PITTSBURGH'S PENNSYLVANIA MOTOR SPEEDWAY
4/4/98
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
By Dow Carnahan
(412) 279-RACE
HTTP://WWW.PPMS.COM
IMPERIAL, PA... On a frigid night Mark Banal of St. Clairsville, OH chilled the competition by winning the opening Late Model feature of the season at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Pittsburgh's Dave Wade took top honors In the Zoresco Limited Late Models. Logan Dernoshek of Cecil bested the M. Stahl Modifieds, and Danny Rich was victorious in the Spectator Stocks.
Outside pole sitter Lynn Geisler took the lead at the start of the 25 lap Late Model feature with fifth starting Mark Banal blasting to second, and Gary Stuhler third. Doug Dodd, Rick Aukland and Davey Johnson quickly joined the lead trio as Geisler continued to lead. On lap four, Banal overtook Geisler for the top spot and began to distance himself with some great moves In traffic. Aukland moved from fourth to second on the eleventh circuit and was able to restart on Banal's bumper after a tap 18 caution Banal again pulled away on the restart and collected his twenty first win at Dirt's Monster Half Mile. Aukland, Geisler, D. Johnson and Dodd completed the top five, Stuhler dropped out in the closing laps with ignition problems. Six through ten were: Steve Baker, Lou Bradich, Doug Crawford, Ed Ferree and John Johnson. Aukland, Banal and Stuhler won the heats for the 28 cars. Ricky Thomas was the Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger.
Dave Wade held off the late race charge of Alex Ferree to win the Zoresco Limited Late Model 20 lap feature. Mark Moats was third, Kirk Young fourth and Pete Lorla fifth. Garry Sisson, Jim Stephans, Mike Cecere, Joe Johnson and Travis Geisler completed the top ten. Duane Popham and Moats won the preliminaries. Ferree was the Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger.
The M. Stahl Modified 15 lap main event was led wire to wire by Logan Dernoshek. Wayne Tessean. BootIe Petsko, Darrin Miller and Jeff CovellI rounded out the top five. Scott Gunn was sixth, Gary Scott seventh, Stush Sadawski eighth, Jeff Johnson ninth and Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger Jeff Sharp tenth. Bob McCann, Gunn and Kugel were the heat race winners.
Danny Rich passed Joe Vacca for the lead on the second lap of the Spectator Stock feature and led the rest of they way to claim the checkered flag. Len Dobrosielski finished second, Vacca third, Al Atallah fourth and Frank Schneider fifth. Ralph Hysong Jr, Rick Heim, Bob Damron, Doug Foster and Fred Schneider rounded out the top ten. Kurt HalbedI and Atullah won the heat races. Rich wes also the Monarch Oil/Wolf's Head Hard Charger.
Regular racing continues Saturday, April 11th at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speeelway. Gates open at 5pm wIth racing at 7pm. for more information call (412) 279- RACE or visit our web site at www.ppms.com.