6/24/2017
Jennerstown Speedway
Kuntz, Busch, Among Four Drivers To Earn First 2017 Victories at Jennerstown
(Jennerstown, PA) On June 24, 2017 the five division racing at Jennerstown Speedway Complex produced four new winners for the 2017 racing season. Jeremiah Kuntz, of Mahaffey, PA, scored his first win of the year in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division, to become the fifth winner in six events so far in 2017. “Racin’ Jason” Busch earned the first Jennerstown Speedway victory of his career in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division, and Josh Coughenour celebrated his first win of season in J&J Truck Equipment Street Stock competition. Dale Kimberly won for the first time in 2017 in the Famers Union Co-Op Charger division, while Andrew Pluta was the only repeat winner of the night, notching his second Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder win of the season. Dan Zimmerman won the “Big John’s 75” as round number two in the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series, with a last lap pass.
Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger was a winner in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division early in his career, then abandoned competition for over 15 years. Hemminger started on the pole position for the 30-lap feature event and led the first five laps. His quest to return to victory lane for the first time this decade, suffered a setback when Jeremiah Kuntz rocketed into the lead on lap six. Kuntz, a winner in 2016, started in the fifth position, after winning his heat race earlier in the night. Kuntz had been fast all year, earning several “podium finishes” in the first half of the season. Seventh-place starter Barry Awtey vaulted into the second position on lap eight. Awtey, the only repeat winner in 2017, also won his heat race, and passed several cars quickly, to hold the runner up spot. But, lap by lap, Kuntz extended his margin as leader, and put distance between himself and the defending Champion. Kuntz, who has experience traveling the nation with the touring Super Cup Stock Car Series, cruised to his first win of the year without a significant challenge from Awtey. His Kuntz Motors/”Jesus Is The Answer”/Dodge parked in victory lane, extending the points narrow lead he carried into the night, atop the division’s Championship Standings. Awtey, Hemminger, early season winner Bryan Shipp, and previous week’s winner Matt Sever finished in the top five spots, respectively.
A rivalry, born just weeks earlier in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds, gained intensity after a thrilling 20-lap feature race. Division rookie Dustin Gursky led the first two laps after winning his heat race and starting in the front row. Gursky validated his talent after a couple of consistent performances in recent weeks. Opening night winner Tom Golik then became the leader, and was soon pressured by “Racin’ Jason” Busch. Busch had led laps in every event in which he competed this year, and began to threaten Golik, in order to continue his streak of racing in the first position. By lap 14, points leader Chris Brink made the lead fight into three car battle, after he started tenth. Brink officially took the lead on lap 18, but he and Golik collided, spinning into turn one, and causing a caution flag. The pair of veterans made newsworthy contact weeks earlier, dividing their fans passionately. On the restart, Busch was able to defend his lead from the challenges of Pete Rech, and go on to take the checkered flag. Busch, who started eighth, had never won at Jennerstown Speedway in his stellar career. Heat winner Rech, who started ninth, defending Champ Zane Ferrell, Partick Waugh, and Gursky completed the top five finishers.
Much of the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks’ 20 lap feature was dominated by opening night winner Aaron Van Fleet. Van Fleet started on the pole, and outran all competitors, holding a comfortable lead until a late race caution flag forced a restart. On lap 18, Lauren Butler’s car climbed the backstretch wall, balanced on two wheels, and slammed back down to the pavement, forcing track officials to wave the caution flag to inspect the racing surface for debris, even though Butler continued racing. As the yellow flag was displayed, three-time winner Shawn Beam made hard contact with the inside wall on the front straight, ending his consecutive victory streak with heavy damage. When racing resumed, Josh Coughenour stole the lead from Van Fleet, after starting the race in sixth position. After a string of “podium finishes,” Coughenour took the checkered flag for the first time in 2017, sweeping the night after winning his heat race, also. Van Fleet finished second, with points leader Butler placing third after the wild ride. Former Champion Andrew Kostelnik made his first start of the season into a “top five” run, by placing fourth after starting seventh. Anthony Aiello finished fifth. Beam won the other heat race.
