TIM SHAFFER CAPTURES ALL STAR SPRINT MAIN AT TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY; DAVID SCOTT WINS WILD FASTRAK NORTHEAST LATE MODEL TOURING SERIES RACE; RICH MICHAEL JR. DOUBLES HIS WEEKEND WITH THE UEMS E MODS
by Brian Spaid

 

July 18, 2010
  
   FRANKLIN, PA  ... Tri-City Speedway was blessed with beautiful and sunny weather on Sunday night, and Tim Shaffer of Aliquippa, Pa. was the star of the show as he captured the 30-lap O�Reilly Auto Parts All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Series race on RPM Auto Sales Night at the Venango County half-mile oval.
   In other action, David Scott of Garland, Pa., won a wild 25-lap FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series event for the 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, and Rich Michael Jr. of Ischua, N.Y., proved victorious in the 25-lap United E Mod Series (UEMS) race for the Welding Technologies/Shaw Industries E Mods.
   �The Steel City Outlaw� Tim Shaffer finally conquered Tri-City Speedway as the defending All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Series champ led every circuit of the 30-lap Super Sprint main to win his sixth series race of the season in the CH Motorsports J&J No. 83. It was Shaffer�s first ever win at Tri-City and earned him $5,000.
   �We�ve always been snakebit here, and it feels good to finally win one,� said Shaffer in victory lane surrounded by a throng of devoted fans. �The crew did a great job tonight. They worked hard after we were wrecked at Eldora. It�s always great to win near home too.�
   Shaffer was unbeatable the entire race. He survived three early cautions and pulled away to a huge advantage by the end of the event. Behind him, Stevie Smith ran second for the majority of the race before Dale Blaney finally caught and passed him with 20 laps complete. Blaney was no match for Shaffer and was unable to close on the leader. With five laps to go, Greg Wilson slid under Smith in turn four to take third. At the finish, Shaffer won by nearly a straightaway advantage over Blaney, Wilson, Smith and Lance Dewease.  Brandon Wimmer, Dewease and Andy Priest won the Super Sprint heats. Wilson won the dash. Cole Duncan won the B Main. Shaffer set fast time at 16.158 seconds.
   David Scott inherited the lead with two laps to go in the 25-lap FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series race when leaders Mike Pegher Jr. and Robbie Blair crashed in turn two. Racing the John and Janet Powell Bullitt No. 100, Scott raced to his first win of the season at Tri-City and on the series. The victory was worth $1,200. It was Scott�s fourth career FASTRAK Late Model win at Tri-City as well.
   �Sometimes it�s better to be lucky than good,� said Scott. �We have struggled all year to get a hold of these new tires, and we have not run well. We�ve also lost a few due to technicalities. We�ll take this one tonight.�
   Scott led at the start of the race from the outside pole position before Mike Pegher Jr. took command on the second circuit. Robbie Blair moved into second on the sixth circuit. From there, he gave chase to Pegher, who entered heavy lapped traffic on the 15th circuit. As Pegher become bottled in traffic, Blair closed. On the 23rd lap, Pegher and Blair ran three-wide with the lapped car of Joe Martin off turn two, which was the first time that Pegher was aware of Blair�s presence. As the two sorted out their duel, Pegher still led at the line. Heading into turn two, however, Blair tagged the rear quarter panel of Pegher�s car sending him spinning. Blair immediately slowed with the caution in the air. Blair was sent to the rear of the pack, but he exited the track after Pegher drove the wrong way on the speedway and sideswiped Blair�s car on the frontstretch resulting in Pegher�s disqualification.
  Through all the wild action, Scott emerged the leader over Jim Frank. On the restart, Dan Angelicchio drove by Frank to grab second and nearly passed Scott off turn four for the win. At the finish, Scott was the winner over Angelicchio. Kyle Lukon, who raced at Tri-City for the first time ever, finished third over Butch Lambert and Max Blair, who recovered from an early accident to maintain his point lead in the FASTRAK Northeast Late Model Touring Series. Frank was relegated to sixth after two crazy laps around the half-mile featuring passes among all the drivers in the top five. Pegher, Blair and Lambert won the FASTRAK Late Model heat races. Jeff Broniszewski won the B Main. Dan Karalagas won the Non-Qualifier�s Race at the end of the night.
   Rich Michael Jr. capped a stellar weekend winning the 25-lap UEMS E Mod race. Michael, who won on Saturday night at Little Valley Speedway, took the lead on the 15th circuit when early race leader Brent Rhebergen suffered a flat tire. From there, Michael raced to his second win of the season and his career at Tri-City aboard his Carlin�s Pizza Pit Stop/4AM Signs and Graphics Jet Mod No. 17X.
   �We had oil pressure problems when we got here tonight, and I want to thank Justin Carlson for helping me out,� said Michael. �We still had problems in the feature, and I thought we would have to pull off. I wasn�t too worried about the guys behind me on the final restart. I figured if they got around the outside of me more power to them.�
   Rhebergen jumped into an immediate lead at the start of the race. Ron Roncaglione and Michael chased Rhebergen for the first 11 laps before Michael worked his way by Roncaglione off turn four. On a restart on the 14th circuit, Rhebergen developed a right rear flat tire, and Michael took the lead. Carl McKinney and Randy Hall then moved into second and third on the 17th and 18th circuits. There chances of catching Michael improved on the 20th circuit when Dan Davies crashed into the turn two water barrier delaying action for about 10 minutes while the track crew cleaned up the mess. On the restart, Evan Taylor made some impressive moves, including a slide job off turn four on the final lap, to take second. At the finish, Michael was the winner over Taylor, Hall, McKinney and Roncaglione. Rhebergen, McKinney and Michael won the E Mod heats.
   Next Sunday July 25th, Tri-City Speedway will return with another five-star racing show with the Engles Trucking Services DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, Welding Technologies/Shaw Industries E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks, and Horn�s Collision Repair Center Mini Stocks on Joy Employee Fund Night. The Pro Stocks will host double feature events to include the rained out feature race from June 27th. In addition, the lone Lowry Auto Wrecking Demo Derby of the 2010 season will conclude the show. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission is reduced to $10 for the rest of the season.

