Senic Dominates Western PA Opener At Roaring Knob

By Lou Long

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 11, 2015) Nobody would have expected that the Western PA lid lifter would take place at Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on April 11. Although Mother Nature has not been so kind to the promoters throughout the region, she did smile long enough on Rick Jones to allow him to get the first one in the books for the new season. Picking up where he left off, defending track champion Tim Senic of Elkins, WV dominated the Mid Atlantic Hoosier Tire Super Late Model feature event, while Troy Shields kicked things off with an equally strong performance in the High Gear Speed shop RUSH Late Model division. Ryan Newman and David Friend scored in the Street Stock and Newt’s York Bar & Grill Mini Stock events.

Although he was tops in the class in 2014, Senic struggled on and off the track. “Last year was last year,” he said with a sigh of relief. “I guess I had a lot of stuff going on and off the track.” He explained that some of his problems related to the race car. “We had some issues with the car, and I knew that we found things that were wrong and I knew that we were going to be pretty good out of the box.” While Senic’s comment was quite the understatement, he still had to hold off Lernerville Speedway regular John Garvin in the final circuits to get the win. “I could see on the scoreboard that John was back there, and he’s a good racer. He’s always fast here right across the bottom, so I just had to try to run my line.”

Because Mike Benedum was unable to make the call for the Super Late Model go, Senic was flanked by a different Mountaineer, Bob Gordon. Garvin was joined in the second row by Greg Gellner, with Dan Angelicchio and teenager Michael Lake in row three. Senic jumped out to a quick three-car advantage over Gordon, who had Garvin and Angelicchio nipping on his heels. On the second lap, Garvin made a powerful move coming off turn two to take second away from Gordon, and Angelicchio followed suit the next time around to take third. While Angelicchio stalked Garvin, Senic was able to open up a safe margin.

Just before the halfway mark in the contest, Senic’s lead disappeared when Shaun Claar’s machine came to a halt. Senic was able to pull away with ease on the restart and kept the field at bay despite a trio of cautions over the second half of the race. The final two cautions gave Garvin a couple of shots at the leader, but Senic was not to be denied.

Senic had a three car length margin of victory. Garvin took second, with Angelicchio a close third. Greg Gellner recovered from a couple of miscues to take fourth in the final laps. Gordon held on for fifth. Lake and Claar rounded out the field. Joining Benedum in the pits when the green was displayed were Doug Glessner and Gary Dalton.

Heat wins went to Senic and Benedum.

Troy Shields hopes that this race is a harbinger of things to come, as he was the top High Gear Speedshop RUSH Late Model racer on the grounds. He will have plenty of competition next week, though, as the speedway will host the first round of the RUSH Late Model Touring Series. As expected, there were a couple of travelers in the field tonight trying to get some additional seat time in preparation for that big event. Not surprisingly, it was Ohio traveler Eric Wilson who challenged for the win.

“I felt him bumping me a couple of times,” said Shields. “And, I am thinking ‘man, you’ve got to hold your line and make him work to pass you,’ and that’s what we tried. Still, the outcome was in doubt as these racers squared off in the final three lap run to the checkers. Wilson got a strong surge coming off the second corner and got his nose beneath Shields entering turn three for the last time. But, Shields knew that he was heading towards the sweet spot for him, turn four. “We were better coming off four than we were coming off two and we just let it roll up there and rode it out.”

Shields had Russell Baird as his dancing partner for the initial green. Mike Ott and Michael Duritsky occupied row two, and Derek Rogers was paired with Wilson in the third row. Shields swooped into the lead, and Baird grabbed the second spot. Wilson and Ott were engaged in a tussle for third.

A quick caution for Clinton Hersh bunched the field back up, and that led to some more fireworks. The biggest incident came before the fifth lap was completed, when Duritsky spun towards the front stretch wall. The cars were still in close formation behind him, and that set off a mad scramble as racers were looking for openings trying to get by his machine that was sitting sideways just before the flag stand. While most of them succeeded, there was contact involving Derek Rogers, Dylan Lewis, and Jeffrey Haynes. Fortunately, no drivers were injured, but two cars, those of Duritsky and Lewis, were sidelined for the remainder of the race.

