Ruth Jr., Whitling, Greeley, Davenport, and Rinehart Win Also
(Franklin, PA July 18, 2021): A.J. Flick scored a much-needed win in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprints at Tri-City Raceway Park. With his usual haunts getting hit with rain, Flick was looking for a place to do some preparation for the big race coming up Tuesday at another area speedway. Everything worked to his liking and he left with $2,500 for his efforts.
Also scoring wins this night were Gale Ruth, Jr. (Gary Glass Automotive and Washington House RUSH Sprints), Bobby Whitling (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks), Chad Greeley (4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks), Garrett Davenport (Junior Sprints Open), and Grady Rinehart (Junior Sprints Stock).
In the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Car part of the program, a pair of third-generation drivers paced the field. Leyton Wagner had the pole and A.J. Flick was on his flank. Carl Bowser and Bob Felmlee were in the second row, with Matt Farnham and Clay Riney beside him. Behind them were Brandon Matus and Adam Kekich, who was subbing for Logan McCandless. Ken Rossey, Jr. and Brent Matus made up the sixth row.
Flick got the best of Wagner on the initial start, and that proved to be an advantage that would not be overcome. “It is weird becasue we’ve never been good here at Tri-City, but here in 2021, it has been our best track.” Flick now has a pair of wins despite only a part-time schedule at the speedway.
Wagner raced along in second, but surrendered the spot to Farnham as the field completed the second circuit of the big half mile.
As Flick and Farnham drew away for the field, Wagner and Felmlee were fighting for third. The veteran, Felmlee, went beneath the younger pilot and took over the third spot with ten to go.
The most hotly contested position for most of the race was sixth, as Sodeman and Brandon Matus were fighting for points. Sodeman entered the night just one point ahead of the Wheelman, but Matus passed him, and a couple of other racers, to put himself unofficially in the lead seeking his first championship at any track.
In the final laps, Farnham started to close in on Flick, who was held up a bit by lapped traffic. However, Flick had a big enough cushion that Farnham could not get close enough to make a bid for the win.
After Flick and Farnham were Felmlee, Brandon Matus, and Wagner. Sixth went to Riney. Sodeman was seventh, then came Kekich, Weaver, and Gallagher.
The pair of heat races for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprints, presented by the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group, went to Wagner and Flick. There was no B Main.
In the RUSH Sprint Car division, running under the twin banners of Gary Glass Automotive and Washington House, Arnie Kent and Kevin Ruhlman were on the front row, with Gale Ruth, Jr. and Rod George right behind. Brad Church and Chad Ruhlan occupied the third row, and Balze Myers and Tyler Newhart were in the fourth. Row five belonged to Brian Hartzell and A.J. McQuarrie, and Zach Morrow was apired with Joe Lockhart in row six.
Kent dashed out to the early lead, with Kevin Ruhlman and Gale Ruth, Jr. trailing. Ruth moved into the lead on the fourth lap and was never headed.
As the race went on, there was a tremendous battle for the second spot involving Kent, Kevin and Chad Ruhlman, and George. Kevin Ruhlman slid out of the groove going down the long back chute and lost a pair of positions. However, his bigger mistake came after the checkers, when he failed to take his car across the scales. He was disqualified for the infraction.
Ruth scored the win, his second in three tries at Tri-City Raceway Park. Kent, Chad Ruhlman, George, and Blaze Myers were the top five finishers.
Sixth went to John Mollick, followed by Brad Church, Brian Hartzell, A.J. McQuarrie, and Nolan Graves.
The Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races for the Gary Glass Automotive and Washington House RUSH Sprints went to Gale Ruth, Jr. and Rod George. There was no B Main.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks ran a tune-up for the big-paying Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship battle coming up on July 15. Bobby Whitling, a two-time winner this season, started on the pole with Tim Bish as his dancing partner. Jason Johns and Darr Diegelman were in the second row, with Shane Applebee and Rod Laskey in the third. Joe Stajnrajh and Tyler Wyant were in the fourth row, with Patrick Fielding beside Andy Buckley. Row six belonged to last week’s winner, Curtis J. Bish and his brother Curt Bish, Jr.
Tim Bish took the early lead, but Whitling was racing in his shadow. After a close battle between them, Whitling took charge. Curtis J. Bish worked into third and he was challenging for second. Meanwhile, Jason Johns, Rod Laskey, Tyler Wyant, Josh Seippel and others were fifghting for spots in the top ten.
