Amateur Drivers Compete in Tire Squealin' Nationals at Jennerstown

Jennerstown, Pa.-(July 3, 1999)-Independence day celebrations typically are full of fireworks, but Saturday night at Jennerstown Speedway, amateur racers made their own sparks on the half-mile oval for the first Tire Squealin' Nationals.
    Forty-three teams towed enduro style race cars of all colors, shapes and sizes  to Jennerstown, looking to take home the first-place prize of $300. Race fans witnessed four-wide racing, countless spins and wrecks, and a late-race red flag. Surviving the 100-lap enduro and taking home $300 was 16-year-old Mike Hay of Somerset, racing his 1984 Plymouth Horizon. Also taking home cash winnings were Marvin Wissinger of Windber, Dean Lichey of Fairhope, and Paul Rosa of McKeesport.
    Jennerstown's amateur Charger division raced an extended 30-lap feature, as part of the Tire Squealin' Nationals. The drivers of this trophy-only division had added incentive to win, racing for $500 in prize money. The Charger Challenge ended in a last-lap shoot out, with Jason Holder of Stoystown passing Jesse King of Mill Run for the win and $300 in prize money. Sam King of Mill Run and Jason Lasky of Johnstown also took home prize money, coming home third and fourth.
    "It's tiring," Holder said after completing the extended feature. "I'm not used to running 30 laps at Jennerstown."
    The first events to kick-off the Tire Squealin' Nationals were the Spectator Drags, two classes of vehicles racing one-on-one for prize money. From a stand still, spectators raced their street cars and trucks, with winners determined through a double elimination.
    In his black Mitsubishi Eclipse, Brad McCoy of Somerset took the $150 first prize over Bryan Awtey's IROC Camero. McCoy said he was a little nervous racing his car at top speed on the oval."It's turbo, or no go," McCoy said, explaining his domination in the car class. Also taking home prize money were Bob Pease of Blairsville and Dale Miller.
    It was a classic Ford versus Chevy battle in the truck class of the Spectator Drags, as Jim Gordon's Ford Ranger eliminated Mike Griffith's Chevy S10, to take home the first-place $150 prize.
    Next week at Jennerstown Speedway, Super Six Racing resumes. Mid-season is nearing and the points battle is heating up. North Star Auto Parts will present a full night of racing, plus bike races for kids. Gates open at 4:30 p.m., and Heats are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, and kids 12 and under enter FREE every Saturday night in July.Tickets are now available for Winston Cup Night on July 17th. Call the Speedway Office for details at(814)629-6677.