Lynch Latches Onto the Loot at Tri-City Raceway Park; Shingledecker Doubles for the Weekend; Schneider, Myers, and Maskal Also Score
(July 3, 2022): After spending three nights racing in the Pennsylvania Speedweek, Sye Lynch returned to his Western PA roots to take the Shawgo Real Estate, LLC 410 Sprint Car portion of the Holiday Extravaganza was presented at Tri-City Raceway Park by Big Dog R/C.
Also getting a big win was Jeremiah Shingledecker in the BRP Modified Tour challenge with the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds. This win was in a Big Block Modified, while his win on Saturday was aboard the 358 Modified.
The winner of Ray’s Race, paying $5,000 to the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks and the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks was Chris Schneider.
Taking the checkers in the Allegheny Tool & Supply RUSH Sprints was Blaze Myers and, in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks it was Levi Maskal.
“I’m really happy that Tri-City put on a show like this,” Lynch said. He added, “I wish we could get a little more support from the drivers.”
Lynch explained that the lapped traffic was tough to deal with because the track was “a little technical.” He noted, too, that Brandon Matus was setting a good pace early in the race and that A.J. Flick would be coming.
Defending track champion, Brandon Matus, was the lucky recipient of the pole position for the twenty-lapper. To his right was Rod Jones. In row two, A.J. Flick lined up next to Sye Lynch. Carl Bowser and Jack Sodeman, Jr. were in the third row. The fourth belonged to Dan Kuriger and Brandon Spithaler, hot off a win on Saturday night. Bob Felmlee and Leyton Wagner occupied row five. Brent Matus and Chase Metheney had row six.
Brandon Matus jumped out to the early lead, with Jones, Lynch, Flick, and Bowser following. Within a couple of laps, Lynch moved into second and he was chasing Brandon Matus for the lead. Lynch made the pass on lap nine. As the filed was coming to complete lap ten, Matus sustained a broken rear end, eliminating any chance for him to mount a counterattack.
Flick lined up second for the restart, with Jones, Spithaler, Bowser, Sodeman, and Metheny next in line.
Lynch pulled out to a substantial lead, but Flick began to reel him in late in the race. Time ran out for him, however. Taking third was Jones, ahead of Spitahaler, and Bowser.
Positions six through ten went to Sodeman, Metheney, Wagner, Kuriger, and Felmlee.
The Shawgo Real Estate, LLC 410 Sprint Car heat races were taken by Sye Lynch and Jack Sodeman, Jr. There was no B Main.
The BRP Modified Tour thirty-five lap challenge with the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds started with Dave Murdick and Brian Swartzlander pulling the best pills. Behind them were Jeremiah Shingledecker, and Rex King, Jr. Row three paired Erick Rudolph and Kyle Fink in his Small Block. The fourth belonged to Jim Rasey and Brad Rapp. Departing from row five were Garrett Krummert, also in a Big Block, and Greg Martin, also racing a Small Block. Row six had Rick Regalski and Travis Shingledecker in his usual Small Block.
Murdick fired first, with Jeremiah Shingledecker into second and Rudolph in third. Before the first lap was registered, though, Shingledecker took command, bringing Rudolph into second. After Murdick came King, Swartzlander, Krummert, Fink, Rasey, Regalski, and Rapp.
Jeremiah Shingledecker built a huge lead until a pair of yellows at the twenty-lap mark brought him back to Rudolph. Swartlander lined up third for the restart, with King beside him, Krummert and Regalski behind them. When racing resumed, Rudolph began to fade.
The racers made it to lap thirty-three before the next caution was displayed. They had some difficulty getting the last two laps in the books. In fact, due to a caution on lap thirty-four, the race was extended.
The extra distance did not affect Jeremiah Shingledecker. He crossed for the win. Swartzlander and Rudolph limped home, both noting that they beat their tires up. Not so lucky was King, who lost a podium finish due to a flat tire in turns three and four on the last lap. He was scored in seventh.
