PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

5/29/99

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(724)853-RACE/www.ppms.com

IMPERIAL, PA….Lou Bradich of Chester, WV ended a long dry spell by sweeping both of the Late Model Twin 20's Saturday at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. The win was his first at Dirt's Monster Half Mile since August 1997. The Bob White Memorial Race for the Schneider Truck Spectator Stocks was captured by Al Atallah of Carnegie. Duane Popham of Crafton raced to his first Limited Late Model victory of the season, and M. Stahl Modified career leading winner Larry Kugel of East Liverpool, OH also found the winning combination for the first time in '99.

In a classy move, Bradich donated his first feature winnings, and Popham his prize money to the family of Bob White. White lost his life in a tragic garage accident earlier this year, and was the father of Spectator Stock driver, Stacie White, and brother of Limited Late Model competitor, Willie White.

B.A. Malcuit had things in command in the first Late Model feature while Bill Knepper, Bradich, Steve Baker and Rick Dawson battled behind him. However, a caution with six laps remaining changed things drastically. On the restart, Baker moved by Bradich for third and set his sights on Knepper and Malcuit. With the top five runners tightly bunched, Bradich rocketed off of the bottom of turn four to take the lead on lap 16, and Baker followed him to second. Bradich drove on to the popular win with Baker not far behind. Knepper got third, Ed Ferree put a late race charge on for fourth and Malcuit settled for fifth. Six through ten were: Dawson, Monarch Oil Hard Charger Mike Cecere, Doug Horton, and Ben Miley. Heats for the 26 cars were won by Miley, John Flinner, and Ferree. Flinner was not able to start the features because of motor problems.

The second 20-lapper saw the top ten finishers inverted from the first race. Pole sitter, Miley, jumped into the lead at the start and appeared headed for his first win at PPMS since 1995. Unfortunately for the "Pink Panther", a caution on lap 17 put the fast moving Bradich on his tail for the restart. When the race resumed, Bradich, again showed his prowess in using the inside line to make the winning pass. Miley, Mark Banal, Malcuit and Baker completed the top five. Mike Cecere was sixth, Knepper seventh, Dawson eighth, Ferree ninth and Horton tenth. Bradich collected the Monarch Oil Hard Charger honors.

After battling neck and neck for several laps, Al Atallah overhauled Pat Weldon for the lead near the midway point of the Schneider Truck Spectator Stock Bob White Memorial, and proceeded to claim his third checkered flag this season. Dave Greenawald come home second, Weldon was third, Frank Schneider Jr. fourth and Fred Schneider fifth. Neal Isiminger, Charlie DiLoreto, Danny Rich, Lou Lamonde and Monarch Oil Hard Charger Doug Foster completed the top ten. Rich and DiLoreto won the preliminaries.

Even a late race caution couldn't slow down Duane Popham who had the field covered in the Limited Late Model feature. After starting eighth, Popham took the lead on lap three and was never headed. Rich Heim finished second. Dave Wade was third, Jim Stephans fourth and John Pavlick fifth. Tom Schirnhofer, George Kowatic, Bob Damron, Robert Freshour and Chuck Mowry rounded out the top ten. Popham was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger. Len Dobrosielski and Wade were the heat race winners

Larry Kugel scored an impressive win in the M. Stahl Modified feature. After falling back in the field early on, Kugel charged forward, passing Jeff Broniszewski for the top spot on lap eight.

The former track champion left no doubt on his way to the winner's circle. Scott Gunn won the battle for second. Jim Dandy Jr., Wayne Tessean and Broniszewski completed the top five. Bootie Petsko was sixth, Scott Stiffler seventh, Russ Matejka eighth, D.J. Miller ninth and Kari Petrosky tenth. Dandy was the Monarch Oil Hard Charger. Heat race wins went to Tessean and Matejka.

This Saturday, June 5th, the Amateur Stocks make their debut at PPMS. The Late Models, Limited Late Models, M. Stahl E-Mods and Schneider Truck Spectator Stocks will also be in action. Gates open at 5pm with racing at 7pm.

Coming Saturday, June 12th, the All Star Sprint Cars return to PPMS for their Western PA. Speedweek. The Late Models will also have a complete program including a 30 lap feature. The Limited Late Models, M. Stahl E-Mods and Schneider Truck Spectator Stocks will run feature events only.

PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUMMARY (5/29/99)

LATE MODELS

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Ben Miley, John Flinner, Ed Ferree.

FEATURE #1: 1) Lou Bradich, Chester WV 2) Steve Baker, Fairmont WV 3) Bill Knepper, Oakdale 4) Ed Ferree, Saxonburg 5) B.A. Malcuit, Strasburg OH 6) Rick Dawson 7) Mark Banal 8) Mike Cecere 9) Doug Horton 10) Ben Miley 11) Jim Zarin 12) Ricky Thomas 13) John Johnson 14) Dennis Curry 15) Jim Lepro 16) Bill Adler 17) Alex Ferree 18) Bob Moskey 19) Jeff Henry 20) Brent Rhebergen 21) Joe Johnson 22) Drew Koteles 23) Rody Exposito (DNS) John Flinner, Mark Moats, Doug Crawford.

FEATURE #2: 1) Lou Bradich, Chester WV 2) Ben Miley, Venetia 3) Mark Banal, St. Clairsville OH 4) B.A. Malcuit, Strasburg OH 5) Steve Baker, Fairmont WV 6) Mike Cecere 7) Bill Knepper 8) Ricky Dawson 9) Ed Ferree 10) Doug Horton 11) John Johnson 12) Ricky Thomas 13) Jim Lepro 14) Alex Ferree 15) Jim Zarin 16) Bill Adler 17) Bob Moskey 18) Brent Rhebergen 19) Rody Exposito 20) Jeff Henry 21) Dennis Curry 22) Joe Johnson (DNS) Drew Koteles, John Flinner, Mark Moats, Doug Crawford.

LIMITED LATE MODELS

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Len Dobrosielski, Dave Wade.

FEATURE (TOP TEN): 1) Duane Popham, Crafton 2) Rick Heim, Pittsburgh 3) Dave Wade, Pittsburgh 4) Jim Stephans, Pittsburgh 5) John Pavlick, Austintown OH 6) Tom Schirnhofer 7) George Kowatic 8) Bob Damron 9) Robert Freshour 10) Chuck Mowry.

M. STAHL MODIFIEDS

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Wayne Tessean, Russ Matejka.

FEATURE (TOP TEN): 1) Larry Kugel, E. Liverpool OH 2) Scott Gunn, West Mifflin 3) Jim Dandy Jr., Niles OH 4) Wayne Tessean, Austintown OH 5) Jeff Broniszewski, Coraopolis 6) Bootie Petsko 7) Scott Stiffler 8) Russ Matejka 9) D.J. Miller 10) Kari Petrosky.

SCHNEIDER TRUCK SPECTATOR STOCKS

HEAT RACE WINNERS: Danny Rich, Charlie DiLoreto.

FEATURE (TOP TEN): 1) Al Atallah, Carnegie 2) Dave Greenawald, S. Fayette 3) Pat Weldon, Monongahela 4) Frank Schneider Jr., Sheraden 5) Fred Schneider, S. Fayette 6) Neal Isiminger 7) Charlie DiLoreto 8) Danny Rich 9) Lou Lamonde 10) Doug Foster.

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