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Shipp, One Of Three First Time Winners at Jennerstown Speedway Complex

(May 27, 2017 – Jennerstown, PA) Bryan Shipp, of Scottdale, PA, earned his first-career victory at the top level racing on Saturday night, May 27, 2017, at the Jennerstown Speedway Complex. Many times a winner while climbing the divisional ladder, Shipp celebrated his first victory in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division, and became the division’s point standings leader. In the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds, the most dominant winner of 2016, Chris Brink, was victorious. Popular Lauren Butler, also a winner last season, passed every car on the speedway to win the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks’ feature event. Joining Shipp as first-time winners in their young careers, were Famers Union Co-Op Charger competitor Jason Pritts and Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder driver Evan Nibert. The first round of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series, known as “Big John’s 75” was dominated by Joe Nicola.

The Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division’s 30-lap feature started with Joe Maruca and Todd Price on the front row. Price led the first lap, but was passed by 2016 winner Jeremiah Kuntz on lap two. Kuntz, the former Super Cup Series traveler, started fourth on the grid. On lap three, fans were stunned to witness a crash in turn three involving a trio of former Jennerstown Speedway Champions. Barry Awtey, the previous week’s winner, Matt Sever, and Garry Wiltrout all sustained damage, but all three returned to action. When racing resumed, Kuntz was pressured by Bryan Shipp, a relative newcomer to the Late Model ranks. Shipp officially led lap number seven, but the duo raced door-to-door for numerous laps, thrilling the holiday weekend crowd. Kuntz was inches ahead at the scoring line each circuit until the mid-point of the race. On lap 16, Shipp nosed ahead as leader, but they remained side-by-side. Later in the race, defending Champion Awtey suffered a mechanical failure, which caused his already damaged machine to spin, causing another caution flag and ending his night. At the front of the pack, Shipp and Kuntz pulled away from the other competitors, and after their long duel, Shipp prevailed for his first Late Model division win, as a sophomore driver. Shipp, a many time winner and former Champion of the Modifieds at the Motordrome Speedway, parked his Auntie Ann’s Pretzels/Harris Auto/Speclin sponsored Dodge in victory lane, earning the fans in attendance free Auntie Ann’s Pretzels at participating locations. Kuntz placed second, after winning his heat race. After starting eighth and avoiding the early crash, Bobby Henry finished on the podium in third place. It was the popular veteran’s first start of the season and he also won a heat race. Rick Boyer drove the Snooky Williams Racing machine to a fourth place finish and Maruca completed the top five.

Three different drivers led during hotly contested 20-lap feature for the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds. Gary Scott, a winner in 2016, took the lead at the start, and raced wheel-to-wheel with “Racin’ Jason” Busch. The pair of Pittsburgh area residents, were both stellar go-kart racers at the start of their careers, and they nearly made contact fighting for the top spot. Busch took the lead on lap three, and Chris Brink joined the battle. With Scott still in reach of the front of the pack, Brink and Busch battled using every inch of the speedway. Brink, no stranger to using the outside lane, completed a pass that took several laps, by moving around the high-side of Busch to be officially in the lead at lap ten. Brink, a multiple division winner in his Jennerstown career, held on to claim his first win of 2017, after leading the Modified win column in 2016. Busch maintained the second position, crossing the finish line ahead of Scott, as the two podium finishers behind Brink. Pete Rech and previous week’s winner Tom Golik finished fourth and fifth. Busch and Brink were also the heat race winners.

Steve Singo and Mel Wilt led the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks to the green flag, but a caution flag halted the field on the first lap. Lauren Butler suffered a flat tire, stopping on the track, before getting fast pit work from her crew, to return to action at the tail of the field. Wilt led the first eight laps of racing from his pole starting berth, before many-time winner, Anthony Aiello, stormed into the lead on lap nine. The field was bunched tightly together with close racing action for the top five positions. On lap ten, previous weeks’ winner, Aaron Van Fleet advanced into second place, after starting eighth. As he eyed Aiello for the lead, Butler recovered from the pit stop and challenged Van Fleet, near the midpoint of the race. On consecutive laps, Butler moved around Van Fleet and Aiello, taking the lead on lap 13. She passed every car on the speedway, after the early race restart, and waved to the excited crowd from victory lane. It was her first win of the new season, and she also won her heat race. Aiello, who also won his heat race, Van Fleet, Wilt, and Jason Holder completed the top five finishers.

After the memorable feature event on opening night, Famers Union Co-Op added a $100 bonus to the winner’s paycheck, for the division the group sponsors: the Chargers. The 15-lap feature was a good one, although the scorecard shows only one leader. Jason Pritts, who lives just yards from the speedway property, was involved in the last lap collision on opening night, while dueling for the lead. Not to be denied in the second event of 2017, Pritts held off challenges from Tanner Friedline to score his first-ever victory, and enjoy a very emotional celebration in victory lane. Multiple feature winner in 2016, Friedline recovered from a tough-luck opening night to place second after winning a heat race. After a lengthy battle with Frank Novak, Dale Kimberly finished third. Kimberly was part of the drama at the conclusion of the race one week prior. Novak placed fourth in the feature, after winning his heat race and Steve Settle was the fifth place finisher.

Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder racing was dominated by young Evan Nibert, who won his heat race for the second consecutive week. Nibert swept the evening, as he followed the prelim win by leading all 15-laps of the feature event, to score his first win in motorsports. Early in the event, he held off former winner Cindy Rhodes, then out-distanced the previous week’s winner, Andrew Pluta, to take the checkered flag. When the race concluded, Nibert, Pluta, Rhodes, defending Champion Paul Koffler, III, and heat race winner Brent Bickerstaff were the top five finishers.

Round one of the four-race Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series was a smooth affair with many time winner Joe Nicola, of Pittsburgh, earning the win in the “Big John’s 75.” Veteran Kelly Shaulis finished a distant second.

Five division racing continues on Saturday night June 3, 2017, as the “Jennerstown Speedway Complex Midway” comes alive, when the gates open at 4pm. Live music, clowns, face painting, and the opening of Racer’s Pub are part of pre-race festivites. Enjoy Chick-Fil-A, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Auntie Ann’s Pretzels, and Dairy Queen treats, as on-track practice sessions begin at 4:30pm, with racing at 6pm.

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