Bakalon Wins Championship At Jennerstown!

    Jennerstown, PA (August 29, 1998) - Mike Bakalon from North Versailles, PA secured The Money Store Street Stock championship for 1998 with a win in the next to last event of the season during True Value race night.  Earlier in the evening Bakalon survived the divisional "Dash for Cash" with a credible third place finish, but saved the best for when he needed it most.  He only needed to gain six points on his closest challenger Chris Deyarmin to clinch the title, and with his win and Deyarmin's fifth place finish, he did just that.
    The feature race was once again a close battle among most of the field, with an early spin forcing a complete restart.  Bakalon patiently waited for the holes to open, then maneuvered his car into the second spot behind early race leader Mel Wilt.  The two cars ran nose to tail for five or six laps before Bakalon made the winning pass.  Wilt finished a close second, while Neil Kush Jr., Billy Mostoller, and Deyarmin rounded out the top five.
    In the Chevrolet Late Model race it was local favorite Barry Awtey capturing his first feature win on the Laurel Highlands Oval since 1994.  Awtey skillfully worked his way to the front of the field and would not relinquish the top spot for the remainder of the event.  Both Jeff Dunmyer and Richard Mitchell gave serious challenges, actually racing side-by-side on Awtey's rear bumper, but could not wrestle away the lead.  Dunmyer was second, with Mitchell third.  Robert Arsenberger recovered from an early race spin to a fine fourth place finish, while divisional point's leader Mark Cottone came home in fifth.
    The Giant Eagle Pro Stock/Truck feature race showcased another talented effort by defending champion Shawn Beam, as he worked both the high and low grooves to his liking.  Early race leader Nick Rosa gave Beam all that he could handle, but had to settle for second place at the finish.  Kelly Shaulis made an excellent return to the Speedway with an exciting third place run, while Aaron Will and Todd Price finished in fourth and fifth.  Price's team made a great effort to get their truck back into action, after suffering severe damage in the Pro Stock/Truck "Dash for Cash" earlier in the evening.
    Mike Smith once again returned to Victory Lane in the Irwin RV Legacy Car feature event, as he was able to pass Mike Hemphill in the final laps.  Hemphill had held the top position from the start, but could not hold off the charge of Smith, and had to be content with second place.  A good three-car battle between Rick Boyer, Robbie Young, and Mark Poole showed those three drivers crossing the line in third through fifth.
    The NAPA Grand American Modified race was all going Matt Smith's way, until a late race caution bunched up the field.  On the restart Smith's car began to spew water out of the exhaust, putting an early end to his fine lead run.  Mark Flick inherited the lead, and fought off heavy pressure from Jim Nicola to the finish line for the win.  Following Nicola to the line were Tom Knight Jr., Ken Skomo, and Marion Reno Jr.
    Dick Smith made it two wins in the Days Inn Charger division feature race as he made the smooth moves to get to the front and stay there.  He battled with Carl McCurdy for the lead, and in Victory Lane stated that this would be his last appearance in the division, as he is moving up into the Street Stock class for 1999.  Sam King finished in third, with Jason Lasky and Mike Griffith rounding out the top five.
    In the Giant Eagle Pro Stock/Truck "Dash for Cash" it was Shawn Beam who proved that an older model racecar could still get the job done.  He worked by early race leader Mike Merringer for the lead, and then held off Aaron Will to capture the ten lap, $700 dollar winner take all purse.  Will finished in second, with Merringer in third, and Carl Trevarrow and Josh Coughenour taking fourth and fifth.
    The Money Store Street Stock "Dash for Cash" was all Doug Shaulis, as the Somerset native used his driving skills to his best advantage in holding off the remainder of the field for the entire ten lap distance, winning a career high $1,000 dollars for this effort.  Dave Marrow raced hard to try and catch Shaulis, but had to settle for the runner up position.  Mike Bakalon cam from ninth to finish third, while Mel Wilt and Adam Kostelnik finished in fourth and fifth.