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by Brian Spaid
January 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRANKLIN, PA .. Over $33,000 in point funds and contingencies were
distributed on Saturday January 5th as Tri-City Speedway officials
honored the 2007 track champions at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall before a crowd
in excess of 350 fans, drivers, crewmen, officials and sponsors.
Receiving their championship awards were Rod George (4 Your Car
Connection Super Sprints), Kevin Bolland (Schwab's Ford DIRTcar Big Block
Modifieds), Carl McKinney (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods),
Doug Iorio II (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Bill Myers
(Klapec Auto Body Thundercars).
For the fourth time in his career, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa.,
garnered the Super Sprint track title at Tri-City in his Notary
Express/Dr. John Crawford III Family Practice Maxim No. 4. George's other titles
came in 2002, 2003 and 2005. He held off 2006 track champion Bob
Felmlee, Brent Covell, Todd Bauer and Russ Sansosti for the 2007
championship. As announced in November, this was the final season of weekly Super
Sprint competition at Tri-City as the FASTRAK Late Models will replace
the class in 2008.
"We've been crying about our motor program the last five years, and
we got some good help on our motors this season, and had a killer
year," said George, who also thanked his crew and sponsors. "I'm going to
miss running at Tri-City in 2008."
In addition, George was honored with Tri-City's 2007 Outstanding
Achievement Award. Overall, George earned 21 feature wins making him the
top Super Sprint winner in the Northeast. He also earned two track
titles (Tri-City and Mercer Raceway Park). Tri-City announcer and Cavalcade
statistician Walt Wimer also presented George with the 2007 No. 1
Cochran Cavalcade Super Sprint award for the top performance in the
division throughout the Western Pennsylvania region.
In the DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds, Kevin Bolland of New Brighton,
Pa., earned his third overall and second consecutive track title driving
his Northland Ford/Bolland Machine Bicknell No. 777. Bolland's other
titles came in 2000 and 2006. For the fourth year in a row, Rex King
finished second in points. Russell King, Jeremiah Shingledecker and Del
Rougeux Jr. rounded out the top five.
"I want to thank my entire team and all of my sponsors," said
Bolland. "My team is phenomenal for helping out in the garage. I have some
championship jackets for my father, Don Bolland, and two of my crew, Todd
and Don Chamberlain. Hopefully, we'll defend our championship in 2008
and I can get more jackets for my crew guys."
Four drivers received awards for their performance on the 2007
Schwab's Ford/Precise Racing/Teo Fabrications Big Block Modified Challenge
Series. The five-race series involved Tri-City and Lernerville
Speedways. Rougeux, Russell and Rex King, and Dave Murdick received second
through fifth place point fund monies respectively. Series champion Brian
Swartzlander will be honored at the Lernerville banquet in March. The
series will not be run in 2008 as both tracks and BRP Modified Tour
officials focus more attention on the DIRTcar Big Block Modified Western
Region point chase, which honors the top 15 drivers. Swartzlander defeated
Bolland for that title in 2007.
Carl McKinney of Cranberry Township, Pa., was honored for his first
career E Mod track title at Tri-City. Driving Mike Hendrickson's Holden
Precision Machine/Gil Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Pierce No. 6M, McKinney
topped Shawn Shingledecker for the championship. It was the third year
in a row that Shingledecker was the runner-up in the E Mod point chase.
Jim Frontz, Bobby Whitling and Mike Potosky rounded out the top five in
the final point standings.
"I wasn't expecting to do this good," said McKinney, who also
thanked his sponsors and presented Hendrickson with a championship trophy and
jacket. "Mike decided in the offseason to purchase a Pierce chassis.
Mike's team put that car together for the second race, and it was a
rocket ship. It was just awesome. From that point on, it was such a
pleasure to come out to race with Mike and his crew. I had a really good time
racing with the other E Mod drivers as well. I also want to thank Al
Cressley for racing for me the night my daughter was born. Tri-City is
great to race at week in and week out."
In addition to the track title, McKinney accepted awards for winning
the 2007 Allegheny Toyota E Series title. The E Series is a four-race
series of extra distance events at Tri-City. With the series title,
McKinney, who will also race in the FASTRAK Late Models this season,
cleaned house in the E Mod class. He defeated Frontz, Whitling,
Shingledecker and Bill Thomas for the series championship. The E Series will return
in 2008 with sponsorship from local company Welding Technologies.
