JENNERSTOWN PRESENTS STEELERS SALUTE THIS SATURDAY

JENNERSTOWN, PA (Sept. 5) …   Jennerstown Speedway and the Tribune-Democrat will team-up to honor the 2005 Super Bowl champions with a special ‘Steelers Salute’ this Saturday evening at the Somerset County half-mile racing complex.

Headlining the celebration will be a free autograph session with Steelers running back Verron Haynes and linebacker James Harrison. Haynes, a five-year veteran out of the University of Georgia, has been the designated ‘third-down’ running back in the Steelers offensive scheme due to his pass catching ability. With the retirement of Jerome Bettis, Haynes is expected to take on an even bigger role in the 2006 Steelers attack.

Verron Haynes

James Harrison

A tough, hard-hitting linebacker, Harrison played in all 16 regular season games, and made three starts when Clark Haggans was sidelined with an injury. Harrison made national headlines during a Christmas Eve game at Cleveland when he slammed a fan to the ground for trespassing on the field. After missing two post-season play-off games Harrison returned to the roster for Super Bowl XL, leading the special team unit with three tackles.

Also on tap Saturday will be the Coca-Cola Traveling Great Hall, a scaled-down replica of the building permanently located within Heinz Field. The traveling display is a walk through exhibit which features Steelers highlight videos, memorabilia, tributes to Hall of Fame players, interactive activities, and a prize wheel to spin for free hats, bumper stickers and other merchandise.

Rounding out the entertainment extravaganza will be the sixth and final fireworks display  of the 2006 season, featuring a spectacular aerial display of pyrotechnics.

And if all of that wasn’t enough, there will also be a complete card of NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series racing action featuring the Courtesy Suzuki super late models, WJAC-TV late models, Advance Auto Parts street stocks and the hobby stocks.

Meyersdale’s Mark Smith continues to sit atop the super late model point standings with 494 markers. Mark Poole is second with 478, followed by Barry Awtey (470), Rich=k Boyer (436) and Kyle Martel (426). Martel is the leading feature winner, with three victories under his belt.

In the late models, Jennerstown’s Dusty Rhoads holds a 26-point lead over Mel Wilt, 560-534. Rhoads also leads the division with six feature wins.

East McKeesport’s Adam Kostelnik is the speedway’s leading feature winner with eight checkered flags and also leads the street stock standings with 492 points. Scott Bowman is is currently holds down the runner-up spot with 456.

In the closest point race John Steeley holds a slim four-point margin over Eugene Zerfoss, 564-560, in the hobby stock class.

Speedway officials have announced that prize tickets contained in the Aug. 12 ‘Race of Champions’ souvenir program may be used for $4.00 discount admission prices for the Sept. 9 and 16 events. The Aug 12 program tickets, which were originally good for free admission for the races on Sept. 2, will now carry a $4.00 cash value for the Sept. 9 and 16 contests. Only one discount ticket per customer will be honored at each event.

Adult admission for the ‘Steelers Salute’ is $8.00, while kids, age 12 and under, will be admitted free of charge.

Spectator gates open at 5:00 pm, with the first race set to begin at 6:00.

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