DAVE FERRINGER DECLARED WINNER OF CSONLINE APPLEFEST 100 AFTER ALAN DELLINGER DISQUALIFIED; ERIC GOLDBERG WINS THUNDERCAR MAIN
by Brian Spaid

September 17, 2006

   FRANKLIN, PA  …  Tri-City Speedway concluded its 2006 season with beautiful weather on Sunday evening as Dave Ferringer was awarded the 10^th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 for the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks after a post-race inspection resulted in the disqualification of apparent race winner Alan Dellinger.

   Ferringer collected $1,665 in prize money in the finale of the William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. Gerry Bruce, driving for Jackson Humanic on the 2006 Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series, is the unofficial series champion pending final point verifications.

   In other action, Eric Goldberg won the 4^th Annual Apple Core 20 for the Klapec Auto Body Thundercars at the half-mile Venango County oval.

   Alan Dellinger of Hermitage, Pa., invaded Tri-City and dominated the competition in the CSOnline Applefest 100. Taking a challenge posted by several sponsors to start at the rear of the field, and driving a car normally piloted by Dave McLaughlin at Raceway 7 in Conneaut, Ohio, Dellinger took the lead from Mike Pegher Jr. on the 24^th lap and led the rest of the way in the Biscotti’s Restaurant/Polchosky Excavating Chevrolet No. 115.

   “I’ve got to thank Dave for letting me race this car tonight,” said Dellinger in victory lane. “This is tough. My neck and back hurt from racing so long. This is the first 100-lap race I’ve ever completed. This one is memorable.”

   The memories for Dellinger turned sour, however. He earned an apparent race record $3,575, which was stripped three hours after the race ended when the McLaughlin car was disqualified due to unapproved cylinder heads in the engine. The disqualification resulted in the loss of all prize money, which was redistributed among the other lap leaders and contenders.

   As a result, Dave Ferringer of Cochranton, Pa., who battled with Bruce over the final ten laps of the race for what they believed was runner-up honors, was declared the winner of his second CSOnline Applefest 100. The 2004 CSOnline Applefest 100 winner becomes the second repeat winner of the race and he garnered his 17^th career feature win at Tri-City. In the end, Ferringer defeated Bruce by 0.267 seconds aboard the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group/Lowry’s Auto Body Chevrolet No. 02.

   “The decision’s fair if the car is not legal,” said Ferringer, who was unable to celebrate in victory lane after the race, but was happy nonetheless with the win. “We all run by the rules and everyone else should. I guess that race with Gerry was the real one. Dellinger was real quick tonight. I got by Gerry and saw him coming back under me at the end. I just hung it out up top and we held him off.”

   With Dellinger’s disqualification, Bruce ended up leading the most laps, a total of 69 circuits. That performance earned Bruce $975 in lap money and he finished second for his best run ever in the CSOnline Applefest 100.

   “We didn’t have anything for Dellinger,” said Bruce. “I waited too long to challenge Ferringer at the end. We didn’t win, but I’m happy because we finally finished the race.”

   Three-time race winner Bobby Whitling had a rough night. He suffered fuel pickup and drivetrain problems that forced him to make the race with a point championship provisional. Starting in the 24^th position, Whitling stopped on the first lap, but did not lose a lap. Whitling then raced his way through the field and was running second behind Dellinger on the 75^th circuit when he spun in turn four. After Dellinger’s disqualification, at the time of the spin, Whitling was technically in the lead. He recovered to finish third, which was his seventh top five finish in ten CSOnline Applefest 100 races.

   Rod Laskey and Kevin Thompson started on the front row of the race, and Laskey led the first circuit before a caution was displayed for Whitling’s slow car. On the restart, Bruce drove around Laskey to snare the top spot as Andy Buckley and Mike Pegher Jr. moved into second and third. On the seventh circuit, Buckley fell out of contention with mechanical problems, which eliminated a potential winner from the race.

   While Bruce paced the field, all eyes were on Dellinger, who was running 10^th by ninth circuit. Following a caution for debris, Pegher led the 13^th circuit on the restart, but Bruce was back in front one lap later. He led laps 15 to 17 before Pegher was back out front in a fantastic side-by-side duel for the lead. Behind them, however, Dellinger worked his way through the top five methodically. On the 24^th circuit, Dellinger made what appeared to be the race-winning pass off turn four. Although Dellinger led the last 77 circuits, with his disqualification, his on-track performance was nullified, and the real battle for the win took place behind him.

