For Immediate Release

Judy Gower 724-853-7223   jdgocar@aol.com

August 29, 2004

BAKER REACHES MILESTONE WITH 50TH CAREER WIN AT PPMS.

LIMITED LATE "JOOK GEORGE MEMORIAL" TO PETE LORIA

IMPERIAL, PA (August 28) – Lightning on the track and in the sky was the attraction Saturday night at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway as Late Model hot shoe Steve Baker of Fairmont WV bolted to his 50^th career PPMS win, and Pittsburgh’s Pete Loria electrified the competition on his way to scoring the victory in the “Jook George Memorial” Fall Classic for the Limited Late Models.  Also picking up feature wins on Shults Auto Group Night were Rick Dawson from North Jackson, Ohio, who was subbing for Wayne Tessean, in the E-Modifieds, Larry Marks from West Mifflin in the Pure Stocks, and Finleyville’s Craig Koteles earned the trophy in the Amateur Stocks.

Dave Wade and Jim Zarin made up the front row for the Late Model main, and Wade immediately jumped out in front.  Zarin chased Wade until the first caution waved on the fifth lap for fourth running Ed Ferree who suffered a right rear flat.  Steve Baker replaced Zarin for second on the restart, and the chase was on.  Wade held on to the lead, but two laps later, the yellow was back out for a multi-car tangle in turn one.  Wade got the jump on the double file restart, but Baker  swept around Wade to assume the lead on the next circuit, and once in front  Baker immediately began to open  some distance on the competition behind.  As Baker’s lead increased, Lou Bradich and Wade waged a spirited battle for second with Zarin now fourth and John Flinner up to fifth.  Bradich finally secured second, and he tried to close in on Baker to no avail as Baker was on a rail.  A caution on lap 20 bunched up the field, but Baker was on the gas and gone again when the green replaced the yellow.  Wade and Bradich exchanged positions one more time before Wade regained second relegating Bradich back to third with Flinner now in fourth and Zarin  fifth.  As Baker was completing his final lap, a spin in turn four brought out the yellow to force a two lap shootout, Not to be denied,  Baker stayed in command for the final two circuits and comfortably took the checker for his third win of the season at PPMS.  Wade, Bradich, Flinner and Zarin crossed the stripe in line to finish second through fifth.  Sixth went to Ben Miley with Lynn Geisler seventh, Neal Isiminger turned in a strong run for eighth, Michael Davis was ninth, and Scott Gunn completed the top ten.  Heats were taken by Ty Meyers, Miley and Flinner with Flinner also earning Hard Charger honors. 

Up next was the “Jook George Memorial” Fall Classic for the Advance Auto Parts Limited Late Models.   After a perfect four wide salute to the fans, the starting field doubled back up with Pete Loria and Rich Apolito heading the pack.  Loria charged into the lead with Apolito and Jon Hodgkiss duking it out for second.  Hodgkiss soon settled into the spot with Apolito, Bobby Castelveter and Jim Stephans right behind.  As Loria increased his lead, D.J. Miller was on the move to the front from deep in the pack.  By midpoint Miller was fourth and working on Apolito for third.  A caution on lap fifteen erased Loria’s big lead, but when the green came back out, Loria pulled away again with Hodgkiss still second and Miller now up to  third.   Miller and Hodgkiss put on a good side by side battle for several laps while Loria drove away.   Loria, running a very limited schedule the past couple of seasons, took the checker for what turned out to be his first win since September of 2002.   As the George family presented Loria with his trophy in  victory lane, an emotional Loria stated what an honor it was to win Jook’s race.  Pete went on to say that Jook was a special person and friend who did a lot for his fellow competitors and always went above and beyond for the racers.   Finishing in the runnerup position was Hodgkiss with Miller third, Apolito fourth and Castelveter fifth.  Jesse Burroughs rode home sixth, Stephans settled for seventh, Jared Miley was eighth, Tony Sinicrope ninth, and Frankie Schneider completed the top ten.  Stephans and Loria won the qualifying heat races, and Miller was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger. 

The car was no stranger to victory lane this year, however, the driver who took it to the winner’s circle Saturday night has been away from it since 1995.  Vacationing E-Modified driver, Wayne Tessean, put Rick Dawson in his car for the night, and Dawson wasted little time getting reacquainted with the monster half mile.    Kari Gasser had her hands full with both Shawn Domhoff and Dawson during the first seven laps of the 15-lap event.  Dawson finally got the lead away from Gasser on the eighth go round when he made an inside pass work coming out of turn four.  Once in front Dawson pulled away and went to on easily take the win over Domhoff who had grabbed second from Gasser with two to go.  Hard Charger Tom Martineck came from the rear of the field to get by Gasser on the white flag lap.  Martineck held on for third, Gasser settled for fourth, and Joel Johns completed the top five.  Six through ten were Kurt Halbedl, Chuck Kennedy, Russ Matejka, Nick Cramer and Joe Pemberton.  Kennedy and Daryl Charlier won the heat races.

