Pittsburgh–Cranberry Twp., PA\’s John Flinner picked up his first win of the season in the Pizza Hut Late Models. Mike Johnson and Jason Rider (in the Dave Wade #76) brought the field down for the start. Johnson grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and pulled out to a bit of a lead within two laps. On lap 3 Late Model rookie Kyle Lukon tagged the back straight wall after another car moved him up the track. He pitted and changed a tire and made it back out. Johnson resumed the lead on the restart with Rider in second and 10th starting John Flinner in third. Flinner moved by Rider for second one the next lap while 8th starting Al Atallah moved by Rider for third. The first three pulled away from the field with Flinner trying to get around Johnson and Atallah trying to get by both. Flinner dogged Johnson until lap 12 when he finally got by, with Atallah getting Johnson for second the next lap. Atallah battled with Flinner while Johnson was a bit behind in third. Atallah made several charges but just couldn\’t get by Flinner. The caution came out again on lap 18. On the restart, Flinner reassumed the lead, and Atallah had a bad start with Johnson getting by him. Atallah got back by Johnson and set sail for Flinner but didn\’t seem as strong and settled for second at the finish. For Flinner it was his 21st career PPMS win and his first since September 10, 2005. Atallah settled for second, with Jared Miley running a steady race to charge from 12th to third at the end, followed by Lynn Geisler, Johnson, Jim Stephens, Brandon Burgoon, Keith Rodriguez, Ben Miley and Rider. Jared Miley and Lynn Geisler took the heats.
In the Brougher\’s Machine Shop Crate Late Model featue, Russ Kolesar of West Mifflin, PA picked up his second win of the season. Josh Holtgraver took the lead at the start from his outside front row starting spot. Kolesar, who started 5th, took the lead on the outside going down the back straight the next lap. Daryl Charlier moved up from 7th to second on lap 9 and challenged Kolesar several times on the inside, but Kolesar was just too strong and held him off to pick up the deserving win. Steve Beatty put on a great charge from 19th on the outside to finish third, while Bryant Hank ran a solid race to finish fourth. Following the front four were Mike Pegher, Tommy Schirnhofer, Rocky Kugel, Holtgraver, Scott Schempp and Justin Lamb. The heats fell to Craig Koteles and Mike Pegher.
The Miley Truck Rental E-Mods saw Midway, PA\’s Daryl Charlier use a late race restart to pass race long leader Tom Martineck to pick up his second win of 2008. Martineck grabbed the lead on the first lap and built up a large lead over the field in a few laps. Charlier moved into second on lap 4. Charlier reeled Martineck in and looked like he was ready to challenge for the lead when the yellow came out on lap 10. Charlier, who started 12th, used the restart to sweep under Martineck and lead the final two laps to take the win. Martineck was a disappointing second followed by Wayne Tessean, late arriving and last starting J.E. Stalder (who missed the heats), Chuck Kennedy, Vince Laboon, Bruce Dreistadt, Willy Briggs, Randy Sprouse, and Clayton Kennedy. The two heats saw Bruce Dreistadt and Daryl Charlier pick up the victories.
In the Sunoco Race Fuels Pure Stocks, Baldwin, PA\’s A.J. Poljak picked up his first win in his first appearance in a great feature. Mike Mohn grabbed the lead from his front row starting spot and led the first four laps. Sixth starting Jake Simmons moved into second and looked as if he was going to make a challenge for the lead when in turn one, Mohn did a half spin and collected Simmons who ended up spun out down by the inside guardrail, while Mohn kept going, keeping the lead. Pat Weldon was the next to challenge Mohn for the lead but couldn\’t get by, while Poljak swept by Weldon on the outside then Mohn on the inside to take the lead on lap 8. Poljak led the remaining laps, while Mohn had a career best finish in second; Simmons charged back up to finish third. Weldon ended up fourth followed by Bill Robertson, Nick Kocuba, Bob Schwartzmiller, Dave Slade, Joe Hackimer and Robert Betz. Bob Schwartzmiller took the lone heat.
