WESTERN PA RACING REVIEW
by Walt Wimer

December 10, 2009 

            SYRACUSE FLASHBACK (Super DIRT Week)…..It all started some 37 years ago on the Moody Mile in Syracuse, New York when Buzzie Reutimann drove his famed “Double Zero” Chevy coupe to victory in what was then the “Schaefer 100”, sponsored by the once well-known New York brewery which is no longer in business.  The race quickly became the biggest and most sought after race victory in big block Modified racing.  I was there for the first one in 1972, and being a long time Modified fan, continue to make the trip north to Syracuse every October, although I have missed a few along the way for one reason or another.

       Blackie Watt in the Pitkavish “Hemi-coupe” was the only western PA driver on hand in 1972 and it was much the same this year as Brian Swartzlander was the only area entry for the 38th running of the race. Watt finished 37th in that first race. Swartzlander would like to have done that well in 2009. After making the race last year, Brian and his team were pumped up for their second try, but things went sour right from the git-go.  During Thursday’s time trials, his #83 developed a very loose condition and Swartzlander was unable to get on the gas in the corners at all resulting in a very bad time that left him 67th out of 69 cars that took time. There was a lot of hope that the crew could solve the loose conditions before the triple 20s on Friday, but the good ole’ Syracuse rainmaker took care of that. Now there was only one chance left, the non-qualifiers race on Sunday before the big show. Well, I’ll take that back. There was also a second chance Saturday night with the “Win you’re in” race at Rolling Wheels.  Swartzlander’s crew spent much of Saturday making changes to the back-up car for short track racing, but although he was competitive, he was well off the win and only the winner got a spot on the mile the next day. In the non-qualifiers race, Swartzlander started at the very tail of the field and worked his way up to 6th at one point, but dropped back several spots at the finish, well off where he needed to be. They gave it their all, but it just wasn’t to be for 2009.

        Then there was the guaranteed starting spot for the BRP champion, something that caused a lot of confusion and never happened!!  This was brought about by a September 11 rainout at Lernerville that left the BRP title undetermined until two weeks after the Syracuse race. There also was a fair amount of miscommunication between DIRTcar and BRP officals. The spot was passed on from BRP point leader Rex King to Dave Murdick and Del Rougeux, Jr., none of whom wanted to go. I talked with Murdick and Rougeux a week before the Syracuse race and both told me they were just not prepared to take the spot on such short notice.  Finally, Kevin Bolland agreed to take the spot. But then, just a day or two before opening inspection at Syracuse, Bolland called a top BRP official and said he did not have a “DIRTcar legal engine” and not enough time to put one together.  There was an attempt to then pass the spot on to Swartzlander, and for a short while it appeared that was going to work. But in the long run DIRTcar officials did not allow that. On Saturday morning, Bolland and some of his crew appeared at Syracuse with Bolland saying he was going to pick up a ride for the race. However, DIRTcar officials disallowed that, as Bolland did not take time trials. From what I have been told by a reliable source, Bolland did in fact have a ride set in a Kenny Tremont back-up car. Sometime on Saturday there was a confrontation between Bolland and officials, and that was it for the Syracuse race for any BRP guaranteed spot. However, BRP officials were not one bit happy over how things went down and suspended Bolland for two races, the last race of 2009 at Lernerville and the first race of 2010. In addition, Bolland will not be allowed to represent the BRP at Syracuse in the future.  However, despite what you may have read elsewhere, Bolland has not been “banned” from ever running at Syracuse. His differences are with the BRP with New York DIRTcar officials not involved with that.  Bolland has had much of his racing equipment for sale and it remains to be seen if he will race at all next year, or if he does, maybe it will be in Late Models rather than Modifieds.  We should know a lot more on this situation by the first RPM issue of 2010.

