Penn Can Speedway
July 1, 2011
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Alan Rudalavage and Tracy Gregory open Fourth of July Weekend with a bang at Penn Can Speedway

by Ryan Lepre
Alan Rudalavage would inherit the lead during a lap four caution when race leader Mike Colsten headed pitside with a left rear flat tire. Then Rudalavage of Newton Lake, PA would pull away from the pack to take his first win at Penn Can Speedway this season in the 40 lap event. Tracy Gregory took the point on lap four in the Late Model event and would remain there till the checkers flew. Mike Nagel Jr. was in the right place at the right time as the top two in the Crate Sportsman main tangled on the last lap Nagel was there to snag his third win in a row. Rich Talada outdistanced Ryan Stone to win the Street Stock feature to round out the Fireworks Extravaganza night presented by Warner’s Gas Service at the 3/8 mile oval.

Chris Weaver was the leader to start the Modified event with Mike Colsten and Alan Rudalavage challenging on the opening circuit. Colsten would take the top spot on a lap three restart on the outside as they raced down the backstretch. Rudalavage also made his way by Weaver to run second meanwhile Kevin Bates moved to fourth ahead of Steve Babicek. Babicek would get out of shape in turns one and two which set off a six car pileup on lap four. Being towed off with the most severe damage was points leader Kevin Hartnett and Carl Nagel. While under the yellow Colsten had to go to the pits with a flat left rear tire. Hartnett was back out after another yellow on the same lap allowed him to make temporary repairs. Sixteenth starter Brett Tonkin had moved up to eight after avoiding the rash of accidents to start the event. Rudalavage would quickly pull away from Weaver who had his hands full trying to keep Bates behind him, Billy Thornton and Mike Schane rounded out the top five. Bates worked around the outside of Weaver to take the runner-up spot on lap 10. B. Tonkin was now sixth as Rudalavage had opened up a straightaway lead over Bates. Schane bypassed Thornton for the fourth spot as the field took the crossed flags. Hartnett drew a yellow flag one lap later as he stopped in turn four with a broken spindle. Thornton was now under pressure from both Tonkin and Bob Trapper for the fifth spot. With ten to go Tonkin took the spot meanwhile Trapper slowed while seventh and eventually headed to the pits. Over the last ten laps the top five all ran spaced apart on the speedway as Rudalavage maintained his straightaway lead to take the checkers first in his Quinn’s Supermarkets No. 145 over Bates in the Fragola No. 42B. Chris Weaver turned in his best effort to place third ahead of Mike Schane in fourth and Brett Tonkin who placed fifth. The rest of the top ten were Thornton, Joey Colsten, Dan Pompey, Darwin Greene and Mike Colsten.

The Late Models started there event racing three wide for the lead with Dan Snyder holding the lead over Curt Tunillo Jr. and Paul Strohl. Defending track champion Tracy Gregory was on the hammer early as he was into second on lap two and looking to the outside of Snyder for the lead. Gregory got to the outside of Snyder as they completed the third lap and would pull to the lead in turn two. Last week’s winner Steve Deinhardt took over second from Snyder on lap seven but was never able to challenge Gregory for the win. Snyder placed third ahead of Ben Whitaker and Paul Strohl.

In a crowd stirring Crate Sportsman feature Adam MacGeorge held the early lead over Jeff Crambo. Mike Nagel Jr. moved past Crambo to second on lap seven and then closed in on MacGeorge. Nagel tried the inside at the halfway point but couldn’t get by. With two to go the top three raced under a blanket as Crambo would pass both Nagel and MacGeorge to take the lead. On the final lap Crambo looked to have the race wrapped up until MacGeorge spun Crambo out in turn three on the final lap. Nagel Jr. would get the win his third in a row as he bested Steve Hicks, Larry Hillis, Eric Stevens and Dusty Barton.

Rich Talada held off an early challenge from Ryan Stone and would eventually pull away from Stone to take the Street Stock checkers first. Stone was second ahead of Paul Rooney, Matt Bowman and Chris Shimer. Rob Warner won the Factory Stocks event over Ted Mills III and Gary Cleveland. Andy Brigham once again won the 4 Cylinder main over Joe Warner and Andy Colwell.

PENN NOTES:A huge crowd was on hand to celebrate the start of the holiday weekend. They were treated to an excellent fireworks display by Zy Phrotechnics. Modified heat race wins went to Mike Colsten, Chris Weaver, Dan Pompey and Mike Schane. Next Friday night the Open Sportsman return to Penn Can Speedway to race in a $1,000 to win event. There will be a Crate Sportsman bonus for the event, if at least five Crates are entered of $150 and if less than five of $100. The Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stock, Factory Stocks and 4 Cylinders will all be in competition next Friday.

Warner’s Gas Service Modified Feature: Alan Rudalavage, Kevin Bates, Chris Weaver, Mike Schane, Brett Tonkin, Billy Thornton, Joey Colsten, Dan Pompey, Darwin Greene, Mike Colsten, Mike Nagel, Steve Babicek, Butch Tittle, Bob Trapper, Kevin Hartnett, Chris Wood, Bobby Trapper, Rusty Smith, Grant Hilfiger, Carl Nagel, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Garth Tonkin Jr

Warner’s Gas Service Late Model Feature: Tracy Gregory, Steve Deinhardt, Dan Snyder, Ben Whitaker, Paul Strohl, Jim O'Hara, Ernie Millon, Curt Tunilo Jr, Chad Hollenbeck, Gary Griffin

Warner’s Gas Service Sportsman Feature: Mike Nagel Jr, Steve Hicks, Larry Hillis, Eric Stevens, Dusty Barton, Jeff Crambo, Gordon Henn, Alex Stanton, DQ Adam MacGeorge

Warner’s Gas Service Street Stock Feature: Rich Talada, Ryan Stone, Paul Rooney, Matt Bowman, Chris Shimer, Doug Polhamus, Ken Sparks Jr, Chad Stone, Kevin Beach, Rob White, Carl Shimer, Shane Wolf Jr

Warner’s Gas Service Factory Stock Feature: Rob Warner, Ted Mills III, Gary Cleveland, Randy Richards, George Brown

Warner’s Gas Service Four Cylinder Feature: Andy Brigham, Joe Warner, Andy Colwell, Nick Grist, Matt Hynds, Joe Blaisuer, Justin Welch, Ronald Welch