PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

6/5/99

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

IMPERIAL, PA….After struggling early in the season, Steve Baker of Fairmont, WV returned to his winning form by capturing Saturday's Late Model feature at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Rookie Tom Schirnhofer of Emsworth visited victory lane for the second time in the Limited Late Models. Niles, OH's Scott Stiffler collected his first M. Stahl E-Modified win at Dirt's Monster Half Mile, and Frankie Schneider of Sheraden claimed his second Schneider Truck Spectator Stock checkered flag this season. Mike McKee of Carnegie was the new Amateur Stocks winner.

Starting fourth, the "West Virginia Rim Rider" rode the top of the speedway into the lead on lap two of the Late Model feature. Once in front, Baker set a blistering pace as Rick Dawson, Lou Bradich, Jim Lepro, Ed Ferree and a host of others tried to keep pace. Finally, a caution on lap 22 bunched the field, but Baker withstood Bradich's low side challenges over the final three circuits to claim his 14th career PPMS Late Model win. Dawson, Lepro and Ferree completed the top five. Rounding out the top ten were: Mike Cecere, B.A. Malcuit, Mark Banal, Doug Crawford and Bill Knepper. John Flinner, Ferree and Bradich were the heat race winners. Crawford was the Monarch Oil/Hard Charger.

The Limited Late Model 20-lap feature saw Schirnhofer move from fifth to first with an impressive first lap move. As the race continued Schirnhofer looked stronger and stronger on his way to the victory. Rick Heim was second, with Dave Wade a close third. Pete Loria and Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head/Hard Charger Duane Popham were fourth and fifth respectively. Jim Stephans, John Pavlick, Len Dobrosielski, Robert Freshour and Joe Johnson completed the top ten. Heat race wins went to Wade and Schirnhofer.

D.J. Miller set the pace early in the M. Stahl E-Modified 15-lap feature before Scott Stiffler made what proved to be his winning pass on the sixth lap. Stiffler held off the late race challenges of Larry Kugel to score a well deserved victory. Miller was third, Russ Matejka fourth and Scott Gunn fifth. Ralph Hysong Jr., Mike Ross, Bootie Petsko, Kurt Halbedl and Jeff Broniszewski were sixth through tenth. Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger Kugel and Wayne Tessean won the heats.

The Schneider Truck Spectator Stocks saved the best for last. Frankie Schneider and Danny Rich started on the front row and waged war for 15-laps with Schneider edging "The Danimal" for the hard fought win. Side-by-side the two battled the distance without ever touching. Rich Apolito was third, Neal Isiminger fourth and Al Atallah from twelfth to fifth in the non-stop event. Pat Weldon was sixth, Dave Greenawald seventh, Lou Lamonde eighth, Charlie DiLoreto ninth and Doug Foster tenth. Schneider and Rich won the heat races. DiLoreto was the Monarch Oil/Hard Charger.

This Saturday, June 12th, the All Star Sprint Cars make their only appearance of the season at PPMS as part of the seventh annual Western Pennsylvania Speedweek. In addition to the $5,000 to win Sprint Car show, the Late Models will run a complete program featuring a 30-lap, $1,500 to win feature. Feature events only are scheduled for the Limited Late Models, M. Stahl E-Modifieds and Schneider Truck Spectator Stocks. Grandstand gates open at 5pm with Sprint Car Time Trials at 6:30pm. For more information call (724) 853-RACE or visit our Internet Home Page at www.ppms.com.

LATE MODELS - HEAT RACE WINNERS: John Flinner, Ed Ferree, Lou Bradich.

FEATURE: 1) Steve Baker, Fairmont WV 2) Lou Bradich, Chester WV 3) Rick Dawson, Austintown OH 4) Jim Lepro, Midway 5) Ed Ferree, Saxonburg 6) Mike Cecere 7) B.A. Malcuit 8) Mark Banal 9) Doug Crawford 10) Bill Knepper 11) Drew Koteles 12) Alex Ferree 13) Ricky Thomas 14) Rody Exposito 15) John Flinner 16) Ben Miley 17) Jeff Henry 18) Bob Moskey 19)

Jim Zarin (DNS) Tom Bateman, Ron Rush, Doug Dodd.

LIMITED LATE MODELS - HEAT RACE WINNERS: Dave Wade, Tom Schirnhofer.

FEATURE (TOP TEN): 1) Tom Schirnhofer, Emsworth 2) Rick Heim, Pittsburgh 3) Dave Wade, Pittsburgh 4) Pete Loria, Castle Shannon 5) Duane Popham, Crafton 6) Jim Stephans 7) John Pavlick 8) Len Dobrosielski 9) Robert Freshour 10) Joe Johnson.

M.STAHL E-MODIFIEDS - HEAT RACE WINNERS: Larry Kugel, Wayne Tessean.

FEATURE (TOP TEN): 1) Scott Stiffler, Niles OH 2) Larry Kugel, E. Liverpool OH 3) D.J.Miller, Hookstown 4) Russ Matejka, Monaca 5) Scott Gunn, West Mifflin 6) Ralph Hysong Jr. 7) Mike Ross 8) Bootie Petsko 9) Kurt Halbedl 10) Jeff Broniszewski.

SCHNEIDER TRUCK SPECTATOR STOCKS - HEAT RACE WINNERS: Frankie Schneider, Danny Rich.

FEATURE (TOP TEN): 1) Frankie Schneider, Sheraden 2) Danny Rich, Imperial 3) Rich Apolito, Carnegie 4) Neal Isiminger, Washington 5) Al Atallah, Carnegie 6) Pat Weldon 7) Dave Greenawald 8) Lou Lamonde 9) Charlie DiLoreto 10) Doug Foster.

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