The Flynn Tire and Auto Amateur Stocks were next on the card, with Pittsburgh, PA\’s Eric Goldberg picking up his first win of the season. Goldberg took the lead off Tony White on lap 4 and held on the rest of the way to pick up the win. White was second followed by Curt Bish, Robby Torrens, Brian Huchko, J.J. O\’Patchen, Dan Duseheid and Darren Ferguson.
Rich Mason from Kennedy Twp., PA picked up his second win of the season in the Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns division. Mason grabbed the lead at the start and never looked back. Mike Reft and Justin Pons closed toward the end of the event but never offered a serious challenge. Daniel White was fourth followed by Todd Janus, Courtney Atkinson, Brian Beyerbach, Sean Graham, Hanna Ramsey, and Alec Broniszewski.
SUMMARY – June 7, 2008
Pizza Hut Late Models
Heats – Jared Miley and Lynn Geisler
Feature (25 Laps) – 1. John Flinner, 2. Al Atallah, 3. Jared Miley, 4. Lynn Geisler, 5. Mike Johnson, 6. Jim Stephans, 7. Brandon Burgoon, 8. Keith Rodriguez, 9. Ben Miley, 10. Jason Rider, 11. Mike Norris, 12. Jim Lepro, 13. Kari Gasser, 14. Tommy Duratz, 15. Charles Medved, 16. Kyle Lukon, 17. Tim Gould
Brougher\’s Machine Shop Crate Late Models
Heats – Craig Koteles and Mike Pegher
Feature (20 Laps) – 1. Russ Kolesar, 2. Daryl Charlier, 3. Steve Beatty, 4. Bryant Hank, 5, Mike Pegher, 6. Tommy Schirnhofer, 7. Rocky Kugel, 8. Josh Holtgraver, 9. Scott Schempp, 10. Justin Lamb, 11. Laura Lukon, 12. Tim Stefanick, 13. Ken Chernik, 14. Colton Flinner, 15. Dusty Curry, 16. Jeremy Kleemock, 17. Terry Kerr, 18. Darrell Dow, 19. Mark Moats, 20. Craig Koteles, 21. Tom Copeland
Miley Truck Rental E-Modifieds
Heats – Bruce Dreistadt and Daryl Charlier
Feature (12 Laps) – 1. Daryl Charlier, 2. Tom Martineck, 3. Wayne Tessean, 4. J E Stalder, 5. Chuck Kennedy, 6. Vince Laboon, 7. Bruce Dreistadt, 8. Willy Briggs, 9. Randy Sprouse, 10. Clayton Kennedy, 11. Mike McKee, 12. J J Bametzrieder, 13. Kevin Miller DNS
Sunoco Race Fuels Pure Stocks
Heat – Bob Schwartzmiller
Feature (12 Laps) – 1. A J Poljak, 2. Mike Mohn, 3. Jake Simmons, 4. Pat Weldon, 5. Bill Robertson, 6. Nick Kocuba, 7. Bob Schwartzmiller, 8. Dave Slade, 9. Joe Hackimer, 10. Robert Betz, 11. Robbie Haught
Flynn\’s Tire and Auto Amateur Stocks
Heat – Eric Goldberg
Feature (10 Laps) – 1. Eric Goldberg, 2. Tony White, 3. Curt Bish, 4. Robby Torrens, 5. Brian Huchko, 6. J J O\’Patchen, 7. Dan Duseheid, 8. Darren Ferguson
Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns
Feature (8 Laps) – 1. Rich Mason, 2. Michael Reft, 3. Justin Pons, 4. Daniel White, 5. Todd Janus, 6. Courtney Atkinson, 7. Brian Beyerbach, 8. Sean Graham, 9. Hannah Ramsey, 10. Alec Broniszewski