Jennerstown, PA (May 28, 2016): After two straight weeks of rainouts, Jennerstown Speedway Complex kicked off their 2016 campaign on Saturday night. Despite lightning in the distance, conditions remained dry as fans enjoyed some Saturday Night Thunder. Victorious during the evening’s five-division program were: Matt Sever (Martella’s Pharmacy Late Models), Adam Kostelnik (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Shawn Beam (Riggs Industries Street Stocks), Stephen Shelpman (Chargers) and Cindy Rhodes (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘N Furious 4’s). Joe Nicola picked up the victory in the Big John’s Enduro 100.
For the past two seasons, Barry Awtey and Matt Sever have battled each other many times for victories in the Martella’s Pharmacy Late Model division. Saturday was no different during the 40-lap event. Rick Boyer from Blairsville led the field to the green with Bobby Henry to his outside on the front row. Henry would shoot to the lead shortly after the green flag fell with Mahaffey’s Jeremiah Kuntz jumping to 2nd Place before the first lap was completed. On Lap 2, Boyer appeared to check up heading towards Turn 3 and was bumped by Garry Wiltrout; sending Boyer’s car hard into the outer retaining wall. Boyer was okay and even drove his heavily-damaged mount back to the pits. Once back under green, Sever, the defending champion who started sixth, worked the outside of Kuntz through Turns 3 and 4 to move into the runner-up position. A lap later, Awtey would work under Wiltrout to gain the 4th spot. Sever passed Henry for the lead on Lap 10 while Kuntz and Awtey also overtook Henry; shuffling Henry back to 4th. Three laps later Henry lost another spot to his teammate, Wiltrout. For the next handful of laps, Awtey would take a peek under Kuntz for 2nd Place. A caution involving Todd Price and rookie Jeremy Hill slowed the action with 17 laps completed. A lap after the restart, Awtey, from nearby Jenners, picked off Kuntz for the 2nd position. Kuntz would lose a another position as Wiltrout passed him for the 3rd spot. For the remainder of the race, Sever maintained a three car length lead on Awtey to garner the win. Wiltrout, Kuntz and Henry rounded out the Top 5. Heat race wins went to Awtey and Wiltrout.
The Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified main event featured a great battle for the win. Yet, it would be officially decided in tech. Polesitter Lou Botti and rookie Zane Ferrell started on the front row of the 25-lap feature. However, Adam Kostelnik, Pete Rech and Tom Golik passed Ferrell before the first lap was completed. Kostelnik would chase down Botti and take the lead on Lap 7 with Ferrell working his way back to 3rd. Kostelnik and Ferrell would run 1-2 until Chris Brink, who started the race in 8th, overtook Ferrell for the 2nd spot on Lap 15. Two laps later Brink took the top spot from Kostelnik in a spirited battle for the lead. A caution on Lap 19 led to a restart in which Kostelnik got a good jump on Brink and held the lead for one lap. Brink, from Penn Run, held off Kostelnik over the final five laps. However, in post-race inspection Brink was found with a carburetor infraction; handing the victory to Kostelnik. Ferrell, Botti, Joe Ballough and Brad Milburn completed the Top 5 finishing positions. Brink and Kostelnik won their respective heat races.
Shawn Beam showed on Saturday night that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Riggs Industries Street Stocks in 2016. The Somerset driver started to the outside of polesitter Ron Eiford III in the 25-lap feature, but quickly had the lead by the time the front two exited Turn 2. Defending champion Anthony Aiello, who started the race in the 8th spot, was up to 3rd Place by Lap 9 with a pass of Lauren Butler. However, two laps later Butler got into the back of Aiello, causing him to spin to bring out the caution. Aiello suffered minor damage and continued on in the race. Butler was sent to the rear of the field. Back underway, Beam maintained a comfortable lead over Eiford with Andrew Kostelnik holding onto 3rd Place. Aiello would mount another charge from the back of the field. Down the stretch, he battled Stoystown’s Jason Holder for the 4th spot. Beam would go on to lead all 25 laps on his way to Victory Lane. He was followed across the line by Eiford, Kostelnik, Holder and Aiello. Butler and Kostelnik won their heat races.
After winning the Chargers sole heat race earlier in the evening, Pittsburgh’s Stephen Shelpman looked to repeat in the division’s 15-lap feature. 2015 Champion Ron Eiford, Jr. started on the pole, but outside polesitter Scott Mitchell would lead the first lap. Eiford would lead the next two circuits before passes by Dale Kimberly and Shelpman moved him back to the 3rd spot by Lap 4. Kimberly withstood Shelpman’s challenges for nine laps before Shelpman took the point position with two laps to go. Shelpman would hold on to beat Kimberly to the checks with Eiford coming home in 3rd, Frank Novak in 4th with 5th Place going to Jason Pritts.
