MARK SMITH CHARGES TO VICTORY LANE AT JENNERSTOWN

 By Mike Milliron

Jennerstown, PA – September 1, 2001 – Mark Smith seemed to be at a disadvantage with an eighth place starting position in the Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model division feature race, but the Meyersdale, PA native only needed forty-six laps to take over the top position from race leader Neil Brown. After that it was smooth sailing to the finish line and another feature race win. Other winners during the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series program presented by R&M Brokerage and Trucking were Marion Reno Jr. in Jennerstown Pro Trucks, Adam Kostelnik in Brown Timber & Land Street Stocks, Jayme Bolkovac in Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Series, and Pete Walrath in Jennerstown Chargers. Bill Awtey won a special presentation of the “Old Timers” Charger event and Kimberly Rhoads won the Ladies Enduro feature race. 

The Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model division feature race saw a great battle early on for the second position behind race leader Neil Brown, as Bobby Henry and Mark Cottone dueled side-by-side for a number of laps, until Henry edged ahead for the second position. Meanwhile Mark Smith used a patented outside line to his advantage to work around some of the tougher competitors, as the top five drivers were locked in battles amongst themselves. As the race went on, it was Smith who seemed to be the man on the move, as he continued his assault on the remaining top five drivers. Towards the final ten laps of the race, it seemed as though Brown had it all in his favor, until Smith made his final charge of the night, working past Henry and Barry Awtey, who had made his mid-race charge up to second place. Smith caught Brown with six laps remaining, and took over the lead with an inside pass on lap forty-six. Brown held onto second, just in front of Awtey who came home in third. Henry and Cottone finished in fourth and fifth respectively. Heat race wins went to Mark Cottone and Jeff Dunmyer. 

In the Jennerstown Pro Trucks it was Marion Reno Jr. who finally dethroned the reign of Todd Price, and his five race win streak, by taking his second checkered flag of the season. At the start of the race it was Reno and Aaron Will who challenged each other, as Price faded uncharacteristically from the lead. Throughout the middle stages of the race it was Will who seemed to have the truck to beat, as he continued to extend his race lead over the remainder of the field. As the laps began to wind down, the luck for race leader Will suddenly took a change for the worst, as his right front wheel failed and came off of the truck, sending both into the outside retaining wall. The wreck forced Will out of competition, and turned the lead over to George Nicola. On the ensuing restart, Nicola had a hard time coming up to speed, which left the door opened for Reno, who took advantage from the outside front row, and went on to capture the feature race win. Nicola came home in second, with Price, Josh Coughenour, and Bryan Thomas finishing in third through fifth. Heat races were won by Aaron Will and Todd Price. 

The Brown Timber &Land Street Stock feature race was a barn-burner from the drop of the green flag, with as many as six cars vying for the top position throughout the first five laps. When all of the dust had settled, it was Adam Kostelnik coming out with the clear race lead over Todd Knight and Tracy Colarusso. Kostelnik continued to steadily increase his lead over Knight, as the two top runners began to run away from the remainder of the starting field. As the two drivers approached lapped traffic, the distance between them continued to decrease, and with only two laps to go Knight was within striking distance. As they cleared lapped cars though, Kostelnik once again showed his strength by maintaining a slim advantage all the way to the checkered flag. Finishing behind the front two were Tracy “Dink” Colarusso, Rich Nicola, and Chris Deyarmin, to round out the top five. Heat race winners were Tracy Colarusso and Chris Deyarmin. 

 The winning move of the Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Series race did not come until the final lap.   The race was a contest between early leaders Joey Dennewitz and Jayme Bolkovac, as the two challenged each other, while P.J. Ehrlich worked his way towards the front. As the race went into the final laps, a caution bunched up the field, allowing for a final match-up between Bolkovac and Dennewitz. In the final lap it was a side-by-side battle that resulted in some contact between the top two runners, and Bolkovac came out with the lead, and eventually the race win. Dennewitz held on to claim second, with Marshall Biddington finishing in third. P.J. Ehrlich took home fourth place, while Brandon Taylor rounded out the top five.  Bolkovac and Biddington won the heat races. 

Defending Charger divisional champion “Pistol” Pete Walrath used an outside starting position to his advantage, as he took over the lead from Travis Smith on lap four.  After that it was Jason Fritz initially challenged Walrath until Greg Praysner came along late in the race to capture second from Fritz, and mounted a final lap challenge of his own.  Walrath was not to be denied as he held off Praysner for his first victory of the 2001 season.  Praysner finished a close second; June Weyant collected another top-5 finish by coming home in third place.  Jason Fritz held on for fourth while Travis Smith picked up another top-5 finish.  Heat races were won by Pete Walrath and Travis Smith.  

In a special presentation “Old Timers Charger Race”, it was Bill Awtey showing everyone that he still has what it takes to run upfront, as he led ten of the twelve laps en route to his first feature win in a number of years.  At the finish line, his closest competition came from Larry Hemminger who claimed second place just in front of long time racing standout Stan Lasky.  Curtis Stewart finished fourth with Bob Smith, Sr. finishing in fifth.   

In the Ladies Enduro race, it was Kimberly Rhoads taking the checkered flag first.  Carolyn Seneca, Connie Henry, Lesa Tannehill and Chantal Germek finished second through fifth.

Next week, Somerset Candy Company will present regular five division racing, plus a Mens Enduro race.  The Super Mini Cup Series will make their final appearance of the season.  Adult ticket prices are $10 and kids 12 and under are free.

Complete Race Results...