JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY
SEES MANY DRIVERS GET FIRST WINS AS MITCHELL AND BROWN
REVISIT VICTORY LANE
(Jennerstown, PA) Foul weather finally gave race fans a
break this weekend as the US Army presented Saturday
evening’s races in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series at
Jennerstown Speedway.
First, the Rolling Rock Late Models were in action in
the Somerset Trust 75. Rained out last weekend, the 75
lap feature was worth the wait. Richard Mitchell
returned to the Laurel Highlands Oval and stole the
show. The former track champion held the lead for the
majority of the race, survived several cautions and went
on to win the feature. Mitchell was followed by Neil
Brown, Barry Awtey, Mark Cottone, and Bobby Henry in the
top five. Barry Awtey held the pole position at the
start of the Somerset Trust 75.
Later in the evening, the fans at Jennerstown were once
again entertained by the Rolling Rock Late Models in the
50 lap feature. Ten laps into the race, Somerset, PA’s
Garry Willtrout took the lead from Murrysville, PA’s
Tommy Beck. But, as the field passed the half way point
of the race, Acme, PA’s Neil Brown had once again worked
his way to the front and took the lead on lap 16. Brown
held the lead throughout the remainder of the caution
free feature and visited victory lane for the second
time in 2003. He was followed by Garry Willtrout, Bobby
Henry, Mark Cottone and Richard Mitchell in the top
five. Willtrout and Barry Awtey were the heat race
winners.
By far, the most exciting race of the evening was turned
in by the Charger division. Meyersdale, PA’s Travis
Smith pulled along side of Level Green, PA’s Greg
Praysner and the two fought door to door for the lead
for most of the race. With 3 laps remaining, Smith
collided with the lapped car of Bruce Bond, but he
miraculously retained the lead! However, the damage to
the front of Smith’s car forced NASCAR officials to send
him to the pits. Upon his return, Smith was sent to the
back of the pack, made several aggressive moves and was
at the front of the pack in the blink of an eye. But,
his aggression would get the best of him as he and Greg
Praysner made contact sending them both spinning out of
contention. Duane Noel was there to pick up the pieces
and the Irwin, PA driver won his first Charger feature.
Noel was followed by Jim Stokes, Chantal Germek, and
Phill Grubbs with Greg Praysner recovering for the fifth
finishing position. Chantal Germek won the heat race.
In the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Truck feature,
Johnstown, PA’s Jason Lasky simply dominated the field.
Despite two cautions that put past Division Champions
Marion Reno, Jr. and Todd Price right on his tail, Lasky
continued to power ahead and maintain huge leads over
the pack as he went on to win his first career Pro Truck
feature. Lasky was followed by Price, Reno, Josh
Coughenour and Eugene Ciferno in the top 5 finishers.
Todd Price was the heat winner.
In the Modified Division feature at Jennerstown, North
Versailles, PA’s Michael Bakalon took the lead after an
early race caution and held it for the first half of the
race. But by that time, Irwin, PA’s Bob Bentz, Jr. had
worked his modified into position and passed Bakalon for
the lead shortly thereafter. Bakalon would stay right on
the rear bumper of Bentz, but he simply could not get
by. Bob Bentz, Jr. won his second of two Modified
features in 2003. He and Bakalon were followed by Matt
Smith, Paul Urso and George Nicola in the top 5. Jason
Busch, who was involved in an early incident that sent
him to the rear of the field, was the heat race winner.
In the Street Stock feature, Monroeville, PA’s Todd
Knight shot out with the lead. But veteran driver Dink
Colarusso was hot on his tail. The two drove bumper to
bumper for over 10 laps thrilling the Jennerstown fans.
Colarusso’s numerous tries with the “bump and run” did
not interfere with Knight’s run for victory lane and he
went on to win the feature. Knight and Colarusso were
followed by Roger Onstead, Bill Ashton and June Weyant
in the top five finishers in the feature. Dink Colarusso
was the winner of the heat race.
In the Pennsylvania Legacy Series feature, Greensburg,
PA’s Jayme Bolkovac earned and maintained a healthy
lead. But with five laps remaining, P.J. Erlich passed
Bolkovac and took the lead. Three laps later, Erlich got
loose out of turn four, spun and collected Bolkovac in
the incident putting Brett Boyer in the lead. On the
restart, Dave Campbell got by Boyer and brought Chris
Brink with him. Brink and Campbell were side by side,
but turn four claimed Campbell and he spun as Glen
Campbell, PA’s Chris Brink claimed his first victory of
2003 at Jennerstown Speedway. Brett Boyer, George
Stockman, Kyle Martel, and Rick Boyer followed Brink in
the top five. Brett Boyer and P.J. Erlich won the heat
races.
Johnstown, PA’s Patrick Parlock took the lead from
Boswell, PA’s Cory Snoeberger on lap 26 and didn’t look
back as he won the Mens Enduro feature. Parlock and
Snoeberger were followed by Brad McCoy, Jim Biss and
Larry Miller in the top five.
Coming up next Saturday night, Rolling Rock presents the
evening’s racing of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series. Six
divisions will be racing at the Laurel Highlands Oval.
Adult admission is just $10. Children 12 and under will
be admitted for free. 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.
Complete Race Results
Additional Media Notes:
WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AT JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY! Please
contact the Jennerstown Speedway front office for
information on media credentials as well as an updated
media kit for the Laurel Highlands Oval.
Jason Lasky, who won his first career Pro Truck feature
Saturday night, is the grandson of former Jennerstown
Speedway owner and motorsports pioneer Piney Lasky.
There were 21 Late Models on hand for the Somerset 75.
Later, 18 competed in the 50 lap feature.
Connellsville, PA’s Bobby Henry maintained second
position for most of the first half of the Somerset
Trust 75. But a spin on lap 44 moved him back in the
pack. He ran a very impressive race finishing fifth.
There is only one more Saturday until Jennerstown
Speedway’s award winning television program Chase to the
Checkered returns to the airwaves!! It will make its
debut in the Pittsburgh television market on Saturday,
June 7, 2003 at 8:30AM on UPN 19 with the highlights of
this Saturday’s (May 31st) feature races.
Chase to the Checkered will debut in Johnstown on
WJAC-TV on Saturday June 22, 2003 at 9:00AM. For more
information about C2C, please visit the official web
site
www.chasetothecheckered.com.
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