Blair Dominates Cranberry Pennzoil 40; Powell Captures First Victory of 2009; Hess, Jr. and Wyant Repeat

June 14, 2009

FRANKLIN, PA ... The “Titusville Terror” Robbie Blair scored a convincing win as the O’Reilly All Star Late Model Series presented the Cranberry Pennzoil 40 at Tri-City Speedway.  In addition to Blair, Bobby Powell captured his initial victory of the 2009 racing season in 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model action.  Dave Hess, Jr (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E-Mods) and Randy Wyant (E.F. Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro Stocks) also collected their second feature wins of the season in Sunday evening racing action at the Venango County oval.

Ron Davies and Boom Briggs led the 24 car O’Reilly All Star Late Model feature event to the green flag.  Briggs paced the first three laps before local Late Model star Robbie Blair took command on lap four.  A lap five caution for Max Blair, gave Briggs a second chance at the lead but unfortunately he was not able to capitalize on the opportunity as it was Blair who kept control of the top spot when the green flag was back out. 

Blair “checked out” on the rest of the field as Briggs, Davies, David Scott and World of Outlaw Late Model star Chub Frank wrestled each other for the second spot. 

The event’s final caution flew on lap 16 when Dutch Davies and Rod Conley made contact on the front stretch.  Conley spun just past the flag stand and was able to continue, however Davies retired to the pit area with front end damage.

Blair continued his domination for the final 24 laps to pick up his second feature event of the 2009 racing season at Tri-City Speedway.  David Scott, who was subbing for an injured Bill Henry, used the high groove to hold off Frank for the second spot.  Boom Briggs and Dave Hess, Jr. rounded out the top five.

Earlier in the evening, West Virginia driver Jared Hawkins set the fast time with a lap of 18.614.  Ron Davies and Robbie Blair were victorious in Late Model heat race action.

Former asphalt racer Bryan Salisbury led the first five circuits of the 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Model main event but it was Waterford, PA driver Bobby Powell who would pick up the feature win.  Powell overtook Salisbury by lap six and cruised to his first Tri-city Speedway victory of the season.

“I want to thank my car owner, Scott Bidwell, and the entire team for all of their hard work today.  I tore the car up last night at Mercer and they spent the entire day getting it back together,” stated Powell.  David Scott had another “runner-up” run as he picked up the second spot in the 20-lap main event.  Carl McKinney, Salisbury and Max Blair followed.  

Mike Pegher, Jr. and McKinney picked up the FASTRAK heat race victories.

Randy Wyant scored his first ever checkered flag on opening night at Tri-City and he continued his excellent season by scoring another feature win.  Veterans Les Myers and Bob Sloss led the field to the green but it was third place starter Don Cramer would lead the first lap.  Sloss regained the top spot on lap two and continued to battle Cramer before Cramer was able to wrestle the lead away on lap six. 

Cramer appeared to be on the way to capturing his first ever feature event when Wyant used the top side of the speedway to get by.  Wyant took command on lap 14 just as the event’s only caution flew when Bobby Whitling looped his ride in turn two.  Wyant led the final three circuits to pick up his second career victory at the Franklin, PA oval.  Cramer held on for the second spot with Chris Haines, Sloss and last week’s winner Jackson Humanic following.         

Whitling and Wyant won the preliminary events held earlier in the evening.

Second generation racers Dan Davies and Travis Asel paced the 15-lap E-Mod feature event.  Davies held off veteran Mike Potosky for the first two circuits before Potosky took over the top spot.  Potosky, who won last week’s feature event, led the next six circuits before another second generation driver, Dave Hess, Jr. used the high groove to motor by Potosky.  Hess then weathered two cautions on laps 12 and 13 before going on to collect his second Tri-City E-Mod victory of the season.  Carl McKinney got by Potosky in the closing stages of the event to bring home the second spot with Potosky, Davies and Shawn Shingledecker completing the top five.

Shingledecker and Al Cressley won the E-Mod preliminaries.

DIRTcar racing action will take next Sunday off as H&H Motorsports presents the 2009 Extreme Dirt Track Series First Annual Robin Fulkerson Memorial ATVA Dirt Track Nationals next Friday and Saturday, June 19^th and 20^th.  Grandstand Admission is just $5.00 with Pit Admission priced at $40.00.

ALL STAR LATE MODEL SERIES (40 Laps):1. ROBBIE BLAIR, 2. David Scott, 3. Chub Frank, 4. Rick Briggs, 5. Dave Hess Jr., 6. Matt Lux, 7. Ron Davies, 8. Mike Knight, 9. Jared Miley, 10. Rod Conley, 11. Russell King, 12. Jared Hawkins, 13. Darrell Bossard, 14. Wally Fox, 15. Brent Rhebergen, 16. Alex Ferree, 17. Mickey Wright, 18. Dutch Davies, 19. Coleby Frye, 20. Kyle Zimmerman, 21. Derek Frank, 22. Bryan Salisbury, 23. Max Blair, 24. Carl McKinney.

FASTRAK LATE MODELS (20 Laps): 1. BOBBY POWELL, 2. David Scott, 3. Carl McKinney, 4. Bryan Salisbury, 5. Max Blair, 6. Mike Pegher Jr., 7 Butch Lambert, 8. Derek Frank, 9. Joe Martin, 10. Steve Hollabaugh, 11. Rick Meglaye, 12. Andrew Wylie, 13. Josh Double, 14. Kyle Zimmerman, 15. Jamie Brown, 16. Tyler Barris, 17. Mike Mitchell. DNS: Jim Frank. 

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. DAVE HESS JR., 2. Carl McKinney, 3. Mike Potosky, 4. Don Davies, 5. Shawn Shingledecker, 6. Al Cressley, 7. Tim Engles, 8. Evan Taylor, 9. Ron Roncaglione, 10. Jonathan Taylor, 11. Mike Eschrich, 12. Clayton Kennedy, 13. Tom Hagberg, 14. Travis Asel, 15. Tyler Powell, 16. Jeff Deeter, 17. Dana Wellington, 18. Gary Sullivan, 19. Rick Pratschler. DNS: Ron Boardman.