8/28/2017
Jennerstown Speedway
Gibala Becomes Sixth Different Winner at Jennerstown
For the first time in his career as a driver in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models, Teddy Gibala, of Coulter, PA, parked in victory lane, becoming the sixth different winner in the division during 2017 at Jennerstown Speedway Complex. Other winners on August 19, included Zane Ferrell (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Shawn Beam (J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks), Scott Mitchell (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers), and Casey Fleegle (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders) on Martella’s Pharmacies Night at the races, presented by M and C Trucking. Joe Nicola won his second Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series event, “The Big John’s 75” to close out a late night of action, which followed a rain delay of over two hours, which forced the cancellation of preliminary heat races. FFX Trucking provided free admission for all CDL drivers to enjoy the fast-paced action.
After a lengthy hiatus from motorsports, former winner Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger returned to competition in 2017, and the local favorite took the lead at the start of the 30-lap feature race for the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models. On lap four, young Teddy Gibala advanced to the second position, passing veteran Todd Price. Gibala closely pursued Hemminger, and stole the top spot on lap ten. Two laps later, Hemminger spun from a close fight for second position with 2017 winner Bryan Shipp. One lap after the restart, Shipp was passed by defending Champion Barry Awtey, as Gibala continued to lead. Awtey started in the ninth position, and among the cars he passed, was his championship nemesis Jeremiah Kuntz. Kuntz, like Awtey, has won three times in 2017. Awtey quickly reeled in leader Gibala, and began to challenge for the top position. In spite of decades more experience, Awtey was unable to overtake Gibala, using the low groove of Jennerstown pavement. Gibala, content and fast in the upper lane, crossed the scoring line in first place every lap of the battle, but Awtey was threatening the entire distance. The pair raced door-to-door for more than a dozen laps, never making significant contact and thrilling the fans. At the finish line, former Street Stock Champion, Gibala, collected his first win in the top division of racing at Jennerstown, by the narrowest of margins over the all-time leading winner at the oval. The top five finishers were: Gibala, Awtey, Shipp, Kuntz, and Price. Gibala, who started fourth, was overcome with emotion in victory lane, and thanked his hard-working family/crew, while standing beside his E.W. Schwab Co./Jim Shorkey Auto Group Chevrolet. Awtey closed to within two points of leader Kuntz atop the standings.
The Defending Champion of the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division got a slow start to the 2017 season. Zane Ferrell, of Ruffs Dale, PA, struggled to find the proper setup to his machine, but made notable improvements in recent weeks. After starting fourth in the 20-lap feature, Ferrell took the lead from Jim Bodziak on the second lap, and drove to his first victory of the year. To do so, he defended his lead from repeated challenges by two-time winner “Racin’ Jason” Busch. Busch started ninth, and the lead duo raced bumper-to-bumper, and nearly side by side over the final ten laps. When the checkered flag waved, after an exciting duel, the top five places were held by: Ferrell, Busch, points leader Chris Brink who started tenth, Tom Golik who advanced from the eighth starting berth, and rookie Patrick Waugh.
Popular Jason Holder led the first two laps of the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks’ 20-lap feature after starting on the pole. But it only took three laps for defending Champion Shawn Beam to move into first place, after starting in eighth position. Beam, the leading winner in the division for 2017, dominated the event running far away from all competitors, earning his fifth victory. A major change in the standings occurred after points leader Josh Coughenour crashed out of the race on lap one. Lauren Butler, with three wins this year, entered the night one point behind Coughenour, and finished second after starting tenth in the feature race. She now holds a 21-point advantage in the tally, with two points races remaining. Behind her, former Champ Andrew Kostelnik drove the Minjock Racing car from the twelfth starting spot, to a third place finish. His older brother Adam, also a former Champ, placed fourth after starting tenth. Anthony Aiello completed the top five racers, when the checkered flag waved.
In spite of starting in seventh place, veteran Scott Mitchell collected his first trophy of 2017 at the conclusion of a wild Farmers Union Co-Op Charger 15 lap feature. Twice in the opening laps, drivers raced four wide, resulting in one mishap that ended the run for points leader Jason Pritts, and damaged the ride of two-time winner Dale Kimberly. Joe Ruskey led the first two laps before Cody Gaynor grabbed the top spot. On lap four Steve Long made a pass for the lead, after starting in eighth position. But the former Champion was no match for Mitchell, who made the winning pass on lap nine, and outran the entire field for a convincing win. Title contender Long placed second at the finish line, with Tanner Friedline earning third place after starting fifth. Gaynor and Kimberly completed the top five, as Long closed to within five points of Pritts in the chase for the division Championship.
Not only did Casey Fleegle score a second consecutive win in the Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders, but he did so after starting twelfth in the 15-lap affair. Jason Fulton led the first lap, before points leader Brent Bickerstaff jumped ahead of the pack. Amazingly, it was on the fourth lap that Fleegle was able to reach the lead, passing most of the cars on the speedway with great haste, to lead a total of twelve laps. Behind Fleegle, all previous winners filled the top five spots: Bickerstaff finished second, with R.J. Dallape in third place, Andrew Pluta in fourth position, and David Campbell placing fifth.
Joe Nicola turned in a dominating performance, winning the “Big John’s 75,” as round three of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series. Scott Ahlborn placed second, with Kelly Shaulis finishing third.
Saturday, August 26, the nationally televised “Super Cup Stock Car Series” returns to Jennerstown Speedway Complex, for a pair of 50-lap feature events. The race will be broadcast on the MAV-TV network at a later date, and the program of racing also includes all five divisions of Jennerstown competitors. Green flag waves at 6pm, and admission prices remain unchanged for the added attraction.
Submitted By: Vernon Yoder
