michael Jr. and Mike Potosky as a result.

   At the checkered flag, Roncaglione was the winner over Hall, Michael, Potosky and McKinney. Hess finished sixth. E Series point leader Al Cressley was mired in a seven-car melee in turn one at the end of the first circuit, which forced him out of the race. As a result, Potosky captured the 2008 E Series title by 26 points over Cressley with Shawn Shingledecker in third. Cressley, Hess, McKinney, Ron Roncaglione and Bruce Powell captured the E Mod heat races for the 47-car field. Jim Frontz and Tim Peterson won the B mains.

   Continuing his dominance of the Pro Stock division, Jason Johns swept the Pro Stock portion of the 2008 Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend winning the 20-lap Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race in his Changing Times Telephone Service/Cherrytree Mini Storage Chevrolet No. 31. Sunday’s win was Johns’ eighth career victory in the Pro Stock division and his fourth of the season. It was also his third consecutive win.

   “I have paid my dues to finally win like this,” said Johns, who stamped himself as the favorite heading into the 12^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 this coming weekend. “Seven years, two of them in E Mods, and lots of hard work and bad luck. I am enjoying this right now. I just kept my head straight and hit my marks every lap. I really want to win the big one next week.”

   By the luck of the draw, Johns started on the pole position for the main event and took the lead over Jackson Humanic at the end of the first circuit. Humanic was no match for Johns, and four restarts between laps 10 and 12 were Humanic’s only sniff of the front spot. He nearly completed a pass after one restart, but Johns was too good on the top side of the track. In the late stages of the race, Humanic lost second to Late Model star David Scott, who was subbing for Matt Thomas. Scott charged his way through the field, but he too was no match for Johns.

   At the finish, Johns won over Scott, Bobby Whitling, Humanic and Chris Haines. Johns, Don Kramer and Bobby Sutley won the Pro Stock heat races for the 30-car field.

   Tri-City Speedway’s 2008 season will come to a close this coming Sunday September 7^th with the running of the 12^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100. Featuring the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks in the final William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race of the season, the 100-lap affair is the biggest regional event for the division. The race pays $1,500-to-win and additional lap money and prizes. The Klapec Auto Body Thundercars will also be in competition in the 6^th Annual Apple Core 20. The show will conclude with a Lowry Auto Wrecking Mid-Sized Car Demo Derby. Gates open at 2 p.m., Pro Stock time trials start at 4 p.m., and racing begins at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission for this event is $11. 

   FASTRAK NORTHEAST LATE MODEL TOURING SERIES (30 Laps): 1. CARL McKINNEY, 2. Max Blair, 3. Dick Barton, 4. Aaron Ridley, 5. Tom Snyder Jr., 6. Butch Lambert, 7. Bobby Powell, 8. Dennis Lunger Jr., 9. Jim Frank, 10. John Lacki, 11. Jay Watson, 12. Kyle Zimmerman, 13. Roger French, 14. Steve Hollabaugh, 15. Dereck Frank, 16. Justin Kann, 17. Rusty Moore, 18. Chad Myers, 19. Steve D’Apolito, 20. Chris Haines, 21. Bob Kish, 22. Bob Diver, 23. John Haggerty, 24. Tony Hyde. DNQ: Andy Buckley, Tyler Dietz, Tom Copeland, Mike Pegher Jr., Jason Stanke, Bobby Whitling, Bryan Salisbury, Alex Anderson, Bryant Hank, Brian Booher.

   UEMS E SERIES ALL STAR 30 (E MODS) (30 Laps): 1. TODD RONCAGLIONE, 2. Randy Hall, 3. Rich Michael Jr., 4. Mike Potosky, 5. Carl McKinney, 6. Dave Hess Jr., 7. Darren Tarabori, 8. George Catanzano, 10. Bruce Powell, 11. Rick Robinson, 12. Russ Dunn, 13. Brian Douglas, 14. Vic Vena, 15. Jonathan Taylor, 16. Larry Kugel, 17. Daryl Charlier, 18. Jim Frontz, 19. Gary Sullivan, 20. Tim Peterson, 21. Butch Lambert, 22. Ron Roncaglione, 23. Al Cressley, 24. Shawn Shingledecker. DNQ: Scott Stiffler, Jeff Deeter, Jim Turley, Bruce Dreistadt, Rick Loomis, Justin Tatlow, Craig Bedell, Rick Pratschler, David Atkinson, Jeff Johnson, Jason Stetson, Tom Hagberg, Kyle Bedell, Nathan Short, Rob Kristyak, Dustin Fraley, Jon Rohacevich, Chad Silleman, Dave Willoughby, T.J. Downs, Chip Mahood, Tim Engles, Mike Eschrisch

   DETROIT IRON PRO STOCK SERIES (20 Laps): 1. JASON JOHNS, 2. David Scott, 3. Bobby Whitling, 4. Jackson Humanic, 5. Chris Haines, 6. Rod Laskey, 7. Gerry Bruce, 8. Danny Exley, 9. Jason Reagle, 10. Bobby Sutley, 11. Randy Wyant, 12. Andy Buckley, 13. Bob Sloss, 14. Jason Stanke, 15. Pat Hanley, 16. A.J. MacQuarrie, 17. Jamie Brown, 18. Les Myers, 19. Stan Woomer, 20. Jim Keith, 21. Don Kramer, 22. Denny Crawford, 23. Scotty Carbaugh, 24. Matt Keith, 25. Josh Seippel, 26. Terry Wheeler, 27. Russ Coyne, 28. Kevin Carson, 29. Dave Ferringer. DNS: Charlie McMillen.

UPCOMING EVENTS

   September 7 – 12^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series), 6^th Annual Apple Core 20 (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) and Lowry Auto Wrecking Mid-Sized Car Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Time Trials at 4 p.m.; Racing Starts at 6 p.m.)