June 12, 2004

After being rained out last week, the weather could not have been more perfect to treat fans to a good night of racing at Jennerstown Speedway. Somerset Furniture Sales presented the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action, which included twin 50-lap features in the Wheeler Bros. Super Late Models.

Garry Wiltrout and Neil Brown each picked up their first wins of the season splitting the two feature events. Other drivers picking up their first wins of the season included Wade Champeno in the New Enterprise Stone and Lime Late Models, Dink Colarusso in the Day Ford Street Stocks, Duane Noel in the Somerset Furniture Sales Chargers, and Greg Lohr in the Advance Auto Parts Hobby Stocks.Dave Campbell made it two for two in the PA Legacy Series at the Laurel Highlands Oval.

A strong field of twenty-five super late models took the green flag in the first 50-lap feature event with Bobby Henry jumping out to the lead. Garry Wiltrout followed close behind and made the pass on lap five and took command of the race. A five-car incident on lap 31 eliminated the cars of Jayme Bolkovac and Todd Goble, who were both running strong races. The restart gave Barry Awtey and Henry one last chance to overtake Wiltrout. Awtey got to his inside on the restart but could not finish the pass as Wiltrout got a run in the outside groove and motored back into the lead and took his career first victory at Jennerstown.Awtey held onto second followed by Henry, Mark Smith, and Neil Brown in the top five.

The second feature saw twenty-two cars able to make the call. Tommy Beck started on the pole and took off with the lead. Brown put the pressure on Beck and would take the lead on lap 9 as Beck’s car began to fade. John Houser made hard contact with the outside wall on lap 14 to bring out the first of three cautions in the event. The car sustained heavy damage but  fortunately John walked away OK. After the restart Brown would find Awtey, Henry and Wiltrout close behind as the four drivers battled for the top spot. Brown was able to fend off any challenges as he went on to take the win. Awtey and Henry once again finished second and third respectively with Wiltrout and opening night winner Mark Poole rounding out the top five. Brown and Wiltrout took heat race wins.

Chris Brink led the PA Legacy Series field to the green flag but gave way to P.J. Ehrlich on lap two of the 25-lap event. After a caution, Ehrlich felt the pressure as Kyle Martel, Dave Campbell, Brink, and Jayme Bolkovac made it a five-car battle for the lead. Martel would take the lead on lap 9 but Campbell would make his move three laps later and build a substantial lead. Campbell cruised the rest of the way to take the win with Ehrlich making a late race move to take the runner-up spot. Brett Boyer would come home third followed by Bolkovac and Martel in the top five. Campbell and Ehrlich won the heat races.

The 25-lap late model feature saw Wade Champeno jump out to the lead over Todd Price. Price made it tough on Champeno throughout the caution free event trying both high and low to get around the young driver. But Champeno was up to the task and held on to take his career first victory. Price, Rick Boyer, opening night winner Dusty Rhoads and Mel Wilt rounded out the top five. Price won the heat race.

The 20-lap street stock feature saw Jason Holder beat pole sitter Bobby Young into turn one, jumping into the lead. Holder first held off the challenges of Rich Nicola then a hard charging Dink Colarusso for that top spot. Colarusso made his way passed Holder on lap 9 to take the lead but could not get away from the pack that followed. But his lead would be just enough as he would not be seriously contested the rest of the way in the caution free event to take his first win of the season. Holder held onto second followed by Jeff Petrini, Rich Nicola and Roger Onstead in the top five. Rich Nicola and Josh Dunmyer took the heats.

Greg Lohr took the checkered flag opening night in the hobby stocks but the car failed post race inspection. He was back with a vengeance this week as he led wire to wire in the nonstop 15-lap feature event. Bob Enos crossed the line second but failed post race inspection. Jeff Zillweger will be credited with second followed by Jim Biss, Patrick Parlock and Eugene Zerfoss in the top five. Lohr also took the heat race win.

Next week Coca-Cola presents the five-division NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action featuring twin 15-lap features for the Somerset Furniture Sales Chargers and the Advance Auto Parts Hobby Stocks. A regular show for the Wheeler Bros. Super Late Models, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Late Models and Day Ford Street Stocks will be on the card as well the first appearance of the season by the Mini Cup cars.

In two weeks the most anticipated night in recent memory at the Laurel Highlands Oval takes place with the return of  the International Supermodified Association (ISMA) along with the inaugural appearance of the WSoA 305 Asphalt Sprint cars. The super late models, late  models and PA Legacy Series will also be in action. For more information contact the Jennerstown Speedway office at 814-629-6677 or log onto www.jennerstown.com.