FRANKLIN, PA – On Father’s day, Tri-City Raceway Park presented a Sunday Thunder program with a bonus feature for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. Taking the wins were Erick Rudolph (21st Century Energy Group 358 Modifieds), Jeremy Weaver scoring his first career 410 win (Krill Recycling 410 Sprint Cars), John Mollick (4 Your Car Connection RUSH Sprint Cars, and Bob Conner and Bobby Whitling (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks).
358 Modifieds
In the 21st Century Energy Group 358 Modifeds, points leader Chad Reitz led the first five laps from the outside front row starting spot. Eric Gabany, subbing again for car owner Steve Slater, ran second, followed by Rudolph Hayden Holden, and Kyle Fink.
Rudolph moved into second on lap five, and he drew a bead on the leader. Coming down the long back stretch on lap six, he made an inside move to grab the first position.
Rudolph did not wither to the pressure applied by Reitz following the pair of restarts that punctuated the remainder of the race. Reitz gave up second to Gabany in the second half of the contest. Fink also picked up a position as the laps were winding down.
At the checkers, it was Rudolph for the second week in a row. He was followed by Gabany, Fink, Reitz, and Holden. Makayla Shannon was sixth, followed by her father, Frank Guidace. Lenny Liebold, III, was eighth.
Gabany was the heat race winner. There was no B Main.
410 Sprints
In the Krill Recycling 410 Sprint Car feature, visitor Dylan Norris sat on the pole, with Matt Farnham to his right. Carl Bowser and Jeremy Weaver had row two covered, followed by Bob Felmlee and Brandon Spithaler. Jack Sodeman, Jr. and A.J. Flick were paired up in row four. The fifth row had Gale Ruth, Jr. and Chase Metheny. Andy Cavanaugh and Bodey McClintock were in row six. Bringing up the tail were Cameron Nastasi, Shane Shook, and Jazlyn Boyles
Norris jumped out to the early lead, followed by Farnham, Weaver, Spithaler, Flick, and Felmlee. He built up a commanding advantage over the first half of the twenty-five lapper.
A caution wiped out his substantial advantage. Brandon Spithaler tried an outside move on Norris in turns one and two. Spithaler lost traction coming off turn two, and Weaver snuck past him going down the backstretch.
Weaver began to close in on Norris, but another caution made his task a bit easier. On the restart, Weaver went hard into turn one. He nosed ahead of Norris coming off turn two, and Norris launched a counter attack down the back chute. Weaver had momentum on his side entering turn three and he became the leader of record.
With just two laps remaining, Norris spun in turn one. Cars began to scatter. Spithaler got by, but Farnham clobbered Norris.
Weaver maintained his composure and completed the final laps without incident. Spithaler was second, followed by Sodeman, Flick, and Bowser. Felmlee, Metheny, Norris, Farnham, and Boyles complete dthe top ten.
Weaver was ecstatic over his first 410 win ever. The win also ended a long dry spell for his car owner, Bob McMillen. His last 410 win came about a decade ago at another area speedway with Mike Lutz at the controls. McMillen also had a 305 Sprint win in the interim, courtesy of Adam Kekich.
The heat winners were Spithaler and Norris. There was no B Main.
RUSH Sprints
John Mollick used his prime starting position to take the early lead over Brent Rhebergen in the 4 Your Car Connection RUSH Sprint Cars. They ran out front for the entire fifteen laps.
There was an intense struggle for the third position, with Arnie Kent eventually prevailing over Trent Marshall, and Joe Buccola. Luke Mulichak, Zach Wilson, Charles McClintock, Ricky Tucker, and Blaze Myers were the next five finishers.
The heat winners were Buccola and Mollick. There was no B Main. A special dash was held to commemorate the birthday of legendary Cal Hull. He was a racer and a car owner for decades in the region. The Dash winner was Devon Deeter.
Pro Stock Make-up Feature
Bob Conner captured his first career Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock feature in the race held over from a previous rain-out. Conner was engaged in a fierce battle with Doug Iorio, II for the first dozen laps. However, when Iorio limped into the pits under caution, Conner was put on the pole for the restart.
Jackson Humanic made a bold bid for the lead in turn one when the race resumed. However, he could not hold the line and Conner scooted away. Bobby Whitling took advantage and moved into second, but he could not mount a challenge to Conner the rest of the way.
At the finish, it was Conner, Bobby Whitling, Humanic, Tommy Dembowski, and Rod Laskey. Tim Bish was scored in sixth based upon laps completed. The remaining finishers were Charlie McMillen and Aaron Smith. Iorio and Tyler Wyant were also credited with top ten finishes based upon laps completed.
Pro Stock Regular Feature
Bobby Whitling raced from fourth to the front in the early going in the regularly scheduled feature for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. For much of the race, Whitling and Jackson Humanic waged a heavyweight title bout for the lead. Tyler Wyant tried to join in the action, butthere was contact between Humaic and Wyant. Wyant broke his front suspension, and Humanic pitted for a fresh tire, giving Whitling undisputed control of the race.