Four different drivers took turns leading the way during the Isiminger’s Pennzoil Pure Stock 15-lap main event.  Doug Foster grabbed the early lead giving way to Craig Kamicker who led it until the 10th lap when AJ Poljak made a daring inside pass work to put him in front.  Poljak then held off the repeated challenges from Kamicker and Larry Marks for the next circuits.  Marks finally got by Poljak as they rounded the fourth turn with one lap to go.  Marks held on to collect his fifth checkered flag of the season.  Poljak settled for runnerup honors with Aaron Fraser coming on strong to pass Kamicker on the last lap for a season best third.  Foster completed the top five.  The next round of five were EJ Vasko, Jeff Broniszewski, Steve Webb, Randy Bauknecht and Bill Robertson.  Poljak, Foster and Kamicker won the heat races and Jake Simmons was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger.

As the lightning intensified in the sky, the Amateur Stocks took to the track for their 12-lap feature.  Before the first lap was in the books the red was out for a rollover by Rich Cooper.  Cooper walked away unhurt and the field was realigned for the restart.  Craig Koteles took the lead and never gave it up on his way to picking up win number two over Adam Chytil and Ian Tomei.  Jay Adams had his best run this year with a solid fourth and Wes Wheeler completed the top five.  Completing the top ten were Eric Goldberg, Bill Tennant, Robby Torrens, Rick Gorsuch and Todd Evans.  Tomei and Koteles were the heat race winners and Bill Tennant  earned Hard Charger honors. 

The skies let loose as the victory lane presentation concluded, and the scheduled demolition derby will now take place this Saturday, September 4 immediately following the regular five division racing program.  In addition, kids bike races are on tap for children twelve and under.  Helmets required. 

Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway August 28 Race Results

Late Models

Heat Race Winners:  Ty Meyers, Ben Miley, John Flinner

Monarch Oil Hard Charger:  John Flinner

Feature (25 Laps):  1) Steve Baker, 2) Dave Wade, 3) Lou Bradich, 4) John Flinner, 5) Jim Zarin, 6) Ben Miley, 7) Lynn Geisler, 8) Neal Isiminger, 9) Michael Davis, 10) Scott Gunn, 11) Jim Lepro, 12) Rick Heim, 13) Ty Meyers, 14) Mike Johnson, 15) Keith Rodriguez, 16) Tony Musolino, 17) George Kowatic, 18) Gary Swiger, 19) Jim Arcuragi, 20) Lance Elson, 21) Gary Knollinger, 22) Mike Martini, 23) Butch D'Antonio, 24) Mark Banal, 25) Ed Ferree

Advance Auto Parts Limited Late Models

Heat Race Winners:  Jim Stephans, Pete Loria

Monarch Oil Hard Charger:  D.J. Miller

Feature (Jook George Memorial Fall Classic - 25 Laps):  1) Pete Loria, 2) Jon Hodgkiss, 3) D.J. Miller, 4) Rich Apolito, 5) Bobby Castelveter, 6) Jesse Burroughs, 7) Jim Stephans, 8) Jared Miley, 9) Tony Sinicrope, 10) Frankie Schneider, 11) Jim Shahan, 12) Jeris Collins, 13) Joe Szymanski, 14) Scott Adamson, 15) Bobby Henne, 16) Tommy Schirnhofer

E-Modifieds

Heat Race Winners:  Chuck Kennedy, Daryl Charlier

Monarch Oil Hard Charger:  Tom Martineck

Feature (15 Laps):  1) Rick Dawson (subbing for Wayne Tessean)  2) Shawn Domhoff, 3) Tom Martineck, 4) Kari Gasser, 5) Joel Johns, 6) Kurt Halbedl, 7) Chuck Kennedy, 8) Russ Matejka, 9) Nick Cramer, 10) Joe Pemberton, 11) Herm Myers, 12) Frank Magill, 13) Denny Nakutis, 14) Stush Sadowski, 15) Daryl Charlier DNS

Isiminger's Pennzoil Pure Stocks

Heat Race Winners:  AJ Poljak, Doug Foster, Craig Kamicker

Monarch Oil Hard Charger:  Jake Simmons

Feature (15 Laps):  1) Larry Marks, 2) AJ Poljak, 3) Aaron Fraser, 4) Craig Kamicker, 5) Doug Foster, 6) EJ Vasko, 7) Jeff Broniszewski, 8) Steve Webb, 9) Randy Bauknecht, 10) Bill Robertson, 11) Bob Schwartzmiller, 12) Aaron Jones, 13) Robert Betz, 14) Jake Simmons, 15) Joe Hackimer, 16) Shawn Bryan, 17) Dr. John Hobbs, 18) Eric Betz, 19) Nick Kocuba, 20) Danny Rich, 21) John Cain, 22) Craig Fraser DNS, 23) Marc Greer DNS, 24) Darryl Robison DNS

Amateur Stocks

Heat Race Winners:  Ian Tomei, Craig Koteles

Monarch Oil Hard Charger:  Bill Tennant

Feature (12 Laps):  1) Craig Koteles, 2) Adam Chytil, 3) Ian Tomei, 4) Jay Adams, 5) Wes Wheeler, 6) Eric Goldberg, 7) Bill Tennant, 8) Robby Torrens, 9) Rick Gorsuch, 10) Todd Evans, 11) Jon Everett, 12) Butch Levandosky, 13) Jim Moore, 14) John Chipps, 15) Skeets Levandosky, 16) Rob Ward, 17) Rich Cooper