Garvey Wins At Jennerstown As Points Race Tightens

Jennerstown, PA - Mike Garvey dominated the American Speed Association Pontiac Excitement 400 presented by Jani King Sunday afternoon at Jennerstown Speedway, and Tim Sauter regained the ACDelco Challenge Series national points lead for the first time since June from Mike Miller.

Garvey, fresh off his Miller Lite 300 victory at the Minnesota State Fair on Labor Day, led the final 71 circuits around the .522 mile Jennerstown oval, earning his 2nd consecutive ASA victory and the third of the 1999 season.  It was the seventh of his career.  Garvey powered around defending ACDelco Challenge Series champion Gary St. Amant of Ohio on lap 330 for the 11th and final lead change of the afternoon, and then coasted to a 4.397 second margin of victory over St. Amant.  Garvey earned $16,720 of the $169,688 event purse.  Jimmie Johnson of California placed third, followed by Sauter and Dave Sensiba.

Mike Miller, the ACDelco Challenge Series points leader heading into the Pontiac Excitement 400, started on the pole and ran in the top ten through lap 50.  An external engine problem forced Miller to drop out of the event after just 115 laps, his first DNF since the ACDelco Voyager Battery 300 at Peach State Speedway in April, the 2nd event of the season.  Miller was credited with 30th place the 32 car field.

Sauter's 4th place finish, combined with Miller's DNF, vaulted Sauter into the ACDelco Challenge Series points lead with just two events remaining in the 1999 season. Sauter, who trailed Miller by 97 points heading into Jennerstown, will now take a 9 point advantage into the ACDelco Rapidfire 300 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, IA on Saturday, September 18.  The ACDelco Rapidfire 300 will be televised live on Speedvision at 9:00pm (Eastern).