CARL McKINNEY AND BOBBY WHITLING WIN E MOD AND PRO STOCK MAINS ON NIGHT ONE OF THE OIL REGION LABOR DAY CLASSIC
by Brian Spaid

September 1, 2007

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... With glorious sunshine and gorgeous temperatures on Saturday evening, Tri-City Speedway hosted the first night of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend 2007, and Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky., won the 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series race earning $10,000 for his triumph. World of Outlaws Media Director Kevin Kovac issued a separate story on that event.

   In the companion show, Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., won the Allegheny Toyota E Series special for the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, and Bobby Whitling of Seneca, 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.

   Carl McKinney placed an exclamation point on his 2007 E Mod track championship with a victory in the 20-lap E Series race for the E Mods. Taking the lead on the 10th circuit in a caution-plagued race, McKinney held off the late-charging Jim Frontz for his fourth win of the season in the Mike Hendrickson-owned Holden Precision Machine/Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Pierce No. 6M.

   “This is great,” exclaimed McKinney in victory lane. “I just bided my time there and waited for Shawn to make a mistake. He drifted wide in turn two, and I slipped under him. I have to thank Mike and his entire crew. They let me drive this car, but they do all the hard work.”

   Domhoff led at the start of the race, but five cautions dominated the first three laps. That never allowed a race pace to develop, and Domhoff maintained command from his pole position. By the fourth lap, McKinney moved by Bruce Powell to take third. One lap later, he surpassed Mike Samuelson for second and set his sights on Domhoff. After another caution for Powell’s spin on the eighth circuit, McKinney hounded Domhoff. In turn one on the 10th circuit, Domhoff drifted wide in turn one and McKinney shot underneath. Once out front, McKinney raced on to his fifth career win at Tri-City. Frontz tried to close on McKinney late in the run to no avail. At the finish, McKinney was the winner over Frontz, Domhoff, Samuelson and Butch Lambert. Seven cautions slowed the race. McKinney, Domhoff and Lambert won the E Mod heats for the 27-car field.

   Bobby Whitling captured the 20-lap Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series race for his second win of the season at Tri-City. Driving his R.K. Virgile Scrap Metal/Dulaney’s Garage/Double Play Sports Bar Chevrolet No. 7W, Whitling dueled with early leaders Rod Laskey and Denny Crawford before he secured the race lead and his 44th career win at Tri-City.

   “We went to a 358 cubic inch engine last year, and we’ve had a lot of success with it, especially when the track is black,” said Whitling. “The car got a little tight, and it slipped up in the corners. I thought Jason Reagle would get under me there.”

   Once the green flag flew, Laskey and Crawford engaged in a stirring battle for first that found the two drivers trading the lead numerous times. Laskey led the first two laps, Crawford led the next three, Laskey followed with two more, and Crawford led to the halfway point. The whole time, Whitling and Reagle were right behind the side-by-side battle between the leaders. Whitling managed to sneak under Laskey in turns three and four on the 10th lap, then chased after Crawford. Reagle followed Whitling into second one lap later, but Whitling raced under Crawford to lead the 11th circuit. On the next circuit, Crawford was ahead at the line. The 13th circuit was Crawford’s undoing. He drifted wide, and Whitling and Reagle raced by. Crawford recovered to get back into second on the 15th circuit, but a caution delayed the race further. On the restart, Crawford’s car drove straight into the first turn and hit the outside wall relegating him the rear of the pack. One lap later, on another restart, Crawford ending up rolling his car in turn two ending an aggravating night for the local favorite. Out front, Whitling was untouchable. Reagle finished second over Laskey, Chris Haines and Dave Ferringer. Reagle, Whitling and Danny Exley won the Pro Stock heat races for the 29-car field.

   Tri-City Speedway will host the second half of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend on Sunday evening. Featuring the World of Outlaws Late Models Series in another 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event, the program will also include the All Star 30 for the Allegheny Toyota E Series featuring the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, and another 20-lap William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series for the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks. Gates open at 2 p.m. with World of Outlaws Late Models Series hot laps and time trials at 4 p.m. Racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $30.

   E SERIES (E MODS) (20 Laps): 1. CARL McKINNEY, 2. Jim Frontz, 3. Shawn Domhoff, 4. Mike Samuelson, 5. Butch Lambert, 6. Matt Thomas, 7. Chip Mahood, 8. Justin Carlson, 9. Jason Johns, 10. Bruce Powell, 11. Brian Douglas, 12. Evan Taylor, 13. Kyle Bedell, 14. David Atkinson, 15. Rick Loomis, 16. Bobby Whitling, 17. Mike Potosky, 18. Shawn Shingledecker, 19. Jeff Deeter, 20. Gary Sullivan, 21. Dave Hess Jr., 22. Tim Engles, 23. Russ Dempsey, 24. Jared Somhoff, 25. Jonathan Taylor, 26. Quincy Turner. DNS: Ron Boardman, Dana Wellington,

   DETROIT IRON PRO STOCK SERIES (20 Laps): 1. BOBBY WHITLING, 2. Jason Reagle, 3. Rod Laskey, 4. Chris Haines, 5. Dave Ferringer, 6. Gerry Bruce, 7. Randy Wyant, 8. Russ Coyne, 9. Bobby Sutley, 10. Rusty Kellogg, 11. Pat Hanley, 12. Butch Lambert, 13. Arthur Edwards, 14. Bobby Heim, 15. Bob Sloss, 16. Danny Exley, 17. Mike Pegher Jr., 18. Jackson Humanic, 19. Jim Keith, 20. Denny Crawford, 21. Bill Myers, 22. Matt Thomas, 23. Jeff Lockhart, 24. Don Kramer, 25. Terry Wheeler, 26. Jeff Manners, 27. Andy Buckley. DNS: Doug Iorio II, Matt Keith.

      UPCOMING EVENTS

    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 3rd 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 – 11th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series), 7th Annual Apple Core 20 (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars), FASTRAK Late Model Exhibition and Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Racing Starts at 4 p.m.)