(Jennerstown, PA)  The biggest event held at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex in 25 years, the inaugural “Motor Mountain Masters” race was contested on Saturday, August 11, 2018, and a home track favorite defeated a national touring star to claim the prestigious victory.  Barry Awtey, of Jenners, PA, is a five time Jennerstown Speedway Champion, and he drove passed Kentucky’s Josh Brock to the delight of the Keystone State fans, winning the Martella’ Pharmacies Late Model division’s crown-jewel event.  Anthony Aiello won the biggest race of the year for the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division, and Evan Nibert claimed the victory in the Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder division.

Josh Brock, of Corbin, Kentucky, made his first visit to Jennerstown Speedway, to try and become the winner of the first running of the “Motor Mountain Masters.”  A nationally touring superstar, Brock is currently leading the Championship Chase in the ARCA/CRA Late Model Series.  In spite of his lack of experience at Jennerstown, he set the fastest time in Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model qualifying, earning a cash bonus as the Arsenberger Trucking Pole Award winner, with a time of 18.795 seconds.  When the three-segment, 150-lap feature began, Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger grabbed the lead.  Hemminger started from the outside of row one, alongside Brock.   Hemminger, a recent feature winner, used the outside groove for much of the race, but surrendered the lead to Brock, early on.  Barry Awtey started in fourth spot, but passed Bryan Shipp for third on the second lap.  Shipp won a heat race earlier in the night, defeating Brock, to do so.  On lap nine, Awtey grabbed second position from Hemminger, after the duo raced door-to-door for the spot.    Their battle enabled Brock to open up a healthy interval as leader.  Awtey began to gain on Brock, as the first segment was drawing to a close.  On lap 30, Awtey made a quick pass for the lead, as Brock seemingly allowed Awtey to streak passed on the inside.  Just before the 5-minute break at lap 40, Brock wrestled the lead back from Awtey and was in position number one at the first break.  Segment two began on lap 40, after many competitors changed tires, and action among top five drivers became heated.   Awtey again traded the lead with Brock on lap 45, and early leader Hemminger passed Brock for second place, as the top three raced tightly together.  Making contact more than once, Hemminger and Brock thrilled the large crowd with an intense battle, behind leader Awtey.   On lap 65, Hemminger and Brock tagged bumpers on the front straight, forcing a slowdown that collected Shipp, and caused a caution flag.  Shipp was finished for the night with front end damage.   Hemminger and Brock continued on, though Brock’s machine showed notable wrinkles in the bodywork.   After the restart, Hemminger stole the lead back from Awtey, as the two close friends pulled away from Brock.  Mark Smith, the 2006 Jennerstown Champion, made his first start in many years, taking the green flag in eighth position when the race began.   He climbed into the top five after the restart, and passed Garry Wiltrout for fourth place on lap 80.   Awtey was once again the leader on lap 81, and stayed in front of Hemminger until the final break at lap 90.  After the multiple lead changes, among three drivers in first two segments, the third segment was “owned” by one driver.   For the final 60 laps, Awtey showed supremacy.  Hemminger faded from contention, as Brock grabbed the runner up spot.  Wiltrout, a two-time Jennerstown Champion, flexed his muscle in the final segment, advancing to third place.  Teddy Gibala patiently waited until the closing stages of the race to launch forward, and looked impressive, climbing from his seventh place starting spot.  But, Awtey was pulling away from the entire field, as the race came to a close.  Earning the lion’s share of the $53,000 in prize money offered for the event, Awtey cruised to the largest payday of his career, winning the historic, first running of the “Motor Mountain Masters.” 

Standing next to his Wheeler Family Cattle/Stoystown Auto/Pizza Hut Chevrolet, Awtey praised his crew for preparing a car that has now won three straight races at Jennerstown.  Acknowledging his late father, Bill, who is a Hall of Fame driver and car builder, Awtey emotionally mentioned in victory lane:

“Tomorrow (August 12) would have been my dad’s birthday… I think he is smiling in heaven right now.”