When racing resumed, Wilson took over the second position and he began to test Shields. Meanwhile, Baird raced some distance back in third. Adam Sixt advanced into the top five, while Ott held on. The racers were able to get nearly a dozen laps completed before the final caution was displayed with just three laps remaining. That enabled Wilson to get right on Shields’ back bumper for the last restart. While the young Buckeye applied the pressure, he was unable to get Shields loose enough to pounce. Shields withstood Wilson’s attack on the final lap to get the win

Shields, Wilson, and Baird were the first three across the stripe. Sixt was next, with Garrett Paugh advancing to fifth in the last few rounds. Robbie Marhefka edged Ott at the finish to take sixth. Vincent Masi, Jr., Rogers, and Haynes completed the top ten.

Ryan Newman blasted to an early lead in the Stock Car feature, while Cody Colflesh and Bob Nelson battled for second. A midrace caution slowed Newman’s pace, but a three-car battle for second ensued. Joining Colflesh and Nelson in the fray was Scott Bittinger, who had worked his way to the front from the last row. While Newman had things well under control, all eyes were on that triumvirate. Then, Greg Hauger entered the picture, making it a four-car contest for second. Hauger also came from the last row of the feature lineup. Eventually, he was able to take second, Bittinger grabbed third, and Colflesh slipped back to fourth. Nelson held on for fifth. Barry Faris, Joe Wrona, and Mark Peck were next. Jim Byers was unable to make the green.

David Friend emerged from an early three-car battle for the lead in the Mini Stock division to take the win. His teammate, Todd Detrick, took second, ahead of Scott Critchfield. Kolby Crawley held off Bedford invader Joshua fetters for fourth. Derek Quade, Randell Flanigan, Dustin Kinser, and Robert Fox rounded out the field. Michael McDonald and Dustin Detrick could not go at feature time.

Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Super Late Models: Tim Senic, John Garvin, Dan Angelicchio, Greg Gellner, Bob Gordon, Michael Lake, Shaun Claar. DNS: Mike Benedum, Doug Glessner, Gary Dalton.

High Gear Speed Shop RUSH Late Models: Troy Shields, Eric Wilson, Russell Baird, Jr., Adam Sixt, Garrett Paugh, Robbie Marhefka, Mike Ott, Vincent Masi, Jr., Derek Rogers, Jeffrey Haynes, Clinton Hersh, Mark Wells, Steve Lowney, Dylan Lewis, Michael Diritsky, Michael Lake (DNS).

Stock Cars: Ryan Newman,Greg Hauger, Scott Bittinger, Cody Colflesh, Bob Nelson, Barry Faris, Joe Wrona, Mark Peck, Jim Byers (DNS).

Newt’s Bar & Grill Mini Stocks: David Friend, Todd Detrick, Scott Critchfield, Kolby Crawley, Joshua Fetters, Derek Quade, Randell Flanigan, Dustin Kinser, Robert Fox. DNS: Michael McDonald, Dustin Detrick.
Coming Saturday April 18th will be the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Series paying $1,200 to Win along with our Hoosier Tire Mid Atlantic Super Late Models, Street Stocks, Mod Lites, and Newt’s York Bar Roadrunners 4 Cylinders.
General admission is just $15, Senior Citizens $8, kids 10 and under free. Gates open @ 3:00 pm, hotlaps @ 5:00 pm, racing at 5:30 pm. Track Location: 380 Fearer Rd. Markleysburg PA 15459, Raceday Track Phone: 724-329-0306
Next week, the Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC RUSH Dirt Late Model Series will kick off their 2015 Sweeney Touring Series schedule. For the first time, the Series will offer both a Northern and Southern Touring schedule of events. With $4,000 to-win each region and the $2,000 overall bonus, one driver could win $10,000!

Twenty-four events are included on the combined Sweeney Touring Series schedule. The Series will make its only visit to Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex on Saturday, April 18, which will kick-off the 2015 season and begin the points for the Southern Tour. The Markleysburg, Pa. oval, which is just minutes from both West Virginia and Maryland hosts weekly Sweeney RUSH Late Model action. Roaring Knob led all speedways completing 26 RUSH features in 2014. “Futures Cup” Champion Michael Lake was the track champion