         With a tough time for the Modified guys on the Moody Mile, the highlight of Super DIRT week for me was Tim Shaffer’s big win with the World of Outlaws Sprint Series at Rolling Wheels Raceway on Saturday night. Shaffer, in the Aaron Call #83, had a great night. He was only 14th quick in time trials, but then won his heat and then won the dash giving him the pole for the main. Shaffer led the first 12 laps before Donny Schatz passed him in turn one. Schatz then built up a good lead in just a couple of laps. All over???  Not so!!!  Seldom do you see Schatz lose a lead but he did this time. A restart with 18 in the books gave Shaffer another shot at Schatz and he hunkered down, powered off turn two, and went on to victory, his 12th career win with the WoO and 13th victory of 2009.  There were five local drivers on hand for the show including Butler WoO rookie Brian Ellenberger.  All but one made the feature out of a 43-car field. Andy Priest gunned down the Outlaws to win his heat, but had a slow go in the dash and then was crashed on the opening lap in a tangle that saw “The Cobra” Chuck Hebing flip in the turn four area. Ed Lynch, Jr., was 6th in time trials and 15th in the main, which saw Ellenberger 17th.  Danny Holtgraver didn’t make the “A,” but gave it a good shot with 26th in time trials, 6th in his heat, and 7th in the “B”.  This young driver would later go to Charlotte for the World Finals and is expected to travel even more next year as he learns the ropes and becomes a star of the future.

         Both Swartzlander and Jeremiah Shingledecker were on hand for the Modified portion of the Rolling Wheels show. As mentioned, Brian’s crew changed the backup car back over to a short track set-up to give the “Win You’re In” race a try. He finished 2nd in his heat, started 6th in the main, but by the end had slipped back to about 9th.  Shingledecker had no luck whatsoever. He pulled a terrible pill to start last in his heat, but came up to 6th. But before he could ever get going in the main he and Canadian driver Pierre Dagenais got together heading into turn three and Jeremiah went off on the hook for a short run at Rolling Wheels.  New Yorker Chad Brachmann, who raced at Lernerville in the March opener and has two local wins, took the victory, but then was eliminated in a first lap/first turn crash on the mile Sunday.

           SPRINTS……….TIRE WARS????   Maybe so!!  This has been a big topic of discussion ever since the World of Outlaws signed a Goodyear tire agreement some weeks back.  Not too long after the WoO Goodyear deal came together, it was announced that all four western PA area tracks would also mandate Goodyears for the coming season. Then, some Ohio and central PA tracks also climbed on the bandwagon. Not all the drivers and race teams are happy with this and for a while there was even talk of a new 410 Sprint Series on Hoosier tires. However, that appears to be dead, at least for now.  Even so, I don’t think we have heard the last of the tire issue by far, and it might be the number one Sprint Car story come 2010.

     H&H Motorsports brought the Sprints back to Tri-City in 2009 and will expand that program in 2010. For the coming season they may run as many as eight Sprint races, which is more or less every other week May through August. However, the exact schedule is still being worked on.

     Congratulations to Brian Ellenberger for his honors as the WoO Rookie of the Year.  Granted, there was no other driver running for the award, but to complete the entire season of the grueling WoO series and pick up four top tens and a third at Dodge City, Kansas, is a worthwhile accomplishment. As of this writing, Ellenberger appears to be planning on another WoO season in 2010.  Speaking of the WoO, there are a couple of major changes for the coming season. Young central PA flash Cody Darrah has signed to drive the second Kasey Kahne car while Kraig Kinser is out of the Tony Stewart #20. A lot of rumors floating around as to who will replace Kinser in the second Stewart car, but nothing really solid at this point. And what will Kinser do??  Return to driving for his famed father??       

          LAST MINUTE NOTES……….I am all but spaced out, but before I go I also want to also congratulate Russell King for his WoO Late Model Rookie of the Year honors.  Unlike Ellenberger, King had to fend off four other young rookies on the grinding tour.  He did so and finished 10th overall in points.  King will also stick with the WoO next year and we will be hoping for an excellent season for both Ellenberger and King in 2010.  Jeremiah Shingledecker had a real breakout year. Not only did he win the Tri-City and Lernerville titles, but topped our #1 Cochran Cavalcade Points as well in a close race with Kevin Bolland and Del Rougeux, Jr.  December is here and Christmas is right around the first turn. Into the New Year in turn number two and after a long run down the backstretch we are into the 2010 season. May each and every one of you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy a very successful racing season in 2010.