BRAD CREIGHTON & MARK COTTONE CLAIM FEATURE WINS AT J-TOWN 

Jennerstown, PA (August 31, 2002) – Brad Creighton and Mark Cottone each picked up a Wheeler Bros./ AC Delco Late Model feature race wins during Stan’s Transmission Service race night.  Other winners in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge racing program included Marion Reno, Jr. in the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Trucks, George Nicola, Jr. in the Cenwest Street Stocks, Travis Smith in the 96.5 Mountain Chargers.  Paul Urso, Jr. won the Stan’s Transmission Service Grand American Modifieds and Chantal Germek won the Ladies Enduro.  Jerame Donley of Winston Salem, NC won the Blue/Grey Shootout for the Allison Legacy Series. 

In the first of two Wheeler Bros./ AC Delco Late Model feature events, Wade Champeno, Snooky Williams and Rick Miller all shared the lead for the first nine laps, before Mark Smith came from his eight place starting position to take over the lead on lap ten.  Once out front, Smith extended his race lead to a comfortable margin over the rest of the field.  Brad Creighton, who started the event in third place got shuffled back to fifth place before steadily making his trek back to the front.  By lap 27 he had worked his way around Rick Miller and into second, but was still a long way from race leader Smith.  As the laps wound down, Creighton continued to draw closer to Smith and finally took over the race lead on lap 47.  He held on for the remaining three laps to claim his first career victory at the Laurel Highlands Oval.  Smith finished a close second, as Barry Awtey, Rick Miller and Neil Brown rounded out the top five.   

In the second Wheeler Bros./ AC Delco Late Model feature race, it was occasional back-up driver Tim Bainey, Jr. taking command of the first half of the 50-lap feature race. That was before he tangled with Neil Brown as the Acme, PA driver attempted a pass for the lead, bringing out the first caution of the race.   On the ensuing restart, Mark Cottone was able to get by Barry Awtey to take control of the race.  Three other cautions kept the field close, but at the checkered flag it was Cottone taking his first NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge racing season.  Awtey maintained his second place position, while Rick Miller, Neil Brown and Bobby Henry closed out the top five.  Heat race wins went to Mark Cottone and Neil Brown.   

Marion Reno, Jr.  captured his fifth Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Trucks feature race win after rebounding from a first lap spin.  Aaron Will and Dave Brunell waged a fierce two-truck battle for the lead throughout the first 13 laps.  That’s when Brunell and Todd Price, who was running third, made contact on the front stretch, sending Brunell into the outside retaining wall. On the restart it was Reno, Jr. stepping out with the race lead on lap 15, which he held onto for the rest of the 25-lap race.  Will notched a fine second place finish, as Josh Coughenour and Todd Price and Dave Marrow finished third through fifth.  Heat race wins went to Aaron Will and Marion Reno, Jr.   

Cenwest Street Stock division points leader George Nicola, Jr. added to his points lead over Dink Colarusso by dominating the 25-lap event.  After being tangled up in an opening lap incident, Dink Colarusso worked his way into second by lap 15 but could pose no serious challenge for the race win.  Finishing in third through fifth were Roger Onstead, Richard Nicola, and Adam Kostelnik.  Heat race wins went to Adam Kostelnik and George Nicola, Jr.   

The 96.5 Mountain Charger division saw Travis Smith put an end to Curtis Stewart’s winning streak, as he drove a whale of a race coming from his eighth place starting position.  Justin Lasky led the first nine laps until Greg Praysner took over the top spot for two laps.  That’s when Travis Smith worked his way into the lead and held off Praysner for the win.  Lasky finished third, with Chuck Slate coming home in fourth and Jesse King finished fifth.  The heat race win went to Travis Smith.   

The special presentation of the Stan’s Transmission Service Grand American Modified race, saw a first time winner emerge in victory lane, as Paul Urso, Jr. used a late race pass over Jim Nicola to claim the win.  The two cars had battled from the start of the race, but Nicola momentarily lost the handle of his racecar, which allowed Urso, Jr. the chance he needed to sneak by for the lead.  Jason Busch and Mark Flick also managed to get by for position, pushing Nicola back to fourth place.  John Pribanich finished fifth.  The heat race win went to Mark Flick.   

The Allison Legacy Series made its traditional National Touring Series stop for the Blue/Grey Shootout, as former NASCAR Grand National Series driver Donnie Allison gave the command to start engines.  Winston Salem, NC driver Jerame Donley led wire to wire to capture the victory.  Chase Miller from Canton, GA remained close through the entire race but in the end had to settle for second.  Local standout driver Joey Dennewitz had to take a back seat to the traveling series drivers as he finished a very distant and disappointing third.  Fourth place went to Derek Lee from Clinton, NC while Brent Raymer of Concord, NC closed out the top five.  Jerame Donley was the fast qualifier in the Allison Legacy Series time trials.   

In the Ladies Enduro it was Chantal Germek once again claiming the win.  Finishing in second was Susan Lambert, while Renee Germek, Deidre Petrie, and Lorie Awtey rounded out the top five.   

Next week, Cover Insurance Agency will present the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge racing program, featuring a 50 lap race for the Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Series plus twin 25-lap Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Truck races.  For more information log onto www.jennerstown.com or call 814.629.6677

Complete Race Results...