September 4, 2006

   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Sunshine and warm temperatures greeted race fans and teams on Labor Day afternoon at Tri-City Speedway for the second half of the Alturnamats/Gierlach Crushing & Contracting Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend, which was postponed from Saturday to Monday.

   Shane Clanton of Locust Grove, Ga., captured the 50-lap World of Outlaws Late Model Series race and the $10,000 winner’s check for his first series win of his career, and his first ever at Tri-City. World of Outlaws Media Director Kevin Kovac issued a separate story on that event.

   In other action, Mike Potosky won the final race of the 2006 Fame RV Center E Series for the RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, and Doug Iorio II captured the feature event in the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks

   Completing a weekend sweep that poured almost $3,000 into his back pocket, Mike Potosky of Guys Mills, Pa., won the 21-lap E Series feature for the E Mods. Taking the lead on the fourth circuit from Bill Thomas, Potosky captured his eighth career win at Tri-City and third win of the season driving his Tech Tool/Pizza Villa Pierce No. M20. Unofficially, Potosky also claimed his second career E Series title.

   “This was a great weekend,” said Potosky. “I wasn’t worried about the guys behind me because a skid plate under the car came loose and was dragging on the ground. I was more worried about the car. We finally got this car running well. It’s just too bad it was so late in the season.”

   After two multi-car tangles slowed the start of the race, Thomas took the lead at the start of the race and Potosky immediately jumped into second. Potosky dogged Thomas and dashed under him in turn three to take the lead on the fourth circuit. Randy Hall made a stellar charge through the field. On the eighth circuit, he passed three cars in turn two to move into fourth. Hall and track champion Brent Rhebergen battled for that spot for a few laps while Rhebergen’s teammate and car owner, Shawn Shingledecker, finally passed Thomas for second with five laps to go. One lap later, Hall was around Thomas for third. A late caution extended the race an additional circuit. On the final lap, Hall made it under Shingledecker, but he could not catch Potosky. Hall settled for runner-up honors for the second night in a row. Shingledecker, Rhebergen and Thomas rounded out the top five. Russ Dunn, Larry Walters and Shingledecker won the E Mod heats for the 36-car field. Evan Taylor and Russ Dempsey captured the B Mains.

   Doug Iorio II of Kennerdell, Pa., raced to victory in the 20-lap Pro Stock feature, which concluded the weekend’s action. Iorio battled with 2005 Rookie of the Year Jeff Lockhart for several circuits before he claimed his fifth win of the season over Sunday’s winner Andy Buckley.

   “After last night’s race, we really need this one,” said Iorio in victory lane beside his Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Pontiac No. 28 following his eighth career win at Tri-City. “My team was really disappointed that we lost the point title. We decided to focus on the end of the season races to get more wins.”

   Lockhart and Iorio led the field to the green flag, and Iorio took command. Iorio raced in the outside groove while Lockhart cruised on the inside. Lockhart’s tires seemed to come alive under long runs and he passed Iorio for the lead on the seventh circuit. Iorio returned the favor one circuit later before caution reverted Lockhart back to the front of the pack. On the 12^th circuit, Iorio fired off the outside of turn four to take the lead for good. Track champion Bobby Whitling, who had to win the B main to make the feature, moved into third on the 13^th circuit and appeared to be able to match Iorio’s pace, but mechanical woes forced him pitside before the end of the race. Other front running contenders Matt Thomas and Wayne Carbo crashed with two laps to go, and Dave Ferringer dropped out as well. Over the last two circuits, Buckley charged by Lockhart to take second at the finish. Lockhart finished a career best third followed by Jason Engles and Bob Sloss. Mike Pegher Jr., Buckley and Thomas won the Pro Stock heat races for the 28-car field. Whitling won the B Main. The Eagle Hoist & Winch Underdog Dash, which featured four drivers that competed regularly at Tri-City in 2006, but finished outside the top ten in points, was captured by Lockhart.

   Tri-City Speedway’s oval track action will take a backseat this coming weekend as the All-Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) invades the Venango County half-mile oval for the seventh round of the Extreme Dirt Track ATVA Nationals. Brought to the track by Hetrick Racing Inc. of Oil City, Pa., the event will feature over 30 categories of ATV racing on a motocross course setup at the facility. Gates open Thursday September 7^th at 12 noon. Practice occurs on Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Racing starts Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with the pro heats set for 7 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is $12.

   Oval track racing will return to Tri-City the following weekend on Sunday September 17^th for the final race of the 2006 season, the CSOnline Applefest 100. Featuring a 100-lap, $1,500-to-win event for the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, the 2006 William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series champion will be crowned after the biggest Pro Stock race of the season. Joining the Pro Stocks will be the Apple Core 20 for the Klapec Auto Body Thundercars and the final Lowry Auto Wrecking Full-Size Car Demo Derby of the year. Gates open at 2 p.m. and racing starts at the twilight time of 4 p.m. Adult grandstand admission returns to $11 for this event. 

   E SERIES (20 Laps): 1. MIKE POTOSKY, 2. Randy Hall, 3. Shawn Shingledecker, 4. Brent Rhebergen, 5. Bill Thomas, 6. Carl McKinney, 7. Evan Taylor, 8. Dale Applebee, 9. David Atkinson, 10. Mike Samuelson, 11. Dennis Lundgren, 12. Jeff Taylor, 13. Jason Johns, 14. Kevin Decker, 15. Jeff Johnson, 16. Russ Dempsey, 17. Tom Hagberg, 18. Aurie Weaver, 19. Arthur Edwards, 20. Bruce Powell, 21. Dana Wellington, 22. Larry Walters, 23. Russ Dunn, 24. Matt Lux, 25. Jeff Walters, 26. Bobby Whitling. DNQ: Al Cressley, Rick Robinson, Ron Seeley, Chad Ramsey, Denny Nakutis, Tim Engles, Jim Turley, Jamie Shetler, Herm Myers, Butch Lambert.

   PRO STOCKS (20 Laps): 1. DOUG IORIO II, 2. Andy Buckley, 3. Jeff Lockhart, 4. Jason Engles, 5. Bob Sloss, 6. Pat Hanley, 7. Denny Crawford, 8. Butch Lambert, 9. Jason Fosnaught, 10. Gary Sullivan, 11. Brian Bush, 12. Chris Haines, 13. Stan Woomer, 14. Wayne Carbo, 15. Joe Lockhart, 16. Dave Ferringer, 17. Matt Thomas, 18. Jackson Humanic, 19. Bobby Whitling, 20. Kevin Woomer, 21. Rod Laskey, 22. Mike Pegher Jr., 23. Chad Myers, 24. Russ Coyne. DNQ: DNS: John Winters. DNQ: Rick  Robinson, Nick Shaffer, Matt Keith, Rusty Kellogg, Randy Wyant.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   Sept. 8-9 – ATVA Extreme Dirt Track Nationals 2006

   Sept. 17 – 10^th 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.)