Submitted by Terry Whetstone
STRONGSTOWN, PA – Dan Swartzlander from Sarver made the tow to Dog Hollow Speedway on Friday night a memorable one, as he copped the Townsend Gas and Oil Super Late Model Feature for the first time ever at DHS and the first time in his career in 15 years.
Sammy Stile of Charleroi was victorious in the second annual Shawn “Sheetz” McGarvey Top Dog Shoot out. The race is held in memory of McGarvey who was killed in a work related accident just prior to the start of the 2009 season and McGarvey was the defending DHS Late Model champ at the time of his death.
The only other new winner was Brent Sholtis of Belsano in the Four Cylinder Sidewinder Feature.
Repeat winners included: Mike Laughard of Nanty Glo in the Force Paving/Zero Wrap Fastrak Late Models while Nick Goss of Punxsutawney (Stoystown Auto Wrecks Street Stocks) and Jeremy Shaffer of Derry (Brush Valley Tire Pure Stocks) continued their dominance.
Chris Hickok of Commodore copped his third modified four cylinder win of the season.
Chris Hickok of Commodore copped his third modified four cylinder win of the season.
Dwayne Taneyhill and Jim Kurpakus led the Super Late Models to the start with Taneyhill taking the lead and setting the pace. Dan Swartzlander started fourth and was second by the third lap. He set his sights on Taneyhill and tried high and low before finally muscling his way into the lead on lap eight.
Once he was out front, Swartzlander began to open up a sizable lead and by the end of the race he was about a straight-a-way ahead of second place. At the line it was Swartzlander, Taneyhill, John Britsky, Rick Davis and Sammy Stile. Heat wins went to Swartzlander and Billy Eash.
“I just got this new car,” Swartzlander said. “This is only the third night out for it.”
“I just got this new car,” Swartzlander said. “This is only the third night out for it.”
The Shawn “Sheetz” McGarvey Top Dog Shoot out came down to the Sammy Stile and Dan Swartzlander. It was Stile who came out victorious in the battle.
“Sheetz was a good guy,” Swartzlander said after his second place finish. “We had our differences, but I liked to race against him.”
After picking up the win and $888 Stile was pleased to stand in victory lane.
After picking up the win and $888 Stile was pleased to stand in victory lane.
“It’s quite an honor to win this in memory of Sheetz,” Stile said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since we lost him. I’m glad to see his wife and daughter doing so well. I’m proud to display this trophy in his honor.”
In the Fastrak Late Models A pair of Chris’ filled the front row, with Angelicchio on the inside and Force on the outside. At the drop of the green it was Force taking the lead and holding it for the first lap before Mike Laughard came from fourth to take the lead on lap two. Once out front, Laughard was untouchable, as he went on to get his second straight win of the season. Force had to contend with lapped traffic and dropped off the pace allowing Angelicchio and Joe Martin to sneak by. At the line it was Laughard over Angelicchio, Martin, Force and Bobby Cossell. Force and Martin split heat wins.
Joe Kelley, subbing for Charlie Trice and Jim Boyer led the Street Stocks to the start with Kelley taking the lead for the first lap, then Josh Jacoby made his move around Kelley off the fourth turn and set the pace for the next eight laps, then out of the 12th position came Nick Goss as he took his third straight win of the season. Jacoby held on to second with Boyer, Kelley and Ray Hickok completing the top five. Boyer and Goss split the heats.
“I thought about how Sheetz would do this,” Goss said in victory lane. “He used to tell me I wasn’t doing enough if I wasn’t leaning on someone, so that’s what I did and here I am.”
The Pure Stock feature saw Tim Laughard and Charlie Boring lead the field to the start with Laughard taking the lead with Justin Queen in second. As the leaders entered turn two on lap two, they touched with Queen spinning and tailing the field.
On the restart it was still Laughard setting the pace with Matt Summers in second and by lap four Jeremy Shaffer was third from 12th. As he was trying to make it to the front, Queen was charging from the rear and on lap eight Queen was fifth and Shaffer was looking for the lead. Shaffer dove under Laughard to lead lap nine and Queen was in the third spot a lap later.
