MIGNOGNA CRASHES TO JENNERSTOWN VICTORY

JENNERSTOWN, PA (July 22) … Jason Mignogna was awarded his first Jennerstown Speedway Courtesy Suzuki 40-lap super late model victory of the season Saturday evening at Jennerstown Speedway in NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action.

But the win was bittersweet for the Greensburg-driver. After crossing the start/finish line on Lap 22 Mignogna got tangled with second place runner Kyle Martel. Mignogna’s car rode high up on the front stretch wall, then slid on its side hurtling violently into the first turn wall and up into the retaining fence, before ending up on its wheels in the middle of the turn.

Mignogna was not injured in the crash, but his car was destroyed in the accident. While rescue and safety crews were securing the accident scene and repairing the catch fence, rain showers returned to the half-mile paved oval for the third time during the program, forcing cancellation of the event at that point.

Scoring reverted back to the last scored lap, awarding the win to Mignogna. Martel finished second, followed by Mark Smith, point leader Mark Poole, and last week’s feature winner Garry Wiltrout.

Following the accident a fight erupted in the pits between several of the race teams. Possible disciplinary action will be announced at a later date.

Veteran Latrobe driver Snooky Williams stopped Dusty Rhoads’ win streak at four in the WJAC-TV late model class, leading all 20-laps to win his first race in 10-years.

“Our car still wasn’t working very well, it was loose,” said Williams in Victory Lane. “We had the advantage of starting up front and that helped us. We changed two springs before the feature. Most people never do that, but we had to try something, because we were in left field in the heat race.”

Wade Champeno was second, ahead of Todd Corsan, Andrew Wylie and Chris Brink. Rhoads finished sixth in the final tally.

Portage competitor Doug Long held off teammate Scott McCall to capture his second hobby stock main event. John Steeley was third, while Teddy Gibala and Steve Long rounded out the top-five positions.

The Advance Auto Parts street stock finale was a cancelled due to the rain.

Complete Race Results

SUMMARY – JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY  July 22, 2006

COURTEST SUZUKI SUPER LATE MODELS
HEATS – Tim Bainey Jr., Mark Smith

FEATURE – Jason Mignogna, Kyle Martel, Smith, Mark Poole, Garry Wiltrout, Rick Boyer, Todd Price, Bainey Jr., Mark Cottone, Marion Reno Jr., Barry Awtey, Jason Lasky, Ken Grimm, Larry Behanna, Chantal Germek, Todd Goble, Robby Marhefka

WJAC-TV LATE MODELS
HEAT – Dusty Rhoads

FEATURE – Snooky Williams, Wade Champeno, Todd Corson, Andrew Wylie, Chris Brink, Rhoads, Mel Wilt, Mark Rend

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS STREET STOCKS
HEATS  - Roger Onstead, Phil Grubbs

FEATURE – RAINED OUT

HOBBY STOCKS
HEATS –  Scott McCall, Steve Long

FEATURE – Doug Long, McCall, John Steeley, Teddy Gibala, Steve Long, Jeff Zillweger, Deidre Petrie, Brandon Bittner, Dave Lambert, Eugene Zerfoss, Angelo Codispoti, Clifford Zerfoss, Amanda Zerfoss, Matt Sever, Andres Suarez