   Pegher and Bruce continued their duel. On the 29^th circuit, Bruce drove under Pegher off turn four to take the lead at the line. From that point, Bruce maintained command of the race leading lap after lap behind Dellinger’s illegal car. A series of cautions slowed the action between laps 32 and 43, but Bruce held off Pegher and Thompson, who moved into second on the 37^th lap following a restart. Behind them, Terry Wheeler and Ferringer dueled for fourth, which Ferringer secured on the 48^th circuit.

   At the halfway point, Bruce was the actual leader of the race over Thompson, Pegher, Ferringer, Wheeler and Whitling, who recovered from his early mechanical problems to run sixth. Whitling quickly disposed of Wheeler for fifth. On the 53^rd circuit, both Ferringer and Whitling moved past Pegher for third and fourth respectively. Wheeler’s fine run then ended on the 55^th circuit just as Whitling used an outside move to take third from Ferringer off turn two. Whitling then closed on Thompson, who was having a stellar run. On the 61^st circuit, using a lapped car as a pique, Whitling took second in turn three and set his sights on Bruce.

   On the 69^th lap of the race, Whitling took to the outside lane in turn one and passed Bruce for the lead. At the time, Whitling was over seven seconds behind the on-track leader Dellinger. As was later determined, Whitling led laps 69 to 74. While Whitling paced the field, a lot of shuffling occurred behind him. Thompson’s run ended on the 71^st circuit while running third. At the same time, Laskey and Jason Engles, two other contenders dropped from contention.

   With 74 laps in the books, Whitling led over Bruce, Ferringer, Bob Sloss and Pegher. However, racing through turn four, Whitling suddenly lost control and spun out causing a caution. Bruce then took command of the race ahead of Ferringer, Sloss and Pegher. Sloss and Pegher put on an amazing show for the fans as they dueled for third. Whitling joined the mix as well as the trio dueled inside and outside around the half-mile. On the 90^th circuit, Whitling made a bold move past both drivers off turn four to take third place. Two laps later, Sloss fell out of contention.

   Ahead of that battle, Ferringer sized up Bruce. On the 90^th circuit, Ferringer used the outside cushion in turn two to take command of the race. He opened up a little ground on Bruce, but the 2005 track champion charged back. With two laps to go, Bruce almost slipped back under Ferringer in the corners. Ferringer was up to the challenge and held him off for the eventual win. Bruce finished second in the official rundown followed by Whitling, Pegher and rookie Jackson Humanic, who was named the Atkinson Fire Safety Rookie of the Race. Humanic earned $100 for that honor as well as his first career top five finish. Whitling received the $100 Hard Charger Award from Donovan & Bauer Auto Group for his run from 24^th to third.

   The Eagle Hoist & Winch 17/17 Prize was won by Andrew Satterlee. He was running 17^th on the 50^th and 100^th laps, which earned him an extra $150.

   A total of seven cautions slowed the race for a total of 22 laps.

   Although Dellinger set fast time during time trials with a new track record of 21.497 seconds, that time was nullified with his disqualification. As a result, Whitling was credited with a new track record of 21.607 seconds. Whitling collected an extra $50 from Crick’s Mini-Storage for fast time. Rick Robinson collected $50 courtesy of Seigworth Road Supply for the Best Appearing Car.

   Thompson, Laskey, Satterlee and Dellinger won the Pro Stock heats for the 45-car field; however, Dellinger’s win was nullified with his disqualification. Bruce was thus credited with the heat race win. Russ Coyne and Doug Iorio II won the B mains.

   Dellinger also won the E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Dash, but that win was also stripped. Laskey was thus credited with the win in that event, which paid a purse of $300. After Dellinger accepted the challenge to start at the back of the pack, Laskey moved into the pole position for CSOnline Applefest 100. Eventually, it was determined that Laskey was the dash winner, so his pole position start was accurate. The dash event consists of the heat race winners and determines the starting lineup of the race.

   Dave Willoughby of Warren, Ohio, won the 20-lap Edward Jones Investments/Dr Howard H. Kirtland Non Qualifiers B Feature. Taking the lead at the start, Willoughby, who qualified fourth fastest in time trials, but failed to make the CSOnline Applefest 100 during the heats and B mains, led every lap and collected $500 for his race win. Chris Haines finished second over Wayne Mohawk, Gary Sullivan and Bret McCarthy.

   In the Thundercar Apple Core 20, Eric Goldberg of Pittsburgh, Pa., took the lead on the ninth circuit from Robby Torrens and raced to his first career win at Tri-City. The Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway regular held off the hard charging Torrens and Bill Myers in his Cotterman Transmission Chevrolet No. 714.

   “I love this track,” said Goldberg. “I got a little loose off turn four that one time, and those guys were right behind me. I just stayed focused and up front.”