On lap 12 Laughard spun and tailed the field, giving Queen the runner up spot and he tried to get Shaffer but Shaffer was too fast and took his third straight win and his sixth of the season. Queen was second, John Mazey was third, Gary Shaffer was fourth and Jim Hamilton was fifth. J. Shaffer and Laughard won the heats.
Brent Sholtis went from thrid to the lead at the start of the Four Cylinder Sidewinder Feature with Wes McKeel in second and Mike Phillipson in third. As the race continued Sholtis continued to set the pace with Phillipson in second and Adam Pletcher moving towards the front. On lap eight Pletcher was second and when Bob Sullenger waved he checkered flag Pletcher was on the outside and Sholtis was on the inside and in a photo finish, Sholtis was the winner by only inches over Pletcher. Phillipson was third with McKeel fourth and Lee Fitzpatrick fifth. Pletcher, Phillipson and Nathan Vinosly won the heats.
Chris Hickok led the Modified Four Cylinder Feature all the way for his third win of the season. The rest of the rundown was Mark Maglett in second, Tom Pavelko third, Robert Lydic fourth and David Smail fifth. Hickok won the heat.
DOG TRAX: 103 cars filled the pits including: 17 Super Late Models, 17 Fastrak Late Models, 19 Street Stocks, 15 Pure Stocks, 30 Four Cylinder Sidewinders and 5 Modified Four Cylinders…Coming up this week is a regular show for the Super Late Models, Fastrak Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinders and Modified Four Cylinders. This weeks action is sponsored by Scanlon Chiropractic…The next year the Sheetz McGarvey Top Dog Challenge will be an eight lap affair for the final checkered flag, in honor of McGarvey’s car number. ….Also coming up on July 11 the UFO Late Models will make their first ever Dog Hollow appearance for $5,000 to win. The Street Stocks will race for $1000 to win and the Four Cylinder will race for $500 to win. More information can be found at www.dog-hollow.com.
SUMMARY:
Townsend Gas and Oil Super Late Models: 1. Dan Swartzlander, Sarver; 2. Dwayne Taneyhill, 3. John Britsky, 4. Rick Davis, 5. Sammy Stile, 6. Dane Laraway, 7. Billy Eash, 8. Jim Kurpakus, 9. Dan Lee, 10. Jerry Redden, 11. Brandon Delano, 12. Bill Burns, 13. John Myers, 14. Paul Dominick, 15. Tony Hugill, 16. Clate Copeman, 17. Shane McMeans.
Zero Wrap Fastrak Late Models: 1. Mike Laughard, Nanty Glo; 2. Chris Angelicchio, 3. Joe Martin, 4. Chris Force, 5. Bobby Cossell, 6. Dan Karalagas, 7. Bryan Force, 8. Chris Schneider, 9. Dan Angelicchio, 10. Joe Moyer, 11. Joey Valenti, 12. Mylan Markovich, 13. John Eckenrod, 14. Shane Weaver, 15. Ken Herman, 16. Michael Hughes, 17. Sierra Records.
Stoystown Auto Wreckers Street Stocks: 1. Nick Goss, Punxsutawney; 2. Josh Jacoby, 3. Jim Boyer, 4. Joe Kelley, 5. Ray Hickok, 6. Eric Lingerfelter, 7. A.J. Flick, 8. Bob Egley, 9. Denny Keener, 10. Bill Henney.
Brush Valley Tire Pure Stocks: 1. Jeremy Shaffer, Derry, 2. Justin Queen, 3. John Mazey, 4. Gary Shaffer, 5. Jim Hamilton, 6. Tim Laughard, 7. Eric Ager, 8. Matt Summers, 9. Ryan Weakland, 10. Charlie Boring.
Four Cylinders: 1. Brent Sholtis, Beilsano, 2. Adam Pletcher, 3. Mike Phillipson, 4. Wes McKeel, 5. Lee Fitzpatrick, 6. Nathan Vinosky, 7. Robert Pluta, 8. Paul Little, 9. Jon Lee, 10. Donny Lechak.