5/26/2019
Gibala Two For Two at Jennerstown Speedway
(Jennerstown, PA) For the second consecutive week, Teddy Gibala used the outside groove of the Jennerstown Speedway Complex to pass a former Champion, in the late stages of the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model event and secure the victory. Also celebrating in Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane on Saturday, May 25th, 2019 were Anthony Aiello (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Aaron Van Fleet (Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stocks) Dale Kimberly (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers) and Paul Koffler, III (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders). The first of four events in the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series was won by James Gotschalk, Jr.
Pole starter Bryan Shipp grabbed the lead on lap one of the Martella's Pharmacies Late Models' 30-lap feature race. On lap three, former Champion Barry Awtey spun, while battling for fourth place with rookie (first time starter) Drake Troutman. The incident also involved Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger, Teddy Gibala, and others, with Hemminger sustaining damage too severe to continue. Former winner, Shipp, led only the first two circuits, until defending Champion Garry Wiltrout moved to the head of the pack. Wiltrout, the defending Jennerstown Champion, finished second one week prior, and pulled away from Shipp, leading through the middle stages of the event. Joe Maruca started in second position and spent the first ten laps in third place. Maruca, seeking his first career victory, was very strong in the season opening event. On lap eleven, Gibala, charging back into contention after the crash, grabbed the third spot from Maruca. Gibala, from Coulter, PA, won in convincing fashion the previous week, and on lap 16 he passed Shipp for the second position. Wiltrout’s comfortable lead began to dwindle as Gibala pulled away from Shipp. Wiltrout, a multiple feature winner in 2018, easily distanced himself from all competitors until lap 24. Gibala, using the outside lane of the speedway just as he did one week prior, made the winning pass of Wiltrout with just six laps remaining. For next few laps, Wiltrout stayed close enough to keep fans guessing about the outcome. But for the second week in a row, Wiltrout would find himself one position away from nailing down his first win of the year. In spite of starting in tenth place, and being involved in the early race crash, Gibala persevered to notch his second consecutive win. The victory is the third of his career, at the top level of weekly Jennerstown racing. After a successful Street Stock career that included the 2014 Street Stock Championship, Gibala’s EH Schwab Co./Port City/Chevrolet Late Model is undefeated in 2019. Behind heat race winner Wiltrout at the finish line, were Shipp, who also won a heat race, and Maruca, in third and fourth positions respectively. Awtey recovered from the spin to place fifth.
Defending Champion Anthony Aiello started the 20-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified feature from the pole position. Aiello won his heat race earlier in the night, and although he officially led every lap of the feature race, he was never able to run away to a healthy lead. In pursuit the entire distance, was popular veteran Gary Scott. Scott won a heat race for the second week in a row, and stayed close to Aiello’s rear bumper, keeping the feature race exciting. Scott uncharacteristically struggled in 2018, while Aiello seemed unbeatable last season. Scott filled Aiello’s mirror and looked to have a nearly equal performing race car. Lapped traffic in the closing stages assisted Aiello in putting a few car lengths of distance between himself and Scott. The lead duo, on opposite ends of the age spectrum, held their positions to the finish. But, all eyes were on the third place driver when the checkered flag waved. Sophomore driver R.J. Dallape had passed the previous week’s winner Pete Rech, and closed in on Scott to challenge for second. When the action concluded, the biggest winner at Jennerstown last season, Aiello, earned the victory. Like Gibala, Aiello is also a former Street Stock Champion. The official top five finishers behind him, were Scott, Dallape, eighth place starter Rech, and former Champion Chris Brink, who was fighting an ill-handling car.
Late race drama had fans on their feet at the end of the Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stocks’ 20-lap feature. The most recent Champions, Josh Coughenour and Lauren Butler, took the green flag as front row starters. Coughenour grabbed the lead and fourth place starter Zac Todaro moved into second place. Todaro has looked strong in the first two rounds of action this season, but he was no match for Coughenour, who led the division in victories last year. Coughenour maintained a comfortable lead over Todaro while heat race winner Aaron Van Fleet advanced from the seventh starting spot. After a lengthy battle with Todaro, Van Fleet became the runner up. Thanks to late race caution flags and double-file restarts, a thrilling duel for the win matched Coughenour and Van Fleet in a crowd-pleasing finish. They swapped the lead officially twice, and Van Fleet scored the memorable victory. Defending Champ Coughenour was a close second, with previous week’s winner Casey Fleegle starting in tenth place, and stealing third position at the conclusion. Butler, and heat race winner Jeremy Shaffer completed the top five drivers.
Former dirt track aces, led the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers to the starting line for the 15-lap feature. Dan Jackson and Steven Brown are both in their second year as paved-track drivers, and Jackson vaulted into the early lead. Defending Champion Dale Kimberly grabbed second place early on, and challenged Jackson for the lead. Before the mid-point of the race, Kimberly roared to the front and never looked back. Kimberly was the most dominating Charger winner of 2018, and recovered from a disappointing sixth-place finish in the preliminary heat race, to take the checkered flag. Jackson, a winner in 2018 placed second with Brown third. Previous week’s winner Kelly Shaulis, who won the heat and started eighth, claimed fourth place, followed by popular Justin Frampton who was fifth in the final rundown.
The most dominating performance of the night occurred in the Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder division’s 15-lap feature. Paul Koffler, III started in sixth place, but grabbed the lead on lap one. He led every lap and ran away from the field, for his first Jennerstown victory in years. Koffler is the 2016 Champion, and also won the heat race. Andrew Pluta showed great determination, battling through mechanical problems for the second week in a row, and finishing second after starting tenth. Former Champ Brent Bickerstaff placed third, eighth place starter Michael Strouse finished fourth, and Michael Saler crossed the finish line in fifth place.
Round one of the Ron’s Collision Center Enduro Series was contested in the rain, and although James Gottschalk led every lap, he was challenged late in the event by two different competitors. Ninth starting Josh Dunmyer and defending Enduro Champion Dustin Brown swapped second place more than once, and each driver had chances to threaten Gottschalk’s lead. Lapped traffic on the damp asphalt worked against Brown in the final two laps, and Gottschalk earned the second win of his seven-race career. Behind Brown, the top five finishers were Dunmyer, dirt track star Clinton Hersh, and Jeff Barclay.
Five Division Racing continues next Saturday night, June 1st, as gates open at 4pm with the green flag at 6pm. For more information visit www.jennerstown.org.
Article Credit: Mike Lysakowski
