Published: May 13, 2023
JENNERSTOWN ― Jennerstown Speedway Complex welcomed drivers from Ohio, Indiana, and West Virginia on Saturday night as the Ohio Wheelman Series made its debut at the track. The street stock touring series kicked off its 2023 season with a 50-lap feature event at Jennerstown with a $2,500 purse.
Billy Roberts dominated the race and claimed the first-place prize. Local Jennerstown street stock drivers Brent Bickerstaff and Richard Meehleib Jr. joined the race and each earned top 10's.
The half-mile track also hosted its second week of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing. The first two races of the night had green-white-checkered finishes after late cautions set up two-lap dashes to the finish.
In the Integrity Coatings Chargers, Ken Burkholder picked up his first win of the season, edging Darin Mauzy.
Meanwhile, in the Somerset Trust Fast N’ Furious 4’s, Caleb Vasos earned his first victory of 2023, leading every lap of the feature race, and holding of Dennis Shawley at the finish line.
Defending One Stop Auto Sales Pro Stock champion, Jeff Giles, made his first trip to victory lane on the season. Giles started on the pole, jumped out to an early lead. He stayed out front as the race stayed green the entire way.
In the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models, Joe Maruca won his first race since the 2021 season. Dennis Wenner led the first four laps before defending champion Barry Awtey passed him for the lead. The caution came out when Wenner got together with Ethan Myers and collected Owen Houpt and Garry Wiltrout, causing a long red flag delay.
After the caution, Awtey regained the lead on the restart, but Maruca, who started eighth, tracked down Awtey and made the pass for the lead with 10 laps to go. Maruca did not race in 2022 and had just four top 10's in 2021. Awtey finished second.
Doug Glessner continued his dominance in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division. Glessner, who won last week, and seven races each of the past two seasons, claimed his second win of the year on Saturday night.
Jason Busch started on the pole and had the lead until Tom Golik and Joey School got together to bring out the caution. The restart put Glessner on the front row with Busch. Glessner quickly grabbed the lead and drove off for the win.
The ISMA MSS Supermodifieds will be at Jennerstown Speedway on May 13, along with all six weekly divisions in action.