Despite McKinney's success, Shingledecker collected some extra
awards for the 2007 Oyler Action Photo Hard Charger Award. The top five
pointmen in the Hard Charger chase all received awards. Those drivers
included Russell King, McKinney, Tim Engles and Denny Crawford. Schwab's
Ford will sponsor the Hard Charger Award in 2008.
Although his arrival at the banquet was delayed, Doug Iorio II of
Kennerdell, Pa., made it in time to receive his championship awards for
his first career track title in the Pro Stocks. Driving his Gil
Dahlstrom Iron & Metal Chevrolet No. 28, "The Kennerdell Kid" matched his
father Doug (1996) and uncle Ron (2001) as Pro Stock track champions at
Tri-City. Iorio topped Danny Exley, Dave Ferringer, Gerry Bruce and Rod
Laskey in the point standings.
"I've got a long list of people and sponsors to thank," said Iorio
as he read off the names and companies that supported his 2007
championship efforts. "This means a lot to my entire crew. I have to thank them,
and all of my family and friends. Thanks also to the Graham and Crick
families for the excellent track they give us to race on. We're waiting
for some sponsorship to come through because we'd like to race with
the FASTRAK Late Models. If it doesn't, then we'll be back in the Pro
Stocks."
All-time Pro Stock feature winner and three-time Pro Stock track
champion Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., accepted accolades for his 2007
William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro
Stock Series title. Whitling, who focused most of his attention on the E
Mod division, ran the five-race series for his second title. The first
came in 2003. Whitling defeated Jason Reagle, Ferringer, Iorio and
Laskey in the point chase.
Bill Myers of Seneca, Pa., was honored for his first career track
championship in the Thundercar division. Myers will defend his
championship in 2008 aboard his Color Tek/R.K. Virgile Scrap Metals/Corner Pocket
Bar Chevrolet No. 43M. Myers topped Josh Seippel, Regina Deloe, Joe
Blake and Charlie McMillen for the 2007 title.
"With me starting a new business this year, I am going to stay in
the Thundercars this season," said Myers, who originally planned to move
into the Pro Stocks in 2008. "I want to thank Mike Klapec and Color Tek
for how nice my car was this year. I also want to thank all my
sponsors and family members. There's a ton of people that help me, and it
doesn't happen overnight."
Each division champion received a championship trophy and jackets.
George, Bolland, McKinney and Iorio each also received point fund money
and a championship watch from Kay Jewelers of Cranberry, Pa. Each
division and series champion also gave his respective division sponsor a
special award from the track.
Dan Bubenheim of R.N. Goss Gas drew Regina Deloe's name as the
winner of the 2007 Lincoln Welder Ironman Award. Deloe, Rod George, Carl
McKinney, Jim Frontz and Bobby Whitling all completed 100% of the laps in
heat and feature race competition in their respective divisions, and
all five were eligible for the top prize, a free Lincoln Welder.
Three drivers received rookie honors from track officials. Bobby
Whitling (E Mods), Chris Haines of Sandy Lake, Pa., (Pro Stocks), and
Curtis E. Bish of Dempseytown, Pa., (Thundercars) were named Rookies of the
Year in their respective divisions. There were no eligible rookies in
the Super Sprint and DIRTcar Big Block Modified divisions.
The 2007 Most Improved Driver Award was presented to Pro Stock
driver Denny Crawford of Franklin, Pa. Crawford improved his efforts over
the last several seasons with three top five feature finishes, including
a runner-up finish, and a sixth place finish in the Pro Stock point
standings. Crawford also came close to victory on several occasions.
Joining him at the podium was his brother, Joe Crawford of Polk,
Pa., who received the 2007 Hard Luck Award. Off-track injuries at the
beginning and end of the season hampered Crawford's DIRTcar Big Block
Modified efforts. It was obvious that Crawford would have had a better
season without those misfortunes because he scored three top five finishes,
including one feature win, when he was able to race during July and
August.
Dave Schrader of Endeavor, Pa., was honored with the 2007
Sportsmanship Award. Schrader received the award for his willingness to help
other DIRTcar Big Block Modified drivers, especially Russell King. On May
27th, Schrader loaned a backup car to the 2007 BRP Modified Tour
champion, and King drove it to victory for his second consecutive win in the
Dick Rankin Memorial. Without Schrader's generosity, King would not have
been in contention for the BRP Modified Tour title.
