On Saturday night, July 11^th, the Somerset Trust Company presented First Responders Appreciation Night at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex, offering free admission as a “thank you” to all First Responders.  Defending Track Champion, Teddy Gibala won for the first time this season in the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division of racing, becoming the fourth different winner in four events.  Also celebrating in Stoney's Beer Victory Lane were R.J. Dallape (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Aaron Van Fleet (Ron's Collision Center Street Stocks), Dale Kimberly (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Evan Nibert (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders).  After the races, Shane Shaffer Inc. presented Round One of the 2020 Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series, with James Gottschalk, Jr. and David Heining victorious.

Opening night winner Garry Wiltrout started on the pole position for the Martella's Pharmacies Late Models’ 30-lap feature race.  Just two laps into the contest, championship point standings leader Albert Francis was a victim of a crash that would send him to the pits, ending his night.  The Ohio resident was the most recent previous winner at Jennerstown.   Barry Awtey and Andrew Kostelnik also sustained damage, and made brief pit stops during the caution flag period. Wiltrout grabbed the early lead over front row starting mate Bryan Shipp.  On lap six, Wiltrout surrendered the top spot to the driver who started the race in third position.  Teddy Gibala roared to the front of the pack, where he spent most of the 2019 racing season.  Gibala outdistanced Wiltrout by a few car lengths immediately.  Eighth place starter, Cale Gale, advanced to fourth position by lap seven, then passed Joe Maruca for third the next lap.  Gale, the North Carolina resident who won round two of 2020 at Jennerstown, held third place for most of the race, but could not gain on runner-up Wiltrout during the middle stages of the event.  As Gibala increased his lead over the field, all eyes focused on Awtey’s resurgence from the lap two collision.  On lap 15, Awtey passed Maruca for fourth place, then reeled in former NASCAR star, Gale.  In the closing laps, Gale, Awtey, and Wiltrout put on thrilling show.  With two laps remaining, Awtey took third place and on the final circuit, Awtey moved around Wiltrout to grab second spot.  All the while, Gibala was out of the reach of drivers holding top five positions.  Gibala, of Coulter, PA, is not only the defending Champion of Jennerstown Speedway, but was also the leading winner of 2019.  Driving the EH Schwab Metal Spinning Chevrolet, Gibala won for the first time in 2020, and did so as a newlywed.  “Tying the knot” just two weeks prior, the event was Gibala’s first race as a husband.  Awtey, the five time former Champion, started the race in tenth place, made a pit stop for suspension damage, and still rallied to finish in second position, to the roaring cheers of his hometown fans.  Two-time Champion, Wiltrout, placed third, with Gale finishing fourth.   Maruca placed fifth, as Awtey and Francis won the preliminary heat races earlier in the night.

After winning his heat race earlier in the night, young R.J. Dallape started on the outside of row one, for the 20-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division feature race.  A multi-car crash at the start damaged several cars including that of heat race winner “Racin’ Jason” Busch.  Popular Cindy Shaulis sustained the most damage, although she was uninjured.  Adam Kostelnik started from the pole position, and would soon be involved in a spin with Tom Golik while fighting for second place.  Both veterans continued in the event, after being sent to the tail for a restart.  While Dallape buried the field with a huge lead, defending Champion Anthony Aiello ascended from his starting position of tenth.  By lap seven, Aiello had reached the second spot – but he was a distant second to Dallape.  Second generation driver, Dallape drove away from all competitors to notch his third victory of year.  Aiello placed second and maintained the division points lead.  Golik came from the tail of the field to earn third position, ahead of Kostelnik who also surged from the back of the pack, to finish fourth.  With slight damage Busch drove to a fifth place finish.

