Press release by Terry Whetstone
AMP GETS ANOTHER WEEK IN WITH SIX NEW WINNERS
CLEARFIELD – With a rainbow over the pits and the track being run in following a brief shower, America’s Motorsports Park pulled off its second show of the season Saturday night, with Duane Stiner of Houtzdale winning the Randy Sterling Trucking Late Models, Brian Walker of Somerset in the Point Break and Spring Laurel Highland Sprints; Louie Jacoby Jr. of Fernwood in the Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Semi Lates; Johnny Lindenpitz of Knox Dale in the Srock Contracting Street Stocks; Nick Erskine of Mahaffey in the Satterlee Oil Pure Stocks and Garrett Watkins in the Clearfield County Metals Four Cylinders.
The Late Models took the speedway with Dwayne Taneyhill Jr. and Duane Stiner on the front row. At the drop of the green flag, Stiner darted into the lead like a shot out of a cannon, with Taneyhill second and Derek Rodkey in third. Rodkey was working on Taneyhill, as Stiner was pulling away. As the race continued non-stop for the first 15 laps, Rodkey moved past Taneyhill and into second, but Stiner now had about a quarter lap lead. On lap 15 the race was halted for a spin. During that spin, Luke Hoffner had a fire break out under the hood, causing the race to go red. Fire crews quickly extinguished the fire and Hoffner was ok, but out for the night. On the restart, Rodkey could not find the power to get past Stiner and he had trouble holding off Scott Alvetro for second. It was later learned Rodkey had dropped a valve. At the waving of Artie Luzier’s double checkered flags it was Stiner winning over Rodkey, Alvetro, Taneyhill and Dan Boyd. Heat wins went to Dan Gill and Boyd.
As the Laurel Highland Sprint Series was coming down for the green flag, Nicole Walker and Eddie Measaros led the field to the start and Walker took the lead, but before the first lap was completed there was a caution and a complete restart. The restart saw Walker drift to a stop on the backstretch. She ended up pitting with Brian Walker getting the pole and on the start he took the lead and sat through a series of cautions to get his first AMP win of the season. Measaros and Marcus DeFrerras fought for second while Ralph Engel Jr. was coming from 12th to the front, but he got slowed when he arrived at sixth place. As the 25-lapper wore on, he still tried to improve his positions. At the conclusion, the top five, behind Walker were: Measaros, DeFrerras, Ralph Engel Jr.. and “Cowboy” Jim Kennedy. Heat wins went to Nicole Walker and Engel.
Louie Jacoby and Jason Mullen brought the Semi Lates to the start, with Jacoby taking the lead and setting the early pace. As he led, Ronnie Bottenfield moved into second and began to reel in Jacoby. Several cautions tightened the field as Bottenfield caught Jacoby and moved into the lead on lap 15, but two laps later Bottenfield pitted with a flat, as he and Jacoby got together racing for the same spot. At his time Jacoby regained the lead and took the win. At the finish it was Jacoby winning ahead of Josh Henry, Joe Jordan, Michael Blazer and Stephanie Ivory completing the top five. Heat wins went to Bottenfield and Jacoby won the heats.
Johnny Lindenpitz and Allen English led the Street Stocks to the start, with Lindenpitz taking the lead. As he led, Tony Brown sat in second spot and Brown was smoking from the start, but never left out of the throttle, then on lap 18, the engine detonated and brought the event to a halt as the oil was cleaned up.
On the restart Lindenpitz still led, with Bob Rosman and Brian Rhed in second and third, with only two laps left, Lindenpitz went high in turn two, which allowed Rosman to get under him, and Rhed was also right there, but Lindenpitz recovered enough to lead at the line, and again Rosman and Rhed pressured the leader the final lap. As the trio exited turn four, Rosman was under Lindenpitz and Rhed was still there, but at the line, Lindenpitz pulled out the win. Rosman, Rhed, Dan Smeal and Rick Hemphill completed the top five. Heat wins went to Smeal and Jamie Price.
