RICK ECKERT WINS CLEAN SWEEP IN WORLD OF OUTLAWS STACKER 2® LATE MODEL SERIES RACE AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; ANDY PRIEST WIN KODIAK MEMORIAL FOR DIRT MODIFIEDS; DANNY EXLEY EMOTIONAL WINNER OF PRO STOCK DETROIT IRON RACE
by Brian Spaid

September 4, 2005

   FRANKLIN, PA ... Tri-City Speedway’s 2005 Oil Region Labor Day Classic ended Sunday night with Rick Eckert in victory lane after winning the Bossard GM Store Todd Donovan Memorial 50 in a clean sweep of the World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series action.

   In other action, Andy Priest won the Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modified Kodiak Memorial 30 while Danny Exley captured the William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series Detroit Iron 30 for the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks.

   Rick Eckert of York, Pa., scored a rare perfect night of racing in the World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series. After setting fast time, Eckert won his heat race and the dash. Starting the Todd Donovan Memorial 50 on the pole position, Eckert then led every lap of the main event for his second series win of the season in his Raye Vest Excavating/J&J Steel Rocket Ford No. 24. It was his first-ever win at Tri-City, which was worth $10,000.

   “This was a phenomenal track,” said Eckert. “I can’t believe we’ve never been here before. I could run anywhere out there. I hope the fans enjoyed the show. We’d love to come back.”

   Eckert and Dale McDowell led the field to the green flag at the start of the 50-lap race and Eckert immediately took command. Series point leader Steve Francis worked his way past McDowell for second on the fifth circuit while rookie Josh Richards and local favorite Chub Frank dueled for second. By the ninth circuit, Eckert was in lapped traffic. As he sliced and diced his way through lapped traffic, Francis gradually closed the gap until a caution for a spin by Ken Schaltenbrand on the 15^th circuit closed the field. On the restart, Eckert was still in command, but McDowell managed to get back around Francis for second. At the same time, Frank stole fourth from Richards. Then, on the 20^th circuit, a five-car crash on the frontstretch involving the bakcmarkers led to the second caution. It would be the second and last caution of the race.

   Following the final restart, Francis worked back around McDowell for second. At the the halfway mark, Eckert still led Francis, McDowell, Frank and Richards. One lap later, Frank used the outside cushion to pass McDowell for third. At one time, Eckert led by over three seconds. Even in lapped traffic, Eckert continued to outdistance Francis, until the end of the race when Francis was able to close the distance. At the finish, Eckert won by 1.597 seconds over Francis and Frank, who competed after a live interview on the popular Speed Channel motorsports show, Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain. Richards passed McDowell for fourth on the 36^th circuit. The rookie maintained that position to the end. McDowell finished fifth over Billy Moyer, Darrell Lanigan, Tim McCreadie, Keith Barbara and Shane Clanton. Barbara earned the Bossard GM Store Hard Charger Award after starting the race in the 23^rd position. Eckert set fast time at 18.578 seconds. In the heats, Eckert, Richards, Francis and McDowell were the winners in the 31-car field. Lanigan made the race by winning the B Main.

   Andy Priest of New Castle, Pa., captured the 13^th Annual Kodiak Graham Memorial in fine style. Leading all 30 laps, the 2004 DIRT Modified track champion held off the late charge of Rex King to capture his second feature win of the season in Ted Hull’s VEI/Emig Racing Dirt Wheels No. 41. It was Priest’s 10^th career DIRT Modified win at Tri-City and he earned $2,000 for it.

   “We’ve been struggling a lot this season,” said Priest. “We’ve had troubles when the tracks get a little slick, but I think we’ve finally got it figured out. I’d like to thank Ted and his crew for sticking with me this season. I remember Graham’s car when it raced. He was an asset to racing and I;m sure he’d be proud of what his family has done with this track.”

   By the luck of the draw, Priest started on the pole position of the 30-lap event and he took the lead at the start. King drove under outside polesitter Skip Moore on the third circuit to take second. All eyes were on Kevin Bolland, however. The fastest timer and winner of Saturday night’s qualifier started 11^th and shot his way to the front. By the 10^th circuit, Bolland was running fifth behind Priest, King, Joe Crawford and track champion Del Rougeux Jr. Bolland spent most of his race trying to get around Rougeux, which finally happened on the 19^th circuit. Five laps later, Bolland passed Crawford for third. With no cautions, however, Bolland was unable to mount a challenge for the win. Out front, King gave Priest fits. At one point, King had the inside line under Priest amidst lapped traffic, but Priest held him off. King tried every move in the book, but he could not make any pass work. At the finish, Priest was the winner over King, Bolland, Crawford and Rougeux. Bolland won the Precise Products Company Dash earlier in the evening.

   Danny Exley of Reno, Pa., scored an emotional $700 win in the Detroit Iron 30 main event for the Pro Stocks. Exley volunteered for active duty in the National Guard and is scheduled to leave for Iraq in October. As a result, he sold his Pro Stock to rookie driver John Winters during the summer. Winters enlisted Exley’s services to drive for the Oil Region Labor Day Classic in his Sportsworld Chevrolet No. 19W. Leading the last 21 circuits, Exley scored an improbable first feature win of the season. It was his fourth career score at Tri-City, which ended with a resounding cheer in victory lane.

