Jeremiah Shingledecker and Brandon Matus WIn Big at Tri-City Raceway Park; Whitling, Speer, and Myers also Score
(Franklin, PA June 27, 2021): Jeremiah Shingledecker became the first three-time winner in the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modified division at Tri-City Raceway Park. Breaking through with his first victory in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars was Brandon, “the Wheelman,” Matus.
Also scoring wins were Bobby Whitling (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks), Dalton Speer (4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks), and David Myers (Vintage Modifieds).
Shingledecker was worried when he pulled the pills for the starting lineup for the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds. The track uses a modified re-draw system based on heat finishes. “I put the two fastest cars on the front row,” he said. And, to make matters worse, he lined up in eighth as the last feature winner in the class. But, his concerns went for naught.
J.R. McGinley started from the pole position in his first appearance of the season at Tri-City Raceway Park. On his flank was Jimmy Holden. Kyle Fink and D.J. Schrader were in row two, with Travis Shingledecker and Kevin Hoffman in the third stanza. Steve Barr was lined up inside Shingledecker, who also happens to be the points leader in the division. Then came Tom Holden and Curt Bish, Jr. Lonny Riggs and Max Smoker were in the sixth row.
McGinley took the early lead, but Jimmy Holden was nipping on his heels. Fink slid into third, with Schrader, Travis Shingledecker, and Steve Barr fighting for position. Soon, they were joined by Jeremiah Shingledecker.
McGinley held control through the first five laps. After a caution for Nathan McDowell, Holden stayed close enough on the restart to nose ahead in turns one and two. However, a caution for Travis Shingledecker’s bout with the water barrels lining the wall in turns one and two negated the pass for the lead.
On the ensuing restart, McGinley got into turn one a bit too hot. He slid up out of the groove, opening the door for Holden. Holden ducked under him to take the lead.
A series of restarts over the next couple of laps enabled Jeremiah Shingledecker to climb through the ranks. As he was doing so, McGinley started to slide back through the field.
Jeremiah Shingledecker stalked Jimmy Holden for eight laps during a longer green flag session. Coming through turn four with fifteen laps completed, Shingledecker got his nose under Holden, who continued to use the high side through the race. Shingledecker powered off the corner with the lead. Holden fought back, but he was unable to overtake Shingledecker.
Over the final laps in the race, Shingledecker stretched his advantage. Holden was second, followed by Fink, Riggs, and McGinley. Kevin Hoffman crossed in sixth, followed by Travis Shingledecker, the winner’s brother, D.J. Schrader, Curt Bish, and Ryan Riffe.
In the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races for the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds, the victories went to Jeremiah Shingledecker and Jimmy Holden. There was no B Main.
Brandon Matus said after the feature that he felt badly about an hour before the green flag dropped for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars. He had experimented in his heat race and the new set-up did not work. “We went back to what I know will make the car go straight,” he said. It went straight as an arrow, and it was fast.
Leyton Wagner and Brandon Matus were third generation drivers leading the way in the Sprint Car feature event. They were followed by Brandon Spithaler. Chase Metheny was slated to start in fourth, but he opted for the tail, so that moved Bob Felmlee into row two. Darin Gallageher and Jack Sodeman, Jr. became the new third row. Sodeman rolled out an old favorite car for Sunday night action after crashing the night before at another area speedway. Then came Brent Matus and Ken Rossey. Bob McMillin and Logan McCandless made up row five. Bryan Salisbury made his first Tri-City start of the season from row six, with Francis Sesco returning to action after several years lay-off.
Brandon Matus wasted no time sailing into the lead. Wagner and Felmlee followed. Things were shaping up for a three-way battle for the lead when a red flag was thrown due to the violent crash of Ken Rossey on the third trip around the big half mile. Rossey was not hurt.
When the race resumed, Matus had the point, followed by Felmlee, Wagner, Spithaler, Gallagher, Sodeman, and Brent Matus.
Brandon Matus and Felmlee flew out front by themselves for almost the entire race. Matus was able to stretch his lead even after he encountered the slower cars. Quite a distance behind them was Wagner, who went on to log his best finish ever at Tri-City Raceway Park. Taking fourth was Gallagher. Spithaler was fifth.
Sodeman rode old reliable to the sixth spot. McCandless, Brent Matus, Salisbury and Davey Jones completed the top ten.
Taking the checkers in the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heats for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars were Bob Felmlee and Brandon Spithaler. There was no B Main.
