STRONGSTOWN, PA – First Commonwealth Bank and Dog Hollow Speedway swung the gate open to kick the 2008 racing season off at the Strongstown oval with opening night winners including: Dave Satterlee of Home in the Townsend Gas and Oil Late Models, Dave Padula of Greencastle in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Fastrak Late Models, John Kinsey of Greensburg in the Jeff Dick Home Sales Street Stocks, Tim Laughard of Vinco in the Brush Valley Tire Pure Stocks and Merle Billott in the Texas Auto Ranch Four Cylinder Sidewinders.
The late models took to the speedway with Scott Alvetro and Shawn “Sheets” McGarvey on the front row, but it was Alvetro who took the lead at the start. While he was leading the way it was Rick Strong that followed him into second and McGarvey fell to third. Dave Satterlee was sitting in fourth, watching Alvetro, Strong and McGarvey, jockeying for position.
McGarvey moved to second on lap five and Satterlee passed Strong third three laps later. A caution flew on lap 8 to tighten the field and when the green unfurled Satterlee went to the outside, a lane and move he has perfected at DHS, and went from third to the lead in half a lap. McGarvey also moved past Alvetro and tried to run down Satterlee, but Saterlee was hungry for a win and took the victor over McGarvey, Alvetro, Strong and Darrell Dick. Hear wins went to Shawn McGarvey and Dave Satterlee.
Dave Padula and Gary Stahl led the Fastrak Late Models to the green flag with Padula taking the lead and the win, but he didn’t walk away from the competition. While leading the way, Justin Kann and Stahl kept Padula in site the whole way, but neither driver could muster the extra power to wheel by the defending point champion. At the line it was Padula picking up where he left off with Kann, Stahl, Dan Angelicchio and Jeff Enos. Dave Padula won the heat.
The street stock feature may have only had a field of 10 cars, but the race was certainly exciting from the initial waving of Bon Sullingers green flag. As the field roared into the first turn three wide with Mike Laughard, Denny Keener and Ray Charles all vying for the lead, but it was Keener who came out on top with Laughard in second and Charles in third. The top three were two and three wide, with John Kinsey moving into the picture and joining in the battle for the top spot, then on lap 12, Keener drifted to the high side of the track and coasted to a stop while leading.
This caused the field to scramble with Kinsey coming out on top with the lead. He had three laps to hold off Laughard and Charles, and while he did that, second was still undecided with Charles taking that position at the line. The top five were: Kinsey, Charles, Laughard, Dave Galore and Joe Poraczky. The heat was won by Denny Keener.
The pure stock feature saw “Crazy” John Mazey and Tim Good lead the field to the start with Mazey taking the lead and Good moving into second with Marshall Detwiler in third. The battle for the lead got tight early on with Mazey, Detwiler and Good being joined by Matt Summers, Rich Powell and Tim Laughard. The top six were constantly swapping positions, with Laughard taking the Dave Satterlee line and moving to the outside. He was slowly picking off his challengers and had taken the lead when Good drifted to a halt in turn four with Mazey back in the lead.
On the restart it was Mazey leading the way with Laughard now going to the outside and taking his outside line back, the same line Mazey had used to regain the lead, and this time it worked out for Laughard again as he took the win by half a car length over Mazey. Detwiler was third with Powell and Summers completing the top five. Heat wins went to Tim Laughard and John Mazey.
Dan Adams beat Chris Yoder to the line to lead the first official lap of the four cylinder sidewinder feature with Merle Billiott taking the lead a lap later and holding off all challengers to get the victory. Matt Weakland, Brennan McCracken, Ray Hickok Jr. and Scott Shirk completed the top five. Heat wins went to Ray Hickok Jr., Ryan Claycomb and Dan Adams.
DOG TRACKS: There were 16 late models, 9 Fastrak late model, 10 street stocks, 18 pure stocks and 34 four cylinders in action… Charlsons Furniture of Northern Cambria will sponsor this weeks action including the Late Models, Fastrak Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinders. The complete schedule will be posted at www.dog-hollow.com very shortly.
SUMMARY
Townsend Gas and Oil Late Models: 1. Dave Satterlee, Home; 2. Shawn McGarvey; 3. Scott Alvetro; 4. Rick Strong; 5. Darrell Dick; 6. Cody Schultz; 7. Randy Smithley; 8. Rudy Bassaro; 9. Mark Booth; 10. Bill Krause; 11. Jim Ivory; 12. Bill Burns; 13. Clate Copeman; 14. Jeff Weakland; 15. Ben Satterlee; 16. Cory Wilson.
Stoystown Auto Wreckers Fastrak Late Models: 1. Dave Padula, Greencastle; 2. Justin Kann; 3. Gary Stahl; 4. Dan Angelicchio; 5. Jeff Enos; 6. Ron Smithley; 7. John Eckenrod; 8. Roger Laughlin; 9. Kirby Tucker.
Jeff Dick Home Sales Street Stocks: 1. John Kinsey, Greensburg; 2. Ray Charles; 3. Mike Laughard; 4. Dave Galore; 5. Joe Poraczky; 6. Todd Weiner; 7. Larry McBryer; 8. Brad Campbell; 9. Denny Keener; 10. Matt Hugill.
Brush valley Tire Pure Stocks: 1. Tim Laughard, Vinco; 2. John Mazey; 3. Marshall Detwiler; 4. Rich Powell; 5. Matt Summers; 6. Charlie Boring; 7. Derek Stiffler; 8. Nathan Good; 9. Mike Silk; 10. Jeremy Shaffer; 11. Brian Ray; 12. Dave Wells Jr., 13. Nathan Howe; 14. Tim Good; 15. Andy Little; 16. Derek Horner; DNS: Paul Douglas and Bob Helsel.
Texas Auto Ranch Four Cylinder Sidewinders: 1. Merle Billiott; 2. Matt Weakland; 3. Brennan McCracken; 4. Ray Hickok, Jr.; 5 Scott Shirk; 6. David Rocker; 7. Mark Maglet; 8. Chris Yoder; 9. Paul Crynock Jr.; 10. Jay Schettini; 11. Tom Ondro; 12. Michael Phillipson; 13. Paul Little; 14. Robert Noble; 15. Wes McKeel; 16. Lee Fitzpatrick; 17. Randy Wilkinson; 18. Mark Young; 19. Don Shirk; 20. Dan Adams; 21. George Gillin Jr.; 22. Samantha Harasty; 23. Jeff Fulmer; 24. Joe Petyak; 25. Tyler Laughard; 26.Adam Laughard; 27. Chris Hickok; 28. Cory Kilgore; 29. Ryan Claycomb; 30. Shane Weaver; 31. Mark Wetzel Jr.; 32. Jesse Laughard; 33. Jon Lee; DNS: Jeremy Mertens.