MITCHELL WINS AC DELCO/WHEELER BROTHERS 100, COUGHENOUR WINS SECOND STRAIGHT AS ROUTE 219 RIVALRY HEATS UP AT JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY 

13 July 2003
(Jennerstown, PA) After ominous clouds and brief sprinkles of rain passed through the Laurel Highlands, the sounds of engines roaring once again filled the summer night air at Jennerstown Speedway. 

The evening’s main event was the running of the AC Delco/Wheeler Brothers 100 – a 100 lap race featuring the Rolling Rock Late Models that was rained out on  June 21^st. Barry Awtey and Richard Mitchell swapped the lead for the first half of the race. But after lap 50, but the tide turned in the direction of Mitchell as he led the rest of the race, survived a late race caution, and went on to win the AC Delco/Wheeler Brothers 100. Bruceton Mills, WV’s Richard Mitchell was followed by Barry Awtey, Bobby Henry, Neil Brown and Mark Cottone in the top five. Bobby Henry qualified on the pole position for the feature. 

In the regular 50 lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series feature of the Rolling Rock Late Models, Barry Awtey once again took off with the early race lead only to lose it to Neil Brown after a lap 19 caution. Brown held Awtey and the rest of the field off for the remainder of the feature and won his fifth race in ten starts at Jennerstown Speedway. Brown and Awtey were followed by Bobby Henry, Richard Mitchell and Chuck Keslar in the top five finishers. Mark Cottone and Richard Mitchell were the heat race winners. 

In the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Pro Truck feature, Johnstown’s Jason Lasky and Todd Price were fighting for the lead for the majority of the race. With a few laps remaining, Somerset’s Josh Coughenour came up, got by Price and fought off Lasky on the last lap to win his second consecutive Pro Truck feature at the Laurel Highlands Oval. This is also the second week in a row that the Route 219 rivalry has seen Coughenour and Lasky cross the finish line in a heated battle. Coughenour, Lasky and Price were followed by Adam Kostelnik and Derek Wink in the top five. Jason Lasky was the heat race winner. 

In the Jennerstown Speedway Modified division, Paul Urso was able to keep Mike Bakalon and the rest of the pack in his rear view mirror for the first 18 laps. But a caution erased Urso’s lead and gave Mike Bakalon the opportunity to restart the race on the front row. Bakalon did not waste this chance and shot out to the lead and, eventually, his fourth trip to victory lane in 2003 at Jennerstown. Bakalon and Urso were followed across the finish line by Erik Skomo, Matt Smith and Jason Busch in the top five. Paul Urso was the winner of the heat race. 

Dink Colarusso continued his complete domination of the Jennerstown Street Stock division. In the feature, the West Mifflin driver took the lead at the race’s mid-way point and went on to celebrate his ninth win in ten races at Jennerstown. Roger Onstead, June Weyant, Jason Holder and Bill Ashton joined Colarusso in the race’s top five finishers. June Weyant won the heat race. 

Kyle Martel celebrated his first career victory in the PA Legacy Series feature at Jennerstown Speedway and he won in grand style. Martel shot up from his fourth place starting position and passed race leader Jayme Bolkovac on lap 3. Martel stretched his lead out to nearly the length of the front stretch and cruised to victory lane. Martel was followed by Dave Campbell, Brett Boyer, Rick Boyer and Chirs Brink in the top five. Martel and P.J. Erlich were the heat race winners. 

Greg Praysner took the lead away from division points leader Chantal Germek on the fifth lap of the Jennerstown Speedway Charger division feature. Praysner shot out and went on to win his fourth win in ten races. Praysner was followed by Phill Grubbs, Chantal Germek, Duane Noel and Mike Stevens in the top five. Phill Grubbs was the heat race winner. 

The Mens Enduro feature was won by Boswell, PA’s Corey Snoeberger. 

This Saturday, July 19^th, one of the biggest events of 2003 will be held at Jennerstown Speedway. It’s PACK THE TRACK night – grandstand admission to the Laurel Highlands Oval will be FREE! Fans will get all of the action of Arnold Palmer Motors presentation of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series and the PA Legacy Series for FREE!! Plus, the rock band High Maintenance will be playing and there will be a number of specials and give-aways. Pit gates will open at 2PM, grandstand gates will open at 3PM, and racing will begin at 6PM. 

Jennerstown Speedway, Western Pennsylvania’s Finest Motorsports Complex, is located in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania and offers race fans up to eight divisions of racing on Saturday nights throughout the summer. For driving directions, ticket information or to learn more about the many promotional opportunities at the Laurel Highlands Oval, please visit www.jennerstown.com or call the Jennerstown Speedway business office at 814-629-6677.