PITTSBURGH’S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
8/1/98
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Dow Carnahan
(412) 279-RACE/www.ppms.com
IMPERIAL, PA….Chub Frank of Sugar Grove "Rocketed" to his first ever Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway Late Model feature win Saturday night. Starting tenth, Frank’s new Rocket Chassis was hot on the heels of race leader Ben Miley when Miley’s engine let go with five laps remaining ending Ben’s bid for his first PPMS win in nearly three years.
Alex Ferree of Saxonburg made a dazzling move on the final lap to capture his fourth Zoresco Limited Late Model feature, and took over the points lead in the process. M. Stahl Modified points leader Wayne Tessean of Austintown, OH claimed his sixth feature victory, and Rick Heim of Pittsburgh was unbeatable in winning the Spectator Stock 20 lap special event.
After starting on the pole, Ben Miley appeared to have the field covered during the Late Model 25-lap feature. While the "Pink Panther" pulled away, Chub Frank began a masterful charge that saw him move to second at the halfway point. With Miley mired in traffic, Frank quickly closed in on the race leader. But disaster struck for Miley as his engine let loose just when he broke free from traffic on lap 20. Frank inherited the lead and beat eleventh starting Mark Banal to the finish. Bill Knepper had a fine third place run with Lynn Geisler and Ricky Thomas completing the top five. Six through ten were: B.A. Malcuit, Lou Bradich, Steve Baker, John Flinner and Monarch Oil/Wolf’s Head Hard Charger Ed Ferree. Banal, Frank and Baker won the heat races.
Rookie John Pavlick led 19-laps before Alex Ferree went by on the final circuit to gain the Zoresco Limited Late Model victory. Pavlick, Duane Popham, Jim Stephans and Pete Loria complete the top five. Six through ten were: Mike Cecere, Chris Angelicchio, Kirk Young, Willie White and Monarch Oil/Wolf’s Head Hard Charger Jim Bryce. Cecere and Loria were the heat race winners.
Wayne Tessean overhauled Logan Dernoshek for the lead on lap 9 of the M. Stahl Modified feature and drove on to the win. Dernoshek, Jeff Haefke, Stush Sadowski and Russ Matejka complete the top five. Darrin Miller was sixth, early race leader Jeff Broniszewski seventh, Bootie Petsko eighth, Jim Petrelle ninth and Larry Kugel tenth. Miller and Auberzinski won the preliminaries. Tessean was also the Monarch Oil/Wolfs’ Head Hard Charger.
After winning his heat and the fast dash, Rick Heim led wire-to-wire to claim the Spectator Stock 20. Len Dobrosielski was second, Frankie Schneider third, Al Atallah fourth and Rich Apolito fifth. Completing the top ten were: Neal Isminger, Charlie DiLoreto, Frank Schneider Sr., Dave Beck and Fred Schneider. Ralph Hysong Jr., and Heim won the heats. Apolito was the Monarch Oil/Wolf’s Head Hard Charger.
This Saturday, August 8th, regular racing continues for the Late Models, Zoresco Limited Late Models, M. Stahl Modifieds and Spectator Stocks, plus the Advantra Senior Series returns. Gates open at 5pm with racing at 7p.. For more information, call (412) 279-RACE or visit our home page on the Internet at www.ppms.com.
Coming Friday, August 14th is the "Keystone 100" for the Hav-A-Tampa Late Models paying $10,000 to win. Practice is at 5:30pm with time trials and racing to follow. Saturday night, August 15th is a regular four division show beginning at 7pm.
PITTSBURGH’S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY SUMMARY (8/1/98)
LATE MODELS ZORESCO LIMITED LATE MODELS
HEAT WINNERS: Mark Banal, HEAT WINNERS: Mike Cecere, Pete Loria.
Chub Frank, Steve Baker.
FEATURE (TOP TEN) FEATURE (TOP TEN)
1. Chub Frank, Sugar Grove 1. Alex Ferree, Saxonburg
2. Mark Banal. St.ClairsvilleOH 2. John Pavlick, Youngstown OH
3. Bill Knepper, Clinton 3. Duane Popham, Carnegie
4. Lynn Geisler, Cranberry Twp. 4. Jim Stephans, Brentwood
5. Ricky Thomas, Carnegie 5. Pete Loria, Castle Shannon
6. B.A. Malcuit, Strasburg OH 6. Mike Cecere, Baldwin
7. Lou Bradich, Chester WV 7. Chris Angelicchio, Greensburg
8. Steve Baker, Fairmont WV 8. Kirk Young, Pittsburgh
9. John Flinner, Cranberry Twp 9. Willie White, Heidelberg
10. Ed Ferree, Saxonburg 10.Jim Bryce, Bethel Park
M. STAHL MODIFIEDS SPECTATOR STOCKS
HEAT WINNERS: Darrin Miller HEAT WINNERS: Ralph Hysong Jr., Rick
Mark Auberzinski. Heim. DASH WINNER: Heim.
FEATURE (TOP TEN) FEATURE (TOP TEN)
1. Wayne Tessean, AustintwnO 1. Rick Heim, Pittsburgh
2. Logan Dernoshek, Cecil 2. Len Dobrosielski, Kennedy Twp.
3. Jeff Haefke, Austintown OH 3. Frankie Schneider, Sheridan
4. Stush Sadowski, Hill Station 4. Al Atallah, Carnegie
5. Russ Matejka, Monaca 5. Rich Apolito, Carnegie
6. Darrin Miller, Hookstown 6. Neal Isminger, Washington
7. Jeff Broniszewski, Coraopolis 7. Charlie DiLoreto, S. Fayette Twp.
8. Bootie Petsko, Brookville OH 8. Frank Schneider Sr., Pittsburgh
9. Jim Petrelle, Weirton WV 9. Dave Beck, Imperial
10. Larry Kugel, E. Liverpool OH 10.Fred Schneider, S. Fayette Twp.
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