Between Rudolph and King were Rasey, Regalski, and Martin. After King were Tyler Willard, Murdick, and Mark Frankhouser.
“It probably was a good day to start up front, but I could go wherever I wanted,” the happy winner commented. “I don’t know how far back I could have started to pull this off,” he added.
Swartzlander, who did start up front, fell back on the opening lap. “We got on the outside and I couldn’t get going,” he explained. “I had to get back to the bottom and ease it back up.”
He agreed with Rudolph that tires were key to the outcome of the race “We got to second real quick, but I couldn’t touch him,” Rudolph remarked about Shingledecker.
The BRP Modified Tour and Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds presented three heats, with the victories going to Jeremiah Shingledecker, Dave Murdick, and Rex King, Jr. There was no B Main. All twenty-seven cars would have started, but there were two scratches.
In the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks vs. the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, Bobby Whitling won the dash, but his preferred stating position was determined by the luck of the draw. Beside him was Dylan Cecce, winner of the King of the Hill race. In the second row, Chris Schneider was aligned with Tyler Wyant. Chase Lambert rolled away in row three with Doug Iorio, II as his partner. Timmy Bish and Josh Seippel were in row four. The fifth row had Jason Johns next to Hunter Exley. The sixth row was Jackson Humanic and Jason Fosnaught.
Whitling took the early lead in the thirty lapper for the Pro Stocks. Cecce, Schneider, Wyant, and Tim Bish ran in the top five in the early going. It did not take long for Schneider to reach second, and soon thereafter he was pressing Whitling for the lead.
Schneider was perfectly positioned to take the lead coming off turn four just as the caution came pout with four laps complete.
Five laps later, Schneider made the pass coming off turn two. Whitling remained in second until he broke just after taking the halfway signal.
On the ensuing restart, Jackson Humanic took second away from Tim Bish. Within a few laps, Exley was moving up to challenge, but he also fell out of the contest before making his presence felt.
There was some chaos on the restart with six laps remaining. Several contenders were eliminated.
When the race got going again, Schneider made the final rounds without incident. The checkers came at just the right time for him, as his right rear tire went flat in victory lane. “That was a $19,000 tire,” Schneider said. He won the $10,000 race and the Laboon Memorial on that same tire!
Schneider’s trip to victory lane was helped along by the generosity of some fellow competitors. He discovered a leaking power steering line and replaced it with one furnished by Rod Laskey. When he went to stage for the feature, though, Schneider discovered that the replacement was also leaking. Fosnaught desperately searched for another replacement, finding one in the pit of Brandon Connor. The crew thrashed and got it installed in time for Schneider to retain his starting position. The rest, they say, is history.
Humanic finished second, followed by Pat Fielding, Curtis J. Bish (who started twenty-third), and Fosnaught. Chris McGuire, Jason Johns, Chris Withers, Cecce, and Tim Bish completed the top ten.
The Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series and Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks presented a memorial dash to open their portion of the program The eligible drivers were racers who benefitted from the support of Ray Virgile during his lifetime. Ray was a major supporter of teh Pro Stock Class in Western PA and Tri-City Raceway Park was one of his favorite venues. The winner was Bobby Whitling.
Chad Ruhlman and Jarod Larson brought the RUSH Sprint Cars to the green flag, presented by Allegheny Tool & Supply. Blaze Myers and Gale Ruth, Jr. occupied row two. Arnie Kent and Brian Hartzell made up row three. The fourth row belonged to John Mollick, and Rick Tucker, Jr. Behind them were Zack Wilson and Andy Priest. Running from row six were Bill Cunningham and Brian Cressley.
Ruhlman took the early lead, followed by Myers. Myers came off turn two like he was shot from a cannon to grab the lead on the second circuit.
Myers built up a full straightaway lead while Ruhlman, Kent, and Hartzel swapped the second spot. A caution brought Myers back to them but he got away from them as soon as racing resumed.
Myers took the checkers way out in front. Ruhlman recovered for second. Ahead of Kent, Hartzell, and Ruth. Positions six through ten went to Mollick, Wilson, Tucker, Cressley, and Bill Cunningham.
