PITTSBURGH’S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

7/11/98

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

By Dow Carnahan

(412) 279-RACE/www.ppms.com

IMPERIAL, PA….Lynn Geisler of Cranberry Township ended a three month dry spell by winning Saturday’s Late Model feature at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. The victory was the 63rd of Geisler’s career leading total at Dirt’s Monster Half Mile.

Fairmont, WV’s Steve Baker, who finished second to Geisler in the Late Models, substituted for Kirk Young in the #5 Zoresco Limited Late Model and drove to the win. Logan Dernoshek of Cecil held off Larry Kugel for the M. Stahl Modified victory, and Rick Heim of Pittsburgh captured the hotly contested Spectator Stock main event. The Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Advantra Senior Series checkered flag went to Don Gamble of Monroeville.

Phil Lukon Reb-Fab teammates B.A. Malcuit and Steve Baker brought the Late Model 25-lap feature to the green flag. Baker took command at the start with Lynn Geisler overtaking Malcuit for second on lap three. Lap after lap Geisler pressured Baker for the top spot as Malcuit, Mark Banal and Lou Bradich followed. Finally on lap 17, Geisler moved his Grand Prix under Baker and into the lead. Once in front, Geisler maintained a four car length advantage to the win, and was followed to the finish by Baker, Malcuit, Banal and Bradich. However, Banal failed to cross the scales after the race and was disqualified. This moved Bradich to fourth and Ed Ferree, who started last after a heat race crash, fifth. Completing the top ten were: Mike Johnson, John Flinner, Ricky Thomas, Doug Crawford and Mel Minnick Jr.. Bradich, Banal and Geisler won the heat races. Ferree was the Monarch Oil/Wolf’s Head Hard Charger.

Chris Angelicchio appeared on his way to win number two in the Zoresco Limited Late Models, but power steering problems at the halfway point sent him to the pits, and gave Steve Baker the lead. Once ahead, Baker maintained a comfortable margin for the victory. Alex Ferree made a late race pass of Mike Cecere for second. Pete Loria was fourth, and Travis Geisler edged Jim Stephans for fifth. Completing the top ten were: John Pavlick, Dave Wade, Joe Johnson and Todd Wright. Stephans was the Monarch Oil/Wolf’s Head Hard Charger. Baker and Ferree won the preliminaries.

Beating Larry Kugel at PPMS is not easy, but Logan Dernoshek kept the all-time leading M. Stahl Modified winner at bay all 15-laps for his third win of the season. Points leader Wayne Tessean charged from twelfth to third. Bootie Petsko and Darrin Miller were fourth and fifth respectively. Six through ten were: John Myrgo, Danny Burns, Gary Scott, Jim Petrelle and Jeff Haefke. Myrgo and Kugel won the heat races. Tessean was the Monarch Oil/Wolf’s Head Hard Charger.

Rick Heim passed Frankie Schneider for the lead on lap 11 of the Spectator Stock feature and held the top spot for his first win of the season. Len Dobrosielski edged Schneider for second. Monarch Oil/Wolfs’ Head Hard Charger Ralph Hysong Jr. came from twelfth to fourth. Al Atallah was fifth. Rounding out the top ten were: Charlie DiLoreto, Neal Isminger, Rich Apolito, Stacie White and Brian Lejeune. Heim and Schneider captured the heat races.

Don Gamble roared to the Advantra Senior Series victory with PPMS regulars Charlie DiLoreto, Stacie White, Neal Isminger and Doug Foster close behind.

This Saturday, July 18th, the STARS Late Models invade PPMS for the fifth annual Penn National 100, paying $10,000 to win. Bart Hartman of Zainesville, OH is the defending champion. Other past winners include: Gary Stuhler, Jack Boggs and Rick Aukland. Along with the STARS Late Models, feature events only will be contested in the Zoresco Limited Late Models, M. Stahl Modifieds and Spectator Stocks. Pit Gates open at 4pm, Grandstand gates open at 5pm Practice is at 6pm with time trials and racing to follow. For more information call (412) 279-RACE or visit our home page on the Internet at www.ppms.com.

PITTSBURGH’S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUMMARY (7/11/98)

LATE MODELS                                                           ZORESCO LIMITED LATE MODELS

HEAT WINNERS: Lou Bradich, Mark                       HEAT WINNERS: Steve Baker, Alex

Banal, Lynn Geisler. Ferree

FEATURE (TOP TEN)                                                           FEATURE (TOP TEN)

1. Lynn Geisler, Cranberry Twp.                            1. Steve Baker, Fairmont WV

2. Steve Baker, Fairmont WV                                 2. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg

3. B.A. Malcuit, Strasburg OH                               3. Mike Cecere, Baldwin

4. Lou Bradich, Chester WV                                  4. Pete Loria, Castle Shannon

5. Ed Ferree, Saxonburg                                        5. Travis Geisler, Cranberry Twp.

6. Mike Johnson, Imperial                                     6. Jim Stephans, Brentwood

7. John Flinner, Cranberry Twp.                           7. John Pavlick, Youngstown OH

8. Ricky Thomas, Carnegie                                   8. Dave Wade, Pittsburgh

9. Doug Crawford, Castle Shannon                      9. Joe Johnson, Monaca

10. Mel Minnick Jr., Uniontown                          10.Todd Wright, Chester WV

M. STAHL MODIFIEDS                                             SPECTATOR STOCKS

HEAT WINNERS: John Myrgo,                                 HEAT WINNERS: Rick Heim, Frankie

Larry Kugel. Schneider.

FEATURE (TOP TEN)                                                        FEATURE (TOP TEN)

1. Logan Dernoshek, Cecil                                1. Rick Heim, Pittsburgh

2. Larry Kugel, E. Liverpool OH                      2. Len Dobrosielski, Kennedy Twp.

3. Wayne Tessean, Austintown OH                  3. Frankie Schneider, Sheraden

4. Bootie Petsko, Brookville OH                     4. Ralph Hysong Jr, Shippingport

5. Darrin Miller, Hookstown                           5. Al Atallah, Carnegie

6. John Myrgo, Canonsburg                             6. Charlie DiLoreto, S. Fayette

7. Danny Burns, Imperial                                7. Neal Isminger, Washington

8. Gary Scott, Swissvale                                 8. Rich Apolito, Carnegie

9. Jim Petrelle, Weirton WV                           9. Stacie White, Carnegie

10. Jeff Haefke, Austintown OH                     10.Brian LeJeune, Carrick

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