Whitling had the inside line working to perfection and he crossed the finish line first. A trio of Bishes–Tim, Curtis J., and Curt–came next. Johns was fifth. Sixth went to Seippel, followed by Laskey, Wyant, Buckley, and Doug Iorio, II.
Three Donovan & Bauer Auto Group heat races were contested for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks. Winners were Joe Stajnrajh, Darr Diegelman, and Patrick Fielding. There was no B Main, as all 27 racers were allowed to start the feature event.
In the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks, Chad Greeley and Bodey McClintock led the field to the starting line in turn four. Tim Callahan and Patrick Lane followed, with D.J. Macrae and Evan Sobieski in row three. Point leader Dalton Speer lined up next to his rival, Justin Bailey, in the fourth row. Levi Maskal and Mike Barr were in row five and Jamie Tasker and Hemi Kineston were in row six.
It was only a matter of time before Greeley would win a feature in his highly competitive four cylinder machine. He moved into the lead at the drop of the green and withstood several restarts, including one with just a pair of laps to go.
Taking the second position was Bailey, who took over the unofficial points lead with his top finish. Bodey McClintock, who ran second a good bit of the race, took third, with D.J. Macrae and Levi Maskal in fifth.
The sixth place finisher was Evan Sobieski. Patrick Lane, Hemi Kineston, Michael Barr, and Joanne Wilson completed the top ten.
Dalton Speer, who entered the night with the point lead, suffered a flat while racing in the top five.
The pair of Donovan & Bauer heat races for the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks went to Justin Bailey and Dalton Speer. Ther was no B Main.
Garret Davenport swept the heat and feature for the Junior Sprints. Taking second, also in an Open car, was Carter Himes. The Stock division winner was Grady Rinehart, followed by Adam Presnar, Camron Miller, David Coley, Colton Gulher, Jazlyn Boyles, Deryk Jones, Maddie Rafferty, and Keaton Himes.
Next week, Tri-City Raceway Park will present the Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series. All of the regional stars and cars will be on hand to challenge the stout competitors in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stock Class. This special event will pay at least $3,500 to the winner and $150 to start the feature, but there will be no increase in the general admission ticket prices. Also on the card will be the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars, the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds, and the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks. The following two weeks, August 1 and 8, will be Sunday Thunder events. Point racing will conclude at Tri-City Raceway Park on August 15.
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.
Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars: A.J. Flick, Matt Farnham, Bob Felmlee, Brandon Matus, Leyton Wagner. Clay Riney, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Adam Kekich, Jeremy Weaver, Darin Gallagher, Ken Rossey, Jr., Brent Matus, Davey Jones, Bryan Salisbury, Bob McMillin, Gale Ruth, Sr., Jim Morris, Carl Bowser (DNS), Randy Wyant (DNS).
Gary Glass Automotive/Washington House RUSH Sprint Cars: Gale Ruth, Jr., Arnie Kent, Chad Ruhlman, Rod George, Blaze Myers, John Mollick, Brad Church, Brian Hartzell, A.J. McQuarrie, Nolan Graves, Tyler Newhart, Zach Morrow, Brian Cressley, Joe Lockhart, Ricky Tucker, Jr., Kevin Kaserman, Gale Ruth, Sr., Kevin Ruhlman (DNS).
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks: Bobby Whitling, Tim Bish, Curtis J. Bish, Curt Bish, Jason Johns, Josh Seippel, Rod Laskey, Tyler Wyant, Andy Buckley, Doug Iorio, II, Joe Steinrajh, Matt Bernard, David Baker, Larry Kugel, Gary Fisher, Charlie McMillen, Mike Bordt, Mike Miller, Patrick Fielding, Russ Coyne, Darr Diegelman, Shane Applebee, Aaron Smith, James Barber, Josh Blum, Jason Covey (DNS), William Hurrelbrink (DNS).
4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks: Chad Greeley, Justin Bailey, Bodey McClintock, D.J. Macrae, Levi Maskal, Evan Sobieski, Patrick Lane, Hemi Kineston, Michael Barr, Joanne Wilson, Jamie Tasker Todd Hanlon, Dalton Speer, Tim Callahan, Devin Erwin, Howard Garlick.
Junior Sprints: Garret Davenport (Open), Carter Himes (Open), Grady Rinehart (Stock), Adam Presnar (Stock), Camron Miller (Stock), David Coley (Stock), Colton Gulher (Stock), Jazlyn Boyles (Stock), Deryk Jones (Stock), Maddie Rafferty (Stock), Keaton Himes (Stock).