Flick and Wyant Go Back-to-Back, Warren Gets Career First on His Birthday; Logan Jackson and Korley Miller Take Junior Sprint Victories
(Franklin, PA June 18, 2023): A.J. Flick romped to his second consecutive Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Car feature at Tri-City Raceway Park. Also grabbing his second straight win, and third of the season, was Tyler Wyant in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. Taking the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stock go was Thomas Warren. Logan Jackson was the Junior Sprint winner in the Open Division, and Korley Miller was the best finishing Stock entry.
“I just needed the track to clear off, especially starting sixth,” Flick said. He was trailing Bob Felmlee as the race approached the midway mark. But, after a caution on lap fifteen, Flick stayed close to Felmlee and slid under him entering turn three. “I was hoping we’d get into lapped cars, but Bob (Felmlee) left an opening and I just got into there. The entry to turn three is really wide.”
Flick narrowly escaped an incident earlier in the race that claimed the second place car of Jack Sodeman, Jr. Flick was closing in on Sodeman, who went low to pass a lapped car. “Jack knows he had to get to the front. I think the lapped cars were trying to get out of the way. Fortunately, he didn’t go over.”
Veterans occupied the front row for the start of the Diehl Chevrolet twenty-five lapper. Sodeman had the pole and next to him was the Flyin’ One, Bob Felmlee. Cameron Nastasi and Blaze Myers were in row two. The third row belonged to Jeremy Weaver and Flick. Chase Metheny, who was making his first start at Tri-City Raceway Park this season, was matched with Andy Cavanaugh. Corbin Gurley and Bodey McClintock were in row five. The sixth and final row had fifty-year veteran Bob Lime, and Steve Bright.
Felmlee raced out front through the first fifteen laps. In the early going, Sodeman rode in second, followed by Nastasi, Flick, Weaver, and Myers. Nastasi brought out the first caution on lap two when he spun into the water barrels lining the outside of turn two. Thirteen circuits later, Sodeman had his misfortune in turn three.
Felmlee kept the lead throughout. But after Sodeman’s incident, Flick wound the mainspring tight coming off turn two. He got the opening he needed in turn three and slid by Felmlee for the lead.
Another caution bunched up the field on lap seventeen, but Felmlee was no match for Flick in the clean air. Flick picked up the win, followed by Felmlee, Weaver, Cavanaugh, and McClintock. Notably, that was McClintock’s first top five with his 305 Sprinter.
Positions six through ten went to Lime, Bright, Myers, Sodeman, and Metheney.
The twin heat races for the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars were won by Jeremy Weaver and Cameron Nastasi. There was no B Main.
Hot Rod Laskey and Super-sub Josh Seippel brought the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks to the green flag. Pat Fielding and Tyler Wyant were in row two. Russ Coyne and Chargin’ Charlie McMillen were in row three. The fourth row belonged to Aaron Smith and Matt Bernard.
Laskey set the early pace, but just four laps into the contest, Wyant went sailing by. Laskey continued in second despite the pressure coming from Fielding.
A pair of late cautions brought Wyant back to Laskey for restarts, but the teen had things well under control.
Following Wyant, Laskey, and Fielding across the line was Bernard. Coyne rallied from a bobble in turn two that sent him back in the running order. He regained fifth at the finish. Seippel, McMillen, and Smith were the other finishers.
In the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, the qualifier was won by Tyler Wyant. There was no B Main.
Joe Campbell and Levi Maskal were in the front row for the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stock feature. Kevin Wice and Ben Aley were in row two. Jerry Batcher and the brithday boy, Thomas Warren, were in row three. Chad Greeley and Matt Urey were in the fourth row.
Campbell and Maskal were fighting for the lead when they made contact in turn four. Taking the point for the restart was Warren, who went on to get the first career victory on his twenty-first birthday. He celebrated the win with an adult beverage.
Surviving the attrition to take second and third were Greeley and Urey. Maskal, Campbell, Wice, Batcher, and Ben Aley were the other racers scored on the basis of laps completed. Bill Fuchs and Adam Aley did not start the race.
Lev Maskal captured the lone heat race for the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks.
Logan Jackson captured the win in the Open class for the Junior Sprints and he was followed by Kalen Jackson. Blake Bucke was third overall. Fourth overall, but best in the Stock class, was Korley Miller. Deryk Jones was fifth overall and second in the Stocks. Nolan Minnich did not start.
Remember that Tri-City Raceway Park will not race on June 25.
Fan appreciation night will be held on Saturday, July 1. The customary four division program will be run a day early! For the low, low price of just $5, fans can take in the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars, the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds, The Hovis Auto & Truck Center Pro Stocks, and the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. There will also be a spectacular fireworks display. The racing will start at 7 p.m. and the spectator gates will open at 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 8 will be the Northwest PA Truck and Tractor Pull. There will be no auto racing that weekend.
A Sunday Thunder program will be held on July 16. That will be Christmas in July. There will be free popcorn for anybody dressed in Christmas attire!
Further information about Tri-City Raceway Park can be obtained by calling the track office at 724-967-4601, or by e-mailing the office at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. Or, you can check the web at Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park. Tri-City Raceway Park is located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township. Professional auto racing will be presented in a family friendly atmosphere most Sunday evenings from May through Labor Day weekend.
Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars: A.J. Flick, Bob Felmlee, Jeremy Weaver, Andy Cavanaugh, Bodey McClintock, Bob Lime, Steve Bright, Blaze Myers, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Chase Metheney, Corbin Gurley, Cameron Nastasi.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Tyler Wyant, Rod Laskey, Pat Fielding, Matt Bernard, Russ Coyne, Josh Seippel, Charlie McMillen, Aaron Smith.
4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks: Thomas Warren, Chad Greeley, Matt Urey, Levi Maskal, Joe Campbell, Kevin Wice, Jerry Batcher, Ben Aley, Bill Fuchs (DNS), Adam Aley (DNS).
Junior Sprints: Logan Jackson (Open), Kalen Jackson, Blake Bucke, Korley Miller (Stock), Deryk Jones, Nolan Minnich (DNS).
Media Contact: Lou Long (412-760-9755)