Josh Seippel and Rod Laskey made up the front row for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock A Main. Tyler Wyant and Jason Johns were in the second row, with Curtis J. Bish and Bobby Whitling in the third row, Darr Diegelman and Pat Fielding were in row four with Doug Iorio, II and points leader WIlliam Hurrelbrink behind them.
The feature was like a flashback to a golden age of Pro Stock racing at Tri-City Raceway Park. Three well-known racers positioned themselves at the front of the pack, and they had a private contest to see who would earn the bragging rights.
For most of the race, it appeared as though Laskey would take the checkers. However, Whitling was able to cool down his tires when there was a caution with twelve of the fifteen laps completed. That was just enough to allow him to surge ahead of Laskey when the green light flashed on for the final time. Johns stayed close to the leaders, but he was never able to get his nose into the middle of the action. Following those three veterans across the line was Josh Seippel, who was a relative newcomer when the others ruled the roost. Tyler Wyant, who was not even born yet when Whitling, Laskey, and Johns were in their prime, crossed in the fifth spot.
Taking sixth was Curtis J. Bish, followed by Fielding, Hurrelbrink, Iorio, and Diegelman.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks had two Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races. The winners were Rod Laskey and Bobby Whitling, familiar names to Pro Stock fans at Tri-City. There was no B Main.
Evan Sobieski and Kevin Watson paced the field for the start of the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stock feature. Pat Hanlonand D.J. Macrae were in row two, with Levi Maskal and Brody McClintock were in row three.
Dalton Speer started in eighth but he raced his way to the front. He got the win, with Austin Fedder finishing second. He was subbing for Chad Greeley. Justin Bailey was third, with Sobieski in fourth. Fifth went to Hemi Kinneston. Positions six through ten went to Patrick Lane, Kevin Watson, Michael Barr, Joanne WIlson, and Kevin Wice.
The 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks presented a pair of Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races as well. The successful drivers in that division were D.J. Macrae and Dalton Speer. There was no B Main. Brayden Seippel flipped his Mini Stock during the heat race in a three-car incident in turn one. He was not injured in the tumble.
An added class for the evening was the Vintage Modifieds. Taking the win was David Myers, followed by his father, ageless Les Myers. Tim Natalino, Dale Zimmer, and Jeff Manners rounded out the top five. Fred Hildenbrand, Paul St. John, Dave Phillips, Don Swingle, and Tom Warburton followed. The heat race wins belonged to David Myers and Tim Natalino. The preliminaries were presented by the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group.
Next week, Tri-City Raceway Park will celebrate the July 4 holiday with another Sunday Thunder race program presented by Big Dog RC. Added to the card will be a fabulous fireworks display. Remember that there will be no racing at Tri-City Raceway Park on Sunday, July 11. Racing will resume on July 18 with a Sprint Spectacular, faturing the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars, the Gary Glass Automotive and Washington House RUSH Sprints, the Junior Sprints, the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks.
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.
Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds: Jeremiah Shingledecker, Jimmy Holden, Kyle Fink, Lonny Riggs, J.R. McGinley, Kevin Hoffman, Travis Shingledecker, D.J. Schrader, Curt Bish, Jr., Ryan Riffe, Tom Holden, Dillon Barr, Kevin Green, Sid Unverzagt, Jr., Max Smoker, Nathan McDowell, Steve Barr, Tyler Clark.
Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprints: Brandon Matus, Bob Felmlee, Leyton Wagner, Darin Gallagher, Brandon Spithaler, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Logan McCandless, Brent Matius, Bryan Salisbury, Davey Jones, Kyle Colwell, Randy Wyant, Bob McMillin, Steven Bright, Francis Sesco, Ken Rossye, Chase Metheny.
Hovis Truck & Auto Supply Pro Stocks: Bobby Whitling, Rod Laskey, Jason Johns, Josh Seippel, Tyler Wyant, Curtis J. Bish, Patrick Fielding, William Hurrelbrink, Doug Iorio, II, Darr Diegelman, Matt Bernard, Charlie McMillen, Josh Blum.
4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks: Dalton Speer, Austin Fedder, Justin Bailey, Evan Sobieski, Hemi Kinneston, Patrick Lane, Kevin Watson, Michael Barr, Joanne Wilson, Kevin Wice, Brody McClintock, D.J. Macrae, Levi Maskal, Diezel Marvin, Pat Hanlon, Matt Dougherty, Jeremy Winslow, Nick Steiger, Brayden Seippel, Jamie Tasker, Howard Garlick.
Vintage Modifieds: David Myers, Les Myers, Tim Natalino, Dale Zimmer, Jeff Manners, Fred Hildenbrand, Paul St. John, David Phillips, Don Swingle, Tom Warburton.