The 2018 racing season concluded with seven divisions of racing at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex, including two nationally televised touring series events.  The first Jennerstown visit in the history of the winged Must See Sprint Car Series, sponsored by Allied Milk Producers, was won by Jimmy McCune, of Toledo, Ohio, who was also crowned Champion of the tour.  The Super Cup Stock Car Series’ twin 50-lap races were swept by West Virginians as Brent Nelson and former Champion Harvey Harrison, who each drove to a victory.  In the five divisions of Jennerstown weekly racing, Barry Awtey (Martella's Pharmacies RUSH Late Models), Adam Kostelnik (Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modifieds), 2018 Champions Josh Coughenour (J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stocks), and Dale Kimberly (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and David Campbell (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders) closed out the year by celebrating in victory lane.  FFX Trucking of Windber, PA, celebrated National Truck Drivers Week by giving $5 off admission to all drivers holding a CDL, and Pro Disposal Inc. co-sponsored the racing on “Champions Night.”  Dates for the airing of the Sprint Car and Super Cup Series races on the MAV-TV network will be announced in the coming days.

After Bobby Santos, III set the fastest qualifying time for the Must See Sprint Car 30-lap feature Powered By Milk, Jimmy McCune grabbed the lead from his fourth place starting berth.  Santos moved into second place, and several times found himself close enough to challenge McCune for the top spot.  Heavy lapped traffic forced the leaders to change lanes repeatedly, and McCune increased his lead interval while weaving the slower cars.  With two laps to go, the only caution flag incident, forced McCune to take evasive action.  Two lapped cars collided right in front of the leader.  McCune  defended his lead on the restart, to win the first-ever tour visit to Jennerstown, and drink the ceremonial Chocolate Milk in victory lane, courtesy of the Allied Milk Producers.  Santos and recent tour winner Charlie Schultz were the podium finishers.  The race was a tribute to the late David Mateer, a long time fixture at the locally based American Racer Tire headquarters.

When racing began on the final night of the 2018 season, one point separated Martella's Pharmacies RUSH Late Model Championship contenders Mike Hemminger and Garry Wiltrout.  Hemminger, the former Street Stock Champ was ahead in the standings until after the heat races, when Wiltrout finished one spot higher, to enter the 30-lap feature in a tie.  Defending Champion Jeremiah Kuntz took the lead from row one starting position, while Hemminger and Wiltrout started side-by-side in row three.  Hemminger dropped back a couple of spots in the opening laps.  Barry Awtey began to advance immediately, after starting in the tenth position.  As Awtey moved through the field, Hemminger’s car failed to display the speed that carried him to two victories earlier in 2018.   Kuntz’s bid for a second victory of the year was halted, when Awtey wrestled the lead away, in the middle stages of the event.  Wiltrout, conservatively gained two positions, as his Championship nemesis, Hemminger, spun to avoid the crossed-up car of rookie Brandan Marhefka, in a caution flag incident.  Hemminger would finish the race in ninth place.  Former Champion Awtey, capped off the year with his ninth victory – by far the leading win total of the season.  He also won a heat race, driving his Wheeler Show Cattle/Stoystown Auto/Pizza Hut Chevy.  Kuntz, won his heat race and finished in second place.  Wiltrout finished third, and eighth place starter Bryan Shipp advanced to fourth position.  Veteran Todd Price ended the season with a top five finish.  Wiltrout, of Somerset, PA, claimed his second career Championship title at his home track, by twelve points.  Wiltrout has also driven his R&R Motorsports’ Stone & Company/Franjo Construction/Meegan Ford to a championship at Motordrome Speedway, after claiming the 2004 Jennerstown title.

Tom Golik and “Racin’ Jason” Busch were both multi-feature winners in 2017, and engaged in a lead battle during the 20-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modified feature.  Both drivers were seeking a first win of 2018, when Adam Kostelnik joined their fight for positions.  Kostelnik started in ninth place, and passed both veterans to earn his second win of the year.  Anthony Aiello rallied late in the event to claim second place, with Golik placing third and Busch fourth.  Recent feature winner Pete Rech finished fifth and won his heat race.  Kostelnik won the other heat.  A rookie was crowned 2018 Champion, as Aiello, of White Oak, PA, led the point standings all year long.  The former Street Stock Champ compiled an astonishing ten victories en route to the title, aboard his Total Mobility Services/World of Values Outlet/Kimberly Contracting sponsored machine. 

Josh Coughenour won the battle and the war, securing the Championship title for the J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stocks, and also wining the 20-lap feature race.  A new foe tried to keep the Champ from victory lane:  Casey Fleegle.  Fleegle won in both the Charger division and 4-Cylinder division during 2018, but climbed up the divisional ladder for his first ever start in a Street Stock.  Fleegle battled for the win early in the event, racing door to door with Coughenour.  Coughenour started fourth and scored the win, while Zac Todaro made a late-race charge to finish second after starting seventh.  Fleegle placed third in his maiden voyage.  After a heated battle that included contact, Rick Meehleib and Aaron Van Fleet placed fourth and fifth, respectively.   Meehleib and Van Fleet were also the heat race winners.  Coughenour, of Gray, PA, steered his Tunstall Auto & Truck Service/K&D Auto Electric/Thomas Electrical Camaro to six wins, while tallying the most points.

Like Coughenour, Dale Kimberly ended a Championship season with a win, after the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers’ 15-lap feature.  The victory was his eighth of 2018, and he announced that he will donate all of his Jennerstown Speedway winnings to a family in need, suffering a recent tragedy.  He completed the season with an 88 point lead in the standings, aboard the Kimberly Contracting/AK Chassis/Poljak Engines Chevrolet.  Kimberly, of Sutersville, PA, is a former dirt track Champ as well.  Two-time winner and rookie, Dan Jackson crossed the finish line in second place after starting ninth, with fellow rookie Steven Brown placing third; both drivers converted from dirt track racing this year.  Veterans Kelly Shaulis and Scott Mitchell completed the top five finishers.  Kimberly and Mitchell were the heat race winners.

From the pole starting position, David Campbell dominated the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders’ 15-lap feature.  A winner in 2017, Campbell earned his first win of 2018, on the final night of action, outrunning second place finisher Evan Nibert, who started tenth.  Defending Champion Brent Bickerstaff placed third, with recent winners Andrew Pluta and Aaron Karasack finishing fourth and fifth.  Pluta and Campbell were the heat winners.  Nibert, of Somerset, PA, locked up his first-career Championship title, steering the Bailey’s Auto/Cri-lon Corp/Wes Lewis Electric Chevy to a half-dozen victories along the way.