Norris, Schirnhofer, Laboon, Bolind Repeat;
Black Scores First Ever Hobby Stock Main Event;
A. Ferree, K. Lukon, Kocuba, Schneider and Bolind
Crowned Divisional Champions
PITTSBURGH, PA — The final night of the 2013 points battles found several familiar faces visiting Victory Lane as Michael Norris scored his fifth victory in Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model action. In addition, Tommy Schirnhofer picked up his second consecutive win in RUSH Pro-Late Model action; Vince Laboon also claimed his second win of the 2013 season in the Late Model Sportsman Division and Dylan Bolind talled win number ten in Young Guns action.
Dan Black became the second new face in as many weeks to visit Victory Lane in Hobby Stock action as he scored his first ever victory after trying for more than a year.
Michael Norris and Alex Ferree knew that the 2013 divisional title would be decided at the conclusion of the 25 lap Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model main event. By virtue of his win last week, Ferree was forced to start deep in the field while Norris, by virtue of the feature redraw, started on the pole of the main event. Norris wasted little time as he quickly jumped into the lead with veteran Ben Miley, Jon Hodgkiss and Ferree battling for spots two through four. Norris began lapping the field by lap nine while Ferree was cautiously battling Miley, Brandon Burgoon and John Mollick for the second spot. At the finish it was Norris scoring his fifth win of the season in the D&D Auto Salvage/Millerstown Pic A Part sponsored Rocket Chassis over Ferree, Mollick, Jim Stephans and Brandon Burgoon.
Burgoon and Ferree were the winners in the Super Late Model prelims.
Alex Ferree’s strong finish in the second half of the 2013 season enabled him to overtake Michael Norris and claim his first ever PPMS Super Late Model title. The Saxonburg, PA resident scored three feature wins in the Range Resources/Penn Star Energy sponsored Rocket Chassis. In addition, Ferree also claimed the 2013 Lernerville Speedway Late Model points title.
The 20 lap Pro-Late Model event saw Josh Holtgraver and Paul Jablonski lead the field to the green however a caution for Chuck Medved would slow the field before the lap could be completed. The second attempt at a start was more successful as Holtgraver immediately jumped into the lead with Steve Beatty, Nico Dabecco and Ken Chernik battling behind him. By lap nine Holtgraver had extended his lead to a straightaway and began lapping the back markers. The event’s second caution flew on lap 15 when Dennis Neiderriter slowed in turn one and on the ensuing restart another caution flew when Dusty Curry, Jake Gunn, Ron Hall and Medved tangled in turn four.
The five lap “shoot out” that followed saw tenth place starter Tommy Schirnhofer use the high groove to move into the second spot by lap 16 and then overtake Holtgraver on the 18th circuit. Schirnhofer led the final laps to score his second consecutive Pro-Late Model win at the Imperial, PA oval. Holtgraver was second followed by Colton Flinner (who started in the 16th position), Dabecco and Mark Moats.
Dabecco and Schirnhofer won the Pro-Late Model heat events.
Burgettstown resident Kyle Lukon was crowned the 2013 Pro-Late Model Champion. The Duquesne University graduate scored five wins en-route to his third PPMS championship in the Ingram Engines/Afco Racing Products sponsored Rocket Chassis.
The Sunoco Race Fuels Late Model Sportsman main event saw a “pair on Number 1s” Drew Koteles and Jarrod Westover bring the field to the green flag. Third place starter Vince Laboon would take the top spot to lead the first lap before Drew Koteles slowed on the backstretch to bring out the caution. The racing action resumed with Laboon leading the way over Nick Kocuba, Joey Koteles, Todd Weldon and Ricky Steigerwald. A caution on lap five for Gary Koteles and A.J. Poljak and another on lap 11 for Joey Koteles would bunch up the field but each time Laboon was able to pull away from the rest of the competitors. At the checkered flag it was Laboon scoring his second win of the season in the Loose Moose Saloon sponsored Monte Carlo. Second generation racer Todd Weldon claimed his best event PPMS Sportsman finish in the second spot followed by Nick Kocuba, Ricky Steigerwald and Poljak.
