by Mike Milliron and Stacie Peles 

Jennerstown, PA (June 22, 2002) – Mark Smith and Neil Brown both found their way to victory lane Saturday night at Jennerstown Speedway, as Craftsman presented Twin 50-lap races for the Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Models, as well as regular racing in the other divisions.  Josh Coughenour won the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Truck feature race, as Adam Kostelnik won the Cenwest Street Stocks.  Joey Dennewitz won in the Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Series division and Curtis Stewart, Jr. won the 96.5 Mountain Charger feature.  Other winners included Ken Stabley, Jr. in the Super Mini Cup Series race and Gregory Lohr in the Men’s Enduro race.   

Mark Smith started the first of two Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model feature races in seventh position and methodically worked his way through the field until taking the lead from Bobby Henry on lap 35.  Tommy Beck started the race on the pole position and held the top spot through the first 19 circuits, before Henry came along and took over the lead on lap 20.  Smith followed Henry up through the field and took over the second spot on lap 23.  From there the two drivers dueled side-by-side until lap 35, when Smith took over the top spot and Henry became the pursuer.  On the final lap in turns one and two, Henry attempted a final pass for the lead, but spun the car, forcing a green-white-checkered dash to the finish.  On the restart, Tim Bainey, Jr., driving Smith’s team car was in second place, but was unable to mount a serious charge as Smith went on to claim in first NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge victory of the 2002 racing season.  Finishing behind the Richter Motorsports team cars were Barry Awtey in third, Mark Cottone in fourth and Rick Miller in fifth.  Heat races were won by Mark Cottone and Bobby Henry. 

The second Wheeler Bros./AC Delco Late Model feature event started with a top ten inversion of the first race finishing order with the remainder of the field starting by their first race finishing positions.  This put Tommy Beck back on the pole position, while eventual race winner Neil Brown started second.  Beck tried valiantly to hold off a race charge by Brown and others in the top five and held onto the lead until lap 11.  That’s when Brown took over the top position, bringing along Barry Awtey, Mark Smith and Mark Cottone.  Awtey stayed in Browns’ tire tracks until a caution on lap 49 slowed the field.  On the restart Awtey was unable to challenge Brown for the win, as Brown won his fourth NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge victory of the season.  Finishing third through fifth were Mark Smith, Tim Bainey, Jr. and Bobby Henry. 

The Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Trucks saw Josh Coughenour in victory lane for the first time in the 2002 racing season.  After starting fourth Coughenour quickly made his way into the second spot on lap 2, where he pressured Dave Brunell for the lead until lap 10 when the Somerset, PA native took over the top position.  Once in the lead Coughenour fended off the challenges of Brunell and Marion Reno, Jr., who raced side by side with Coughenour until turns one and two on the final lap.  That’s when Reno spun his truck will attempting a pass for the lead, which gave the second spot back to Dave Brunell.  The final restart of the race saw Coughenour pull away for the race win, while Brunell finished second, followed by Dave Marrow, Todd Price and Joe Kelley.  The heat race was won by Marion Reno, Jr. 

The Cenwest Street Stocks saw a repeat winner as Adam Kostelnik worked his way through the field from his sixth place starting position into the lead on lap 18, when race leader Bill Ashton had a right rear wheel bearing fail, forcing him out of the race.  From there Kostelnik fended off the challenges of Johnny Jones en route to capture the checkered flag.  Finishing behind the top two were Roger Onstead in third, Rich Nicola in fourth and Chris Deyarmin in fifth.  Heat races were won by Johnny Jones and Bill Ashton. 

The 96.5 Mountain Chargers saw current points leader Curtis Stewart, Jr. go from the back of the pack to victory in the fifteen lap feature event.  Stewart, Jr. started in tenth and steadily progressed through the field until taking the lead on the final lap over Greg Praysner, as the two cars approached a lapped machine.  Stewart, Jr. went to the outside and Praysner went to the inside, when the two cars met again, Stewart, Jr. had the top position.  Finishing behind the top two cars were Justin Lasky, Phill Grubbs, and Chuck Slate.  The heat race win went to Justin Lasky. 

The Cover Insurance Agency/PA Legacy Series saw a familiar face in victory lane again.  Joey Dennewitz made it five for five, five wins in five races as he once again proved to be the class of the field in the Allison Legacy Cars.  Dennewitz used poise and determination as he worked his way through the field, and took the lead on lap eight from Kyle Martel.  From there on Dennewitz did not have any serious challenges for the remainder of the 25-lap feature race.  Chris Brink had another impressive run as he finished a respectable second, while Dave Holder, Dave Campbell and Brett Boyer rounded out the top five.  Dennewitz also won the heat race. 

Ken Stabley, Jr. led wire to wire as he won the second Super Mini Cup Series event in the 2002 Jennerstown Speedway racing season.  Gregory Lohr captured the Mens Enduro race in a dominating performance.   

Next week, Jennerstown Speedway will welcome Cenwest, as they sponsor the five division NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge race night, which will feature an economical $5.00 Fan Appreciation Night including a Ladies Enduro race.  Adult admission price will be $5.00 with kids 12 and under admitted free with an adult.  Spectator gates will open at 4 p.m. with the racing action starting at 7 p.m.  For ticket information or other information on Jennerstown Speedway, log onto www.jennerstown.com or call the speedway office at 814.629.6677.

Complete Race Results...