 

   ALL STAR CIRCUIT OF CHAMPION SUPER SPRINTS (30 Laps): 1. TIM SHAFFER, 2. Dale Blaney, 3. Greg Wilson, 4. Stevie Smith, 5. Lance Dewease, 6. Tyler Walker, 7. Daryn Pittman, 8. Cap Henry, 9. Rod George, 10. Bob Felmlee, 11. Brandon Wimmer, 12. David Gravel, 13. Andy Priest, 14. Bill Rose, 15. Scott Priester, 16. Danny Holtgraver, 17. Todd Bauer, 18. Cole Duncan, 19. George Suprick, 20. Brian Smith, 21. Brent Matus, 22. Rob Eyler, 23. Andy McKisson, 24. Jared Ridge. DNQ: Dave Blaney, Chuck Brion, Brian Steinman, Brandon Matus, Mark Ide, Ed Lynch Jr., Gale Ruth Sr.
   FASTRAK NORTHEAST LATE MODEL TOURING SERIES (25 Laps): 1. DAVID SCOTT, 2. Dan Angelicchio, 3. Kyle Lukon, 4. Butch Lambert, 5. Max Blair, 6. Jim Frank, 7. Bud Watson, 8. Steve Dixon, 9. Bobby Whitling, 10. Kyle Scott, 11. Brent Rhebergen, 12. Gary Knollinger, 13. Joe Martin, 14. Troy Shields, 15. Damion Bidwell, 16. Chris Angelicchio, 17. Jeff Broniszewski, 18. Colton Flinner, 19. Garrett Mott, 20. Chad Myers, 21. Robbie Blair, 22. Josh Holtgraver, 23. Kyle Zimmerman. DISQ: Mike Pegher Jr., DNQ: Andrew Wylie, Dwayne Pond, Justin Kreider, Jamie Brown, Mike Blose, Dan Kalagas.
   UNITED E MOD SERIES (UEMS) (25 Laps): 1. RICH MICHAEL JR., 2. Evan Taylor, 3. Randy Hall, 4. Carl McKinney, 5. Ron Roncaglione, 6. Shawn Shingledecker. 7. Travis Asel, 8. Joel Watson, 9. Kari Gasser, 10. Jonathan Taylor, 11. Tim Peterson, 12. Butch Southwell, 13. Kyle Bedell, 14. Mike Kinney, 15. Rick Pratschler, 16. Darren Tarabori, 17. Tyler Powell, 18. Tim Engles, 19. Mike Potosky, 20. Dan Davies, 21. Brent Rhebergen, 22. Justin Carlson. DNS: Brian Douglas.
 
   UPCOMING EVENTS

 

   July 25 � 5-Star Racing with the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks (Double Features) and Mini Stocks Plus Lowry Auto Wrecking Demo Derby (Joy Employee Fund Night)
   August 1 � 6-Star Racing with the Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds (June 27th Feature Only), FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Mini Stocks
   August 8 � 6-Star Racing with the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks, Mini Stocks and School Bus Races (McDonald�s Kids Night with Bike Races Presented by Ray�s Racing Collectibles)
   August 15 � 6-Star Racing with the Super Sprints, DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and Mini Stocks (United Methodist Church Night)