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SWARTZLANDER
CAPTURES
16TH ANNUAL KODIAK MEMORIAL
Submitted: July 14, 2008
Marcie L. Barlow, BRP/Hoosier Race Tires Modified Tour Media Relations
Brian Swartzlander returned to the Tri-City Speedway Victory Lane for the first time since 2001 as he captured the 16th annual Kodiak Memorial/Modified Tour event at the Franklin , PA oval on Sunday, July 13th.
Joe Crawford and Tom Mattocks led the 26 car field to the green flag with local favorite Crawford charging into the top spot. Only three cautions would slow the event with two occurring in the first several laps of the 30 lap feature event. Swartzlander had worked his way into the second spot by lap four and the two drivers waged a side by side battle throughout the remained of the event. Swartzlander got by Crawford on lap 15 however Crawford battled back and regained the lead on lap 16. Swartzlander regained the lead on lap 20 only to lose it to Crawford on lap 21.
A lap 24 caution provided Swartzlander with the final opportunity to overtake Crawford. On the restart Crawford stayed low in turns one and two, which opened the top groove for Swartzlander. Swartzlander used the high groove to his advantage and got by Crawford in turns three and four. Crawford slid into the final corner too hard and that bobble was all Swartzlander needed to garner the front spot and stay in front for the five remaining laps.
At the checkered flag it was Swartzlander capturing his first ever Kodiak Memorial victory and his first Tri-City Speedway win since July, 2001. A very happy Swartzlander celebrated with the BJ Motorsports Team in Victory Lane. “I wanted to win this Kodiak Memorial race for years, and I finally won it. Joe ran a great race. I got too low in turn one and slid real high after hitting the water down there, and I thought that my shot at the win was done. We really needed that caution, and I was surprised that Joe left the high side open on the restart. I have to thank the crew, my team and our fans for all their support.”
Crawford held on for the runner-up spot with 2007 BRP/Hoosier Race Tires Champion Russell King bringing home the third spot. The event was King’s first Modified Tour event of 2008 as he was filling in for his father in the King Brothers #65. Les Myers and Kevin Bolland rounded out the top five.
Heats for the 30 car field were captured by Myers, Bolland and Rex King Jr. Kevin Hoffman won the B-Main.
The next event on the BRP /Hoosier Race Tire Modified Tour is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 26th at the Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne , WV . For race fans unable to make the trip to West Virginia the event will be broadcast on the internet at www.thedirttackchannel.com. In addition please be sure to visit the Series’ website at www.modifiedtourinc.com for all of the latest news.
The Modified Tour 08 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rental, Lowry Auto Body, Lake Erie Speed Specialties, Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, Priest Enterprises, Finishline Fabrication, Wilkinson Awards, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hands on Concepts, Waldo’s Towing, Oyler Action Photos, Jim’s Supermarket, Pennewell Sandblasting and Painting and King Brothers.
The Modified Tour Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area a chance to compete with one another for a higher purse structure and for a point fund for the races that are run. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker and Randy Myers the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.
BRP MODIFIED TOUR 2008 (30 Laps): 1. BRIAN SWARTZLANDER, 2. Joe Crawford, 3. Russell King, 4. Les Myers, 5. Kevin Bolland, 6. Dave Schrader, 7. Rex King Jr., 8. Kevin Hoffman, 9. Gary Smoker, 10. Tom Mattocks Jr., 11. Rick Hall, 12. Matt Baker, 13. Carl Murdick, 14. Mike Turner, 15. Tommy Kristyak, 16. Brian Sadler, 17. J.R. McGinley, 18. Steve Barr, 19. Kyle Fink, 20. Mark Flick, 21. Brad Rapp, 22. Del Rougeux Jr., 23. Skip Moore, 24. Dave Murdick, 25. Andy Priest, 26. Jeremiah Shingledecker. DNQ: Chris Hartman, Ron Eperthener Jr., Jeremy Paup, Steve Feder.
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