Jennerstown Speedway Complex roared back to life on Saturday night, June 6th, as “Opening Day 2020” launched a new season of stock car racing in the Laurel Highlands. Celebrating in Stoney's Beer Victory Lane were: Garry Wiltrout (Martella's Pharmacies Late Models), Anthony Aiello (Stoystown Auto Wrecking 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)
A pair of former Jennerstown Speedway Champions launched from the front row of the 30-lap feature race for the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division. Garry Wiltrout grabbed the lead when the green flag was displayed, as Barry Awtey settled into second place. Wiltrout, of Somerset, PA, was a winner in 2019, and he immediately built up a lead of several car-lengths in round one of action for the new season. Awtey, a five time former Champion, held down second place while the competition was heated behind him. Former Modified division winner Jarred Barclay started in third position, but was quickly passed by defending Jennerstown Speedway Champion Teddy Gibala. Making a charge through the field early on, was Ohio teenage phenom Albert Francis. Francis, a winner of high-profile events in his home state last year, tours with the nation with CRA Racing Series pros. Francis started in the tenth spot, but passed veteran Todd Price for fifth place, just nine laps into the event. On lap 16, Barclay surrendered fourth position to Francis. Through the middle stages of the race, the top five remained Wiltrout, Awtey, Gibala, Francis and Barclay. A caution flag halted the action when New York's Eldon King suffered a flat tire and nearly collided with Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger. With only ten laps remaining, the restart paired Wiltrout and Awtey side-by-side. Just one lap later, another spin by King created the same drama yet again. The cagy veterans, Wiltrout and Awtey, challenged one another mentally, with restart strategy two different times before the closing laps were contested. Wiltrout accelerated away from Awtey’s machine in both cases. Gibala, the leading winner last season, snagged second spot from Awtey on lap 23. Hemminger, despite body damage, made a late race surge, after struggling early in the event, and climbed into the top five. But, two-time Champion Wiltrout was able to keep Gibala more than two car lengths behind, and score the opening night win at his home track. Gibala, Awtey, Francis, and Hemminger nailed down top five finishes. Wiltrout, also a former Champion at Motordrome Speedway, thanked the hard working crew of his R&R Motorsports team for great prep work on the Stone & Company/Franjo Construction/Meegan Ford. Wiltrout and Francis were also the heat race winners earlier in the night.
One of the all-time leading winners of Modifed races in the region started on the pole position for the 20-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified feature race. Adam Kostelnik led the field to the green flag, but on lap two, Racin' Jason Busch took the top spot. Advancing around Kostelnik with a quick, bold, pass, Busch stretched out a comfortable lead right away. Anthony Aiello moved into second place soon after Busch took the lead. On lap six, young R.J. Dallape passed Kostelnik in the outside lane for third position. During the middle stages of the event, Aiello remained just two to three car-lengths behind leader Busch, with Dallape a distant third. On lap 13, leader Busch suddenly slowed on the backstraight, and Aiello roared by, into the lead. Busch stopped on the front straight bringing out a caution flag, as mechanical problems sent the popular 2019 winner from the front of the pack, to the pits. On the restart Dallape and Aiello waged a door-to-door battle for multiple laps. Both drivers visited victory lane last year, and are close friends off the track. On lap 16, Dallape officially became the front runner, after taking the green flag in eighth position. Dallape held the lead, and motored on to Stoney’s victory lane, to claim the opening night win. Fourth starting Aiello, the defending Champion and a heat race winner, placed second ahead of his mentor, Kostelnik. Tom Golic showed great strength in winning his heat race, and finished fourth in the feature. Dirt track superstar turned asphalt Modified rookie, Doug Glessner, started in seventh place, and finished fifth in his first Jennerstown start.
Pole starter Casey Fleegle looked poised to dominate all 20 laps of the Ron's Collision Center Street Stock feature event, but a restart proved to be challenging. As Fleegle took a commanding lead, at the start, rookie Jeff Barclay held second place for six laps before veteran Mel Wilt became the runner up. After being collected in spin with Greg Burbidge, on the first lap, defending Champion Aaron Van Fleet stormed through the field, advancing to third place by lap six. On a restart just after the midpoint of the event, a three car war for the lead thrilled the fans. Wilt officially stole the lead from Fleegle on lap eleven, and Van Fleet was three-wide with the lead duo, at times. When the battle settled down, Fleegle again became comfortable in the top spot, and Van Fleet took control of second place with four laps to go. When the checkered flag was displayed, last year’s leading winner, Fleegle, collected the trophy with Van Fleet, Wilt, Barclay and veteran Rick Meehleib the top five finishers. Angie Kimberly and Fleegle won the heats.
Amidst two early race caution flag incidents, Riley Hemminger led the first feature racing laps of the 2020 season when the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers’ 15-lap battle commenced. Adam Kostelnik took the lead on the third circuit, before defending Champion Dale Kimberly moved to the head of the field. Kostelnik was driving a team car to Kimberly, making the first half of the race a Kimberly sweep of the top spots. At the midpoint of the race, however, Kimberly was being seriously threatened by veteran Scott Mitchell. Both drivers in the lead duel had been to victory lane in 2019. At the conclusion, Kimberly continued to show that he is the dominant force in the Chargers, by taking the win. Mitchell and Kostelnik earned podium finishes, crossing the line in second and third place, respectively. Dirt track convert Kyle Burkholder placed fourth in his first Jennerstown start, and third generation racer, Hemminger placed fifth. Kimberly and Kostelnik won the heat races.
A first time asphalt racer made the transition from dirt track driving appear seamless. Jeff Vasos won his heat race to launch his Jennerstown career, then led 14 of the 15 laps to win the feature race for Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders. Former Champion, Evan Nibert pursued the rookie all race long, but came home with a second place finish. After winning a heat race, Michael Stauss, started tenth and placed third. Rookie Rick McNulty climbed from the eleventh starting spot to finish fourth and Dennis Shawley placed fifth.
Saturday, June 13th, Jennerstown Speedway Complex will present “5-Division Racing” for the second time in 2020, with gates opening at 4pm and the green flag at 6pm. For more information visit www.jennerstown.org