   Torrens led the first circuit of the race as Josh Seippel and Goldberg quickly moved into second and third. Goldberg disposed on Seippel on the fourth circuit and chased down Torrens. Following a restart on the ninth circuit, Goldberg raced under Torrens and took the lead. Four laps later, he nearly spun in turn four, which allowed Torrens and Myers to close the gap. Those two drivers were unable to make their passes work as Goldberg fended them off. At the checkered flag, Goldberg was the winner over Torrens, Myers, Regina Deloe and Curtis J. Bish, who is the younger son of Curt Bish Sr. The race was interrupted by two flips. Bill Hale tumbled in turn three before the first lap was completed, while polesitter Travis Gatten snap rolled in turn four on the fourth circuit. Neither driver was injured.

   Gatten, Charlie McMillen and Myers won the Thundercar heats for the 25-car field. Kenny Alcorn flipped badly in turn three at the end of the second heat race. He was uninjured.

   At the end of the night, Steve Perry of Seneca, Pa., won the 13-car Lowry Auto Wrecking Full-Size Car Demolition Derby.

  With the racing season now concluded, attention shifts to the 11^th Annual Tri-City Speedway Banquet, which will take place on Saturday January 6, 2007, at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall. Ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. In addition, news will be released about Tri-City’s 2007 racing season.

  10^th ANNUAL CSONLINE APPLEFEST 100 DETROIT IRON PRO STOCK SERIES RACE SUMMARY

   Heat 1: 1. Kevin Thompson, 2. Andy Buckley, 3. Pat Hanley, 4. Jason Engles.
   Heat 2: 1. Rod Laskey, 2. Matt Thomas, 3. Jackson Humanic, 4. Craig Kamicker.
   Heat 3: 1. Andrew Satterlee, 2. Terry Wheeler, 3. Gary Proper, 4. Denny Crawford.
   Heat 4: 1. Gerry Bruce, 2. Mike Pegher Jr., 3. Dave Ferringer, 4. Alan Dellinger (DISQ).
   Dash: 1. Rod Laskey, 2. Kevin Thompson, 3. Andrew Satterlee, 4. Alan Dellinger (DISQ).
   B Main 1: 1. Russ Coyne, 2. Matt Keith, 3. Jeff Broniszewski, 4. Dave Myers.
   B Main 2: 1. Doug Iorio II, 2. Rick Robinson, 3. Daryl Robison, 4. Bob Sloss.
   Provisionals: Bobby Whitling, Chad Myers.
   Non-Qualifiers B Feature (20 Laps): 1. DAVE WILLOUGHBY, 2. Chris Haines, 3. Wayne Mohawk, 4. Gary Sullivan, 5. Bret McCarthy, 6. Dick Pascorell, 7. Steve Webb, 8. Vincent Kamicker, 9. Mitch Wattelet. DNS: Randy Bauckrecht, Larry Root, Justin Tatlow, A.J. Poljak, Scotty Carbaugh, Charlie DiLoreto, Randy Wyant, John Winters, Shawn Bryan.
   CSONLINE APPLEFEST 100 (100 Laps): 1. DAVE FERRINGER, 2. Gerry Bruce, 3. Bobby Whitling, 4. Mike Pegher Jr., 5. Jackson Humanic, 6. Chad Myers, 7. Jeff Broniszewski, 8. Bob Sloss, 9. Pay Hanley, 10. Denny Crawford, 11. Rod Laskey, 12. Craig Kamicker, 13. Gary Proper, 14. Russ Coyne, 15. Jason Engles, 16. Kevin Thompson, 17. Andrew Satterlee, 18. Terry Wheeler, 19. Matt Thomas, 20. Doug Iorio II, 21. Dave Myers, 22. Rick Robinson, 23. Matt Keith, 24. Daryl Robison, 25. Andy Buckley. DISQ: Alan Dellinger.
   THUNDERCARS APPLE CORE 20 (20 Laps): 1. ERIC GOLDBERG, 2. Robby Torrens, 3. Bill Myers, 4. Regina Deloe, 5. Curtis J. Bish, 6. Josh Seippel, 7. Cody Manners, 8. Bill Winters, 9. John K. Miller II, 10. Patrick Fielding, 11. John K. Miller, 12. Andy Miller, 13. Jeff Manners, 14. Ed Deloe, 15. Don Baughman, 16. Joe Blake, 17. Charlie McMillen, 18. Bill Baker, 19. Travis Gatten, 20. Jon Huff, 21. Bill Hale, 22. Rick Gorsuch, 23. Curt Bish Jr. DISQ: Davy Lee. DNS: Greg Myers, Kenny Alcorn.

   UPCOMING EVENTS

   Jan. 6, 2007 – Tri-City Speedway 2006 Season Banquet (Rocky Grove Fire Hall)