Category: News

FRANKLIN, PA – The highly anticipated Grand Reopening of Tri-City Raceway Park saw three new faces visit Victory Lane before the near capacity crowd on Sunday, July 26th. Erick Rudolph (BRP Mod Tour), Eric Williams (410 Sprints) and Darin Gallagher (Outlaw Sprint Warriors) all captured their career first victories at the Venango County oval while Rich Michael, Jr. scored his career fourth Tri-City win as he claimed the UEMS E-Mod main event.

Eric Williams and Bob Howard led the 19 car Sprint car field to the green. Brad Howard flipped violently just past the flagstand and Daryl Stimeling was also collected in the incident. Howard was finished for the evening and Stimeling tagged the field on the restart. The event would go caution free as Williams was never seriously challenged for the lead and went on to score his first ever Tri-City Raceway Park victory in the McClung Auto Body sponsored HRE powered J&J Chassis. Brent Matus, Adam Kekich, Dan Kuriger and Bob Howard completed the top five. Carl Bowser, Brandon Matus, Stimeling, Scott Priester and A.J. Flick rounded out the top ten.

Sprint heat victors were Brandon Matus and Stimeling.

The 40 lap BRP Modified Tour ’15 feature event saw Chad Brachmann and Steve Feder pace the field to the green. Brachmann led the first four circuits, which were slowed twice; first for Garrett Krummert who stopped on the front stretch and on the next circuit when Kyle Fink, Dave Murdick and Tom Glenn got together entering turn one. Rudolph wrestled the top spot from Brachmann when the action resumed and like Williams went on to score his first every win at the speedway. Brachmann scored the runner-up spot with Rex King, Sr., Jimmy Weller, III and Justin Wright rounding out the top five. Jim Rasey, who started 24th, finished sixth with Brad Rapp, Kevin Bolland, Rich Richner and Feder completing the top ten.

Feder, King, Sr., Jeremiah Shingledecker and Rex King, Jr were the Modified Tour heat winners with Richner winning the B-Main.

Kari Gasser led the first lap of the 25 lap UEMS main event before New Yorker Rich Michael, Jr. took over. The event’s first caution flew on lap nine when John Boyd spun. The ensuing restart was then marred by a Paul Schreckengost spin. A caution with two circuits to go gave Brent Rhebergen one last opportunity to take the top spot but he was unable to do so. Michael, Jr. scored the fourth Tri-City victory of his career followed by Rhebergen, Joel Watson, Jonathan Taylor and Mike Potosky. Chad Ruhlman, piloting the Tim Engles owned #68, was sixth with Howard Fraley, Josh Ferry, Evan Taylor and Troy Johnson completing the top ten.

UEMS prelims were captured by Scott Stiffler, Rhebergen, J. Taylor and Michael, Jr.

The evening’s finale, the Outlaw Sprint Warrior main event, found another new winner in Victory Lane as Darin Gallagher capped off his weekend with his second win in two days. Gallagher led the 20 lap event wire-to-wire and defeated Jake Gomola, George Hobaugh, Rob Felix and Alex Paden.

Gallagher and Gomola captured the Outlaw Sprint Warrior prelims. Gallagher also picked up an additional $100.00 as he captured the Boonie’s Sport Bar (Titusville, PA) Dash for Cash that determined the top six starting spots in the A-Main.

Due to the closure of several speedways in the region Tri-City Speedway will has added a special racing program on Saturday, August 1st. Super Late Models, RUSH Pro-Late Models, E-Mods and Pro-Stocks will be on the racing card. Stateline Raceway (Busti, NY) rules will apply for this show. Gates will open at 5:00PM and racing will start at 7:00PM.

Sprint Feature Finish: Eric Williams, Brent Matus, Adam Kekich, Dan Kuriger, Bob Howard, Carl Bowser, Brandon Matus, Daryl Stimeling, Scott Priester, A.J. Flick, Zach Morrow, Mike Bauer, Dennis Wagner, Karl Baker, Paul Kish, Mike Flynn, Jim Morris, Brad Howard, Gale Ruth, Jr.

