BILL AWTEY INVITATIONAL 40-LAP STREET STOCK FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS WEEKEND

JENNERSTOWN, PA(Aug. 26)  Inducted into the Jennerstown Speedway Hall of Fame in 2006, Bill Awtey is a name that has been synonymous with racing at the track for 50 years.

On the track he was known for his consistency. He won the Hard Top division championship in 1961 at Jennerstown and collected another championship later at the Bedford Speedway in the Limited Late Model division in 1980. He has raced on most every track in Western Pennsylvania as well as some in Maryland.

Off the track Awtey is known for his mechanical and engine building abilities. He is a two-time winner, in 1991 and 1992, of the Northeast Region Gold Wrench Award from NASCAR. He has used that expertise to help and educate countless racers.

“You can not walk through the pits at Motordrome or Jennerstown in the charger or street stock division and find somebody that at one time or another he hasn’t helped them,” said Street Stock competitor Scott Bowman. “When you race with Bill you have fun. He taught us how to race.”

To pay honor to his endless mentoring and service, the racing community has pulled together to create the Bill Awtey Invitational 40-lap Street Stock feature that will highlight championship weekend at Jennerstown Speedway this Saturday.

Jim Bodziak of Stoystown is looking for his first track championship and currently leads the Street Stock division by a slim two points over Andrew Kostelnik of North Braddock. With the final race of the season this weekend, Bodziak knows what he needs to do.

“You gotta let it all hang out because Kostelnik has a pretty fast car so I can’t play around or nothing,” said Bodziak. “I’ll be lucky to be in the points lead at the end of it.”

The Super Late Model division is currently led by Jason Mignogna of Greensburg who has an eight point lead over Jenners native Barry Awtey. Mignogna is seeking his first track championship also. With three feature wins this season, he holds the tie-breaker forcing Awtey to finish at least five positions ahead of him on Saturday.

Two points are all that separate Hobby Stock points leader Eugene Zerfoss of Acosta from Steve Long of Rockwood. Both drivers are looking for their first track championship as well heading into the weekends racing action.

In addition to the racing action and crowning of the track champions, the evening will feature an on-track autograph session with all drivers at the outset of the evening.

Gates for the event open at 5:30 p.m. with the autograph session starting at 7:30 p.m. and racing immediately after. Admission is $10 for adults 16 and over, $5 for youth ages 12 to 15 and children 11 and younger are admitted free. Visit www.jennerstown.com for more information.