September 12, 1998
For Immediate Release
By Dow Carnahan
Contact: 412-279-RACE
http://www.ppms.com
IMPERIAL, PA.... Quite frankly, Chub Frank of Sugar Grove bested a stellar field to claim the Late Model feature win Saturday at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. One of only four drivers to start all nine previous Pittsburgher's, Frank tuned-up for this week's $21,000 to win STARS event by claiming his second victory of the season. Second place finisher Mark Banal captured his first PPMS track championship.
Duane Popham of Carnegie drove his heart out to notch his second Zoresco Limited Late Model checkered flag, and fourth place finisher Dave Wade overcame a fifteen point deficit to wrestle his first Limited Late Model crown away from Alex Ferree.
East Liverpool, OH's Larry Kugel won his tenth M. Stahl Modified feature this season, but Wayne Tessean stopped Kugel's three year hold on the points title. Len Dobrosielski of Kennedy Township scored a division best seventh Spectator Stock victory with Ralph Hysong Jr. winning his second straight points championship.
Chub Frank did a masterful job through traffic to keep twelfth starting Mark Banal at bay in the Late Model 25 lap feature Doug Dodd, subbing for Steve Baker in car #84, was third, Dave Groves fourth and Lou Bradich fifth. Rick Dawson, Denny Chamberlain, Dave Troutman, Dave Hoffman and Ben Miley completed the top ten. Monarch OuMloIf's Head Hard Charger Banal, Bill Knepper and Chamberlain were the heat race winners. Duane Popham overhauled Mike Cecere and led the final seven laps to put his #7 in victory lane. Pete Loria was third behind Cecere. Dave Wade fourth and Rick Heim fifth, in his first run in the division. Kirk Young, Mike Morgan, Joe Johnson, Charlie Jazinski and George Bland rounded out the top ten. Alex Ferree held the points lead entering the evening but saw the championship go to Wade after being caught up in two feature accidents. Popham and Wade were the heat race winners, and Morgan was the Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger.
Alan Dellinger dominated the M. Stahl Modified feature before mechanical woes sidelined him with three laps to go. Larry Kugel inherited the lead and drove to the victory. Jeff Rud rick threatened kugel over the final circuits but was second. Wayne Tessean was third, young Brandon Wearing fourth and Ron Roncaglione fifth. Six through ten were: Jimmy Plance, Russ Matejka, Jim Petrelle, Bob McCann and Joe Hopkinson. Kugel, Dandy and Rudrick won the preliminaries. Jim Plance was the Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger.
Dave Beck led the first four laps of the Spectator Stock feature before Len Dobrosielski made his winning pass. Al Atallah was a close second, Ralph Hysong Jr., third, Fred Schneider fourth and Rich Apolito fifth. Rick Heim was sixth, Neal Isminger seventh, Frankie Schnieder eighth, Pat Weldon ninth and Stacie White tenth. Hysong and Heim captured the heat races. Weldon was the Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger.
The 1998 season comes to a close this weekend at PPMS with the running of the "10th Annual Pittsburgher 100". The STARS sanctioned event is the biggest Late Model race in Pennsylvania paying $21,000 to win. Friday, September 1 8th, is Fan Appreciation Night with Late Model practice and racing for the M.Stahl Modifieds and Spectator Stocks. Saturday, September 19th, time trials for the Late Models begin at 4pm with heat races to follow. The Myrgo Enterprises All-Star 50 for the M. Stahl Modifieds is also on Saturday's card. Sunday, September 20th, the Late Models will have two last chance B-Mains starting at 2pm with the Pittsburgher 100 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 (9/12/98)
LATE MODELS ZORESCO LIMITED LATE MODELS
HEAT WINNERS: Bill Knepper, Mark HEAT WINNERS: Dave Wade, Duane
Banal, Denny Chamberlain. Popham.
FEATURE (TOP TEN) FEATURE (TOP TEN)
1. Chub Frank, Sugar Grove 1. Duane Popham, Carnegie
2. Mark Banal, St. Clairsville OH 2. Mike Cecere, Baldwin
3. Doug Dodd, Cambridge OH 3. Pete Loria, Castle Shannon
4. Dave Groves, Morgantown WV 4. Dave Wade, Pittsburgh
5. Lou Bradich, Chester WV 5. Rick Heim, Pittsburgh
6. Rick Dawson, Austintown OH 6. Kirk Young, Pittsburgh
7. Denny Chamberlain, Lost Creek WV 7. Mike Morgan, Bridgeville
8. Dave Troutman, Hyndman 8. Joe Johnson, Monaca
9. Dave Hoffman, Renfrew 9. Charlie Jasinski, Struthers, OH
10. Ben Miley, Venetia 10. George Bland, Aliquippa
M. STAHL MODIFIEDS SPECTATOR STOCKS
HEAT WINNERS: Larry Kugel, Alan HEAT WINNERS: Ralph Hysong Jr., Rick Heim
Dellinger, Jeff Rudrick. FEATURE (TOP TEN)
B-MAIN WINNER: Darrin Miller 1. Len Dobrosielski, Kennedy Twp.
FEATURE (TOP TEN) 2. Al Atallah, Carnegie
1. Larry Kugel, E. Liverpool, OH 3. Ralph Hysong Jr., Shippingport
2. Jeff Rudrick, Columbiana, OH 4. Fred Schneider, South Fayette Twp.
3. Wayne Tessean, Austintown OH 5. Rich Apolito, Carnegie
4. Brandon Wearing, Callery 6. Rick Heim, Pittsburgh
5. Ron Roncaglione, Titusville 7. Neal Isminger, Washington
6. Jimmy Plance, Georgetown 8. Frankie Schneider, Sheridan
7. Russ Matejka, Monaca 9. Pat Weldon, Monongahela
8. Jim Petrelle, Weirton WV 10. Stacie White
9. Bob McCann, New Castle
10. Joe Hopkinson, Mineral Ridge OH
Rest of Late Model finish.
Ed Ferree, Kurt Halbedi, Gary Lyle, Jim Lepro, Ryan Markham, Bob Moskey, Dennis
Curry, Mel Minnick Jr, John Watson, Bill Adler, Frank Poniatowski, Merle Terry, Tom
Copeland, Bill Knepper, Lynn Geisler, Bob Wearing Sr, Mark Moats. Jim Zarin (DN S)
Ricky Thomas (DNS) John Flinner (DNS)
1998 Pittsburgh's PA. Motor Speedway Press Releases Page