AWTEY, COLARUSSO DOMINATE, LASKY WINS SECOND IN A ROW AT JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY.

 (Jennerstown, PA) Saturday’s rainy, gray skies gave way to an absolutely gorgeous day for racing on Sunday as Rolling Rock presented the day’s racing of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at Jennerstown Speedway.

 In the Rolling Rock Late Models, Jenners, PA’s Barry Awtey took off with the lead on the first lap, led all fifty laps and went on to win the feature handily. While Bobby Henry and Neil Brown fought hard for the second place position, their battle only gave Awtey more of an opportunity to stretch his lead out in front of the pack. Awtey, Henry and Brown were followed by Mark Cottone and Tommy Beck in the top fives. Mark Cottone and Bobby Henry were winners in the heat races.

 In the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Trucks, Alum Bank, PA’s Todd Price looked to have the race in the bag from the start leading twenty laps. But with five laps remaining, Johnstown, PA’s Jason Lasky chipped away at Price’s lead, passed him and went on to win his second feature race in two weeks at Jennerstown. Lasky and Price were followed by Josh Coughenour, Derek Wink and Marion Reno, Jr. in the top five. Lasky was also the heat race winner.

 The first Modified feature was a make-up for a rained out race. Charleroi, PA’s Matt Smith took the lead on lap two and never looked back as he went on to win the feature. Smith was followed by Michael Bakalon, Paul Urso, Matt Panaia and Brian Stephenson in the top five.

 In the second Modified feature, Paul Urso shot out with the early lead, but Michael Bakalon passed Urso on lap five. While Urso and Matt Smith fought tooth and nail to catch up to Bakalon, he would keep his lead and win the Modified feature. Bakalon, Smith and Urso were followed by Bob Bentz, Jr. and Matt Panaia in the top five.  Bob Bentz, Jr. was the heat race winner.

 In the Street Stocks, West Mifflin, PA’s Dink Colarusso took the lead from Roger Onstead on lap seven and never looked back as he went on to win his third Street Stock feature of 2003.  Colarusso was followed by Onstead, Billy Mostoller, Jason Fritz, and Jason Holder in the top five. Colarusso was also the heat race winner.

 In the PA Legacy feature, 2002 division champion Joey Dennewitz took his familiar position in the front of the field and looked to once again dominate a feature. But luck was not on his side as mechanical problems would send him to the pits early and eliminate him from contention. While P.J. Erlich took over the lead for a few laps, past division champion Jayme Bolkovac made it to the front and brought Rick Boyer with her. While Bolkovac would have to contend with challenges from Boyer for the rest of the race, the Greensburg, PA driver again visited victory lane. Bolkovac, Boyer and Erlich were followed by Chris Brink and Kyle Martel in the top five.

 Once again, the sparks flew in the Charger division and once again they involved Travis Smith and Bruce Bond. Greg Praysner was in the lead for the majority of the feature, but Smith was blazing through the field looking to get out in front and to victory lane. With one lap remaining, Smith had taken the lead. But as he approached the lapped car of Bond, the two collided and Smith was sent hard into the wall between turns one and two. This time, Praysner was able to stay clear of the incident and the Level Green, PA driver went on to win the Charger feature. Greg Praysner was followed by Phill Grubbs, Michael Stevens, Chantal Germek and Rick Phillips in the top five finishers. Praysner was also the winner of the heat race. 

Coming up next Saturday night, June 7^th, at the Laurel Highlands Oval, MAC Tools presents the evening’s racing of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Adult admission is $10 with children 12 and under being admitted for free. Pit gates will open at 2PM, grandstand gates will open at 3PM, and racing will begin at 6PM.

Jennerstown Speedway’s award winning television program Chase to the Checkered will make its debut in the Pittsburgh television market this coming Saturday morning at 8:30 on UPN 19. This week’s episode of C2C will cover the highlights of today’s racing at the Laurel Highlands Oval.  

Chase to the Checkered will debut in Johnstown on WJAC-TV on Saturday June 21^st at 9:00AM. For more information about C2C, please visit the official web site www.chasetothecheckered.com. 

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.