Jennerstown, PA – August 10, 2002 – It took two separate 50 lap Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model feature races for Neil Brown and Mark Smith to finally share victory lane at Jennerstown Speedway. Arnold Palmer Motors and True Value shared sponsorship of the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge program. Other winners included Josh Coughenour in the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailer Pro Trucks, Johnny Jones in the Cenwest Street Stocks, and Brett Boyer in the Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Car Series. Curtis Stewart captured both 96.5 The Mountain Charger 15 lap feature races, while Gregory Lohr returned to victory lane in the Men’s Enduro feature race. 

In the first of the two Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model feature races, Mark Smith took control on lap six, from his fifth place starting position and never looked back as he claimed his third feature race win of the season.  Smith fended off the challenges of Brad Creighton and Barry Awtey as the two drivers attempted to take the lead away from the Meyersdale, PA native.  Smith would not be denied though, as he cruised around the Laurel Highlands Oval all the way to the checkered flag finish.  Finishing in second through fifth were Barry Awtey, Neil Brown, Bobby Henry and Brad Creighton.  

In the second Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model race, it was part time driver Tim Bainey, Jr. taking the early race lead in the Richter Motorsports back-up entry, holding the front position for the first 20 laps.  Eventual race winner Neil Brown started the feature from the eighth starting position, and quickly asserted himself into second place on lap eight, where he challenged Bainey, Jr. for the race lead.  A caution on lap 24 involving the top five running cars of Brad Creighton, Barry Awtey and Bobby Henry, forced a shake-up of the pack.  On the restart Brown still led, but Mark Smith quickly took over second place from Bainey, Jr. and set his sights on the race leader.  The two cars waged a classic duel throughout the final half of the race, with Smith getting along side Brown on more than one occasion.  But in the end it was Brown coming out the victor by a mere car length over Smith at the finish line.  Finishing in third through fifth were Mark Cottone, Doug Bacchiochi and Brad Creighton.  Brad Creighton and Cary Todaro won the heat races.   

In the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Truck division, it was Jason Lasky jumping out the early race lead over pole sitter Nolan Halliday.  Fifth place starter Josh Coughenour quickly moved into second place on lap two and passed for the lead on lap four.  He fought off the challenges of Lasky, until lap 15 when Marion Reno, Jr. took over the second place position.  The two trucks battled nose to tailgate throughout the remaining laps of the race, with Reno, Jr. attempting many passing maneuvers.  As the two crossed the finish line it was Coughenour taking the win by half of a fender length over Reno, Jr., to the standing ovation approval of the crowed grandstands.  Finishing third through fifth were Todd Price, Justin Lasky, and Eugene Ciferno.  Dave Brunell and Marion Reno, Jr. won the heat races.     

The Cenwest Street Stock division saw a first winner, as Johnny Jones of Rockwood, PA picked up his first career NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge feature win.  The former late model division crew chief turned racecar driver steadily worked his way forward from his fourth place starting position to take the lead from Chris Deyarmin on lap 12.  From there he fought off a hard charging Dink Colarusso until lap 24 when the drivers made contact in turn two on the final lap.  Jones maintained the lead, but found himself out of position in turn four as George Nicola, Jr. made a last ditch effort to take away the win.  Jones regained control of his car and had just enough momentum to cross the finish line ahead of Nicola, Jr., who came within half a cars length of the win.  Finishing close behind in third and fourth were Roger Onstead and Chris Deyarmin, while Colarusso rebounded to cap off the top five.  Adam Kostelnik and George Nicola, Jr. won the heat races.   

The 96.5 Mountain Chargers saw Curtis Stewart, Jr. win both ends of their double feature presentation, as the Greensburg, PA native quietly dominated each 15-lap event.  In the first event Greg Praysner held the lead until the halfway point before Stewart, Jr. came along from his ninth place starting position to take over the top spot.  Praysner did not give up easy and pressured Stewart, Jr. to the checkered flag finish. The remaining top five were Chuck Slate, Joe Geary and Travis Smith.   

In the second feature race it was Phill Grubbs taking charge of the race early, but once again Stewart, Jr. came through the field to challenge for the lead on lap eight.  Grubbs applied heavy pressure to maintain the race lead, but Stewart, Jr. was not to be denied and eventually took over the race lead on lap nine.  Once out front Stewart, Jr. extended his lead all the way to the checkered flag for his second win of the night and his eighth win of the season.  Grubbs held on for second, with Travis Smith coming home in third, while Chuck Slate and Joe Geary rounded out the top five.  Travis Smith and Curtis Stewart, Jr. won the heat races.   

Brett Boyer scored his first Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Series feature race win at Jennerstown Speedway.  The Rural Valley, PA driver led all 25 laps and in the process held off two of the divisions top drivers.  His first challenge came from P.J. Ehrlich who maintained second position for the first half of the race.  That’s when Joey Dennewitz moved into the brides maid position and began his assault on the race leader.  The two drivers were virtually glued together for the remainder of the race, with Boyer coming across the finish line half of a Legacy Car length ahead of the Akron, Ohio native.  Completing the top five were Ehrlich, Chris Brink and Dave Holder.  Chris Brink and Joey Dennewitz won the heat races. 

The final race of the evening saw Gregory Lohr win yet another Mens Enduro race, this time starting shotgun on the 30-car field.  

Next week, Somerset Hospital will present Fan Appreciation Night including five division NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge racing action.

August 10, 2002 Complete Race Results