Colarusso Sweeps Twin 20's, Awtey and Wilt Get Their First Wins of the Season at Jennerstown.
 
by Mike Rininger

July 3, 2004

(Jennerstown, PA)

Very persistent and sometimes quite heavy rain showers began to fall late in the afternoon during practice, Jennerstown Speedway was able to get the full program in the books, which delayed the start one half hour.  Day Ford of Monroeville presented the night's racing which included twin 20's for the Day Ford Street Stocks.  Dink Colarusso seems to be picking up where he left off last season as the defending point champion made it a clean sweep in winning both feature events.  Other winners on this hot summer night were Barry Awtey (Wheeler Brothers Super Late Models), Mel Wilt (New Enterprise Stone and Lime Late Models), Kyle Martel (PA Legacy Series), Duane Noel (Somerset Furniture Sales Chargers), and Patrick Parlock (Advance Auto Parts Hobby Stocks).

Jason Holder took the lead at the start of the first 20-lap feature with Josh Dunmyer close behind.  Dink Colarusso started deep in the field and by the midway point made it up to the third place spot, only to find himself nearly a straightaway behind Holder and Dunmyer.  Colarusso would eventually catch and pass Dunmyer then with two laps to go made the move passed Holder for the top spot.  Colarusso went on to take his third straight win of the season in the caution free event.  Holder and Dunmyer finished second and third respectively followed by Adam Kostelnik and Dave Tavormina in the top five.

The second feature saw rookie Richard Beam, in only his third night of racing, get the jump on Tom Knight, Sr. for the early lead.  Beam held the lead for the first eight laps when Dunmyer fought his way past on the outside to take the lead.  The yellow would fall on lap 9 for a spinning Beam in turn four.  On the restart Holder would get the jump over Dunmyer to take the lead, but right behind was Colarusso who made his way up to third from his twelfth starting spot.  Dunmyer got loose and made contact with the turn one wall on lap 11 to bring out the final caution flag of the event.  Colarusso took the lead from Holder on lap 12 but could not distance himself as Holder stayed in his tracks to the finish.  One last chance on the final lap saw Holder look to the outside but could not make the move as Colarusso would take home his second trophy of the night with Holder once again finishing in the runner up spot.  Rich Nicola jumped into Jim Nicolas car for the feature events after losing a wheel in his heat race which sent the car hard into the wall, finished a strong third with Kostelnik and Tavormina in the top five.  Holder and Colarusso took the heats.

Jayme Bolkovac took the lead from polesitter Todd Goble at the start of the super late model feature which slowed on lap 3 for Kyle Martel who's car came to a stop at the end of the front stretch.  Bolkovac kept the lead on the restart ahead of Cary Todaro and Mark Poole.  The red flag flew on lap 4 when contact between Todaro and Poole sent both head on into the backstretch wall severely damaging both cars and collecting Jason Lasky and Steve Comer in the process heavily damaging their cars as well.  Todaro and Poole were both transported to a local hospital for observation.  After track crews made an extensive cleanup, the race would restart with Barry Awtey taking the lead from Bolkovac as Garry Wiltrout followed right behind Awtey.  The two would check out from the field, as the remainder of the race would be caution free.  Wiltrout could get to the back bumper of Awtey but never make a serious challenge for the lead.  The best battle on the track would be for the fifth spot with Jeff Dunmyer and Neil Brown battling door-to-door for countless laps as Snooky Williams following close behind waiting patiently for his chance to make a move.  In the end Awtey would hold off Wiltrout to take his first feature win of the season.  Point leader Bobby Henry finished a distant third followed by Mark Smith in fourth and Brown, who eventually got past Dunmyer for fifth.  Awtey and Wiltrout took the heat race wins.

Mel Wilt has struggled so far this year but got the jump over Jacob Coffin at the start of the late model feature event and set out to the early lead.  Rick Boyer and Todd Price would close in on Wilt giving fans the looks of a good three-car battle for the lead.  But neither driver could mount a serious attack on the leader as Wilt would lead wire to wire in the caution free event to take his first career win in a late model.  Boyer held off Price for second with Dusty Rhoads and Wade Champeno rounding out the top five.  Wilt also won the heat race.

            Brett Boyer took the early lead in the PA Legacy Series 25-lap feature event with Jayme Bolkovac moving up fast from her mid pack starting spot.  Bolkovac would take the lead on lap 8 with Kyle Martel and P.J. Ehrlich following behind and dropping Boyer to fourth.  Those three would put on a great show often going three wide for the race lead, but going three wide can also result in misfortune.  Coming out of turn four three wide on lap 17, the cars of Bolkovac and Ehrlich made contact with both making hard contact with the front stretch wall right under the starter's stand.  Both drivers climbed out ok but the cars were heavily damaged.  That handed the lead to Kyle Martel on the restart.  While running in the top five, point leader Dave Campbell spun in turn 2 four laps from the finish and was hit hard by Kep Causer, ending the night for both drivers.  Martel would not be challenged on the restart and go on to take his second win of the season.  Boyer came back to finish second followed by Chris Brink, Andrew Wylie and Ed Butler in the top five.  Chris Brink and Bolkovac won the heat races.

            Duane Noel passed Rick Phillips on lap 2 of the 15-lap charger feature event and would soon feel the pressure from Scott Bowman, who came from his seventh starting spot to second in only a handful of laps.  The yellow flag was displayed on lap 6 as Andrew Kostelnik spun in turn 2.  On the restart Bowman got the jump on Noel for the lead, but Noel would take back the lead on the following lap and hold on to take his third win of the season.  Bowman followed close behind in second with Phillips, Stephen Mock and Mike Stevens rounding out the top five.  Mock won the heat race.

            Jim Biss looked like he was on his way to a career first win in the hobby stock feature event.  After jumping out to a sizeable lead at the start, the cars of Jeff Zillweger, Greg Lohr and Patrick Parlock would close the gap near the midway point to make it a four car battle for the lead.  Parlock got passed Lohr then eventually Zillweger into second but the laps were quickly disappearing.  With only two laps remaining Parlock made the high side pass on Biss for the lead and go on to take home his second win of the season.  Biss held onto second with Lohr coming home third as Zillweger faded to a fourth place finish.  Dennis Roles rounded out the top five.  Parlock won the lone heat race.

            Next Saturday, Jennerstown Speedway presents 'Fan Appreciation Night' at the Laurel Highlands Oval.  A regular five-division program of the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series along with the PA Legacy Series will be on tap as well as a driver autograph session on the front straightaway.  Fans will be admitted for only $3 and also be treated to a spectacular fireworks display at the end of the racing program.  Main gates open at 4:30 with the first green flag to fall at 6:00.  For more information on this event or any other on the schedule contact the speedway office at 814.629.6677 or visit www.jennerstown.com.

 
    
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