6/11/2017
Jennerstown Speedway
Awtey Makes History at Jennerstown Speedway Complex
(Jennerstown, PA) On June 10, 2017, defending Champion Barry Awtey took sole possession of first place on the list of all-time winners in the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division of racing at Jennerstown Speedway Complex. He surpassed Hall of Famer Steve Peles, earning career victory number 47 in the asphalt track era of the venerable oval. Other winners on Somerset Trust Company’s “Salute to First Responders Night” included Chris Brink (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Shawn Beam (J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks), Steve Long (Famers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Cindy Rhodes (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders).
Home track favorite Barry Awtey, of Jenners, PA, won the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model feature on opening night 2017, to tie the record for most wins in the top division of racing at Jennerstown Speedway Complex. In the two events that followed, Lady Luck abandoned the defending Champion, as he was involved in caution-flag incidents on consecutive weeks. On June 10, Awtey’s quest to make history came to a triumphant end, after he started the 30-lap feature in fourth position. Awtey wrestled the lead away from another former Champion, Matt Sever, on lap three. In the middle stages of the race, Jeremiah Kuntz was able to approach Awtey, after he passed Sever for second place. As the event continued, heat race winner Kuntz dropped far back of the leader, at one point, leaving Awtey all alone as leader. But in the closing laps, Kuntz reeled in Awtey, and was within a car-length of his first victory of the season, at the finish. Despite a handling condition that slightly slowed his lap times, Awtey hung on for a narrow-margin victory – his 47th career win – to ease the pain of two frustrating races in recent weeks. Awtey displayed considerable emotion, while standing next to his Wheeler Family Cattle/Stoystown Auto Wreckers/Highlander Hot Rods Chevrolet in victory lane. “The friends I’ve made in all these years, and the people I’ve met and come to know, are more important to me than any records or stats,” Awtey assessed, when asked about his long, and now history-making career. Awtey’s father, Bill, is a member of the Jennerstown Speedway Complex Hall of Fame, and the second-generation racer has made a name for himself at other tracks besides Jennerstown. Barry Awtey has also been both a winner and Champion at the Motordrome Speedway, and Clearfield Speedway, while now standing alone atop the career-win list at Jennerstown.
Kuntz, Sever, previous week’s winner Garry Wiltrout, and Todd Price finished in top five positions behind Awtey.
While many of the region’s sports fans have hockey at the top of mind, a popular driver in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds earned a racing “hat track.” Chris Brink, of Penn Run, PA drove to his third consecutive victory, in spite of starting in tenth place on the grid. Young Jarred Barclay led the first of 20-laps in the feature event, before defending Champion Zane Ferrell moved to the front. At the midpoint of the race, seventh place starter “Racin’ Jason” Busch advanced to second place. On consecutive laps, Brink stole second from Busch and then grabbed the lead from Ferrell, and cruised to victory lane, leading the final seven circuits. Ferrell, Busch, Pete Rech and opening night winner Tom Golik completed the top five. Busch and Rech were the heat race winners.
The defending Champion of the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stock division is now “two for two,” winning the 20-lap feature event for the second week in a row. Shawn Beam has made only two visits to Jennerstown Speedway in 2017, and his new race car is undefeated. After taking the green flag in eighth position, Beam passed Josh Coughenour for the lead on lap eight, and drove to another convincing victory, after winning a heat race earlier in the night. After leading seven laps, and winning his heat race, Coughenour settled for second place, with previous 2017 winner Lauren Butler placing third after starting in sixth place. Anthony Aiello crossed the finish line in fourth position and Steve Singo placed fifth.
The Famers Union Co-Op Chargers’ 15-lap feature included two great duels for the lead, with Frank Novak officially leading the first four laps. Novak and former Champion Steve Long battled side by side for several laps, with Novak sliding through the high groove to try and maintain the top spot. Novak was forced to pit, shortly after Long grabbed the lead on lap five. Long was then challenged repeatedly by veteran Scott Mitchell. Mitchell held second place for several laps, but when the checkered flag waved, Long was the victor for the second time this year, with recent winner Tanner Friedline stealing the second position in the final laps. Recent winner Jason Pritts advanced to third place, as Mitchell finished fourth and Steve Settle claimed fifth place. Long and Novak were the heat race winners.
