PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
4/3/04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Judy Gower (724) 853-7223
jdgocar@aol.com
(Story provided by Dow Carnahan)
IMPERIAL, PA - With the clocks ready to jump ahead, Pittsburgh's
Pennsylvania Motor Speedway got a jump on "Mother Nature" and opened the 2004
season Saturday night. Imperial's Mike Johnson collected his sixth career Late
Model win. Joining him in victory lane before the rain came were: Rich Apolito
from Carnegie in the Limited Late Models, Monaca's Russ Matejka in the E-Modifieds,
North Versailles' John Cain III in the
Isiminger's Pennzoil Pure Stocks, and Robby Torrens of Kennedy Township in the
Amateur Stocks.
The lead wasn't necessarily where you wanted to be most of
the night, and that was the case in the Late Model feature. Sixteen year old
Josh Richards in his race at "Dirt's Monster Half Mile" appeared to be on his
way to his first career win when a flat tire sidelined him with three laps
remaining. Mike Johnson, who led laps six through twelve before he was
overhauled by the ninth starting Richards, inherited the lead on the restart and
held off Steve Baker for the victory. Baker, who started on the front row, led
the first five laps. Brian Laraway charged from thirteenth to edge Dave Hess
Jr. for third, and Chris Hackett came home fifth in the attrition filled
race. Six through ten were: Ben Miley, Dave Wade, Mark Moats, Richards, and Jim
Zarin. John Flinner and Richards won the heats, and Laraway was the Monarch Oil
Hard Charger.
The Limited Late Model feature was less eventful as Rich Apolito led wire to wire in the 20-lapper. Jesse Burroughs came home second, Tony Sinicrope third, Bobby Castelveter fourth, and Nick Duratz fifth. Frankie Schneider, Jim Shahan, and Jim Stephans completed the field. Apolito also won the heat, and Burroughs was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger.
Dave Hess Jr. made an impressive run from last to first in
the E-Modified feature, only to get disqualified for running illegal bead lock
wheels after taking the checkered flag. The same was true of third place
finisher Bill
Thomas. Russ Matejka, who led the first four laps before Hess flew by,
inherited the win. Joel Johns got second, Bob Freshour third, Bruce Dreistadt
fourth, and Mike Anderson fifth. Six through ten were: Josh
Cramer, Kenny Smith, Kurt Halbedl, Joe Pemberton, and Tom Martineck. Thomas and
Kari Gasser won the preliminaries. Cramer was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger.
The Isiminger's Pennzoil Pure Stocks weren't lacking for
action. Danny Rich, subbing for Joe Anthony in #69a, led the first six laps.
Then Willie White and Darryl Robison both passed Rich on a restart, but it
didn't last.
Robison hit a rut in turn four and bounced into White, who suffered two flat
tires. While under caution, Robison also pitted with a flat, and Rich followed
him to the pits, but both returned. John Cain III inherited the
lead and weathered some late race pressure from Robison, who flew through the
field after changing a tire, to garner his first career feature win. Robison,
Larry Marks, Jake Simmons, and Aaron Jones completed the top five. Bob Betz was
sixth, E.J. Vasko seventh, Rich eighth, Steve Webb ninth, and White tenth.
Robison and Marks captured the heats. Monarch Oil Hard Charger honors went to
Betz.
Robby Torrens inherited the lead when Butch Levandosky broke, and held off Skeets Levandosky to win the Amateur Stock feature. Bobby Siemon was third, Jay Adams fourth, and Rob Ward fifth. Jon Everett, Jim Bell, Tim Folmer, John Shipp, and Butch Levandosky were sixth through tenth respectively. Adams was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger. Skeets Levandosky and Torrens won the heat races.
Coming up this Saturday, April 10th, PPMS returns to action with the Late Models, Limited Late Models, E-Modifieds, Isiminger's Pennzoil Pure Stocks, and Amateur Stocks all in action. Gates open at 5pm with racing at 7pm
-30-
LATE MODELS: Heat Race Winners: John Flinner, Josh Richards
Feature (25 laps): 1) Mike Johnson, 2) Steve Baker, 3) Brian Laraway, 4) Dave Hess Jr., 5) Chris Hackett, 6) Ben Miley, 7) Dave Wade, 8) Mark Moats, 9) Josh Richards, 10) Jim Zarin, 11) George Kowatic, 12) Bill Adler, 13) Gary Swiger, 14) Lynn Geisler, 15) Lou Bradich, 16) Mark Banal, 17) Neal Isiminger, 18) John Flinner, 19) Sonny Conley, 20) Jon Hodgkiss, 21) John Mollick, 22) Drew Koteles DNS, 23) Dave Hoffman DNS
LIMITED LATE MODELS: Heat Race Winner: Rich Apolito
Feature (20 laps): 1) Rich Apolito, 2) Jesse Burroughs, 3) Tony Sinicrope, 4) Bobby Castelveter, 5) Nick Duratz, 6) Frankie Schneider, 7) Jim Shahan, 8) Jim Stephans
E-MODS: Heat Race Winners: Bill Thomas, Kari Gasser
Feature (15 laps): 1) Russ Matejka, 2) Joel Johns, 3) Bob Freshour, 4) Bruce Dreistadt, 5) Mike Anderson, 6) Josh Cramer, 7) Kenny Smith, 8) Kurt Halbedl, 9) Joey Pemberton, 10) Tom Martineck, 11) Dennis Niederrieter, 12) Kari Gasser, 13) Dave Hess Jr. DQ, 14) Bill Thomas DQ, 15) Rick Meglaye DNS
PURE STOCKS: Heat Race Winners: Darryl Robison, Larry Marks
Feature (15 laps): 1) John Cain, 2) Darryl Robison, 3) Larry Marks, 4) Jake Simmons, 5) Aaron Jones, 6) Robert Betz, 7) E. J. Vasko, 8) Danny Rich, 9) Steve Webb, 10) Willie White, 11) Craig Kamicker, 12) A.J. Poljak, 13) Randy Sprouse, 14) Ben Laboon, 15) Aaron Fraser DNS
AMATEUR STOCKS: Heat Race Winners: Skeets Levandosky, Robby Torrens
Feature (10 laps): 1) Robby Torrens, 2) Skeets Levandosky, 3) Bob Siemon, 4) Jay Adams, 5) Rob Ward, 6) Jon Everett, 7) Jim Ball, 8) Tim Folmer, 9) John Chipps, 10) Butch Levandosky