Matt Bernard drove a consistent race to finish second, ahead of Jake Whitling, Josh Seippel, and Humanic. The next five across the line were Pat Fielding, Tommy Dembowski, Charlie McMillen, Jason Kimmy, and Wyant.
The heat winners were Seippel and Humanic. There was no B Main.
Heat Race Challenge
Still leading the Marsh Heating & Cooling Heat Race Challenge is Tim Bish with four victories to his credit. Steve Slater and his sub, Eric Gabany, have combined for three wins. Four drivers have a pair of heat wins.
Coming Events
Next week, Tri-City Raceway Park will be in action with a Sunday Thunder program, albeit with one exception. The Krill Recycling 410 Sprint Cars and the 21st Century Energy Group 358 Modifieds will top the card, as usual. The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks will also compete. However, the 4 Your Car Connection RUSH Sprint Cars will be off due to a prior commitment at another area track. Taking their place will be the RUSH Sportsmen Modifieds. A standard Sunday Thunder program is on tap for June 30, with autographs for all divisions.
The divisional sponsors of Tri City Raceway Park for 2024 are: Krill Recycling, LLC (410 Sprint Cars), 21st Centure Energy Group (358 Modifieds), Hovis Auto & Truck Supply (Pro Stocks), and 4 Your Car Connection (RUSH Sprint Cars).
All competitors at Tri City Raceway Park will be eligible for theMarsh Heating & Cooling Heat Race Challenge. The driver that wins the most heat races over the courseof the season, regardless of the class, will receive a special award.
Other marketing partners of Tri City Raceway Park for 2024 include: Erie Beer,Wab-Tec(manufacturer of locomotive engines),Schaeffer Lubricants,Keystone Transit(school buses),Blue Ox Timbers(buyers of timberland timber land management),Constable Refuse(residential and commercial garbage collectors),First Rate Realty(real estate sales),Landscape Connection(portable toilets and landscape supplies),KEI-Klapec Express Inc.(trucking company),BKI-Bert Klapec Inc.(excavation and demolition),Shambaugh Towing,Gibson Hill Automotive(auto repair),McCandless Ford Sales(located in Mercer and Meadville),McCandless Trailer Sales(located in Mercer and Meadville),Big Dog RC(remote controlled cars and race track),McGregor Excavating,Les Frickshun(lubricants and undercoating),Bish Heating & Cooling,Wet Hose LLC(pressure washing),Heffern Septic Service,Tionesta Builders Supply(located in Tionesta and Shippenville),UCIP-United Community Independence Program(housing and services for the handicapped),Close Racing Supply,Billy’s Garage & Towing,Oakland-Rampart Equipment(makers of centrifugal dryers, wash systems, and separators).
Remember that you will need to check the Facebook page, Tri City Raceway Park, for current information. The former website is not updated and will soon be replaced.
Tri-City Raceway Parkis located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township. Professional auto racing will be presented in a family friendly atmosphere most Sunday evenings from May through Labor Day weekend.
RESULTS
21st Century Energy Group 358 Modified Feature: Erick Rudolph, Eric Gabany, Kyle Fink, Chad Reitz, Hayden Holden, Makayla Shannon, Frank Guidace, Lenny Liebold, III.
Krill Recycling 410 Sprint Car Feature: Jeremy Weaver, Brandon Spithaler, Jack Sodeman, Jr., A.J. Flick, Carl Bowser, Bob Felmlee, Chase Metheney, Dylan Norris, Matt Farnham, Jazlyn Boyles, Gale Ruth, Jr., Cameron Nastasi, Shane Shook, Bodey McClintock, Andy Cavanaugh.
4 Your Car Connection RUSH Sprint Car Fearure: John Mollick, Brent Rhebergen, Arnie Kent, Trent Marshall, Joe Buccola, Luke Mulichak, Zach Wilson, Charles McClintock, Ricky Tucker, III, Blaze Myers, Devon Deeter, Logen Lockhart.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock Feature: Bobby Whitling, Matt Bernard, Jake Whitling, Josh Seippel, Jackson Humanic, Pat Fielding, Tommy Dembowski, Charlie McMillen, Jason Kimmy, Tyler Wyant, Russ Coyne, Doug Iorio, II, Chris Schneider, Rod Laskey, Aaron Smith, Andrew Hammond (DNS), Mike Miller (DNS), Hunter Exley (DNS), Bob Conner (DNS).
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock Make-up Feature: Bob Conner, Bobby Whitling, Jackson Humanic, Tommy Dembowski, Rod Laskey, Tim Bish, Charlie McMillen, Aaron Smith. Doug Iorio, II, Tyler Wyant, Hunter Exley, Andrew Hammond, Pat Fielding, Josh Seippel, Brandon Conner (DNS), Nathan Young (DNS), Allen Lamb (DNS).
