Barbara, Flinner, Simmons, Podolinsky & Huff Take PPMS Wins

South Park PA’s Keith Barbara picked up his third feature win of the season in the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Models and 23rd career win at the track moving him into a tie for 10th on the all time win list with Tye Long. Jon Hodgkiss led the first 5 laps before Brandon Burgoon took over on lap 6. The early race battle was a wild one with Brandon Burgoon, Colton Flinner, Steve Baker, Alex Ferree and Barbara (from 12th), all going for the top spot. The battle was intense with the top five going three and four wide on restarts and during the event. Baker dropped out of the event running third when he had engine problems bringing out the caution on lap 16. Barbara made his move a couple laps after the restart on lap 18 and rolled to his second win in a row. Alex Ferree hustled to finish second followed by Colton Flinner, (from 10th), Burgoon, (from 11th). John Flinner, (from 13th), newcomer Daniel Angelicchio who was a solid 6th, Ed Ferree, Mike Basich, Derek Stefanick and Ben Miley. With Ferree’s second place finish, he has all but wrapped up the 2015 PPMS point title, his third in a row. All he has to do is show up and start the program on Thursday. Heats for the 19 cars on hand went to Alex Ferree and Keith Barbara. Newcomers included Daniel Angelicchio and Mike Basich, while Mark Moats Sr. made his first start in the Bucky Johnson #47.
In the Precise Racing Products Rush Crate Late Models, Allison Park, PA’s Colton Flinner picked up his third win of the season and 14th of his young career. The race however ended in heartbreak for 2015 PPMS Point Champ Josh Holtgraver who had a decent lead, looking for his fourth win of the season leading from the start. A late race caution on lap 16 bunched the field up and allowed Flinner to pull alongside, and on the restart Flinner got a bit of a jump and the pair battled thru turns 1 & 2 and bumped going down the backstraight sending Holtgraver into the wall and ending his night. Flinner who started 4th held off Tommy Schirnhofer and a fast closing Ben Policz, (who started 9th), Justin Lamb, Daryl Charlier, Corey McPherson, Scott Schempp, Paul Jablonski, Tony White, (in his first start of the year) and D.J. Nakutis. Justin Lamb and Mark Moats won the heats.
McKees Rocks PA’s Jake Simmons won the 2012 track championship and had 8 wins in the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman. Since then he has run a somewhat limited schedule at PPMS. However he showed he hasn’t forgot the fast way around the big ½ mile and picked up his 55th career win at PPMS after an exciting battle with Christian Schneider. Simmons is second to all time Sportsman winner Ron O’Patchen who has 68. Simmons started 3rd and took the lead on the first lap. Christian Schneider, who started 8th moved past Simmons on lap 8 and held it to lap 12 when Simmons battled back and moved out front for good. At the checker, Schneider was second followed by Pat Hanley who had another top 3 run from 12th, Bill Robinson, Todd Weldon, Dave McManus, Craig Koteles, Mark Lee, Jameson Stumper and newcomer Ted Ersek. Christian Schneider and Jake Simmons won the heats. With Nick Kocuba not starting the main, it looks like Bill Robinson is going to win the 2015 championship. A start in Thursday night’s program should wrap it up.
Joe Podolinsky, Oakdale PA, won his 4th Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stock Main of the season. Podolinsky defeated Dave Sheriff, Hannah Ramsey, Dale Tuche, and Devin Black. Hannah Ramsey is set to make PPMS history to be the first female championship winner. All she has to do is participate in Thursday night’s program and will wrap it up.
Heidelberg PA’s O.B. Huff picked up his 10th win of the season in the Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns. Huff took the lead on lap 3 from Michael Jackson, and led the remaining laps. David Ostrander was second followed by Austin Ostrander, Jackson and Mark Simmons. Huff has wrapped up the 2015 Championship.
Upcoming at PPMS this week, August 27-29 the 27th Annual Lucas Oil Pittsburgher 100. On Thursday August 27 a warm up regular show, for all the PPMS regular divisions, which will be the last chance some of the local and maybe some outsiders will have to tune up for the Pittsburgher. And it will be the last night for Points. On Friday the Lucas Oil Series moves in and will present qualifying and heats for the Super Lates, as well as heats for the Precise Rush Crates and Sunoco Sportsman, (using the Laboon rules). On Saturday August 29 the 27th Annual Lucas Oil Pittsburgher 100, plus features for the Precise Rush Late Models and Sunoco Sportsman. Check the PPMS website at http://ppms.com/ for more info or call Miley Motorsports (412)279-7223
By John Stasiak
SUMMARY – 8/22/15
DIEHL SUPER LATE MODELS – FEATURE
1 17 Keith Barbara
2 10 Alex Ferree
3 75 Colton Flinner
4 02 Brandon Burgoon
5 48 John Flinner
6 14 Dan Angelicchio
7 4 Ed Ferree
8 71M Mike Basich
9 44G Derek Stefanick
10 99m Ben Miley
11 55 Chris Schneider
12 9 Bill Kessler
13 14 Butch Neubert
14 0 Steve Baker
15 36 Tony Musolino
16 69 Jon Hodgkiss
17 47 Mark Moats
18 4J John Mollick
DID NOT START – 9 Clayton Kennedy
PRECISE RUSH LATE MODELS – FEATURE
1 60F Colton Flinner
2 8 Tommy Schirnhofer
3 14B Ben Policz
4 93X Justin Lamb
5 12 Daryl Charlier
6 60C Corey MacPherson
7 75 Scott Schempp
8 3 Paul Jabolinski
9 27T Tony White
10 31 D J Nakutis
11 15m Mark Moats
12 00 Josh Holtgraver
13 22 Justin Massie
14 12G Brian Goebel

SUNOCO LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN – FEATURE
1 68X Jake Simmons
2 M5 Christian Schneider
3 380 Pat Hanley
4 1B Bill Robertson
5 45jr Todd Weldon
6 14 Dave McManus
7 64 Craig Koteles
8 25 Mark Lee
9 89 Jameson Stumper
10 0 Ted Ersek
11 73 Shaun Neubert
DID NOT START – 10 Nick Kocuba and 23 Justin Lamb
MILEY BP CAR WASH HOBBY STOCKS – FEATURE
1 56 Joe Podolinsky
2 8 Dave Sheriff
3 14Her Hannah Ramsey
4 310 Dale Tuche
5 33B Devin Black
DID NOT START – OU2 Jacob Wiser – 51 John Dotten and 221 Karlee Kovacs
IMPERIAL HEIGHTS GARAGE YOUNG GUN – FEATURE
1 83H O. B. Huff
2 D15 David Ostrander
3 77 Austin Ostrander
4 89 Michael Jackson
5 68X Marc Simmons