A first time winner in 2017 also celebrated in victory lane after the Famers Union Co-Op Chargers’ 15 lap feature. Dale Kimberly enjoyed a comfortable lead, during the most dominating performance of the night. He started in second position, and led every lap for the coveted win. Kimberly is a former dirt track winner and champion, and he outran former Jennerstown Champ Steve Long, who placed second after starting seventh. Scott Mitchell was the third place finisher, while most recent winner Jason Pritts placed fourth. Jason Garchak drove to a fifth place finish, and heat races were won by Frank Novak and Pritts.
The only repeat winner of the night was Andrew Pluta, who was the third different leader in the 15-lap Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder feature. Brian Noel led the first lap, before Brent Bickerstaff took control of the event, after he started eighth. With just four laps to go, fifth-place-starter, Pluta made the winning pass, and visited victory lane for the first time since opening night. Bickerstaff, recent winner Cindy Rhodes, Casey Fleegle, and Noel completed the top five. Bickerstaff, Fleegle, and Evan Nibert won the heats.
“The Big John’s 75” was one of the most memorable races in the history of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series. Greensburg, PA resident Dan Zimmerman started 18th, and took the lead late in the event from Doug Shaulis. With just a few laps to go, Zimmerman spun, surrendering the lead but recovering to chase down Shaulis again, and win with a last lap pass. Zimmerman, Shaulis, Travis Beam, T.J. Lepley, and Michael Strouse completed the top five.
Next Saturday, July 1, is Autograph Night presented by MedExpress. Fans will have the chance to meet the drivers, touch the race cars, and walk on the speedway before the five division races begin.
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Top Ten Finishers From June 24
DIVISIONS:
Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 6 Jeremiah Kuntz Mahaffey, PA #7
2 7 Barry Awtey Jenners, PA #75
3 1 Mike Hemminger Stoystown, PA #72
4 4 Bryan Shipp Scottdale, PA #40
5 10 Matt Sever West Newton, PA #83
6 9 Bobby Henry Connellsville, PA #11
7 2 Rick Boyer Blairsville, PA #5
8 5 Garry Wiltrout Somerset, PA #95
9 8 Teddy Gibala Coulter, PA #2
10 3 Todd Price Bedford, PA #66
Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 8 Jason Busch Pittsburgh, PA #42
2 9 Pete Rech Pittsburgh, PA #9
3 6 Zane Ferrell Ruffs Dale, PA #14
4 5 Patrick Waugh New Florence, PA #21
5 2 Dustin Gursky Ridgeley, WV #29
6 11 Jarred Barclay Somerset, PA #92
7 7 Gary Scott Irwin, PA #22
8 3 Brad Milburn Schellsburg, PA #95
9 1 Jim Bodziak Hollsopple, PA #2
10 12 Gregory Kelley Connellsville, PA #8
J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks
1 6 Josh Coughenour Gray, PA #20
2 1 Aaron VanFleet Scottdale, PA #95
3 5 Lauren Butler West Mifflin, PA #53
4 7 Andrew Kostelnik Irwin, PA #57
5 9 Anthony Aiello White Oak, PA #31
6 3 Jason Holder Stoystown, PA #74
7 11 Angie Kimberly Sutersville, PA #69
8 10 Matt Hayman Somerset, PA #8
9 8 Shawn Beam Somerset, PA #21
10 4 Steven Singo Hooversville, PA #7
Famers Union Co-Op Chargers
Pos Start Driver Hometown Car
1 2 Dale Kimberly Sutersville, PA #22
2 7 Steve Long Rockwood, PA #27
3 4 Scott Mitchell Somerset, PA #20
4 8 Jason Pritts boswell, PA #52
5 6 Jason Garchak Pittsburgh, PA #46
6 1 Justin Frampton boswell, PA #66
7 3 Frank Novak Normalville, PA #44
8 9 Emily Shaulis Somerset, PA #99
9 10 Jeremy Shaulis Acosta, PA #31
10 5 Tanner Friedline Hooversville, PA #7
Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders
1 5 Andrew Pluta Stoystown, PA #88
2 8 Brent Bickerstaff Herminie, PA #53
3 6 Cindy Rhodes Somerset, PA #83
4 11 Casey Fleegle Friedens, PA #13
5 4 Brian Noel Mt pleasant, PA #39
6 9 Evan Nibert Somerset, PA #7
7 7 Paul Koffler Connellsville, PA #48
8 12 RJ Dallape Johnstown, PA #95
9 10 Eugene Zerfoss Acosta, PA #23
10 14 David Campbell Apollo, PA #777
Submitted By: Vernon Yoder