Suterville’s Angie Kimberly would lead the Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘N Furious 4’s field to the green for their 15-lap main event. Joe Peifer started 2nd, but had the lead by the time the first lap was completed. The Johnstown driver led the first five laps before Cindy Rhodes edged past him through Turns 1 and 2 on Lap 6. Behind the lead duo, there was a tight battle between drivers such as Casey Fleegle, Eugene Zerfoss, Larry Deeter and Brent Bickerstaff. Cautions allowed Peifer to briefly lead on a couple of restarts before Rhodes took command for the final four trips around the beautiful Somerset County oval. Rhodes took the checkers three car lengths ahead of Peifer. Bickerstaff, Zerfoss and Fleegle finished 3rd through 5th respectively. Heat race wins went to Kimberly and Deeter.
The night culminated with the running of the Big John’s Enduro 100. 23 drivers started the event. Dave Campbell from Apollo led the early portions of the race. West Mifflin’s Joe Nicola, who started the race in the last position, took the lead on Lap 11. From his eighth starting position, Steve Joos made his way up to the runner-up spot by Lap 18 with a pass on Campbell. Campbell would retire from the event on Lap 32. On Lap 44, Kelly Shaulis from Somerset made his way around Matt Hay for the 2nd spot. By Lap 45, Nicola had lapped up to the 5th Place car of Eugene Zerfoss. Joos, while running 3rd, was lapped by Nicola on Lap 52. Shaulis pulled into the pits on Lap 59 while running in 2nd Place. Attrition really started to take affect in the latter stages of the race. Joos went pitside on Lap 77 while in the 2nd position. Running alone on the lead lap, Nicola seemed to go into conservation mode while not being threatened for the lead. Somerset’s Alan Knepper showed some strength late in the race to move into 2nd Place. Yet, Joe Nicola would cruise to the $1,000 payday. The other paying positions went to Knepper (2nd), Jim Nicola (3rd), Jason Hale (4th) and Carley Awtey (5th)
Saturday Night Thunder return this Saturday, June 4th, with their five-division program. Admission is only $10, $8 for senior citizens and free for children 12 and under. Spectator gates open at 4PM. Discounted tickets for the ISMA Super Modified race on July 16th are still available until June 5th.
LATE MODELS
Finish Driver1. Matt Sever
2. Barry Awtey
3. Garry Wiltrout
4. Jeremiah Kuntz
5. Bobby Henry
6. Teddy Gibala
7. Bryan Shipp
8. Kyle Martel
9. Todd Price
10. Jeremy Hill
11. Chris Cossell
12. Rick Boyer
13. Joe Maruca
MODIFIEDS
Finish Driver1. Adam Kostelnik
2. Zane Ferrell
3. Lou Botti
4. Joe Ballough
5. Brad Milburn
6. Matt Welch
7. Bernie McQuillan
8. Tom Golik
9. Vince Kreider
10. Pete Rech
11. Lonnie Hoffman (DNS)
12. Chris Brink (DQ)
STREET STOCKS
Finish Driver
- Shawn Beam
- Ron Eiford III
- Andrew Kostelnik
- Jason Holder
- Anthony Aiello
- Lauren Butler
- Mark Houser
- Aaron Van Fleet
- Dustin Gursky
- Zac Todaro
- Mel Wilt
- Steve Singo
- Steve Long
CHARGERS
Finish Driver
- Stephen Shelpman
- Dale Kimberly
- Ron Eiford, Jr.
- Frank Novak
- Jason Pritts
- Tanner Friedline
- Justin Frampton
- Scott Mitchell
FAST ‘N FURIOUS 4’s
Finish Driver
- Cindy Rhodes
- Joe Piefer
- Brrent Bickerstaff
- Eugene Zerfoss
- Casey Fleegle
- Angie Kimberly
- Larry Deeter
- Joe Laposky
- Dustin Nutter
- Mike Shaulis
- Dale Grubbs, Jr.
- Joshua Grubbs
- Jeremy Grubbs
- Paul Koffler III
- Larry Dunmyer
- Matt Presock (DNS)
- Steve Settle (DNS)
- Richard Maglet (DNS)
- Kristin Lakin (DNS)
BIG JOHN’S ENDURO 100
Finish Driver
- Joe Nicola
- Alan Knepper
- Jim Nicola
- Jason Hale
- Carley Awtey
- Nick Snitzer
- Tony Tazza
- Eugene Zerfoss
- Mike Stephens
- Dale Olah
- Dennis Shawley
- Emily Shaulis
- Steve Joos
- Kelly Shaulis
- Nathaniel Hayes
- Matt Hay
- Travis Beam
- Jeremy Claar
- Dave Campbell
- Jason Pritts
- Paul Pritts
- Dwight Shaffer
- Garrett Peifer