CHAMPIONS ARE CROWNED, COLARUSSO BREAKS ANOTHER SPEEDWAY RECORD IN 2003’s LAST NIGHT OF NASCAR RACING AT JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY 

(Jennerstown, PA) In a wild season finale, the Laurel Highlands Oval crowned its champions of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series and PA Legacy Series Saturday night. 

The first of two fifty lap features of the Rolling Rock Late Models got off to a very rough start as Brad Creighton, Tommy Beck and Neil Brown were involved in a serious accident on the race’s first lap. No drivers were injured, but the crowd gasped as Creighton’s car flipped over and rode on its roof into the turn one retaining wall.

On lap fourteen, Connellsville, PA’s Bobby Henry took the lead from Barry Awtey and went on to win the feature race. Henry and Awtey were followed by Chuckie Keslar, Cary Todaro and Shawn Beam in the top five finishers of the first feature. 

In the second fifty lap Rolling Rock Late Model feature, Neil Brown shot out with a sizeable lead in his back-up car. He would spend 18 laps at the front only to be passed by Barry Awtey. The Jenners, PA driver maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the feature and went to victory lane. Awtey was joined by Bobby Henry, Shawn Beam, and Neil Brown in the top five finishers. 

Barry Awtey won the 2003 Rolling Rock Late Model division championship by thirty points over Neil Brown. 

In the last running of the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Truck division at Jennerstown Speedway, Somerset, PA’s Josh Coughenour led every lap of the race and went on to win his fourth feature of the year. He was followed by Marion Reno, Jr., Derek Wink, Jason Lasky and Todd Price in the top five. 

Alum Bank, PA’s Todd Price was the 2003 champion of the Tommy Gale/Haulmark Trailers Pro Trucks. He won the division by twenty points over 2002 champ Marion Reno, Jr. 

The Modified division feature came down to the wire with four points separating first and second in the division standings at the race’s start. Paul Urso took off with the lead, but was passed by Mike Bakalon on lap 17. Urso needed to finish at least second to keep his lead in the points. But, on the race’s final lap, George Nicola, Jr. came along side of Urso and took the second place spot by less than a fender as the two crossed the finish line behind North Versailles, PA’s Mike Bakalon. Jason Busch and Jim Nicola rounded out the top five. 

When the dust settled, Mike Bakalon and Paul Urso were tied at the top of the points with 830 each. In the event of a tie, the division championship is given to the driver with the most wins. Bakalon had seven to Urso’s two and was thus rewarded with the 2003 Modified division crown in the division’s last year of running at Jennerstown. 

Street Stock driver Dink Colarusso won his 16^th race of 2003 Saturday night and broke the 1987 speedway record of 15 held by Steve Peles. The West Mifflin, PA native, who already owns Jennerstown Speedway’s consecutive win record, took the lead on lap 10 and never looked back. Colarusso was followed by Roger Onstead, Jason Holder, Josh Dunmyer and Bill Ashton in the top five finishers. 

Dink Colarusso dominated the Street Stocks all year long and won the division championship by 66 points over Roger Onstead. 

Rick Boyer started on the pole, fought a tough battle with Dave Campbell and went on to win the 2003 finale of the Pennsylvania Legacy Series at Jennerstown. Boyer lead 43 of the race’s 50 laps and celebrated his second win of the year. Boyer and Campbell were joined by Brett Boyer, Kyle Martel and P.J. Ehrlich in the top five. 

P.J. Ehrlich and Jayme Bolkovac were tied at the top of the PA Legacy Series points when the race began. But with two laps to go, Bolkovac and Chris Brink made contact sending Bolkovac into the wall and erasing her chances of winning a third series title. Ehrlich’s fifth place finish was good enough to place him on top and make the Oakmont, PA driver the 2003 PA Legacy Series Champion. 

Irwin, PA’s Duane Noel led every lap of the Charger feature and celebrated his third win of 2003 Saturday night. He was followed by Greg Praysner, Phill Grubbs, Chantal Germek and Mike Stevens in the top five. 

The Charger division leaders were also tied at the race’s start with Greg Praysner and Chantal Germek running neck and neck. While the two fought for position early on, Level Green, PA’s Greg Praysner finished ahead of Germek in the race and in the points earning the Charger division crown by just four points. 

Stoystown, PA’s Bill Awtey was the winner of the Mechanics Race. Renee Germek, Jared Stevens, James Taylor and Jeff Giles, Sr. rounded out the top five. 

In the Mens Enduro season finale, Hooversville, PA’s Greg Lohr took home the win. Jim Biss, Deidre Petrie, Mike Stephens and Larry Miller made up the top five finishers. 

Johnstown, PA’s Patrick Parlock won the 2003 Enduro division championship by 44 points over Greg Lohr. 

Saturday October 4^th, Jennerstown Speedway concludes its 2003 racing season with the running of the USAR Hooter ProCup 250. Plus, local late mode drivers will be competing in a special feature race. Contact the Jennerstown Speedway office for more information and for advance tickets.

This Saturday is the season finale of Jennerstown Speedway’s award-winning television program Chase to the Checkered. In addition to the highlights and driver interviews, this week’s C2C will also have the Salute to the Champions segment with exclusive interviews with all of the division champions at the Laurel Highlands Oval. Chase to the Checkered airs this Saturday at 8:30am on UPN 19 in Pittsburgh and at 9:00am on WJAC in Johnstown. 

The owners, management and staff of Jennerstown Speedway thank all race fans for attending and supporting racing at Jennerstown in 2003 and wish them the best of luck in the off season. 

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.