by Mike Rininger 

Jennerstown, PA (July 24, 2004) – The name Dunmyer has a  long rich tradition at the Laurel Highlands Oval.  Super late model driver Jeff Dunmyer was a dominant force in street stocks and then the late models in the 1990s winning numerous features and track championships, including a NASCAR Northeast Region Championship in 1997. Jeff, back in the super late models this year after a few years off, cut his teeth on area dirt tracks including Jennerstown during the 80s.  Jeff’s father Cliff also was a tough competitor at Jennerstown in the 70s and 80s on the dirt.  Last year, the third generation Dunmyer, Jeff’s son Josh completed his rookie season in the street stock and gained plenty of experience.  This year the young driver has been hinting at a career first win and finally came through on Dodge Night at Jennerstown Speedway flashing under the checkers first in the street stock feature.  Other winners included Barry Awtey (super late models), Todd Price (late models), Scott Bowman (chargers), Patrick Parlock (hobby stocks), and P.J. Ehrlich (legacy cars).  Twin State Auto Racing Club was also on hand to greet the winners in victory lane and presented the speedway with a plaque. 

The first feature of the night was the PA Legacy Series 25-lap main, which saw Brett Boyer jump out to the early lead.  Jayme Bolkovac stayed right on the rear bumper of Boyer and made her move into the lead on lap 5.  Kyle Martel, who has won the last three feature events, and P.J. Ehrlich charged from the middle of the pack to catch the two front runners and pushed Boyer back to fourth.  A three wide move a few laps later saw Martel take the lead from Bolkovac, who fell back to third as Ehrlich also made his way passed.  Ehrlich passed Martel for the lead on lap 11 but was not able to pull away from Martel and Bolkovac.  The caution flew for Andrew Wylie and Dan Brink spun in turn four, setting up a two-lap dash to the finish.  Ehrlich got the jump on the restart and held on to take his second win of the season.  Martel came home a close second followed by Bolkovac, Boyer and Chris Brink in the top five.  Ehrlich also took the heat race win. 

            The Somerset Furniture Sales Chargers were out next for their 15-lap feature.  Mike Stevens took the lead at the start from Daniel Angelicchio and quickly drove away from the field.  Point leader Scott Bowman worked his way up through the field into the second spot and started to reel in the leader just passed the halfway point.  With a couple laps remaining Bowman had finally caught Stevens, who was looking for his career first win.  Coming around to the white flag, Bowman made the inside move on Stevens to take the lead and went on to his fourth win of the season.  Stevens settled for second with Duane Noel coming home third after extensive repairs were made after a practice crash.  Stephen Mock and Angelicchio rounded out the top five.  Mock won the heat race. 

            The New Enterprise Stone and Lime Late Models have been one of the most competitive divisions so far this year and this night was no exception.  Todd Corson and Wade Champeno battled early on for the lead with Champeno getting the early advantage.  Before long Todd Price and Rick Boyer joined the top two making a four-car battle for the lead.  Throughout the middle part of the 25-lap feature the top four drivers went door-to-door inches apart putting on a great show for the fans.  Corson would finally break out into the lead on lap 16 with Price following right behind.  Two laps later Price made the move past Corson into the lead and started to pull away.  Boyer would eventually get past Corson for second but run out of time to catch Price, who took home his fourth win of the season.  Boyer, Corson, Champeno, and Dusty Rhoads rounded out the top five.  Newcomer Josh Butler debuted his beautiful late model but unfortunately crashed in practice after the throttle stuck going into turn 1 ending his night before it really got started.  Price took the heat race. 

            A practice crash also plagued the Day Ford Street Stocks as three cars sustained damaged.  Both Richard Beam and point leader Dink Colarusso were able to repair their cars for the night’s action but Roger Onstead suffered frame damage and was parked for the night.  Beam jumped out to the lead at the start of the 20-lap feature but the yellow would fly after just one lap.  Joe Nicola spun in turn one and Colarusso was collected up in the melee as cars went scattering to avoid the spun car of Nicola.  Colarusso was able to rejoin the field despite substantial damage and limped around to the finish collecting valuable points.  Tom Knight, Sr. took the lead on the restart before giving way to Josh Dunmyer on lap 6.  The yellow would fly once more at the halfway point as Beam went spinning in turn four collecting Adam Kostelnik and Jason Holder.  Holder bounced off the outside wall and was unable to continue.  Dunmyer got the jump on Knight, Sr. on the restart to keep the lead and started to check out from the field.  The remainder of the race went caution free as Dunmyer went on to take his first ever win.  Kostelnik charged from the back of the field to come home a distant second.  Rich Nicola, Dave Tavormina, and Robert Young rounded out the top five.  Young and Holder took the heat race wins. 

            Jayme Bolkovac jumped out to a quick lead over Snooky Williams in the Wheeler Bros. Super Late Model 50-lap feature.  Barry Awtey moved into second a few laps later and began to chase down Bolkovac.  Awtey made the pass on lap 17 and began to pull away from the field.  Co-point leaders Bobby Henry and Garry Wiltrout ran together all race long coming from the middle of the field and would catch and pass a fading Bolkovac and start to run down Awtey for the lead.  The two would get within striking distance, hoping for a caution to bunch up the field.  But those hopes would fade as the race went caution free.  Awtey picked up his second win of the season with Henry and Wiltrout coming home just car lengths behind in second and third.  Last week’s winner Kyle Martel and Bolkovac completed the top five.  Neil Brown and Awtey won the heat races. 

            Bill Karson led the first three laps of the Advance Auto Parts Hobby Stock feature event before giving way to Patrick Parlock.  Greg Lohr moved his way into second, passing Karson a few laps later but could not get close enough to put the pressure on the leader.  Parlock went on to take his fourth win of the season with Lohr, Karson, Eugene Zerfoss, and Deidre Petrie rounding out the top five.  Parlock also won the heat race. 

            Jennerstown Speedway will be have a full plate of action next Saturday night as Wheeler Brothers, Inc. will present the nights racing in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.  The WSoA 305 Sprint Car Series will make its second appearance of the season along with twin 50-lap features for the Wheeler Brothers Super Late Models.  The New Enterprise Stone and Lime Late Models, Day Ford Street Stocks, Somerset Furniture Sales Chargers, Advance Auto Parts Hobby Stocks, PA Legacy Series, and the Super Minicup cars will all be in action.  Contact the track office at 814.629.6677 or check www.jennerstown.com for further details.