WILTROUT WINS JENNERSTOWN ‘STEELERS SALUTE’ NIGHT SPECIAL

JENNERSTOWN, PA (Sept. 9) … It was only appropriate that Garry Wiltrout drove his black and yellow Ford Fusion into Jennerstown Speedway’s Victory Lane Saturday evening to celebrate The Tribune-Democrat ‘Steelers Salute’ at the Laurel Highlands half-mile asphalt speed plant.

The Somerset driver annexed his second NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series checkered flag of the season in the 40-lap Courtesy Suzuki super late model feature contest.

Wiltrout, who started fourth on the field, dodged an early race bullet when he made contact with early pace setter Todd Goble, and then had his eyes glued in the rear view mirror on a fast closing Mark Poole during the final 10-laps of the event.

“I knew those guys were coming up fast from the back,” said Wiltrout. “I was able to get through the lapped traffic a little better with five laps to go, and that was a big relief.”

As for the contact with Goble, who ended up sideways in Turn 3 following the fourth lap incident while the two cars were running side by side... “I apologize for getting into him,” said Wiltrout, “but I really think it was both of our faults.”

Poole moved into the runner-up slot on the fifth circuit, and worked on reeling in Wiltrout, who had built up a comfortable margin. Poole closed to Wiltrout’s back bumper, but slipped back again when the pair encountered heavy lapped traffic on Lap 35.

Barry Awtey was third, trailed by point leader Mark Smith and Kyle Martel. Rick Boyer, Goble, Jeff Dunmyer, Tommy beck, subbing for Jason Lasky, and Doug Bacchiochi rounded out the top-10.

Dusty Rhoads picked up victory number seven and virtually clinched his second championship in the WJAC-TV late model class with a next to the last lap pass of Snooky Williams coming  off of the fourth turn in the 25-lap main event.

Chris Brink was third, followed by Matt Howsare and Wade Champeno.

Meyersdale’s Steve Long collected his first win in the 15-lap hobby stock contest, following a thrilling battle with Brandon Bittner. Point leader John Steeley collected third, in front of Scott McCall and Angelo Codispoti, who set the early pace.

The Advance Auto Parts street stock feature was cancelled when rain stopped their contest while safety crews were cleaning up a first lap accident involving the cars of Vince Kaider, Tom Knight Sr. and Bill Ashton.

 SUMMARY -  JENNERSTOWN SPEEDWAY……… Saturday, Sept. 9 2006

COURTESY SUZUKI SUPER LATE MODELS
HEATS  -  Mark Smith, Barry Awtey 

FEATURE – Garry Wiltrout, Mark Poole, Awtey, Smith, Kyle Martel, Rick Boyer, Todd Goble, Jeff Dunmyer, Tommy Beck, Doug Bacchiochi, Todd Price, Mark Cottone, Marion Reno Jr., Chantal Germek, Cary Todaro

WJAC-TV LATE MODELS
HEAT – Dusty Rhoads

FEATURE – Rhoads, Snooky Williams, Chris Brink, Matt Howsare, Wade Champeno, Mel Wilt,  Andrew Wylie

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS STREET STOCKS
HEATS – Adam Kostelnik, Scott Bowman

FEATURE – Rained Out

HOBBY STOCKS
HEATS – Steve Long, Eugene Zerfoss

FEATURE – Steve Long, Brandon Bittner, John Steeley, Scott McCall, Angelo Codispoti, Eugene Zerfoss, Matt Sever, Teddy Gibala, Doug Long, Larry Dunmyer, Craig Livengood, Dave Lambert, Deidre Petrie, Stacy Dewitt