Laboon and Joey Koteles were the winners in the Late Model Sportsman heat races.
Veteran Nick Kocuba claimed his first ever PPMS Late Model Sportsman title. The popular driver from nearby Imperial, PA claimed two wins during the 2013 season and rarely finished outside the top five to secure the title.
Chase Evans and newcomer Chad Goring led the Hobby Stock finale to the green with Evans taking command and leading the first three circuits before Dan Black took over the top spot. Black went on to lead the final nine circuits to score his first ever victory in the Black Electric sponsored Monte Carlo over Evans, last week’s winner Hannah Ramsey, John Wiser and Goring.
Black also scored the win in the Hobby Stock prelim.
Second generation racer Christian Schneider was crowned the 2013 Miley BP Carwash Points Champion. The Robinson Township resident scored ten divisional feature wins en-route to his first ever title.
The Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns main event got off to a rough start as David Ostrander and Roman O’Neill tangled in turn four before one lap could be completed. The second try at the start was successful with 15 year old Adam Carson leading the first three circuits before the yellow would wave when Ostrander’s hood came off and landed on the front stretch. Carson would lead laps four through six before seventh place starter Dylan Bolind would grab the top spot. Bolind would lead the final two circuits to score his tenth win of the season in the family owned Cavalier. Carson held on for the runner-up spot followed Roman O’Neill, O.B. Huff and Devin Black.
Bolind, a 14 year old Imperial, PA resident, was also named the 2013 Young Guns Champion.
Joe Podolinsky score his third Wacky Wheels Figure Eight Mania checkered flag over Andrew Loria.
Racing action at PPMS resumes next Saturday, September 14th, as we present the Tri-State Championships. The Winged Super Sprints will compete in a 20 lap feature event paying $2,000.00 to win. In addition, the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Models will also vie for a $2,000.00 payday while the Precise Racing Products RUSH Pro-Late Models will battle for a $1,000.00 paycheck. The Sunoco Race Fuels Late Model Sportsman will also battle in a 20-lap feature event with the winner receiving $500.00 for his efforts. The Hobby Stocks and Young Guns will round out the racing card.
There will be No Entry Fees for any divisions next Saturday.
Fans are also encouraged to sign up for free race day text messages to get the latest information on weather or traffic delays that may impact the racing action by clicking on the “Rained Out” logo on the speedway website, www.ppms.com.
Additional information is also available on the speedway website: www.ppms.com or by contacting the speedway office at (412) 279-RACE (7223). Race fans can follow Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway at www.twitter.com/PAMotorSpeedway and http://www.facebook.com/Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
Diehl Of Robinson Super Late Model Finish: Michael Norris, Alex Ferree, John Mollick, Jim Stephans, Brandon Burgoon, Jon Hodgkiss, Brandon Wearing, Chuck Sarver, Derek Stefanick, Jayme Beck, Ben Miley, Tommy Beck
Precise Racing Products RUSH Pro Late Model Finish: Tommy Schirnhofer, Josh Holtgraver, Colton Flinner, Nico Dabecco, Mark Moats, Dennis Neiderriter, Steve Beatty, Justin Lamb, Kyle Lukon, Paul Jablonski, Chuck Medved, Ken Chernik, Jake Gunn, Dusty Curry, Ron Hall, Tony White
Sunoco Race Fuels Late Model Sportsman Finish: : Vince Laboon, Todd Weldon, Nick Kocuba, Ricky Steigerwald, A.J. Poljak, Jarrod Westover, Christian Schneider, Joey Koteles, Gary Koteles, Drew Koteles
Miley BP Carwash Hobby Stock Finish: Dan Black, Chase Evans, Hannah Ramsey, John Wiser, Chad Gorring, Bernie Blair
Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns Finish: Dylan Bolind, Adam Carson, Roman O’Neill, O.B. Huff, Devin Black, David Ostrander Karlee Kovacs