Mark Cottone Wins 1998 Laurel Highlands Event

    Jennerstown, PA (July 18,1998) - The 31st Annual Laurel Highlands Event was once again highlighted by exciting racing action from start to finish, with the Chevrolet Late Model division bringing down the house in the final ten laps of the event.  Early race leader Mark Cottone battled out front with Jeff Dunmyer, but had to relinquish the top spot and settle in for the duration of the 100 lap special event.  Last weeks race winner Rich Mitchell roared through the field, and took over the second spot near the halfway point.  As the race continued to wind down it looked as though Dunmyer had the race handled, but a late race caution bunched the field, and then Dunmyer cut a tire on the restart, forcing him to the pits and the back of the field.  Mitchell took over the top spot, and then he too cut a front tire and dropped back, giving the lead to Cottone.  With five laps to go Cottone faced the hard charge of Barry Awtey, but held on to win the prestigious Laurel Highlands event.  Awtey finished a close second, with Charlie Cragan, Bobby Henry, and Neil Brown charging home in team cars during the final laps to take third through fifth.
    In the Giant Eagle Pro Stock/Truck feature it was George Englert leading the strong field all the way from start to finish to record his very first feature win.  In a very emotional victory lane, George could only keep repeating "We just won the Laurel Highlands Event!!!"  The race was highlighted with a wonderful side-by-side display of racing put on by Scott and Josh Coughenour.  The two relatives battled fender to fender for nearly half of the 50 lap race, with Scott finally gaining the upper hand.  Bryan Thomas ran a close second to Englert, with Scott Coughenour finishing third, Josh Coughenour fourth, and Nick Rosa rounding out the top five.
    The Money Store Street Stock feature was another barn burner as Mike Bakalon repeated his efforts of one week ago and returned to victory lane.  This time he battled both Doug Shaulis, along with his teammate Adam Kostelnik, who all avoided an early race, multi car crash.  The team cars passed race leader Shaulis with five laps to go, then Shaulis repassed to finish in second.  Kostelnik came home in third, with Billy Mostoller and Neil Kush Jr. coming back from the early caution to finish in fourth and fifth.
    Although the result was the same, NAPA Grand American Modified feature race winner Mark Flick had yet another hard battle with the stiff open wheeled competition.  He methodically worked the lead pack of cars in fine fashion, and then raced hard with eventual runner up Dave Brunell for the win.  Tom Knight Jr. raced well and finished third, with Rich Stiffler and Matt Smith completing the top five.
    In the Days In Charger feature race it was Jason Lasky taking the field by storm once again, as he came from the back to the front in the 25-lap race.  Victory lane was a special sight as Jason donned the cowboy hat, which his grandfather Piney made famous during his years of operating the Jennerstown Speedway, along with his father and present Speedway promoter Stanley Lasky Jr.  Carl McCurdy finished a close second, with Sam King, Ricky Huffman, and Mike Griffith finishing in third through fifth.
    The Irwin RV Legacy Car race was another great race as Ryan Hemphill used the entire 50 laps to take over the lead in the final turns over Ricky Anderson.  Following Anderson to the finish line were Rick Boyer in third, Mike Smith in fourth, and Mike Hemphill in fifth.