(Jennerstown, PA) Former Champion, Garry Wiltrout, became the second driver to win more than once, in the Martella's Pharmacies RUSH Late Model division of racing at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex on Saturday night, July 14, 2018. Anthony Aiello (Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modifieds) and Andrew Pluta (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders) were also repeat winners, as Mountain Ridge ATV Park and Wheeler Bros. Inc. sponsored the racing action, and the “Salute to the Armed Forces” night. Two divisions, competed in their biggest races of the year, in memory of Hall of Famer Bill Awtey: Josh Coughenour won the J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stocks special event, and Adam Kostelnik won the big race for Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers.
Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger started the 30-lap Martella's Pharmacies RUSH Late Model feature from the pole position, with recent winner Garry Wiltrout alongside. When the green flag was displayed, a “false start” forced a second attempt at completing the first lap, and Hemminger was penalized two positions, for launching early. Zane Ferrell inherited the top spot, but before the first lap was officially scored, a controversial incident damaged two cars, and forced another restart. At the back of the pack, Joe Maruca and point standings leader Barry Awtey made contact, resulting in a spin by Awtey. When the race officially began, former Champion Wiltrout grabbed the early lead, from rookie Ferrell. Ferrell, a former Modified Champion, successfully defended the runner-up spot from the repeated challenges of Hemminger during the first nine laps. Them, a caution flag was needed for Awtey, who’s car rolled to a stop on the backstretch, during a night of races dedicated to his late father. Awtey, the leading winner of 2018, returned to the track after a quick pit stop. But, just before green flag racing resumed, Awtey drove into the side of Maruca’s car, destroying much of the bodywork on both machines. Although the field was rolling toward the green flag, the incident did occur under caution flag conditions, and track officials disqualified Awtey for his retaliatory actions against Maruca, who Awtey believed was responsible for the incident on lap one. Officials kept the two quarrelling race teams separated in the pit area, and “shouting-at-a-distance” was the only repercussion. Racing resumed with Wiltrout leading Ferrell, and Jeremiah Kuntz. Kuntz, the defending Track Champion, passed Hemminger for third place and began to challenge for the second spot. On lap twelve, Kuntz became the runner-up, passing Ferrell, while Wiltrout enjoyed a sizable lead. Four laps later, Hemminger claimed third position, moving around Ferrell. In the closing laps, Wiltrout displayed impressive strength, pulling even farther away from opening night winner, Kuntz. Wiltrout’s prior 2018 win, was a memorable duel with young Maruca and a close finish. As Wiltout, of Somerset, PA, crossed the finish line for his second win of the year, he was comfortably ahead of all challengers, and cruised to victory lane with an empty rearview mirror. Only Awtey had won more than once this season, before Wiltrout steered the Stone & Company/Franjo Construction/Meegan Ford to his second triumph. Kuntz, Hemminger, Ferrell, and Bryan Shipp placed second through fifth. Wiltrout and Kuntz also won the heat races.
Stoystown Auto Wreckers RUSH Modified division rookie Anthony Aiello continued unprecedented dominance, after starting in the fourth position on the grid, for the 20-lap feature race. Pole starter Tom Golik led the first lap, but two early crashes forced a pair of restarts. With multiple cars unable to continue, due to damage, Golik held the top spot with Matt Smith in pursuit as racing resumed. Golik, a two-time winner in 2017 is seeking his first win of this year, and held the lead until lap eight. Aiello, passed Smith for second place, and then passed veteran Golik for first place on consecutive laps. Aiello, from the Pittsburgh neighborhood of White Oak, PA, distanced himself from the rest of the field, while his good friend Adam Kostelnik advanced, late in the race. Kostelink, the winner one week prior, started in tenth place, and with two laps to go, he took the runner-up position from Golik. When the checkered flag waved, Aiello had a tremendous lead, and notched his sixth victory of the year. Kostelnik, Golik, Dustin Gursky, and Jim Bodziak completed the list of top five finishers. Aiello and Kostelnik were the winners of the preliminary heat races. Although Smith crossed the finish line in fourth place, his car did not meet the minimum weight requirement, during post-race inspection.
The longest distance, and highest paying race of the year for the J&J Truck Equipment RUSH Street Stocks, had fans on their feet and screaming at the conclusion. The “Bill Awtey Tribute Race,” 25-laps in length, began with young Zac Todaro taking the lead, from the pole position. Seemingly on the cusp of his first victory, Todaro led for 14 laps, defending his position from the challenges of recent winner Mel Wilt, early in the race. Point-standings leader Josh Coughenour started in sixth place, and claimed the second spot on lap seven. After an entertaining duel with Todaro, Coughenour became the leader on lap 15, and at the same time, defending Champion Lauren Butler advanced to second place. For the final ten laps, Butler chased and challenged Coughenour, often pulling alongside the leader and whipping the fans into a frenzy. Just like several of their memorable battles from 2017, Butler and Coughenour raced clean, and without contact with one another. At the finish line, Coughenour claimed the special event win, by a narrow margin, in another thrilling conclusion with Butler in striking distance. Although four different drivers have won in the division this year, Coughenour is the only multiple winner, claiming four trophies. Butler, seeking her first win of 2018, placed second ahead of Wilt, Todaro, and previous week’s winner Jeremy Shaffer. Coughenour and Butler each won a heat race.
The lead battle erupted with just five laps to go, in the biggest race of the year for the Farmers Union Co-Op Charger division. The 20-lap affair began with defending Champion and recent winner Jason Pritts taking the lead from rookie Dan Jackson. Jackson led the first lap of his asphalt racing career, as he is in transition from dirt track competition. Adam Kostelnik, competing occasionally in the division as a teammate to point leader Dale Kimberly, started in seventh place and was challenging Pritts for the lead, as early as lap ten. On lap 15, the leaders touched, and Pritts spun from the top spot, but made a skillful “save” to avoid a caution-flag incident or contact with the wall. Kostelnik secured the lead with the aggressive move, and drove to his first Charger division win, with teammate Kimberly finishing second after starting in twelfth place. Rookie Casey Fleegle, veteran Scott Mitchell, and Pritts crossed the finish line in top five positions. Just like the race’s namesake Bill Awtey, Kostelnik is also a driver and race car builder.
Andrew Pluta is now the leading winner in the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder division. Pluta started in the seventh spot, but was leading by the second lap, passing defending Champ Brent Bickerstaff. Pluta cruised to his third win of 2018, unchallenged over the 15-lap distance. Bickerstaff, Casey Fleegle, previous week’s winner Evan Nibert, and Joe Laposky crossed the finish line in positions two through five respectively. Nibert and Bickerstaff were the heat race winners.
Saturday, July 21st, Jennerstown Speedway Complex presents “Motor Mountain Mania,” with five division racing, plus an exhibit of antique and vintage race cars from the Eastern Museum of Racing. Gates open at 4pm with racing at 6pm. Adult general admission tickets are just ten $10, and children ages 12 and under are admitted free.
