Round three of the 2020 season at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex produced a third different winner in the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division of racing on Saturday night, June 20th. Ohio’s Albert Francis started eighth, and earned his first Jennerstown victory. Also parking in Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane were Anthony Aiello (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Casey Fleegle (Ron’s Collision Center Street Stocks), Dale Kimberly (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Jeff Vasos (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders). The track crew and officials worked hard to dry the racing surface for competition, after a prolonged rain shower delayed the start time over 30 minutes.
Albert Francis, the well known Ohio ace, won his preliminary heat race for the third week in a row, in three events this season. Teddy Gibala won the other heat race, then started on the pole position for the 30-lap Martella's Pharmacies Late Model feature event. As defending Jennerstown Champion, Gibala pulled away from second generation racer Paul Fess, Jr. when the event began. Fess, a second-year Late Model racer, trailed Gibala by several car lengths early. Francis started eighth, but passed opening night winner Gary Wiltrout, among others, to reach the second position by lap nine. Francis gained quickly on leader Gibala, as both drivers were seeking a first victory of the year. At the halfway point of the race, a side by side duel for the lead ensued. Young Francis, a winner of two major events in his home state in 2019, grabbed the lead officially on lap 17. Gibala, the leading winner of last season at Jennerstown, fell back by several car lengths. All race long, three cars fought for fourth position in an aggressive battle. Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger, former Champ Barry Awtey and previous week's winner Cale Gale diced for top five spots until lap 24. At that point, a turn two crash damaged all three cars and others. Fess was forced to pit with damage, ending his top five run. With six laps to go, the restart gave Gibala the opportunity to launch from the outside lane, along side of Francis. Gibala re-claimed the lead with five laps to go, after a brilliant restart strategy. But, another caution flag forced the final restart of the race, and Francis out dueled Gibala to lead the final four laps. Francis, the touring series traveler, scored his first Jennerstown win aboard the Rack Hunter/Able Bulk Carriers/VonDoorn Racing Development Chevrolet. Gibala placed second, with former Modified winner and sophomore driver Jarred Barclay earning third place. Gale raced from the tail of the field to finish fourth, and rookie Jeremy Shaffer placed fifth.
Defending Champion Anthony Aiello grabbed the lead from his pole starting position for the 20-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified feature race. “Racin’ Jason” Busch started beside Aiello, and although Busch had been quick in recent events, Aiello drove off, leading by a straighaway. Veteran Tom Golik marched toward the front, after starting in sixth spot. Golik passed Busch for second place at the midpoint of the event. A caution flag incident allowed Golik, a former dirt track Champion, to restart alongside Aiello. But, second generation driver Aiello raced back to a comfortable lead, and scored his first win of 2020. Aiello, also a former Street Stock Champion, has tallied multiple Modified wins each of the last few seasons. Golik placed second, although he never threatened Aiello’s lead. Another former Street Stock Champ, Adam Kostelnik, made an impressive charge from ninth starting position to finish third. Busch, a multi-feature winner in 2019, placed fourth ahead of asphalt racing rookie Doug Glessner. Busch and Kostelnik won the heat races.
Rookie Jeff Barclay and Casey Fleegle won the heat races for the Ron’s Collision Center Street Stock division. On lap three of the 20-lap feature race, Fleegle wrestled the lead away from Barclay, after taking the green flag in fourth place. Both are former dirt track racers. Fleegle has won in three divisions in his Jennerstown career, and backed up his opening night win by scoring a second victory in three events on Saturday. Defending Champion, Aaron Van Fleet, made a pass of Mel Wilt for second place on lap six. Van Fleet, the winner one week prior, pulled away from Wilt but could not close on leader Fleegle in the middle stages of the race. A caution flag with seven laps to go, aided Van Fleet's quest for the top spot. Fleegle chose the inside lane for the restart, and defended the point position. Fleegle enjoyed a three car length advantage with five laps to go, and took the checkered flag. Van Fleet and Wilt finished second and third. After a spin, recent heat race winner Angie Kimberly raced back into the top five, claiming fourth position. Barclay placed fifth.
Defending champion Dale Kimberly is a perfect “three for three” in the 2020 season of Farmers Union Co-Op Charger racing. Bob Mostoller and New Jersey invader Brian O'Shea each led a lap in the early stages of the 15-lap feature race. After a heated, three-wide battle for top spots, Kimberly became the third different leader of the event. Kimberly's teammate Adam Kostelnik followed Kimberly to the front. Kimberly started eighth, and Kostelnik started fifth, yet at the finish line the team cars were first and second. Kimberly’s win was his seventh straight dating back to 2019. Steve Singo climbed into the third position after starting near the tail of the field. Mostoller held on to finish fourth and rookie Will Hemminger rallied late in the race, gaining positions to reach the top five. Kimberly and his teammate Kostelnik also won the heat races.
Pole starter Jeff Vasos took the lead early, outrunning sophomore driver Michael Strouse in the 15-lap Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder feature race. As the winner on opening night 2020, Vasos weaved through lapped traffic masterfully as the event was contested without a caution. At times going three-wide with lapped cars, Vesos maintained a four car-length advantage over Strouse, who seeks his first win. As Vesos earned the second win of his rookie season as an asphalt racer, the official top five finishers were Vesos, Strouse, Saler, former Champ Steve Settle, and Lance Shawley After Saler and Strouse won the heats.
Saturday, June 27th, Jennerstown Speedway’s five division racing will begin at 6pm, and following the racing action the first “Enduro” of 2020 will hit the track. A sort of rolling “demolition derby” with no caution flags, the Enduro drivers will compete monthly throughout the season starting this week.
