Saturday night’s racing at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway heated up for one of the last two points nights left to go in the 2014 racing season. Imperial’s Mike Johnson broke his dry spell and took the checkered flag in the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model race. Justin Lamb also ended a long winless streak by earning his first win in three years in the Precise Racing Products Rush Late Model feature. Making their final appearance of the season, the 410 Outlaw Winged sprints showcased the talents of Carl Bowser of Sarver, PA, who handily won that division’s main event. Also making an appearance at the track were the Rush Modifieds, and in his first visit to the speedway all the way from Wilson, NY, Greg Martin took the win in the 15 lap feature. Fan favorites Nick Kocuba and Karlee Kovacs both made an appearance in victory lane in the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman and Imperial Heights Young Guns divisions. Finishing up the night was a win by Dave Sheriff in the Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stock main.
John Mollick and Mike Johnson both won their heats in the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model class. However, Mollick broke and exited the feature after the third lap. Johnson started on the pole and started to pull away from the field in the first few laps, running on the high side of the track. But the West Virginia Rim Rider, Steve Baker, gave chase, sometimes coming within a few car lengths at times. Behind them, Ben Miley, Lynn Geisler and Alex Ferree put on a great show, battling back and forth for positions 3-5. In the end, Johnson held on for the win, his first of the season. Behind him at the finish were Baker, Geisler, Miley and Ferree.
Starting on the pole position in the Precise Racing Products Rush Late Model event, Justin Lamb broke away from the rest of the pack and developed a comfortable lead. After 10 laps, Nico DaBecco left the race on a caution flag, and the next few laps were caution filled as well. At the restart, Alan Dellinger and Tommy Schirnhofer both tried to charge to the front, but Lamb held off his challengers and earned his first victory in three years. Schirnhofer, Dellinger, Corey McPherson, and Michael Reft rounded out the top five.
The 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints had a smaller than usual field of cars, but the drivers put on a big show, especially as Carl Bowser and Brandon Matus battled it out, with Bowser holding onto the top spot for all but one of laps in the 20 lap feature event. AJ Flick, Brent Matus, and Brandon Spithaler followed at the finish.
The Rush Modifieds also made an appearance, and track newcomer Greg Martin from Wilson, NY earned the win in their feature event. Rocky Kugal, Jeremy Zufall, Will Schaffer, and Chelsie Kriegisch followed at the checkers.
A field of 14 cars was slated to start the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman main event, with Drew Koteles and Eric Piotrowski in the front row. As the green flag waved, Nick Kocuba rocketed to the front, and put on his best show of the season and earned his first win in 2014. He was able to hold off a challenge from Bill Robertson at the end. Points leader Christian Schneider was able to return to the track and earn his downed lap back to finish 4th overall. Robertson was second, Joey Koteles was third, and Pat Henley was fifth.
Sporting their biggest field appearance of the season, the Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stocks started 9 cars in their heat and 8 in the feature event. Dave Sheriff, Joe Podolinsky and Hannah Ramsey were the frontrunners the entire time and finished first, second and third respectively. Steve Pyeritz and Jacob Wiser followed.
After a late race caution in the Imperial Heights Young Guns feature race, Karlee Kovacs was able to pass and take the lead from O.B. Huff and earn her fifth win of the season, thrilling the fan contingent she brought with her. Huff finished second and Dale Touche had a strong run and finished fourth. Twenty-six year old Dave Ostrander finished in fifth place.
The 26th Pittsburgher 100 is just two weeks away; Dirt’s Monster Half Mile will host an open practice session on Friday, September 12. The two day racing extravaganza will start on Saturday, September 13 and will showcase a 50 lap $5,000 to win Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model event. A Rush Tour Event will follow that night, along with racing in the Sportsman, Hobby Stock, Young Guns and ¾ Late Model features. Sunday, September 13 will be the $5,000 to win Herb Scott Memorial, and features in the Rush Pro Late Model, Sportsman, Hobby Stock, Young Guns and ¾ Late Model divisions. All tickets are available online at www.showclix.com/event/pittsburgher Camping permits must be printed and registered; details are available on www.ppms.com