Brock’s first trip to Jennerstown resulted in a second place finish, with two time 2018 winner Wiltrout placing third.  Gibala’s smart, patient, run earned him the fourth position paycheck, and Smith nailed down fifth place, as he resurrected his career.  Hemminger and Awtey joined Shipp as winners of the preliminary heat races.

The two most recent winners at Jennerstown Speedway in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division were atop the speed chart after time trials.  Anthony Aiello and Pete Rech were the quickest, with Aiello’s time of 20.645 seconds around the half-mile oval, the best time.  Aiello, from the Pittsburgh suburb of White Oak, PA, darted into the lead.  As a Modified rookie, the former Street Stock Champion pulled away from Rech by a few car lengths at the start of the two-segment, 50-lap feature.   Aiello led every lap of the first segment – which was the distance of typical Saturday night feature race.  Late in the segment, recent winner Adam Kostelnik advanced into the top five, and looked strong.  A five-minute break for adjustments to the cars at lap 20, restarted the competitors two-by-two for the final segment of 30 laps.  Rech, who stood in victory lane one week prior, was unable to keep up with Aiello, and settled into second place.  Aiello again dashed out to a comfortable lead.  On lap 25, Kostelnik slowed and parked his machine in the pits.  Ohio invader Jeff Dunfee was impressive, as he won his heat race earlier in the evening.  The former Quarter Midget and Bandelero divisions National Champion had never seen the Jennerstown Speedway prior to the “Masters” event.  Accustomed to smaller tracks in the Buckeye State, Dunfee proved the heat win was no fluke, as maintained the third position throughout the feature race.   Dunfee, however, never seriously threatened to steal second place from Rech.  When the checkered flag waved, Aiello’s incredibly successful 2018 campaign was boosted by an enormous paycheck and yet another trophy;  his eighth win of the year.  Rech finished second, and Dunfee placed third, in his first visit.   Popular “Racin’ Jason” Busch, twice a winner last year, finished fourth and veteran Tom Golik, also a two-time 2017 winner, placed fifth.  Aiello’s triumph was a sweep of the “Masters” agenda, as he won his heat race, along with being the fastest qualifier, and feature winner.

Casey Fleegle and Evan Nibert won heat races for the Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders, in preparation for the longest distance race in the division’s history.   The 35-lap contest began with the speedy pair as the front row starters.  Nibert grabbed the lead at the start, with Fleegle in close pursuit.  After just a three lap duel for first place, Fleegle slowed with a mechanical problem, and headed to the pits.  Fifth place starter Andrew Pluta inherited the second position, but Nibert was comfortably ahead of all challengers.  Although Pluta is a four time winner in 2018, he was never able to gain on leader Nibert.  The race was completed without a caution flag, and Nibert set a torrid pace, dominating the event to earn the largest paycheck ever offered to the drivers in the 4-Cylinder division.  Although the event was a “non-points race,” Nibert is the driver atop the Championship standings, currently.  Pluta claimed second place ahead of Bently Miller, who finished third.  Defending Champion Brent Bickerstaff placed fourth and Matthew Ruffing was the fifth place finisher.

Employees of Specialty Tires of America enjoyed a company picnic at the speedway, watching the products they produce carry the drivers to the finish line in all three races.  The American Racer Tires used in the Modified and 4-Cylinder divisions, as well as the McCreary Tires that adorned the Late Models, are all produced by the capable, experienced, staff of Specialty Tires of America, in nearby Indiana, PA.

Saturday August 18, Jennerstown Speedway will present four divisions of racing, for the Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modifieds, the J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stocks, the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers, and the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders.  Also, the 2018 class of Jennerstown Speedway Hall of Fame inductees will be enshrined during a ceremony at intermission.  Gates open at 4pm with racing action at 6pm.   The Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models will have the week off from competition.