Mark Smith Saves Best for Last in Western PA Speedweek; Flick Nabs Second Championship; Cipriano, Wyant, and Urey also Score
(Franklin, PA June 4, 2023): Mark Smith debuted a new car for Western Pennsylvania Speedweek. He had some bad luck in the early rounds, but got everything sorted out for the finale at Tri-City Raceway Park. He led all twenty-five laps to get the $3,000 win. A.J. Flick, who finished fourth, clinched his second straight Western Pennsylvania Speedweek championship.
Also scoring wins were Ayden Cipriano in the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds, Tyler Wyant in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, and Matt Urey in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. It was the second win for each of those drivers this season at Tri-City Raceway Park.
“I didn’t know what this place would be. It’s probably been twenty years since I’ve been here,” the happy Sprint Car winner said. “We had some tough luck this week, We stuck it out through the bad, and now we have something to celebrate,” Smith added. The builder of teh Mach 1 Chassis explained further that “this was a new car and we tried some new stuff. I think we are onto something.”
Mark Smith and Cody Bova brought the field to the starting line in turn four for the thirty-lap finale of the Western Pennsylvania Sprint Car Speedweek. Bob Felmlee and Matt Farnham were in the second row, followed by Blaze Myers and Michael Bauer. Ryan Smith and Zane DeVault occupied row four. The fifth row matched Brandon Spithaler and Jack Sodeman, Jr. Row six contained two of Western PA’s best, A.J. Flick and Carl Bowser. Dan Kuriger and Greg Wilson were sitting in row seven when the green flag dropped.
Mark Smith blasted into the lead at the drop of the green, but Cody Bova remained close. Bob Felmlee raced along in third, ahead of Blaze Myers, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Matt Farnham, and Ryan Smith.
Smith built upon his lead as the laps clicked off. By lap twelve, he had amassed an advantage of 6.2 seconds over Bova. But, a caution for Myers wiped that out. Myers, in just his third 410 start, was racing in the top five at the time that he spun between turns one and two.
Smith led the way again after that caution, but another one bunched the field again just one lap later. Bodey McClintock sustained front end damage and required a hook.
On the restart, Mark Smith got away cleanly, but Bova stumbled when the green light came on. Ryan Smith, who had climbed up to third before the caution, thought that he could have pounced, but he held back rather than risking a penalty that could have spelled disaster in his quest for another Speedweek title.
Mark Smith completed the second half of the race without incident. Bova held on for second despite the engine problem. Ryan Smith was third, but his championship rival, Flick, was right behind him. Completing the top five was Zane DeVault.
Brandon Matus, Brandon Spithaler, Felmlee, Michael Bauer, and Dan Kuriger rounded out the top ten.”
“It was difficult,” said the new two-time champion, Flick. “I chose to save a car in the heat race, it was the safest thing to do so we would have a chance in the feature.” Flick thus missed the redraw which may have made his task easier in the feature. He had a simple strategy in the big race. “I wanted to keep that 6 car (Ryan Smith) in check. I needed to be within seven spots behind him.” Flick was in range, but he made a bold move on the second restart, passing three cars to get right behind his challenger. He kept Smith within sight the rest of the way to pick up the $3,000 bonus.
Heat wins were scored by Blaze Myers, Bob Felmlee, and Jack Sodeman, Jr. There was no B Main. Matt Farnham was the fastest overall qualifier, turning in a lap of 15.729.
Hayden Holden drew the pole for the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds. Next to him was Eric Beggs. Tom Holden was in row two, along with Ayden Cipriano, the winner on opening night. Lenny Liebold, Jr. and Chad Reitz were in the third row.
Hayden Holden raced ahead of Cipriano, Beggs and Tom Holden at the start of the contest, which was shortened to fifteen laps. Cipriano pulled ahead three laps in and he led the rest of the way.
Tom Holden batted briefly with his nephew, Hayden, before securing the second position. However, Reitz came on in the stretch run to move Tom Holden back a notch. Tom Holden then had to hold off a charge from Beggs in the final few laps to maintain third.
Cipriano, who took his second checkered flag this season, commented, “we had a great car today, and the track played perfect for us.” He did explain that he lost his brakes on the opening lap, and he had to be cautious when passing Hayden Holden for the lead.
Cipriano also won the heat for a clean sweep of the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds. There was no B Main.
Tyler Wyant was the lucky fellow in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. He pulled the pole for the start of the fifteen lapper. Next to him was Pat Fielding. Behind them were Hot Rod Laskey and Josh Seippel, subbing once again for Josh Blum. Russ Coyne and Charlie McMillen made up the third row.
Wyant got the jump on Fielding when the green flag waived. Fifteen quick laps later, Wyant took his second victory of the season. Fielding and Laskey had a stirring battle for second, with Fielding coming out on top. Laskey, Seippel, Coyne, and McMillen completed the field.
Tyler Wyant won the heat for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. There was no B Main.
Chad Greeley and newcomer Ben Aley brought the field to the green for the twelve lap nightcap in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. Adam Aley and Craig Karns were also making their first appearance of the season, in row two. Previous winners Matt Urey and Levi Maskal were in row three. In row four, Dillon Morrison was flanked by Justin Forsythe in his first outing this season. Bringing up the tail were Kevin Wice and Bill Fuchs.
Those potent Hondas of Urey and Maskal found their way to the front once again. This time, it was Urey defeating Maskal. Morrison, Fuchs, and Forsythe made up the first five. Then came Karns, Ben Aley, Greeley, Wice, and Adam Aley.
Levi Maskal topped the heat race for the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. There was no B Main.
Remember that, next week, there will be no racing at Tri-City Raceway Park. Instead, on Saturday, June 10, the All American Rodeo Company will be on hand. The show will be conducted under the auspices of the International Professional Rodeo Association.
Racing will resume with a Father’s Day Special on June 18. The Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprints will top the card. The A & MP electric, Inc. UMP Modifieds will compete in their second event of the season. Also seeing action will be the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks and the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks. The awards will also be presented to the top racers from 2022 in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks.
Further information about Tri-City Raceway Park can be obtained by calling the track office at 724-967-4601, or by e-mailing the office at tricityracewaypark2020@gmail.com. Or, you can check the web at Tri-CityRacewayPark.com, or the Facebook page at Tri City Raceway Park. Tri-City Raceway Park is located just a few miles north of Franklin, PA, at 3430 State Route 417 in Oakland Township. Professional auto racing will be presented in a family friendly atmosphere most Sunday evenings from May through Labor Day weekend.
Western Pennsylvania Sprint Speedweek/Diehl Chevrolet Sprint Cars: Mark Smith, Cody Bova, Ryan Smith, A.J. Flick, Zane DeVault, Brandon Matus, Brandon Spithaler, Bob Felmlee, Michael Bauer, Dan Kuriger, Matt Farnham, Carl Bowser, Blaze Myers, Greg Wilson, Denny Peebles, Andy Cavanaugh, Brett Brunkenhoefer, Cameron Nastasi, Brent Matus, Steve Bright, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Bodey McClintock, John Walp, Kyle Colwell (DNS).
Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds: Ayden Cipriano, Chad reitz, Tom Holden, Eric Beggs, Hayden Holden, Lenny Liebold, Jr.
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Tyler Wyant, Pat Fielding, RoD Laskey, Josh Seippel, Russ Coyne, Charlie McMillen.
4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks: Matt Urey, Levi Maskal, Dillon Morrison, Bill Fuchs, Justin Forsythe, Craig Karns, Ben Aley, Chad Greeley, Kevin Wice, Jr., Adam Aley.
Media Contact: Lou Long (412-760-9755)