A tremendous turnaround of fortunes for popular Cindy Rhodes resulted in her first victory of 2017 after the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder feature race. Rhodes’ engine exploded one week prior, and her repaired car stormed into the lead on lap eight of 15, even though she started in the sixth position. R.J. Dallape led the first seven laps, before Rhodes moved to the front. In victory lane, she gushed with praise for her team and crew, who rebuilt the car in just six days. Brent Bickerstaff, who yet again won a heat race, finished second after starting seventh. Tenth place starter, Paul Koffler, III and Brian Noel completed the top five. Andrew Pluta won a heat race, but was then awarded the Ron’s Collision Center Wreck of the Week after damage sustained in the feature.
Saturday, June 17, Jennerstown Speedway Complex presents the most talked about race of the year. The Race of Champions Modified Tour makes a first-ever visit to Jennerstown this Saturday, with time trials at 5pm and racing at 6pm. The RoC Modifieds will then compete in heat races and a 100-lap feature event sponsored by Hunter Truck Sales. The Martella's Pharmacies Late Models will also compete in heat races and a 30-lap feature. The Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds, J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks, Famers Union Co-Op Chargers, and Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders will compete in feature events (no heat races).
Pending Official Finishes Somerset Trust Night June 10, 2017
Martella's Pharmacies Late Models
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 4 Barry Awtey Jenners, PA #75
2 6 Jeremiah Kuntz Mahaffey, PA #7
3 5 Matt Sever West Newton, PA #83
4 8 Garry Wiltrout Somerset, PA #95
5 2 Todd Price Bedford, PA #66
6 1 Rick Boyer Blairsville, PA #5
7 7 Bryan Shipp Scottdale, PA #40
8 3 Mike Hemminger Stoystown, PA #72
Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 10 Chris Brink Penn Run, PA #7
2 4 Zane Ferrell Ruffs Dale, PA #14
3 7 Jason Busch Pittsburgh, PA #42
4 5 Pete Rech Pittsburgh, PA #9
5 6 Tom Golik West Newton, PA #98
6 2 Jarred Barclay Somerset, PA #92
7 12 Patrick Waugh New Florence, PA #21
8 1 Brad Milburn Schellsburg, PA #95
9 3 Dustin Gursky Ridgeley, WV #29
10 9 Jim Bodziak Hollsopple, PA #2
J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 8 Shawn Beam Somerset, PA #21
2 4 Josh Coughenour Gray, PA #20
3 6 Lauren Butler West Mifflin, PA #53
4 5 Anthony Aiello White Oak, PA #31
5 2 Steven Singo Hooversville, PA #7
6 1 Zac Todaro Johnstown, PA #4
7 11 Mel Wilt Hollidaysburg, PA #33
8 3 Jason Holder Stoystown, PA #74
9 9 Angie Kimberly Sutersville, PA #69
10 10 Matt Hayman Somerset, PA #8
Famers Union Co-Op Chargers
1 2 Steve Long Rockwood, PA #27
2 8 Tanner Friedline Hooversville, PA #7
3 5 Jason Pritts Boswell, PA #52
4 6 Scott Mitchell Somerset, PA #20
5 9 Steve Settle West Leisenring, PA #3
6 3 Dale Kimberly Sutersville, PA #22
7 10 Joe Ruskey boswell, PA #O3
8 1 Cody Gaynor Greensburg, PA #61
9 4 Frank Novak Normalville, PA #44
10 11 Justin Frampton Boswell, PA #66
Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 6 Cindy Rhodes Somerset, PA #83
2 7 Brent Bickerstaff Herminie, PA #53
3 10 Paul Koffler West Leisenring, PA #48
4 5 Brian Noel Mt pleasant, PA #39
5 8 Bently Miller Connelsville, PA #45
6 3 Joe Laposky Ligonier, PA #51
7 11 Aaron Karasack Hutchinson, PA #49
8 13 Larry Dunmyer Elton, PA #1
9 12 Jason Fulton Normalville, PA #78
10 1 Matthew Ruffing Johnstown, PA #47
Submitted By: Vernon Yoder
