On Saturday night August 17^th, Teddy Gibala, of Coulter, PA won for the sixth time in 2019, in the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division of racing.  No other driver has won more than twice.  Also celebrating in Stoney's Beer Victory Lane were Anthony Aiello (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Aaron Van Fleet (Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stocks), Scott Mitchell (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Evan Nibert (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders).  Fans were treated to an on-track "Meet and Greet" with the drivers and cars before the races, as the second autograph night of 2019 made lasting memories for spectators of all ages.

The 30-lap Martella's Pharmacies Late Model feature race started with Bryan Shipp and Garry Wiltrout on the front row.  Shipp, trying to end a long winless drought, surrendered the top spot and Wiltrout led lap one.   Barry Awtey advanced from the fourth starting spot into second place by lap three.  Wiltrout opened up a lead of several car lengths, seeking his second victory of the season.  Point standings leader, Teddy Gibala, passed Shipp for third place on lap four, and immediately began to challenge runner-up Awtey.  A lengthy battle of seemingly equal cars vying for second place had fans’ cheering loudly, and allowed Wiltrout to pull farther ahead of the field.  On lap 13, Gibala made a low groove pass of five-time Champion Awtey to claim position number two.  Quickly, Gibala reeled in the race leader.  At the midpoint of the event, a lead battle ensued.  On lap 16 Gibala edged ahead of defending Champion Wiltrout, and by lap 17 Gibala had completed the pass for first place.  Gibala would never relinquish the lead.  Awtey, a two time winner in 2019, closed in on Wiltrout and threatened to take second place.  Shipp, who fell many car lengths behind the leaders early on, recovered to race with Awtey and Wiltrout through the middle stages of the event, before dropping back again after a brief loss of power.  Veteran Champions Wiltrout and Awtey crossed the finish line in thrilling side-by-side fashion, but not within striking distance of Gibala.   Digital scoring determined what the human eye could not – that Wiltrout was ahead of Awtey by just millimeters at the conclusion.  While five different drivers have won in 2019, Gibala’s impressive total of a half-dozen victories have yielded him a 27 point advantage in the quest for the 2019 Late Model title, after he earned a Street Stock Championship in 2014.  Gibala’s EH Schwab Metal Spinning/Beer Is Good/Port City Racing Chevrolet passed former Champions in both the low groove of the speedway and the high lane, en route to the checkered flag.  Wiltrout finished second, with Awtey in third place.  Shipp’s roller coaster night ended in fourth position, and Joe Maruca came on strong, late in the race, to finish fifth after starting in eleventh place.  Gibala and Wiltrout also won the heat races.

The defending Champion of the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division returned to Stoney’s Victory Lane for the second time in 2019, after the 20-lap feature event.  For the second week in a row, veteran Adam Kostelnik looked like the driver to beat, early on.  After leading the most laps in the “Masters” event one week prior, Kostelnik grabbed the lead from pole starter “Racin’ Jason” Busch when the green flag waved.  Busch has also looked very strong in recent weeks, and kept Kostelnik in his sights for the first few laps.   By lap four, Aiello was the runner up, and closed the gap between himself and Kostelnik quickly.  With Kostelnik as his mentor early in this career, Aiello won Charger and Street Stock races while climbing the divisional ladder to Modified competition.  On lap eight, second generation racer, Aiello, made the winning pass of Kostelnik.  Late in the race, Busch won a brief battle with Kostelnik to reclaim the second spot.  On the heels of four consecutive victories, “Masters” Champion R.J. Dallape surged to a third place finish after starting in eleventh position.   Kostelnik nursed a loose handing car to a fourth place finish, and veteran Tom Golik placed fifth.   Aiello and Busch were the heat race winners.

The Championship points leader turned in a dominating performance during the 20-lap Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stock feature.  Starting on the front row, Aaron Van Fleet opened up a comfortable lead over all competitors, from the wave of the green flag.  A many time winner in 4-Cylinder racing early in his career, Van Fleet began his night by winning the heat race.  He went on to lead every lap of the feature, and drive uncontested, to his second victory of the season.  Now, Van Fleet is enjoying a 20 point lead in the standings, toward a first Championship title.   Casey Fleegle, the division’s leading winner, started in eighth place and finished second – although a distant second.  Two-time 2019 winner Zac Todaro had mechanical problems during pre-race practice, but started in seventh position, and advanced to finish third.  Sophomore driver Jeremy Shaffer, also a winner this season, finished in fourth place and veteran Mel Wilt crossed the line in fifth position.

A photo finish had fans standing at the end of the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers’ 15-lap feature.  A substitute driver led 14 laps of the event – Casey Fleegle.  Many times a winner in previous years driving his own car, Fleegle returned to Charger racing aboard the Justin Frampton #66 car.  Fleegle won his heat race, and held off the challenges of Scott Mitchell for almost every lap of the feature.  Mitchell, the most tenured driver in the division, stormed along side of Fleegle in final turns, and crossed the finish line door-to-door with Fleegle.  Mitchell was the 1993 “Pure Stock” division Champion, and was ahead by inches to claim his third win of 2019 on Saturday.   Fleegle placed a very close second, with points leader Dale Kimberly claiming third place.  Heat winner, Kimberly, was battling with the lead duo for much of the feature, as all three cars were in striking distance of one another.   Former dirt tracker Steven Brown finished fourth, and veteran Kelly Shaulis recovered from an early race pit stop to earn fifth place.

Defending Champion Evan Nibert launched from his front row starting spot into the lead on lap one of 15, in the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder feature race.  Veteran Steve Settle started on the pole position, but was passed by former Champ Brent Bickerstaff for second place, on lap four.  Bickerstaff has been on a hot streak with two recent wins, but he could not threaten Nibert’s lead.  Nibert masterfully worked through heavy lapped traffic to earn his third win of the year.  Bickerstaff finished second after starting seventh, and the leading winner of 2019, Andrew Pluta started eighth and placed third.  Impressive rookie Michael Saylor was the fourth place finisher, and former Champ Paul Koffler, III used a new race car to a finish in fifth spot.

Saturday, August 24^th, 2019, Jennerstown Speedway presents Five Division Racing, as the quest for the 2019 division Championship titles nears conclusion.  Gates open at 4pm with racing at 6pm.  For more information visit www.jennerstown.org