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JENNerstown speed notes …
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Joey Dennewitz was looking forward to a Jennerstown
Speedway ‘homecoming’ in this Saturday’s
Tribune-Democrat ASA Late Model Series ‘100’. However,
those plans took a ‘hit’… literally. The former 2002
Jennerstown Speedway PA legacy series champion hit the
outside Turn 2 wall during a practice session last
Wednesday afternoon, destroying the front end of his ASA
machine. The University of Akron public relations major
is a rookie on the ASA tour this season, and was ranked
26th going into last Friday’s event at the
Baer Field (Ind.) Speedway. Two weeks ago Dennewitz
captured his first ASA checkered flag when he won the GM
Performance Parts Shootout at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
“I had just turned my fastest lap of the day, and just
lost the handle in the second corner,” Dennewitz said.
“We did a ton of damage, and I don’t know if we can get
it fixed in time for the Jennerstown race,”
…Current ASA points leader Stephen Leicht of Ashville,
NC edged out defending ASA titlist Bobby Stremme to win
the 8th Annual International Gold Cup 100 at
Baer Field. Buckeye driver Jack Smith was victorious the
week before at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
… ASA
has a pair of fast rising 15-year-old drivers racing in
the series. Chase Austin, currently ranked 17th
in points, is under a developmental contract with
NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports Nextel Cup team, while
Jesse Smith, who is 21st in the points
standings, won the GM Performance Parts Shootout at
Baer Field Speedway this past Friday.
… Tim
Cox appears to be the driver to beat in the Hoosier
Outlaw Sprint Series (HOSS).
The
open-wheel, winged 410 traveling sprint car group will
share the top billing with the ASA cars this weekend.
The Park City, Illinois driver is the current HOSS point
leader and has won the last two contested races at the
Madison (Wis.) and Illiana (Shererville, Ind.) ovals,
Cox is also one of the top contenders to challenge the
all-time Jennerstown track record of 15.239 seconds
(123.320 mph) set a decade ago by International
SuperModified Association driver Chris Perley.
…
Veteran NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series super late model
driver Snooky Williams will step back to the late model
class to finish the 2005 campaign. The popular
Latrobe-resident broke the engine in his Y-108 sponsored
Dodge Charger during the July 30th Meegan
Ford ‘100’. Williams has purchased a 355 horsepower
‘crate’ engine, and hopefully be in action this weekend.
Currently ranked 10th in the Wheeler Bros.
super late model standings, with seven top-10 runs to
his credit, Williams had a tough decision to make
concerning his future. “We didn’t have the money to
build an ‘open’ motor to finish the year, and we don’t
know what the rules are going to be for 2006,” Williams
said. “ My team still wanted to race, so buying a $5,000
‘crate’ engine seemed like the best option. Besides, I
thought Rick Boyer needed a little more competition.”
…
Rookie late model driver Andrew Wylie continues to
impress. The PA legacy graduate is holding down the
second slot in the division, with seven top-five runs.
Even more important, the Saltsburg pilot hasn’t put a
mark on his 84 Lumber backed Pontiac Grand Prix.
... In
what may be a first, the husband and wife team of Tommy
and Jayme Beck are current divisional point leaders.
Tommy leads Barry Awtey in the super late model class,
while Jayme has overtaken Chris Brink and PJ Ehrlich in
PA legacy action. Jayme also is seventh in super late
model points.
…
Jennerstown may also lead the nation in the number of
female drivers who actively compete on a weekly basis.
There are five distaff divers currently in action….
Jayme Beck, Chantal Germek, Lauren Butler, Cindy Shaulis,
and Deidre Petrie.
…Defending Wheeler Bros. super late model champion Garry
Wiltrout hasn’t been able to score a win at Jennerstown
this season, but the Somerset driver came up big last
Friday at Motordrome Speedway by holding off Richard
Mitchell for a win in the 100-lap feature attraction.
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