   “I never expected this,” said Exley. “I think we broke a header on the car. It was sputtering and I wanted to hold on. I’d like to thank John and all the fans. This is just incredible.”

   Starting on the pole position, 2004 Sharon Speedway track champion Steve D’Apolito took the lead at the start of the 30-lap affair. Exley ran second while Dave Ferringer and Bobby Whitling dueled for third. Three cautions slowed the first 10 laps of the race, which allowed Exley to dog D’Apolito for the lead in a battle reminiscent of their duels last season at Sharon. On the ninth circuit, using the low groove, Exley managed to beat D’Apolito to the line. Four laps later, Ferringer was out of the race. At the halfway mark, Exley led D’Apolito, Terry Wheeler and Whitling. Wheeler was a man on fire. After passing Whitling for third on the 15^th circuit, he managed to slice his way under D’Apolito for second on the 19^th circuit. With less than 10 laps to go, Exley’s engine started to sputter, but he held on through two more cautions. At the finish, with the crowd on its feet, Exley scored the win over Wheeler and D’Apolito, who earned a career best finish at Tri-City. Andy Buckley and Butch Lambert made a late race charge to round out the top five. With the Twin 20 Qualifiers held on Saturday night, Pat Hanley and Mike Pegher Jr. won the B Mains on Sunday night.

   The final race of the 2005 season will occur next Sunday night September 11^th, as Tri-City Speedway hosts the 9^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 for the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks. The event will end the William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. The 100-lap event is the most prestigious regional Pro Stock race and pays $2,000-to-win out of a total purse that exceeds $13,000, including lap money and special awards. In addition, the 4 Your Car Connection Thundercars will return for the Apple Core 20. The program will end with a Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demolition Derby. Gates open at 2 p.m. and racing starts at 4 p.m. in the twilight show. Adult grandstand admission is $10.

   WORLD OF OUTLAWS LATE MODELS (50 Laps): 1. RICK ECKERT, 2. Steve Francis, 3. Chub Frank, 4. Josh Richards, 5. Dale McDowell, 6. Billy Moyer, 7. Darrell Lanigan, 8. Tim McCreadie, 9. Keith Barbara, 10. Shane Clanton, 11. Keith Berner, 12. Clint Smith, 13. John Blankenship, 14. Eric Jacobsen, 15. Matt Urban, 16. Matt Lux, 17. Chad Ruhlman, 18. Ryan Markham, 19. Brent Rhebergen, 20. Billy Henry, 21. Ken Schaltenbrand, 22. John Flinner, 23. Darrell Bossard, 24. Rick Briggs, 25. Todd Andrews, 26. Davey Johnson. DNQ: Keith Zimmerman, Chad Valone, Tim Steis, Carl McKinney, Mark Banal.

   DIRT MODIFIEDS KODIAK MEMORIAL (30 Laps): 1. ANDY PRIEST, 2. Rex King, 3. Kevin Bolland, 4. Joe Crawford, 5. Del Rougeux Jr., 6. Russell King, 7. Chris Schiffer, 8. Jeremiah Shingledecker, 9. Dave Schrader, 10. Chanda Reitz, 11. Keith Swartzlander, 12. Rob McClimans, 13. Dean Pearson, 14. Mike Turner, 15. Mark Chiddy, 16. Skip Moore, 17. Jeremy Paup. DNS: Alex Anderson.

   PRO STOCK DETROIT IRON 30 (30 Laps): 1. DANNY EXLEY, 2. Terry Wheeler, 3. Steve D’Apolito, 4. Andy Buckley, 5. Butch Lambert, 6. Bobby Whitling, 7. Jason Reagle, 8. Tim Engles, 9. Rod Laskey, 10. Willie Aley, 11. Jason Fosnaught, 12. Stan Woomer, 13. Pat Hanley, 14. Jason Engles, 15. Jeff Lockhart, 16. Rusty Kellogg, 17. Gary Proper, 18. Matt Keith, 19. Andy Thompson, 20. Les Myers, 21. Arthur Edwards, 22. Jason Johns, 23. Dave Ferringer, 24. Gerry Bruce, 25. Charlie DiLoreto, 26. Mike Pegher Jr. DNQ: Russ Coyne, Gary Sullivan, Ed Cornell, Bob Sloss, Bret McCarthy, Matt Thomas, Tom Scott, Bobby Heim, Rick Norco, Denny Crawford, Doug Iorio II, Doug Iorio, Ray Virgile, Kelly Frederes, Scott Myers, Michael Aley.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   Sept 11 – 9^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 (William R. Karns Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series, $2,000-to-win), Thundercars (Apple Core 20) and Lowry Auto Wrecking Compact Car Demo Derby (Gates Open at 2 p.m.; Racing Starts at 4 p.m.)