By Mike Milliron and Stacie Peles

Jennerstown, PA – June 8, 2002 – Jeff Agnew scored his second race win at Jennerstown Speedway Saturday night, as the USAR Hooters ProCup Series returned to the Laurel Highlands Oval to present the Naturally Fresh Foods 250.  The win marked Agnew’s second trip to victory lane in as many weeks, with his other win coming at the Holland Speedway.   

Mark Cottone from McKeesport, PA was in the right place at the right time to finish first in the Naturally Fresh Late Model Challenge Series “Classic Caesar Dressings 50,” the second round of the five races Championship Series. 

Jeff Agnew started the Naturally Fresh Foods 250 from the inside second row and followed the front two cars of Mardy Lindley and Brian Ross throughout the first half of the event.  Pole sitter Mardy Lindley maintained the top position from the drop of the green flag until lap 78 when rookie sensation Brian Ross made a dramatic pass for the lead, as they maneuvered through race traffic.  Brian Ross held Lindley at bay for the next 55 laps until a caution allowed the front runners, including Agnew, to make their mandatory pit stops.  Forrest Urban inherited the lead by staying out on the track, while Agnew won the race off of pit road.  Within nine laps Jeff Agnew used his fresher tires to his advantage in making his one and only pass for the race lead, as he would hold off a hard-charging Lindley to the checkered flag finish.   During the final stages of the race, Lindley was kept busy fending off a serious challenge from Ross, which gave Agnew a much needed break as he watched the two-car battle in his rear view mirror.  Finishing behind the top three were local favorite Eric Corbett and Charlie Ford.

 The “Classic Caesar Dressings 50” Naturally Fresh Late Model Challenge Series race proved to be a leaders nightmare as the front running cars ran into trouble not once, but twice during the fifty lap event.  Pole sitter Logan Dernoshek took advantage of his Late Model Dash for Cash win by pacing the field to the drop of the green flag.  Neil Brown who started outside the front row had other ideas, as he used the high groove to power past for the first lap lead.  Mark Smith quickly asserted himself into the second position as he and Brown renewed their side-by-side rivalry of the week before.  During a mid-race restart Brown and Smith made contact while leading the field, which caused a multi-car accident that sent Smith to the back of the field.  This put Dernoshek back into the runner-up position, which he used to hound the back bumper of Brown up until the final laps of the race.  As the top two drivers approached lapped traffic, Brown and Dernoshek made contact sending both cars to the back of the pack, allowing Cottone to inherit the race lead.  The green-white-checkered finish saw Cottone having to hold off the serious challenge of Barry Awtey, who was just completing nearly 300 laps of racing around the Laurel Highlands Oval. Finishing behind the top two runners were Brad Creighton, Chuck Keslar and Jayme Bolkovac.  Mark Smith once again took home the R & M Trucking Fast Time Award, with a pole winning time of 19.53 seconds around the .522 mile Jennerstown Speedway.  The fan favorite Spectator $500 was not won this time around, rolling over the winners share to the August 3 Spectator $500 event, making it a potential $1,000 pay day for a lucky race fan. 

 Next week, Stan’s Transmission Service and Highland Harley Davidson will co-sponsor the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge racing program, which will include a 25-lap Grand American Modified feature event, in addition to the regular five division program.  A ladies enduro race will conclude the nights racing activities and mark the beginning of a fantastic fireworks display for the whole family to enjoy.  The Highland Riders 2nd Annual Highland Harley Davidson Rodeo will run from 9 am to 2:30 pm, featuring various motorcycle activities, along with kids events to be held throughout the day.  Stuntman Bubba Blackwell “The Buell American Daredevil” will perform at 3 pm and 8 pm, with live musical entertainment scheduled from 3 pm to 7 pm.  All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.  For more information on Jennerstown Speedway, log onto www.jennerstown.com or call the speedway office at 814.629.6677. 

Naturally Fresh Late Model Challenge Series Race # 2  Results