PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
P.O. Box 4530, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
4/24/99
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(724) 853-RACE/(412) 279-RACE/www.ppms.com
IMPERIAL, PA….On a frigid Saturday night at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, John Flinner of Cranberry Township and Mark Banal of St. Clairsville, OH warmed the fans by capturing the Twin 20 lap Late Model features. It was Flinner's first win at Dirt's Monster Half Mile since 1995, and the first for his car owner "Pappy" Kesslar since 1991. Banal, the defending track champion, now has twenty-five career Late Model wins at PPMS, fifth on the all time list.
Len Dobrosielski of Kennedy Township found victory lane in only his second run in the Limited Late Models. Brookville, OH's Bootie Petsko scored his first ever PPMS win in the M. Stahl E-Modifieds and Al Atallah of Carnegie inherited his second straight Schneider Truck Spectator Stock victory after the car of apparent winner Pat Weldon of Monongahela failed post race inpsection.
Late Model rookie Mike Cecere rocketed into the lead at the start of the first Late Model feature with fellow front row starter Steve Baker not far behind. On lap four, John Flinner moved to second as Baker started to fade. As the race approached the halfway point, Cecere looked strong in the lead as Doug Dodd, Lou Bradich and Rick Dawson began to pressure Flinner. In the closing laps, Flinner quickly erased Cecere's advantage as the leader worked lapped traffic. With less than two laps remaining, Flinner made his winning pass and Dodd followed him to second on the final circuit. Cecere settled for third. Bradich was fourth, and Dawson fifth. Jim Zarin, Mark Banal, opening night winner B.A. Malcuit, Baker and Ricky Thomas completed the top ten.
With the top ten inverted for the second half of the Late Model twin bill, Thomas took command at the drop of the green with Banal moving to second. Following a lap six caution, Banal and Jim Zarin both slipped by Thomas on the restart. Once in front, Banal withheld Zarin's inside challenges for the win. Cecere marched toward the front for third, Dodd was fourth and Thomas fifth. Baker, Malcuit, Bradich, Flinner and Doug Crawford rounded out the top ten.
Heats for the 30 Late Models were won by Dodd, Ed Ferree and Bill Knepper. Both Ferree and Knepper were eliminated during the first Late Model feature in separate crashes. Monarch Oil Hard Charger honors went to Dodd and Cecere.
Len Dobrosielski overhauled John Pavlick for the point on lap six of the Limited Late Model main event. Once in front, last year's leading Spectator Stock winner, drove a smooth race to hold off defending track champion Dave Wade for his first win. Last week's winner, Rick Heim, charged from twelfth to third, Tom Schirnhofer was fourth and Pavlick fifth. Six through ten were: Pete Loria, Jim Stephans, Willie White, Joe Johnson and George Kowatic. Loria and Monarch Oil Hard Charger Heim won the preliminaries.
Bootie Petsko weathered several cautions and a red flag on the final lap, when Jimmy Plance flipped on the back- stretch, to claim the M. Stahl E-Modified victory. Scott Stiffler finished second, Larry Kugel third, Jim Dandy Jr. fourth and Russ Matejka fifth. Completing the top ten were: D.J. Miller, Wayne Tessean, Ralph Hysong Jr., Dale Fuller and Kari Petrosky. Tessean, Stiffler and Dandy were the heat race winners. Hysong was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger.
Rich Apolito set the pace at the start of the Schneider Truck Spectator Stock 15-lap feature. On the fourth lap, Pat Weldon moved to the front and stayed there to the finish, but was later
disqualified for an illegal carburetor. Weldon's misfortune gave the checkered flag to twelfth starting Al Atallah. Frank Schneider Jr., Apolito, Frank Schneider Sr., and Doug Foster were second through fifth respectively. Neal Isiminger, Fred Schneider, Dave Greenawald, and Dave Beck completed the top ten. Atallah and Schneider Sr. won the heat races. Atallah was also the Monarch Oil Hard Charger.
Regular racing continues this Saturday, May 1st, at PPMS. The Late Models, Limited Late Models, M. Stahl E-Modifieds and Schneider Truck Spectator Stocks will be in action starting at 7pm. Gates open at 5pm. For more information call (724) 853-RACE/(412) 279-RACE or visit our webpage at www.ppms.com.
PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUMMARY (4/24/99)
LATE MODELS
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Doug Dodd, Ed Ferree and Bill Knepper.
TWIN 20 FEATURE #1
1. John Flinner, Cranberry Township
2. Doug Dodd, Cambridge OH
3. Mike Cecere, Baldwin
4. Lou Bradich, Chester WV
5. Rick Dawson, Austintown OH
6. Jim Zarin, Glenwillard
7. Mark Banal, St. Clairsville OH
8. B.A. Malcuit, Strasburg OH
9. Steve Baker, Fairmont WV
10.Ricky Thomas, Scott Township
(Remainder of Late Model finishing order)
11.Doug Crawford, 12.Johnny Johnson, 13. Lance Elson, 14. Bob Wearing Sr., 15. Dennis Curry, 16. Keith Berner, 17. Ben Miley, 18. Bob Moskey, 19. Jim Lepro, 20. Bill Adler, 21.Ken Scheltenbrand, 22.Joe Johnson, 23. Mark Moats, 24. Rody Exposito, 25. Jeff Henry, 26. Mark Booth, 27. Bill Knepper, 28. Ed Ferree, 29. Tom Bateman (DNS), 30. Doug Horton (DNS)
TWIN 20 FEATURE #2
1. Mark Banal, St.Clairsville OH
2. Jim Zarin, Glenwillard
3. Mike Cecere, Baldwin
4. Doug Dodd, Cambridge OH
5. Ricky Thomas, Scott Township
6. Steve Baker, Fairmont WV
7. B.A. Malcuit, Strasburg OH
8. Lou Bradich, Chester WV
9. John Flinner, Cranberry Township
10. Doug Crawford, Castle Shannon
(Remainder of Late Model Finishing Order)
11. Rick Dawson, 12. Dennis Curry, 13. Johnny Johnson, 14. Lance Elson, 15. Bob Wearing SR., 16. Keith Berner, 17. Ben Miley, 18. Jim Lepro, 19. Mark Moats, 20, Joe Johnson, 21. Jeff Henry, 22. Ken Scheltenbrand, 23. Bob Moskey, 24. Mark Booth, 25. Rody Exposito, 26. Bill Adler 27. Bill Knepper (DNS), 28. Ed Ferree (DNS)
LIMITED LATE MODELS
HEAT WINNERS: Pete Loria, Rick Heim.
FEATURE (TOP TEN)
1. Len Dobrosielski, Kennedy Township
2. Dave Wade, Pittsburgh
3. Rick Heim, Pittsburgh
4. Tom Schirnhofer, Emsworth
5. John Pavlick, Austintown OH
6. Pete Loria, Pittsburgh
7. Jim Stephans, Pittsburgh
8. Willie White, Heidelberg
9. Joe Johnson, Monaca
10.George Kowatic, Moon Township
M. STAHL E-MODIFIEDS
HEAT WINNERS: Wayne Tessesn, Scott Stiffler, Jim Dandy, Jr.
FEATURE (TOP TEN)
1. Bootie Petsko, Brookville OH
2. Scott Stiffler, Niles OH
3. Larry Kugel, E. Liverpool OH
4. Jim Dandy Jr, Niles OH
5. Russ Matejka, Monaca
6. D.J. Miller, Hookstown
7. Wayne Tessesn, Austintown OH
8. Ralph Hysong Jr., Hookstown
9. Dale Fuller, Girard OH
10.Kari Petrosky, Vienna OH
SPECTATOR STOCKS
HEAT WINNERS: Al Atallah, Frank Schneider Sr.
FEATURE (TOP TEN)
1. Al Atallah, Carnegie
2. Frank Schneider Jr., Sheraden
3. Rich Apolito, Carnegie
4. Frank Schneider Sr., McKees Rocks
5. Doug Foster, Kennedy Township
6. Neil Isiminger, Washington
7. Charlie DiLoreto, South Fayette
8. Fred Schneider, South Fayette
9. Dave Greenawald, South Fayette
10.Dave Beck, Carnegie
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