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Aukland Pockets "Pittsburgher 100"
(Pittsburgh, PA 9-21-97)
Rick Aukland of Fargo, North Dakota led the final 46 laps of the STARS Racing Series sanctioned "9th Annual Pittsburgher 100" Sunday afternoon at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway pocketing the $21,000 top prize. Driving the Rayburn/Malcuit/E-Z Crusher No. 12 Camaro, Aukland held off Scott Bloomquist in the closing stages by a car length to notch his second STARS win of 1997. bloomquist, a three time winner of the "Pittsburgher", was trailed by Gary Stuhler, Donnie Moran and Tim Hitt. Sixth through tenth fell to Bart Hartman, Skip Arp, Davey Johnson, John Mason and Steve Francis.
Pole sitter Todd Andrews jumped out in front at the end of one lap with Francis, Jack Boggs, Rick Eckert and Rod Conley in tow. Hartman moved into fifth by lap five as Andrews enjoyed a huge lead around the high-banked 1/2 mile in the early stages of the event. Hartman shot to third on lap 10 as Aukland broke into the top five and one lap later Hartman had worked his way past Francis for second. Aukland moved past boggs for fourth on lap 15 but the driver on the move was Mason as he had worked his way into sixth from the 25th starting spot. Mason went to the outside of Boggs exiting turn two on lap 16 when contact between the two sent Boggs spinning and crashing hard into the inside guardrail. Boggs was uninjured but his day was through. On the restart Hartman shot past Andrews for the lead as Aukland took third from Francis. Mason and Eckert battled hard for fifth through lap 25 with Mason taking spot as Aukland moved to second on lap 27. Mason, working the top groove, who started Steve Baker and Delmas Conley rounding out the top ten.
Bloomquist took third on lap 51 and ran down Mason on lap 52 for the lead but Aukland shot past both Mason and Bloomquist for the lead on lap 54. Aukland opened up a huge margin over the final laps but a caution on lap 90 bunched the field back up. Hitt, who had worked his way to third by lap 81, took second from Bloomquist on lap 93 and with four laps to go a caution put Hitt on Aukland's rear bumper for the restart. Bloomquist worked his past Hitt for second on the restart and over the final four laps with Aukland in the low groove and Bloomquist in the top groove they raced for the checkered with Aukland taking the win by a car length. Stuhler, starting 26th, had worked his way to third with two laps to go as Moran to Hitt on the final lap.
A "Pittsburgher 100" record 90 cars were on hand for the two day $71,000 purse with Eckert setting a "Pittsburgher 100" record in time trials at 18.875 seconds. Heat race winners were Hitt, R.J. Conley, Hartman, Aukland, Moran and Arp while Andrews copped the ISKY RACING CAMS Fast Dash. Due to the high car count three PRO SHOCKS "B" Mains were held with those wins falling to Ronnie Johnson, Salathe and Bloomquist. Lingering rain showers delayed the opening day activities but brilliant sunshine Sunday saw a crowd estimated at nearly 10,000 on had for what many said was one of the best "Pittsburgher 100's" ever held.
STARS RACING SERIES RACE REPORT
RACE NO. 33-1997 SEASON- "9TH ANNUAL PITTSBURGHER 100"
Pennsylvania Motor Speedway-Pittsburgh, PA-1/2 mile oval
Sept. 20&21, 1997-$73,000 Purse
100 LAP- $21,000 TO WIN!
| Fin.Pos. | Str.Pos. | Car# | Driver | Laps | Purse | Reason Out |
| 1 | 10 | 12 | Rick Aukland | 100 | $21,000 | Running |
| 2 | 21 | 0 | Scott Bloomquist | 100 | $6,040 | Running |
| 3 | 26 | 19 | Gary Stuhler | 100 | $4,040 | Running |
| 4 | 11 | 99 | Donnie Moran | 100 | $3,500 | Running |
| 5 | 7 | 68 | Tim Hitt | 100 | $3,000 | Running |
| 6 | 9 | 75 | Bart Hartman | 100 | $2,500 | Running |
| 7 | 12 | 31 | Skip Arp | 100 | $2,000 | Running |
| 8 | 17 | 1J | Davey Johnson | 100 | $1,500 | Running |
| 9 | 25 | 72 | John Mason | 100 | $1,340 | Running |
| 10 | 2 | 15 | Steve Francis | 100 | $1,225 | Running |
| 11 | 1 | 42 | Todd Andrews | 100 | $1,190 | Running |
| 12 | 19 | 5 | Ronnie Johnson | 99 | $1,240 | Running |
| 13 | 6 | 71R | Rod Conley | 99 | $1,170 | Running |
| 14 | 14 | 2J | Mike Johnson | 99 | $1,160 | Running |
| 15 | 18 | 84 | Steve Baker | 99 | $1,150 | Running |
| 16 | 24 | E1 | Mike Balzano | 99 | $1,180 | Running |
| 17 | 20 | RG3 | Bob Salathe | 99 | $1,170 | Running |
| 18 | 27 | 5L | Steve Lucas | 98 | $1,160 | Running |
| 19 | 5 | 24 | Rick Eckert | 98 | $1,200 | Running |
| 20 | 28 | 25 | Mike Benedum | 97 | $1,040 | Running |
| 21 | 16 | 30 | Steve Shaver | 97 | $1,000 | Running |
| 22 | 3 | 77 | Barry Bragdon | 96 | $1,000 | Running |
| 23 | 30 | 79 | B. Z. Malcuit | 67 | $1,000 | Handling |
| 24 | 29 | 32 | Scott Hartley | 64 | $1,040 | Handling |
| 25 | 15 | 71 | Delmas Conley | 51 | $1,000 | Accident |
| 26 | 22 | 28B | Dick Barton | 42 | $1,040 | Handling |
| 27 | 13 | 1* | Chub Frank | 31 | $1,000 | Handling |
| 28 | 31 | 48J | John Johnson | 31 | $1,000 | Handling |
| 29 | 4 | 04 | Jack Boggs | 15 | $1,050 | Accident |
| 30 | 23 | 99T | Ricky Thomas | 15 | $1,040 | Driveshaft |
| 31 | 8 | 71C | R. J. Conley | 99 | $1,000 | Do-Light |
Time of Race: 1 hr. 20 min.
Yellow Pages: Nine-laps 9,15,16,32,38,51,71,90,96
Red Flags: None
Fast Qualifier: Eckert 18.875 sec.
Heat Race Winners: Hitt, R.J. Conley, Hartman, Aukland, Moran, Arp
Isky Racing Cams Fast Dash Winners: Andrews
Pro Shocks "B" Main Winners: R. Johnson, Salathe, Bloomquist
Lap Leaders: Five-Andrews 1-15; Hartman 16-39; Mason 40-51; Bloomquist 52-53; Aukland 54-100
ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Benedum
Stars Provisional Starters: Benedum, Hartley
P.P.M.S. Provisional Starters: Malcuit, J. Johnson
Next Race: October 4- Portsmouth Raceway Park- Portsmouth, OH
60 LAP Feature- $32,000 Purse-$8,000 to Win!