In the RUSH Sprint Cars, presented by Allegheny Tool & Supply, two heats were conducted. The checkers were shown to Gale Ruth, Jr., and John Mollick. There was no B Main.
The 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks were the nightcap. Defending title holder, Justin Bailey had the good fortune of getting the lowest pill in the bag. Next to him was Dillon Thorne. Chad Greeley had the inside of row three, along with Kyle Janas. Paired up in row four were Matt Miller and D.J. Macrae. Row five had Tyler Ellenberger and Dalton Speer. The sixth row matched Mike Barr and Jason Swartz. Last on the grid was three-time winner, Levi Maskal.
With Bodey McClintock leading the way, Maskal was making his way front. He reached before the first caution was displayed. Soon he was into the top five. By lap seven, he was in the lead.
Maskal went on to score the win. Greeley came on in the final laps to earn second. Urey was third. Bodey McClintock hung on for fourth, ahead of Macrae.
Thorne crossed in sixth, with Bailey, Trevn Schaffer, Ellenberger, and Thomas Warren following.
The 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks offered three heats. Matt Urey, Dillon Thorne, and Levi Maskal claimed the victories. There was no B Main.
Next week at Tri-City Raceway Park, there will be a Sunday Thunder program, consisting of the track’s four regular classes. The twist will be that double points will be awarded in each division. The Shawgo Real Estate 410 Sprint Cars will top the menu, with the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds as the second course. The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks will provide exciting sides. Sunday Thunder programs will also be presented on July 17 and 24, with regular points being awarded to all competitors.
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.
Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars: Sye Lynch, A.J. Flick, Rod Jones, Brandon Spitahaler, Carl Bowser, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Chase Metheney, Leyton Wagner, Dan Kuriger, Bob Felmlee, Danial Burkhart, Brent Matus, Steve Bright, Brandon Matus, Jeremy Weaver (DNS).
BRP Modified Tour vs. Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds: Jeremiah Shingledecker, Brian Swartzlander, Erick Rudolph, Jim Rasey, Rick Regalski, Greg Martin Rex King, Jr., Tyler Willard, Dave Murdick, Mark Frankhouser, Steve Barr, Garrett Krummert, Chas Wolbert, Kyle Fink, Brad Rapp, Shawn Kozar, Ray Bliss, Lonny Riggs, Travis Shingledecker, Mike Kinney, Austin Eyler, Rodney Beltz, Kevin Green, Billy Van Pelt, Jeremy Beichener, Brad Deeter (DNS), Steve Slater (DNS).
Penn Ohio Pro Stocks/Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Chris Schneider, Jackson Humanic, Pat Fielding, Curtis J. Bish, Jason Fosnaught, Chris McGuire, Jason Johns, Chris Withers, Dylan Cecce, Tim Bish, Sonny Baker, Hunter Exley, Aden Boswell, Bobby Whitling, Joshua Seippel, Doug Iorio, II, Chase Lambert, Brandon Connor, Rod Laskey, Teyer Wyant, Joe Stajnraj, Jr., Matt Bernard, Dale Tuche, Brayton Seippel, Aaron Smith.
RUSH Sprint Cars: Blaze Myers, Arnie Kent, Brian Hartzell, Gale Ruth, Jr., John Mollick, Zach Wilson, Ricky Tucker, Brian Cressley, Bill Cunningham, Jarod Larson, Jeff Metzger, Charlie Utsinger, Andy Priest, Amelia Clay, A.J. McQuarrie.
4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks: Levi Maskal, Chad Greeley, Matt Urey, Bodey McClintock, D.J. Macrae, DillonThorne, Justin Bailey, Trevn Schaffer, Tyler Ellenberger, Thomas Warren, Evan Sobieski, Kenneth North, Paul Marsh, Mike Barr, Kyle Janas, Dalton Speer, Adam Aley, Kevin Wice, Jr., Charles McClintock, Matthew Miller, Jason Swartz, Benjamin Aley (DNS).