Pennewell Sandblasting & Painting of Oil City, Pa., awarded gift
certificates for chassis reconditionings to Gale Ruth Jr. (Super Sprints),
Carl Murdick (DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Shawn Shingledecker (E
Mods), Jackson Humanic (Pro Stocks), and Ed Deloe (Thundercars). Those
drivers were chosen by random draw prior to the banquet.
Vinyl Graphics Unlimited of Shippenville, Pa., awarded gift
certificates for car letterings to Bob Felmlee (Super Sprints), Dave Murdick
(DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds), Evan Taylor (E Mods), Matt Thomas (Pro
Stocks), and Regina Deloe (Thundercars). Those drivers were also chosen
by random draw prior to the banquet.
Other contingency and point fund sponsors included Pennzoil, Hoosier
Tire, Precise Racing, Big Daddy's Speed Center, Bassett Wheels, Sunoco
Fuel, and the Oakland Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Tri-City's Public Relations Director Brian Spaid closed the banquet
with news that the track will open for the 2008 season on Sunday April
27th with a five-division program featuring the Engles Trucking DIRTcar
Big Block Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, RPM
Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro
Stocks, and Klapec Auto Body "Sunday Night Thunder" Cars.
Although the Super Sprints will not return to weekly action at
Tri-City, Spaid noted that there is an open date in the 2008 calendar for a
winged event at the track provided a sponsor and other support is
forthcoming.
Tri-City will continue to be sanctioned under the World Racing
Group's DIRTcar classification in 2008. As noted above, Tri-City and
Lernerville Speedways will join with the BRP Modified Tour for the 2008
DIRTcar Big Block Modified Western Region point chase. As for special
events, Tri-City will run the 5th Annual Rankin & Son Excavating Dick Rankin
Memorial on Sunday May 25th. The 16th Annual Kodiak Memorial is
scheduled for July 20th.
The FASTRAK Late Models will offer new weekly excitement at Tri-City
in 2008. Track officials intend to work with FASTRAK NorthEast Late
Model Series officials in order to schedule an event at the venerable
Venango County half-mile oval.
In the E Mod ranks, the 2008 Welding Technologies E Series will
feature a four-race series of extra distance events for the E Mod race
teams. This is the fourth season in a row for the E Series. In addition,
the All Star 30 will return as part of the Oil Region Labor Day Classic
Weekend on August 30th and 31st.
Willam R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning will return as
title sponsor of the Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. The five-race
schedule will include the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend and the 12th
Annual CSOnline Applefest 100, which will close out the season on
Sunday September 7th. That event will also include the 6th Annual Apple
Core 20 for the "Sunday Night Thunder" Cars.
The World of Outlaws Late Model Series will compete at Tri-City
during the Oil Region Labor Day Classic Weekend. Track officials continue
to negotiate with series officials on the format for the 2008 event.
Regardless of the race formet, the 4th Annual South Ghetto celebration
will be held on Saturday night.
Although it will not return as a division sponsor for the DIRTcar
Big Block Modifieds, Schwab's Ford will be the new sponsor of the annual
Hard Charger Award. The award honors the driver that scores the most
passing points in the feature races of all divisions combined. There are
some new and unique weekly awards being considered that could involve
the race fans in 2008.
R.N. Goss Gas and Lincoln Electric will combine forces for the
fourth season in a row for the Lincoln Welders Ironman Award. At the end of
the season, a new Lincoln Welder will be presented to the race team
that completes the greatest percentage of laps in heat and feature race
competition in all divisions combined.
NorthPointe Automotive will also return to Tri-City in 2008 with a
new pace vehicle to lead each night's on-track action.
More news about the upcoming season will be released in coming
weeks, including the 2008 schedule.
Tri-City Speedway is owned and operated by Roger and Susie Crick and
Mike and Margaret Graham. They have promoted Sunday night racing at
the popular facility since they reopened it in 1996. The DIRTcar Big
Block Modifieds, FASTRAK Late Models, E Mods, Pro Stocks and "Sunday Night
Thunder" Cars will race each week at the Venango County half-mile dirt
oval in 2007. Tri-City is located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa.,
off State Route 417.
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