Published: June 12, 2022
JENNERSTOWN — The Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models spent more time under caution than running green flag laps, but Jennerstown Speedway’s all-time winningest driver, Barry Awtey, waited out several caution flags to claim his second win of 2022.
Of the 13 late models that started the race, just five were left without battle scars on Saturday night.
On Lap 1, Owen Houpt spun bringing out the first caution. On the restart, veteran driver Mike Hemminger and youngster Ethan Meyers got together ending Hemminger’s night as he slammed into the wall in Turn 2, also damaging the cars of Todd Price and Joe Peifer who could not continue.
As the race went back to green, Awtey was able to snag the lead from Bryan Shipp before the caution flew yet again when last week’s winner, Brandan Marhefka, spun in Turn 1 bringing out yet another caution with 26 laps yet to race.
With Awtey as the leader, he chose the outside lane and sailed to first on the restart. The field ran 15 more green flag laps before the caution flew again. Long-time drivers Garry Wiltrout and Dennis Wenner were battling for the sixth position. The two were side-by-side out of Turn 2 and touched down the back stretch. The contact sent Wiltrout’s machine head-on into the wall at the entrance of Turn 3 destroying his car and ending his night.
Awtey held off Shipp on the restart and cruised to his second win of the year. The top five cars were the only ones to not receive damage during the race. Shipp finished second. Travis Fisher, Jarred Barclay and Jeremy Shaffer also picked up top five finishes.
In the One Stop Auto Sales Pro Stock division, Kyle Burkholder needed a little luck to score his second win of the season. Adam Kostelnik had dominated the feature race and owned a large lead over Burkholder. However, Kostelnik’s car broke on the final lap allowing Burkholder and the rest of the field to sail by him. In Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane, Burkholder said he could see sparks flying from Kostelnik’s machine a few laps before the car quit. Kostelnik ended up finishing in the back of the field.
Caleb Vasos earned his second win in as many weeks with a last lap pass in the Somerset Trust Fast N’ Furious 4’s. Robert Pluta started on the front row and drove off to a big lead. Vasos began seventh and had to work his way through the field. On the final lap, Pluta went very high in Turn 2 and opened the door for Vasos on the low line. Vasos completed the pass down the back stretch and earned the win.
Defending Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified champion Tom Golik picked up his first win of the season on Saturday night. Golik’s teammate, Pete Rech, had been leading the race. With 11 laps to go, Rech’s car broke, and he had to give up the lead and pull onto pit road. The lead was given to Joey School, who could not hold off Golik. Just two laps later, Golik passed School and held off points leader John Fama for the win.
Steve Singo picked up his second win of the year in the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers. Singo had to hold off Nate Valente for the win. Valente did everything he could for several laps, but the young driver raced Singo cleanly and just could not get the run he needed to make the pass.
In the Ron’s Collision Center Street Stocks, Casey Fleegle survived a green-white-checkered finish for his third win of the year. Greg Burbidge was leading the field when the caution came out with 13 laps to go. The restart bunched up the field and allowed Fleelge to make the pass around Burbidge. On the final lap, three cars spun in Turn 1, setting up a two-lap shootout for the finish. Fleegle started to the inside of Burbidge and cleared him for the lead and the win.
Jennerstown Speedway will host Pittsburgh’s own The Clarks for an on-track concert following the races on Saturday night. The first green flag will drop a little earlier than usual. Racing will begin at 5:30 p.m. Advanced tickets are available at the track office and online at jennerstown.org.
