(Jennerstown, PA)  For the first time ending his retirement from the sport, Mike Hemminger drove to victory in the Martella's Pharmacies RUSH Late Model division of racing on Saturday, July 21, 2018. In the Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modified division, Jared Barclay earned a first-career win, in only his third season of competition.    Aaron Van Fleet, (J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stocks) Dale Kimberly (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Evan Nibert (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders) were all repeat winners, as the Jennerstown Speedway officials completed the racing action between rain showers Saturday night.

The Martella's Pharmacies RUSH Late Model 30-lap feature race began with 2017 winner Bryan Shipp in the pole position, with rookie Zane Ferrell along side.  Ferrell, a former Modified division Champion, grabbed the early lead, as Shipp held on to second place.  Fourth place starter, Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger, advanced to second position, and began to challenge Ferrell.  Hemminger had led laps in almost every event during 2018, and totaled more “top three” finishes than any other driver, but was still seeking his first win of the year, as he pursued Ferrell.  On lap six, Hemminger passed Ferrell to move into the lead.  Meanwhile, after starting in eighth position, the previous week’s winner, Garry Wiltrout was advancing.  By lap ten, former Champ Wiltrout passed Shipp for third spot, and began closing the distance between himself, and runner-up Ferrell.  By the mid-point of the race, Hemminger had built up a healthy interval over the rest of the field.  A multiple winner of Late Model division feature races earlier in his career, Hemminger walked away from racing in the late 1990’s.  After a hiatus of nearly 20 years, Hemminger, of Stoystown, PA, jumped back into competition at Jennerstown Speedway in 2017.  His family-owned team endured an up and down season last year, but threatened for a victory repeatedly in 2018.  Without a caution flag incident, the race concluded with Hemminger taking the checkered flag, enjoying a comfortable margin of victory, and validating his return to the speedway, where both he and his father earned divisional championships, decades prior.  Rookie Ferrell completed his strongest run since moving up to the division, earning the second position, by holding off Wiltrout.  Wiltrout placed third ahead of his protégé Shipp, with defending Champion and 2018 winner Jeremiah Kuntz finishing fifth, after winning the heat race.  Standing next to his North Star Equipment/Jeffrey Carey & Associates Chevrolet in victory lane, Hemminger thanked his crew and his car owner/father, Larry, for their hard work, and thanked former Champion driver Barry Awtey, for assisting in his transition back to the cockpit of a race car.      

A first time winner, greeted fans from victory lane after the Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modifieds’ 30-lap feature.  Starting from the pole position, third-year asphalt racer Jared Barclay grabbed the lead.  Following a career in go-kart racing, dirt track 4-Cyinder competition, and dirt track Modified Lite racing, Barclay, of Somerset, PA, transitioned to paved track racing in 2016.   During 2018, Barclay displayed the speed needed to win, but suffered several misfortunes in the early races of the season.  On Saturday night, Barclay drove a flawless race, running away from the entire field in the feature, after winning his preliminary heat race, earlier in the evening.  A long and jubilant victory lane ceremony for Barclay and his family and crew was celebrated just before rain showers moved in, as the Modified race concluded the agenda for the night.  Recent winner Adam Kostelnik started in ninth position, and advanced to claim second place at the finish, but was never able to challenge Barclay for the win.  Kostelnik also won a heat race. Point standings leader Anthony Aiello climbed from the tenth starting position to earn a third place finish, and veteran Gary Scott finished in fourth place.  Modified Rookie Paul Fess, Jr. was the fifth place finisher.     

The 20-lap J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stock feature launched with popular veteran Jason Holder, and Aaron Van Fleet in row one.  Holder, who has struggled all season, immediately fell back several positions, allowing Van Fleet to lead lap one.  Van Fleet, notably younger than nearly every competitor in his division, drove away from a heated battle for second place.  A three-car fight for the runner up spot included two recent winners, and the defending Champion.  Rookie winner Jeremy Shaffer held off Lauren Butler for the first half of the race, then defended the second position from the challenges of points leader Scott Coughenour.  At the finish line, Van Fleet won for the second time in 2018, leading every lap in dominating style.  Former dirt track racer Shaffer placed second, with Coughenour in third place and Butler finishing fourth.  Angie Kimberly continued to look strong, earning another “top five” finish.  Coughenour won the heat race.

Division rookie Casey Fleegle took the lead from 2016 Champion Stephen Shelpman at the start of the 15-lap Farmers Union Co-Op Charger feature.  Shelpman was driving the Justin Frampton entry, for his first start of 2018.  Fleegle led until lap four, when point standings leader Dale Kimberly made the winning pass.  Kimberly is having the best season of his career, as the former dirt track Champion notched his sixth victory of the year Saturday night.  Fleegle claimed second place after winning the heat race, with Kimberly’s teammate A.J. Poljak finishing in third spot.  Dirt track converts, and rookies, Steven Brown and Dan Jackson earned fourth and fifth positions when the race concluded.  

The Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder division’s 15-lap feature was led by Bently Miller at the start.  Miller and David Campbell started in row one, but Campbell hit the inside wall, while Miller held the top spot.  Fourth place starter, Evan Nibert, took the lead from Miller on lap eight.  Casey Fleegle passed Miller for second place, and threatened to steal the lead from Nibert more than once.  When the checkered flag waved, Nibert earned his third win of 2018, with close-behind Fleegle nailing down a second place finish, just as he did in the Charger division.  Recent winner Andrew Pluta finished third, followed by Miller, and Joe Laposky.  Nibert and Campbell won the heat races.

On Saturday, July 28, Jennerstown Speedway Complex presents “Motor Mountain Mania,” five division racing plus, round two of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series, on “Scout Night.”  The annual salute to scouting welcomes all scouts in uniform with FREE admission for their families to enjoy a night at the races.