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by Brian Spaid
June 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRANKLIN, PA .. In conjunction with McDonald's Kids Night at
Tri-City Speedway, track officials will host the 3rd Annual Hall of Fame
Induction Ceremony on Sunday June 22nd before a full five-star show of auto
racing on the fast half-mile Venango County oval.
The event will include the Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block
Modifieds, 4 Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, RPM Auto Sales/Sherry
Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and
Klapec Auto Body Thundercars. The E Mods will run double features to
include the June 8th rain delayed event. In addition, the Pro Stocks will
commence the 2008 William R. Karns Plumbing, Heating & Air
Conditioning Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series with a 20-lap event.
Those drivers to be inducted in the 2008 Hall of Fame class are
former Super Sprint and Big Block Modified stars Lou Blaney of Hartford,
Ohio, Ralph Quarterson of West Middlesex, Pa., Jim Magill of Zelienople,
Pa., and Johnny Axe of New Castle, Pa., and former track announcer and
promoter Bud Miller of Sharon, Pa. Magill was also a former pit steward
at Tri-City.
The induction ceremonies will start at the McDonald's Restaurant in
Franklin, Pa., where the former drivers will sign special collector
cards for fans at 3 p.m. Fans will also have a chance to chat with the
drivers one on one. The actual induction will take place at the track at
5:45 p.m. at the starter's tower before the first race of the night.
Organized by former Public Relations Director George Stroupe,
Tri-City's Hall of Fame is the track's way of honoring these drivers and
important people, who helped make Tri-City a popular Western Pennsylvania
speedway. In 2006, Gus Linder, Dick Bailey, Dick Cotterman, Cal Hull,
Henry Jacoby and Bill Wheeling were inducted. In 2007, Andy Phillips,
Jack Smith, Les Myers and former flagman Ron Cotterman were also inducted.
For the seventh year in a row, Tri-City will run the five-race
Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series. Other events will be run on August 3rd, 30th
and 31st, and the 12th Annual CSOnline Applefest 100 on September 7th.
Each race will be an extra distance event and will pay additional purse
money throughout the field. Standard track points will be maintained
for the series. This means points will be awarded for the heat races,
consolations and feature events. Show points will also be maintained. The
points will be combined in order to determine the series champion.
The early favorites for the Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series title are
Jason Reagle of Oil City, Pa., and Chris Haines of Sandy Lake, Pa., who
was the division rookie in 2007, and came out the gate with a win this
season. Reagle took the points lead after the third event and is quick
each Sunday night as he chases his first-ever Pro Stock track
championship. Other top contenders in the Pro Stock class include Rod Laskey of
Seneca, Pa., and former Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series champions Gerry
Bruce of Franklin, Pa., and Bobby Whitling of Seneca, Pa., although
Whitling will only compete on occasion as he focuses his efforts on his
new FASTRAK Late Model team. Other title challengers include Dave
Ferringer of Cochranton, Pa., Jason Johns of Oil City, Pa., Jackson Humanic of
Titusville, Pa., Don Kramer of Meadville, Pa., Bobby Sutley of
Cooperstown, Pa., and Terry Wheeler of Stoneboro, Pa.
Past Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series champions include Gary Norman
(2002), Bobby Whitling (2003, 2007), Bruce Smith (2004), Terry Wheeler
(2005), and Gerry Bruce (2006).
Gates open on Sunday June 22nd at 4:00 p.m. and racing starts at
6:00 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will remain a family friendly $11.00.
For more information, please contact Tri-City Speedway's main office
at (814) 473-4038
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 Thundercars
race each week at the Venango County half-mile dirt oval. Tri-City is
located seven miles north of Franklin, Pa., off State Route 417. |
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