by Mike Milliron
Jennerstown, PA - August 4, 2001 - Mark Smith took advantage of
a pole position start to run up front for all fifty laps of the
Wheeler Bros./AC Delco feature race Saturday night as Carquest
Auto Parts and the Auto Racing Club of Hagerstown (ARCH)
sponsored the nights racing action. Other winners during the
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series program were Todd Price in the
Jennerstown Pro Trucks, Todd Knight in Brown Timber & Land
Street Stocks, Rick Boyer in Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy
Series, and Jason Holder in Jennerstown Chargers. Mike Bakalon
won in a special presentation of the Grand American Modifieds,
while Scott Ahlborn took the Men's Enduro feature event.
The Wheeler Bros./AC Delco feature race was a tough one to get
under way, as separate crashes on the first two laps of
competition forced many competitive racecars into the pits for
repairs. Mark Smith, Jeff Dunmyer, and Shawn Beam were undaunted
by the calamities going on behind the front runners. As the race
unfolded under green flag action, the battle developed between
Dunmyer and Beam, as the two drivers staged a spirited battle
for the runner-up position. Meanwhile Smith managed to pull away
to a comfortable half lap lead, but once Beam was able to win
the duel with Dunmyer, he quickly closed the gap between himself
and race leader Smith. By lap forty-five Beam was up to the rear
bumper of Smith as the two cars approached lap traffic. The two
drivers worked their way through, and stayed locked together to
the checkered flag, with Smith winning by less than a car's
length. The remainder of the top five were extended out around
the track, with Bobby Henry finishing in third. Jeff Dunmyer,
who had been running in the top five throughout the entire
event, slowed with a mechanical problem on the final lap, which
allowed Neil Brown to get around for fourth and Snooky Williams
to pass for a top five finish. The heat races provided a bit of
history, as Jayme Bolkovac became the first female Late Model
division driver to win a heat race at Jennerstown Speedway.
Barry Awtey won the remaining heat race.
Todd Price used a superior handling machine to capture another
win in the Jennerstown Pro Truck division feature race, as the
Alum Bank pilot passed both high and low to capture the lead and
the win. The battles were for the remainder of the top five, as
Dave Brunell and Brandon Manns dueled to the finish line, with
Brunell taking home second. Aaron Will and George Nicola rounded
out the top five. Marion Reno Jr. and Todd Price won the heat
races.
The Brown Timber & Land Street Stock feature race belonged to
one man, Todd Knight. After passing front row starters Roger
Onstead and Adam Kostelnik on the first lap, Knight was never
seriously challenged throughout the remainder of the race, as he
cruised to yet another victory. The same could not be said for
the other top five finishers, as each took their turns with
loose handling racecars during the final laps of the race. Mark
Blohm and Tracy Colarusso each had their chance at second place,
but both drivers lost positions as they slipped up the race
track, allowing their opponent to recapture their track
position. At the finish line it was Colarusso claiming the
second spot with Blohm finishing third, just ahead of Kostelnik
and Onstead. Heat races were won by Tracy Colarusso and Todd
Knight.
Rick Boyer proved that experience pays dividends as he captured
his third straight Cover Insurance PA Legacy Series victory.
Boyer used a front row starting position, next to his teammate
Ricky Anderson as a launch pad to the lead position. The two
teammates raced one-two for the first twenty laps until P.J.
Ehrlich was able to wrestle away the second position from
Anderson. In the last two laps Joey Dennewitz took away third
position from Anderson, who held onto fourth just in front of
Jayme Bolkovac. Heat races were won by Rick Boyer and Brandon
Taylor.
It was once again a battle of the Jasons' in the Jennerstown
Charger division, as Jason Holder took control of the 15-lap
race, on lap seven when he passed leader Jason Fritz. The two
drivers battled to the finish with Greg Praysner coming home in
third, June Wyant and Travis Smith completed the top five. Jason
Fritz and Travis Smith won the heat races.
The Grand American Modifieds made a return to the Laurel
Highlands Oval, as Sealing Specialist Service Company along with
Urso Racing Supply and Royal Purple Oil presented the special
event. Mike Bakalon made it two for two as the North Versailles
driver only needed two laps to take the lead. After pulling out
to a half straight away lead, Bakalon was forced to slow as the
race was brought under caution, allowing the field to catch up.
After the restart, Bob Bentz, Jr. remained along side Bakalon
for a short while until he faded back. At the finish it was
Bakalon, followed by Bentz, Jr., with Bernie McQuillan, Paul
Urso and Jason Busch rounding out the top five. Heat races were
won by Mike Bakalon and Bob Bentz, Jr.
In the Men's Enduro race, it was Scott Ahlborn taking another
checkered flag as Terry and Brad McCoy once again finished
second and third, in the controlled mayhem event. Ken Henry and
J.J. Wild survived to finish fourth and fifth.
Next week True Value along with Brown Timber and Land will
present the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series five division program.
Black's Specialty Service will host a special 35-lap Brown
Timber and Land Street Stock event, paying $300 to the winner
and $100 to each driver in the starting field. There will also
be a Ladies Enduro race.
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