BRP Mod Tour Feature Finish: Erick Rudolph, Chad Brachmann, Rex King, Sr., Jimmy Weller, III, Justin Wright, Jim Rasey, Brad Rapp, Kevin Bolland, Rich Richner, Steve Feder, Kyle Fink, Jim Weller, Jr., Rex King, Jr., Rick Regalski, Shawn Fleeger, Dave Murdick, Brian Weaver, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Tom Winkle, Tom Glenn, Dillon Barr, Rodney Beltz, Mat Williamson, J.R. McGinley, Garrett Krummert, Eric Gabany

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/NewPress/?p=8766

By STEVEN PETTY

THOROLD, ONTARIO – Third generation driver Erick Rudolph of Ransomville, NY took home $4,444.44 as the winner of the Friends of Brian Stevens Memorial for the 358 Modifieds on Zavitz Financial Strategies and Employee Benefit Solutions night. With the victory, is now a guaranteed qualifier for the 358 Modified Super DIRTcar Series event at Syracuse during Super DIRT Week in October. Max Blair from Centerville, Pennsylvania won the first ever visit by the RUSH Late Model Touring Series in their Victoria Day Classic. Rob Murray from St. Catharines, Ontario would win his second Hoosier Stock feature event of the weekend. John Burt won the first qualifier for the Ballhockey.com Enduro accelerated by Niagara College.

Merrittville regulars Bill Bleich and Tyler McPherson led the field of Pinty’s 358 Modifieds to the green flag for their 44 lap main event with Bleich out into the early race lead with Erick Rudolph battling Tyler McPherson and clearing McPherson for second on lap one. Scott Wood would get around McPherson to take over third by lap seven and began chasing down the lead duo of Bleich and Rudolph. Tim McCreadie, driving the BCL Racing number 7 entry came to a stop in turn four to bring out the races first caution on lap 12. McCreadie would need assistance getting back to the pit area.

The restart would see Danny Johnson get turned around in turn one to bring out the caution once again. The restart saw Bleich and Rudolph take off with Wood, McPherson and Freddie Carleton racing in the top five. Erick Rudolph, the third generation driver from Ransomville, NY would pass Bleich to take over the lead. Wood would pass Bleich for second on lap 17. Randy Chrysler was the driver on the move, starting ninth on the grid, would race his way into the top five by lap 30 after battling with Pete Bicknell and Brett Hearn for several laps. The leaders would hit lap traffic as Rudolph and Wood would check out over the rest of the field. Rudolph would pull away and see the checkered flags first as he would score the win and be a guaranteed starter for the 358 Series race at Syracuse in October. Wood would finish in second and was followed to the line by Tyler McPherson in third. “I never had a better feeling car here than I did tonight” stated Rudolph in victory lane.

 

PIT NOTES Merrittville Speedway would like to extend a Special Thank You to the Friends of Brian Stevens that helped make the $4,444.44 pay day possible. To view the supporters of the Brian Stevens Memorial – click on http://www.merrittvillespeedway.com/Brian_Stevens_4444.html

Special Thanks as well to former Stevens Racing Team Crew Member Ray Samuel for his efforts in putting together the memorabilia display and Brian’s Last Ride in addition to Bill and BJ Willard and Auto FX Graphics and Signs.

RACE RESULTS:  MERRITTVILLE SPEEDWAY

44 lap Brian Stevens Memorial for the Pinty’s 358 358 Modifieds: ERICK RUDOLPH, Scott Wood, Tyler McPherson, Tim Jones, Freddie Carleton, Pete Bicknell, Tommy Flannigan, Boyd MacTavish, Bill Bleich, Brett Hearn, Robbie Krull, Mat Williamson, Mike Bowman, Mark D’llario, James Michael Friesen, Travis Miller, Chris Bellamy, Chris Steele, Danny Johnson, Wayne Conn, Chad Brachmann, Tim McCreadie, Billy Dunn, Todd Gordon, Randy Chrysler

Heat Winners: Freddie Carleton, Scott Wood, Brett Hearn

http://www.dirttrackdigest.com/NewPress/?p=4765