Submitted by Terry Whetstone
Copeman, Sweeney & Satterlee Sweep Dog Hollow Before Rain Halts Show
STRONGSTOWN, PA (September 11, 2011) – After being rained out on Friday night, Dog Hollow Speedway decided to go with a Sunday rain date. Three of the six feature events were completed before Mother Nature unleashed rain, thunder and lightning. Clate Copeman picked up his third feature win in the Townsend Gas & Oil Super Late Models while Andrew Satterlee made it five straight in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers FASTRAK Late Models. In the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Street Stock, Jeff Sweeney returned to victory lane for his first win of the season. Six laps into the Brush Valley Tire Pure Stock feature rain hit the speedway forcing promoter Jim Michney to call the event. The rest of the show will be made up on October 1.
The first feature event of the evening was for the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Street Stocks. Nate Smith grabbed the lead at the drop of the green with Commodore’s Jeff Sweeney on his tail. Lap after lap the pair battled for the lead. Smith gave Sweeney a little extra room on lap ten and Sweeney took advantage. Sweeney felt the pressure from Smith the final six laps but held on for his first win at Dog Hollow since 2007. Smith was second followed by Nick Goss, Chris Schneider, Jim Desch, Ray Hickok, Andy Klingensmith, Bill Pluta, Jr., Gary Furman, Jr. and Alex Kirsh. Heats were won by Sweeney and Schneider.
Joe Moyer led the first two laps of the Stoystown Auto Wreckers FASTRAK Late Model feature. Fifth starting Andrew Satterlee wasted little time in taking the lead on lap three. Mike Pegher, Jr. moved into second on lap six and took up the chase. Satterlee was pulling away until a caution slowed the pace on lap 12. On the restart Pegher kept Satterlee in his sight but faded with a few laps to go. Satterlee racked up his fifth straight and seventh feature win overall to clinch the 2011 Points Championship. Pegher held on for second ahead of Dan Karalagas, Moyer, Rich Logan, Shane Weaver, Mike Laughard, Tim Snare, Jr., Andrew Wylie and Ken Herman. Herman and Moyer were the heat winners.
Only seven points separated Sam Stile and Clate Copeman in the battle for the Townsend Gas & Oil Super Late Model point championship. After the heats the difference was on five points as Copeman won his heat with Stile finishing third. Mike Blose started on the pole of the 25-lap Townsend Gas & Oil Super Late Model feature. Blose looked to be on his way to a second straight win in leading the first seven laps. As he crossed the line on lap seven Blose slowed and went pitside. This turned the lead over to Clate Copeman. The green reappeared on lap eight and Copeman took off with Steve Everhart in tow. The pair pulled away from the pack with Sam Stile in their draft. Everhart slid high and Stile took over second on lap 11. Copeman and Stile were evenly matched and both drove without a mistake to finish one-two. Copeman won his third A-Main but came up three points short of the championship. Everhart, Rick Davis, Dan Lee, Dwayne Taneyhill, Jason Fosnaught, Joe Zulisky, Ryan Christoff and Mike Steck completed the top ten. The prelims were won by Everhart and Copeman.
Rain started to fall a couple of laps into the Brush Valley Tire Pure Stock feature. The caution was thrown with six of 16 laps in the book as the track became too slick. As thunder and lightning also began to flash promoter Jim Michney made the decision to call the rest of the show. The Pure Stocks will complete their feature on October 1 and the 4 Cylinder Sidewinders will also run their feature event. Both classed will also run complete shows.
Sunday’s show completed the weekly 2011 schedule for Dog Hollow Speedway. This Saturday, September 17 will be a Swap Meet starting at 8AM. Our next race will be held on Saturday, October 1 when the FASTRAK Late Models will run Night 1 of Northeast Grand Nationals paying $1500 to win. The Townsend Gas & Oil Super Late Models will also race for $1500 to win. The RaceSaver 305 Sprints will make their first-ever appearance for a complete show along with the Brush Valley Tire Pure Stocks and 4 Cylinder Sidewinders. The Pure Stocks and Sidewinder will also run makeup features from September 11….THe speedway held a moment of silence for those who perished on 9-11-01 and also for former AARN Assistant Editor Jerry Reigle who lost a bout with cancer…For more on Dog Hollow check out the schedule at www.dog-hollow.net
Townsend Gas & Oil Super Late Models (18): Clate Copeman, Sam Stile, Steve Everhart, Rick Davis, Dan Lee, Dwayne Taneyhill, Jason Fosnaught, Joe Zulisky, Ryan Christoff, Mike Steck, Ryan Krause, Denton Boyer, Shawn Claar, Jim Struble, Tom Shaffer, Mike Blose, Rodney Phillips, Phil Thorton.
Stoystown Auto Wreckers FASTRAK Late Models (20): Andrew Satterlee, Mike Pegher, Jr., Dan Karalagas, Joe Moyer, Rich Logan, Shane Weaver, Mike Laughard, Tim Snare, Jr., Andrew Wylie, Ken Herman, John Eckenrod, Jim Boyer, Joey Petyak, Jason Mullen, Matt Bassaro, Sam Eichelberger, Joe Brawley, Ed Kline, Wes McKeel, John Cain.
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Street Stocks (14): Jeff Sweeney, Nate Smith, Nick Goss, Chris Schneider, Jim Desch, Ray Hickok, Andy Klingensmith, Bill Pluta, Jr., Gary Furman, Jr., Alex Kirsh, Mike Mellott, Vigi Zuccolotto, Tyler Hite, DNS: Randy Wilkinson.