Amber Mills and Jim Challingsworth brought the Pure Stocks to the green flag, and the race saw a quick caution. On the restart, it was Nick Erskine who took the lead from his fourth place starting spot and Justin Queen who moved into second from sixth at the start. They led the way for the entire 15 lap event, with next caution not waving until the 12th lap. On that restart, Erskine had Queen to contend with, as he tried high, and low to make the car stick in the turns but Erskine was able to pull ahead. On the final lap, Queen tried one last time, and pulled alongside of Erskine off turn four, but Erskine won by a half a car length. Queen, Jason Beichner, Ron Winslow and Jim Challingsworth rounded out the top five all within a few feet of each other. The heats were won by Beichner and Winslow.
Milton Owens and Jen Bailey led the Four Cylinders to the start, but Garrett Watkins took the lead from fourth place and never looked back as he went on to get his first ever AMP win. Lady drivers Bailey and Stephanie Lucas battled for second place late in the race, with Lucas coming in second, Bailey was third and Jared Rudy and Owens completing the top five. Heat wins went to Lucas and Watkins.
PIT NOTES: 73 cars filled the pits, including 11 Late Models, 12 Laurel Highland Sprints, 10 Semi Lates, 14 Street Stocks, 15 Pure Stocks and 11 Four Cylinders…This week is another regular show for the Late Models, Semi Lates, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Four Cylinders, plus the Laurel Highland Sprints will return along with the first ever visit by the all new RUSH Sportsman’s Modified division. Gates open at 3 p.m. and racing gets underway at 6 p.m….For more details check the website at www.americasmotorsportspark.com.
SUMMARY:
Randy Sterling Trucking Late Models: 1. Duane Stiner, Houtzdale; 2. Derek Rodkey, 3. Scott Alvetro, 4. Dwayne Taneyhill Jr., 5. Dan Boyd, 6. Josh Jacoby, 7. Randy Sterling, 8. Tom Merryman Jr., 9. Luke Hoffner, 10. Dan Gill.
Todd Sallack did not start.
Point Break and Spring Laurel Highland Sprints: 1. Brian Walker, Somerset; 2. Eddie Mesaros, 3. Marcus DeFreitas, 4. Ralph Engel, Jr., 5. “Cowboy” Jim Kennedy, 6. Jimmy Minarchick, 7. Robbie Bartchy, 8. Jonathan Jones, 9. Jeff Bacha, 10. Tyler Denochick, 11. Greg Bartchy, 12. Nicole Walker.
Denny’s Beer Barrel Pub Semi Lates: 1. Lou Jacoby, Jr., Fernwood; 2. Josh Henry, 3. Joe Jordan, 4. Michael Blazer, 5. Stephanie Ivory; 6. Ronnie Bottenfield, 7. Chad Desmett, 8. Neil Brown, 9. Jason Mullen.
Paul Ivory, Disqualified.
Srock Contracting Street Stocks: 1. Johnny Lindenpitz, Knox Dale; 2. Bob Rosman, 3. Brian Rhed, 4. Dan Smeal, 5. Rick Hemphill, 6. Chad Rougeux, 7. Tony Brown, 8. Randy Sterling, 9. Fuzzy Fields, 10. Jamie Price, 11. Mike Desch, 12. Allen English, 13. Randy Wibel,
Jim Bloom Did not start.
W.G. Satterlee Oil Pure Stocks: 1. Nick Erskine, Mahaffey; 2. Justin Queen, 3. Jason Beichner, 4. Ron Winslow, 5. Jim Challingsworth, 6. Bob Helsel, 7. Amber Mills, 8. Mike Duck, 9. Shawn Fessler, 10. BJ Hudson, 11.Brandy Mills, 12. Dustin Challingsworth, 13. Brian Mills, 14. Cregen Brady.
Eric Lucas Did not start.
Clearfield County Metals Four Cylinders: 1. Garrett Watkins; 2. Stephanie Lucas, 3. Jen Bailey, 4. Jarred Rudy, 5. Milton Owens, 6. Jared Ivory, 7. John Luzier, 8. Devon Smith, 9. Dustin Kemp, 10. Ryan Shaffner.
Steve Martell Did not start.