Veteran Scott Mitchell started from the pole position for the 20-lap Ron's Collision Center Street Stocks’ feature race.  But Mitchell, the 1993 Pure Stock division Champion, could not keep pace with the 2019 Street Stock Champ Aaron Van Fleet.  Van Fleet led lap one, after starting on the front row.  Already a winner in 2020, Van Fleet put plenty of distance between himself and Mel Wilt, early in the event.  On lap five, Casey Fleegle became the runner up, after a pass of Wilt.  The race was completed without a caution flag, and Fleegle remained a half straightaway behind the leader for the entire distance.  Van Fleet scored his second win of 2020, in convincing fashion.  In Stoney’s Victory Lane, Van Fleet and family became emotional, as the win was dedicated to his grandfather Warren Penrod, who is battling serious health issues.  Penrod is a member of the Jennerstown Speedway Hall of Fame, as a long time track official.  Fleegle, Wilt, and Mitchell placed second, third, and fourth.  Making his first start since 2018, Jason Holder earned a top five finish after starting in tenth place.  Van Fleet and Wilt were the heat race winners.   Van Fleet and Fleegle are now tied atop the division point standings.

Epic domination continued in the Farmers Union Co-Op Charger division, as Dale Kimberly won another 15-lap feature without a serious threat to his lead in the end.  The defending Champion remains undefeated in 2020, and (going back to last season) has now won the last eight consecutive events.  Kimberly started in the ninth position, and battled teammate Adam Kostelnik for second position until lap ten.  Controversy erupted, as Kostelnik and leader Steven Singo made contact, fighting for the lead.  Singo spun, and during the caution flag period, Kostelnik was also sent to the tail of the field for causing the spin.  The incident handed Kimberly the lead with five laps to go.  Although Kimberly made a great move to avoid the leaders’ incident, he did not need to make a pass for the win, after the front-runners tangled.  Dirt track convert Kyle Burkholder earned a career-best second place finish in his rookie season on the Jennerstown asphalt.  Singo recovered to nail down third place at the finish line, with Cody Gaynor finishing fourth.  Young rookie Will Hemminger finished strong, snagging the fifth position with some veteran-like moves in the final two laps.  Singo and Kostelnik were the heat race winners.

Former Champion of the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders, Evan Nibert,  made the most of his pole starting position, and grabbed the lead on lap one.  Running away from a four-car battle for second place, Nibert seemed headed for an easy win.  But, a late race restart gave double-duty veteran Casey Fleegle an opportunity to challenge Nibert for the win.  Nibert’s car stumbled when the green flag was displayed again in the closing laps, and Fleegle grabbed the top spot, driving a borrowed car for one race.  But Nibert recovered just in time, reclaiming the lead just before the checkered flag was displayed, with a bold pass of Fleegle.  Nibert won his heat race to start the night, and became a two time feature race winner in 2020.   Fleegle was a very close second, as sophomore driver Michael Saler grabbed third position. Veteran Steve Settle started seventh and finished fourth after winning a heat race, and most recent winner Jeff Vasos placed fifth.

The Shane Shaffer Inc. Enduro race will go down in history, as the first time in Jennerstown Enduro racing that the competitors were divided into two divisions;  4-cylinder and 6-cylinder cars.  Competing together for 50-laps, the first round of the 2020 Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series was completed without a stop for a crash, debris, or any form of on-track incident.  Repeat winner James Gottschalk, Jr. was victorious in the 6-cylinder division with Ray Henry and Colton Buchanon placing second and third.  David Heining won the 4-cylinder division, with Nick Niemiec and Clinton Hersh nailing down second and third positions.

Saturday night, July 18^th, Jennerstown Speedway Complex opens the gates at 4pm for “5 Division Racing” at 6pm.  The Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series’ round two for 2020 will launch right after the weekly division competitors complete heat and feature races.  For more information visit www.jennerstown.org

Results

Late Models

A Feature 1

Heat 1

Heat 2

Modifieds

A Feature 1

Heat 1

Heat 2

Street Stocks

A Feature 1

Heat 1

Heat 2

Fast 4s

A Feature 1

Heat 1

Heat 2

Chargers

A Feature 1

Heat 1

Heat 2

Enduro

A Feature 1