8/28/2017
Jennerstown Speedway
Awtey Wins On Family Tribute Night At Jennerstown
Each year, Jennerstown Speedway Complex honors one of the greatest drivers and car builders in history, the late Bill Awtey, with a racing event in his honor. On Saturday, August 5th, Mountain Ridge ATV Park presented the annual “Bill Awtey Night,” and Bill’s son Barry Awtey was victorious in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division. Other winners were Chris Brink (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Lauren Bulter (J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks), Steve Long (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and David Campbell (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders). Also “winning,” were 26 drivers who shared in the distribution of $21,000 in prizes from the Sweeney RUSH Racing Series. The RUSH organization sanctions three racing divisions, and the first ever “RUSH Manufacturers Night” at Jennerstown Speedway was a sort of “Christmas in July” for competitors who won multiple prizes in a random drawing.
After point standing leaders Jeremiah Kuntz and Barry Awtey won heat races for the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models, Teddy Gibala and Joe Maruca started the 30-lap feature from the front row. Maruca jumped out to a big lead early, with Todd Price taking the second spot on lap two. By lap three, defending Champion Awtey had advanced into second place, after starting the race in the eighth position. One lap later, Kuntz advanced to the third spot. Awtey, a two time winner in 2017, began to reel in Maruca, who is seeking his first feature victory. On lap nine, Awtey took the lead from Maruca and immediately began to run away from all competitors, with Maruca and Kuntz holding positions two and three. Just after the midpoint of the race, Gibala began to recover, advancing his position after he slipped back several spots on the initial start. Gibala passed three time winner Kuntz, for third place on lap 19, and one lap later Gibala inherited second place, when Gibala spun from the runner up spot, and caused a caution flag. When racing resumed, Awtey maintained his lead over former Street Stock Champ Gibala, and Kuntz. On lap 22 Kuntz passed Gibala for second place. In the final five laps, Kuntz made repeated attempts to steal the lead from Awtey, as the two raced bumper-to-bumper, and dueled nearly door-to-door, for the win. When the checkered flag waved, Awtey secured his third win of the year, on a night dedicated to his Hall of Fame father, Bill Awtey. Points leader Kuntz placed second, while Gibala impressed many fans with his strong third place finish. Bryan Shipp, a winner in 2017, placed fourth while Maruca passed several cars to notch a “top five” finish after his spin. Awtey, of Jenners, PA, used his Wheeler Show Cattle/Stoystown Auto Wreckers/Highlander Hot Rods Chevrolet to gain on championship standings leader Kuntz, and the duo are now separated by only eight points.
West Virginian Dustin Gursky took the early lead in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds’ 20-lap feature, seeking his first win as a division rookie. He maintained the top spot until lap four, when two-time winner “Racin’ Jason” Busch moved to the front after starting fourth. On lap five, Jarred Barclay advanced to second place, and but was forced to battle with defending Champion Zane Ferrell, who was racing in third position and challenging. On lap 14, Chris Brink advanced to third place; then Brink passed Barclay for the runner-up spot on lap 15, as Busch continued to lead. Ferrell and Gursky brought out a caution flag, ending their duel for top-five positions, and forcing a restart on lap 16. Brink wrestled the lead from Busch when the green flag was displayed, and cruised to his sixth win of the season, after he started the race in twelfth position. Busch finished second, with Barclay’s outstanding performance earning him the third place paycheck. Pete Rech, a winner this year, started seventh and finished fourth and popular veteran Gary Scott placed fifth. Tom Golik and Matt Smith won the heat races.
Fans were screaming with delight, after what many of them called “the race of year,” referring to the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks’ 25 lap feature. North Star Equipment added bonus cash to the purse, and the competitors raced an extra five laps, in celebration of Bill Awtey’s life and career. Championship contender Lauren Butler took the lead on lap one, after she started the event in the second position. Aaron Van Fleet, a winner in 2017, held the runner up spot until lap four, when points leader Josh Coughenour took second place. For the remaining 21 laps, Coughenour used the inside lane of Jennerstown’s pavement to challenge Butler, in a side-by-side duel. Lap after lap, the duo raced door to door, with Butler defending her lead by just inches, in high groove. Coughenour never officially led at the scoring line, but fans were in a frenzy watching the close race. Former Champion Andrew Kostelnik started seventh and reeled in the leaders, making a three-car fight for the win, late in the race. But Kostelnik spun, creating a restart with two laps to go. Butler was able hold a slim lead, and score her second, popular, victory of 2017, with Coughenour finishing a close second. The pair were part of a memorable “photo finish” a few weeks prior, and Coughenour’s lead in the championship standings is now only three points over Butler. While Butler received a standing ovation climbing out of her car, Coughenour made his way to victory lane, where the two “rivals” shared a congratulatory hug. Former Champion Adam Kostelnik started tenth and finished third, with defending Champ Shawn Beam finishing fourth, and Van Fleet placing fifth. Beam and Coughenour won the heats.
Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers also raced five extra laps, with bonus cash provided by Morocco Welding, in memory of Bill Awtey. For many of the 20 laps, all eyes were on second place, as points leader Jason Pritts took the lead on lap one, and drove far away from all competitors. A three car battle for second place, that included recent winner Dale Kimberly, Frank Novak, and former Champ Steve Long was thrilling. On lap seven, Long spun after contact from Novak, sending Long to the tail of the field, with slight damage from the concrete wall. When racing resumed, Pritts continued to lead unchallenged, while Novak and Kimberly made contact fighting for second place. With two laps to go, the second place battle turned into a caution flag incident, after Novak and Kimberly’s high-speed paint swapping caused Novak to spin. Kimberly was sent to the tail of the field for being involved in the incident. With two of the top five cars removed from the order, Tanner Friedline inherited second place for the restart. When the green flag waved, Friedline and leader Pritts collided, sending Pritts for a spin and creating another late-race restart. With help from both caution flag incidents, Long was able to advance from his spin early on, and snatch the lead from Friedline, to score his fourth win of 2017. Long is now just five points behind Pritts in the standings, the remarkable win. Behind Long and Friedline, Ron Delano, Jr. crossed the finish line in third place. Delano, a winner in prior years of Street Stock and Pro Stock races, came out of retirement to substitute for Scott Mitchell. Pritts was able to storm through the field and finish fourth, and Kimberly rallied to fifth. Long and Pritts also won the heat races.
The Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders’ 15-lap feature concluded with a first-time winner parking in victory lane. David Campbell officially led every lap, but he was challenged repeatedly by Casey Fleegle, and was able to thwart the veteran’s advances time and time again. Campbell started in the front row, and earned career win number one, narrowly, over Fleegle, with Evan Nibert starting in tenth place, and finishing third. Joe Laposky won his heat race and finished fourth, while heat winner Andrew Pluta started twelfth and placed fifth.
Next Saturday night, August 12, Jennerstown Speedway Complex presents five division racing at 6pm, with gates opening at 4pm. During intermission, Tri-Star Motors will present the 2017 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, honoring drivers Bob Marhefka and Tom Peck; team owners Barry and Brian Bruening; and former promoter Dave Wheeler.
Submitted By: Vernon Yoder
