Lernerville Speedway
July 1, 2011
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Hess takes third Late Model win of the season at Lernerville Speedway



SARVER, Penn. (July 1) - Nearly perfect weather conditions made for an awesome start to the Fourth of July weekend as Fab Four Racing was back in action after a week’s hiatus for last weekend’s Firecracker 100!  Hot, dry weather all week helped create a slick, but racy track that saw Carl Bowser and Dave Hess Jr. dominate their features, as Jeremiah Shingledecker and Joe Kelley had to catch and pass early leaders to claim their checkered flags.

Tommy Beck had aspirations of following Carl Bowser’s path from the pole to Sheetz Victory Lane but led just one lap as Dave Hess Jr. wasted no time getting to the front after starting third.  He was in Beck’s wake as they completed lap number one and had the lead as they exited turn two on lap two.  Once at the point, Hess pulled away in dominant fashion to score his third win of the season in the Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models and extend his Budweiser points lead to over 40 points; more than can be made up on a single night of racing.

Kenny Schaltenbrand continues to heat up as summer rolls along and finished second.  Doug Eck had a strong finish after battling Lynn Geisler and Chuck Sarver for most of the race just outside of the top five.  Eck took advantage of the late race restarts and finished third.  John Garvin Jr. ran a strong race to come home fourth ahead of polesitter and early leader Tommy Beck in fifth.  Sixth through tenth shook out with Garrett Krummert, Chris Schneider, Lynn Geisler, Boom Briggs and Chuck Sarver.  Hess and Eck were Precise heat winners.

The Ti22 Performance DIRTcar Sprints rolled onto the Action Track first with Sarver’s own Carl Bowser drawing the pole.  Bowser had to sit out the Mid-Season Championships on June 17 after taking a nasty flip at Mercer Raceway Park the weekend before.  Back and better than ever, Bowser jumped out to a quick lead, but front row mate Brent Matus drew even on the back straightaway and had a slight lead entering turn three.  Bowser jumped up on the cushion, mashed the loud pedal and rocketed into the lead exiting turn four.  Lap two saw “Cowboy” Brian Steinman tangle with Brent Matus’s son Brandon; Steinman flipped over turn one and Brandon Matus went sailing into the retaining wall below the camping area in turn one.  Bowser took off on the restart and drove away from the field for his first Lernerville win of the season.

Budweiser points leader Brian Ellenberger took advantage of a late race, uncharacteristic mistake by Rod George.  George was over a full straightaway behind Bowser, but had a sizable margin ahead of Ellenberger until he spun exiting turn two on lap 23, did a 360 and kept going.  The loss of momentum, however, was all Ellenberger needed to claim the runner up spot ahead of George in third.  Jack Sodeman Jr. came from 11th on the grid to finish fourth, while Dan Kuriger scored his first top five of the season.  The Ti22 top ten rounded out with Scott Priester, AJ Albrecht, Andy McKisson, Brent Matus and Pete Landram.  Ti22 Heats were checkered by Kevin Schaeffer and Brian Ellenberger.  Ellenberger continues to lead the Bud points over Bowser and George.

Thursday night’s feature winner at the BRP Mod Tour event at Ohio’s Expo Speedway Brian Weaver started on the pole of the Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Northeast Big Block Modifieds feature and led the first 11 laps.  Budweiser points leader Jeremiah Shingledecker was all over Weaver by lap three and tried multiple lines to get around him.  Shingledecker was visibly faster than Weaver, but couldn’t find a spot to pass him, until lap 12.  Exitting turn two, Shingledecker out dragged Weaver and took the lead for good as they entered turn three.  Shingledecker would cruise to Sheetz Victory Lane for the second time this season in another green-to-checkers, no caution race for the Diehl Mods.  In victory, Shingledecker extended his lead in the Budweiser points to 15 points ahead of defending Track Champion Kevin Bolland.

Weaver held on to finish second ahead of Bolland in third, Brad Rapp in fourth and Mid-Season Champion Dave Murdick in fifth.  Phil Evans Jr., Mike Turner, Carl Murdick, Dean Pearson and Steve Feder rounded out the Diehl top ten.  Bolland and Murdick were Diehl heat race victors.  Brian Swartzlander entered the night second in points, but did not start the feature after having mechanical issues in heat race competition.

The Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman brought the show to another dramatic close as Jimmy Fosnaught appeared to be on the way to his first career win in Fab Four Racing, but cautions late in the race allowed the pack to catch up with Jimmy, whom had extended a sizable lead during the first 15 laps.  The first caution was contagious as a handful of cautions slowed the last five laps and brought the likes of Joe Kelley, Mike Miller, Scott Bochek and Rob Shook to his back bumper.  Defending Track Champion Joe Kelley passed Fosnaught on the first restart, but Fosnaught drifted up the track (as he had all race, not an intentional block) and ran Kelley to the wall to maintain his lead.  But as they crossed the stripe the caution came out again.  On the ensuing restart, Kelley took a clear lead and motored away to his first feature win of the season and the 43rd of his career.

Bob Egley was mired just outside of the top five for most of the race, but took full advantage of the late race restarts to zoom to a second place finish ahead of early leader Jimmy Fosnaught.  Rob Shook beat Mike Miller to the stripe for fourth.  The rest of the Pic-A-Part top ten went to Scott Bockek in the Schneider 55, Corey McPherson (who celebrated his 23rd Birthday), Dwight Boice, Wayne Carbo and Pat Hanley.  Heats were won by McPherson, Miller and Bochek.  Incumbent Bud points leader AJ Flick rolled into the infield with an apparent engine fire on lap 10.  Flick’s DNF puts Mike Miller back in the Bud points lead.


Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models Feature (25 Laps)
Winner: (44) Dave Hess Jr., Waterford
(29) Ken Schaltenbrand, (03) Doug Eck, (J4) John Garvin Jr., (91) Tommy Beck, (29K) Garrett Krummert, (55) Chris Schneider, (1C) Lynn Geisler, (99B) Rick “Boom” Briggs, (88) Chuck Sarver, (111) Brian Swartzlander, (10) Gary Lyle, (7X) Herman Bertolini, (31) Bryan Force, (27) Jeff Jones, (3) Dan Swartzlander, (92) Jayme Beck, (33) Sean Puz
National Guard Heat Race Winners: Dave Hess Jr, Doug Eck

Ti22 Performance DIRTcar Sprint Feature (25 Laps)
Winner: (10) Carl Bowser, Sarver
(22) Brian Ellenberger, (4) Rod George, (23JR) Jack Sodeman Jr., (08) Dan Kuriger, (11) Scott Priester, (7A) Andrew Albrecht, (0) Andy McKisson, (33) Brent Matus, (44) Pete Landram, (76) Davey Jones, (16) Gary Rankin, (2A) Todd Allen, (12J) Bill Jones Jr., (38) Dennis Wagner, (6) Shelia Rankin, (96) Lindsay Enscoe, (B6) Bobbi Rankin, (24S) Brian Steinman, (13) Brandon Matus, (9) Kevin Schaeffer
National Guard Heat Race Winners: Kevin Schaeffer, Brian Ellenberger

Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modified Feature (25 Laps)
Winner: (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker, Polk
(1A) Brian Weaver, (777) Kevin Bolland, (11R) Brad Rapp, (61) Dave Murdick, (38) Phil Evans Jr., (96) Mike Turner, (6) Carl Murdick, (8J) Dean Pearson, (45) Steve Feder, (27R) Dave Reges, (88) Shawn Fleeger, (71B) Don Brown, DNS: (83) Brian Swartzlander, Leechburg
National Guard Heat Race Winners: Kevin Bolland, Dave Murdick

Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman Feature (20 Laps)
Winner: (66) Joe Kelley, Mt. Pleasant
(30) Bob Egley, (20J) Jim Fosnaught, (53) Rob Shook, (81) Mike Miller, (55) Scott Bocheck, (C33) Corey McPherson, (528) Dwight C. Boice, (54) Wayne Carbo, (380) Pat Hanley, (25) Brett McDonald, (12M) John McCann, (29B) Scott Byers, (32) Mark Sanders, (57) Troy Jevther, (1) Randy Hanovick, (24) Mike Gilliland, (89L) Brian Lochhart, (21) Jeff Miller, (55S) Dr. Bob Lipinski, (3S) Paul Schreckengost, (2) A.J. Flick, (28Y) Terry Young, DNS: (07) Jayme Hayden, New Kensington
National Guard Heat Race Winners: Corey McPherson, Mike Miller, Scott Bochek

Car Count Total: 77
Ti22 Performance DIRTcar Sprints: 21
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models: 18
Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds: 14
Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman: 24