Published: July 21, 2019
After racing on June 29th was postponed due to rain, the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model drivers competed in a regularly scheduled race, plus a makeup event on the same night. Barry Awtey and Teddy Gibala were winners in double feature races, at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex, Saturday. Also celebrating in Stoney's Beer Victory Lane on July 20th, 2019 were Casey Fleegle (Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stocks), Scott Mitchell (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Andrew Pluta (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders). Round two of the 2019 Ron's Collision Center Enduro Series presented by Shane Shaffer Inc. Heating and Air Conditioning was won by Josh Dunmyer.
The June 29th rain-postponed 30-lap feature for the Martella's Pharmacies Late Models started with a lap one crash, involving the most recent winner Gary Wiltrout, along with rookie Paul Fess, Jr. and Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger. Only Wiltrout was able to continue racing.
Former winner Bryan Shipp took the early lead. On lap five, recent winner Zane Ferrell grabbed the top position, after starting in fourth place. The leading winner of 2019, Teddy Gibala, started in tenth spot, but became the runner up by lap six. A three car battle for the lead ensued, with Ferrell, Gibala, and Barry Awtey. On lap nine, Gibala passed Ferrell for position number one. Awtey moved into second place, at the same time. Awtey and Gibala raced closely, pulling away from all other competitors to decide the top two positions. The crowd gasped on lap 16, when leader Gibala cut a right front tire, and drifted toward the outside wall in turn three. Gibala avoided a heavy impact with the concrete, but headed to the pits. On the restart from the caution flag period, Ferrell got the jump on Awtey to reclaim the lead. But one lap later, previous Champion Awtey made the winning pass of Ferrell. Awtey, already a winner in 2019, became the fourth different leader of the race on lap 18. Awtey cruised to his second win of the year, after starting in sixth position. Ferrell placed second. With steady moves in the second half of the race, Joe Maruca earned a third place finish. Wiltrout battled back from the lap one collision to place fourth. Mark Smith, a former Champion, started in 14th position and finished fifth. Joking of how many weeks passed between his first and second victories of 2019, Awtey said: "I needed mapquest to find victory lane since it had been so long," while standing next to his Wheeler Famliy Show Cattle/Stoystown Auto/Pizza Hut Chevy.
On the strength of two preliminary heat race wins in his rookie season, Jarred Barclay led the early portion of the regularly scheduled Martella's Pharmacies Late Model 30-lap feature. Barclay, a former Modified winner, led the first four laps in the quest for his first feature victory, after starting in second position. On lap five Teddy Gibala took the lead. Seeking redemption from the first feature race of the night, Gibala soared to the front of the pack after starting fifth. Barry Awtey started ninth, but was racing in second place by lap six. Racing nose-to-tail, single file, to the midpoint of the event, the order remained unchanged and action settled down. But, the second half of the race was a memorable duel, that forced the crowd to its’ feet. Awtey, trying to win twice in the same night, haunted Gibala’s rear bumper, until lap 25. And for the final five trips around the oval, the division’s top perfomers raced door-to-door. The fans were animated and cheering loudly, as the side-by-side fight ended with Gibala winning by a fender at the finish line. The victory was Gibala’s fifth of the season, and the only other repeat victor is Awtey – the all-time leading winner in career stats. After parking his E.H. Schwab Co./Port City Racing Chevy in Stoney’s Victory Lane, Gibala told the crowd that Awtey’s team assisted in getting the car ready after the cut tire in the first race, and after an impact with the wall one week prior. Gibala walked away from his interview, long enough to hug Awtey with gratitude after the veteran climbed from his second place car. That greeting created another roar from the crowd. Former Champ Gary Wiltrout placed third after starting in eighth place. Barclay finished fourth and Zane Ferrell placed fifth. Barclay and Mark Smith won the heats
Pole starter Mel Wilt led the first of 20 laps, in the Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stock feature. On lap two, Adam Kostelnik grabbed the lead. Racing his Modified more often than his Street Stock in 2019, Kostelnik remains winless in 2019, although he is the all-time leading winner in the Street Stock division. Kostelnik started fourth, and led for 15 circuits. Casey Fleegle, who won the heat race, spent numerous laps searching for a way to pass three-time Champion Kostelnik for the top spot, as he was a close second for most of the race. With four laps to go, in turn two, Fleegle made light contact with Kostelnik and completed the winning pass. Fleegle’s rookie season in the division has been remarkable, as he has four wins; no other driver has more than a single victory in 2019. Fleegle had previously won in the 4-Cylinders and Chargers, and started eighth on this night. When the checkered flag was displayed the top five drivers across the finish line were: Fleegle, Kostelnik, Wilt, and 2019 winners Aaron Van Fleet and Jeremy Shaffer. After technical inspection following the race, Fleegle's car was found legal, and these results were finalized, days after the event.
The most veteran driver in the field of the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers turned in a dominating performance, leading all 15 laps of the feature. After starting on the outside of row one, Scott Mitchell ran away from the rest of his challengers and comfortably earned his second win of the year. Recent first time winner Chase Payton placed second, although a distant second. Payton’s teammate Dale Kimberly advanced from the eighth starting spot to finish in third place. Kimberly is the point standings leader. Third generation racer, Riley Hemminger finished fourth, and 2018 winner Dan Jackson completed the top five. Kimberly and Mitchell won the heat races.
Three drivers led during the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders’ 15-lap feature. Former winner David Campbell led lap one, but rookie Michael Saler took the point position on lap two. After several impressive top five finishes for the freshman, Saler led for seven laps, in the bid for a first win. Veteran Andrew Pluta passed Saler on lap nine. Pluta, a former dirt tracker, earned his fourth win, leading to the checkered flag after starting third. Saler continued to impress, crossing the finish line second. Most recent winner, Brent Bickerstaff started eighth and placed third, as the point standings leader. Campbell finished fourth and rookie Michael Strouse was fifth. Pluta and Nibert won the heat races.
In the “Shane Shaffer Inc. Heating and Air Conditioning Round Two” of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series, second generation driver Josh Dunmyer was the winner. Taking the lead late in the 75-lap grind from former winner Dustin Brown in lapped traffic, Dunmyer celebrated the victory with Hall of Famer Jeff Dunmyer, his father. Brown walked away from a hard crash on the final lap, while running second after leading 55 laps. The official top five were, former Street Stock winner Dunmyer, Jeff Barclay, Brown, Jason Hale, and Greg Reshenbery.
On Saturday, July 27th, Jennerstown Speedway welcomes the All-Star Monster Truck Tour for the first time in history. Presented by Tri-Star Motors and Myers Well Service, the evening of mayhem features “Bigfoot” among the trucks that will be in action. The Monster Truck Pit Party occurs from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, with showtime at 7pm. For more information visit www.jennerstown.org.
