Keith Barbara Wins To Open PPMS Season

BY RICH BERRY
MAY 14, 2017

Keith Barbara from South Park was the winner of the season opening event at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday night. In a battle of two of the speedway’s best, Barbara held off the challenges of Alex Ferree to win the Diehl Automotive Super Late Model feature event, his 24th feature win in the division at the track.

It was a busy night as K&N Air Filters presented Hoosier Racing Tire Champions Night, as the top drivers from 2016 were honored. Winners on opening night 2017 included Steve Beatty of Allison Park in a dominant performance in winning the Spring Sizzler for the Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models. It was his second career feature win, his first coming in 2011. A.J. Poljak from Baldwin took top honors in the Sunoco Sportsman feature, his tenth in the division. The Miley Truck Rental Hobby Stock feature went to Tyler Fox of Pittsburgh, as Justin Clark from Pittsburgh won in the Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns. In the newest regular division, the CruiseAmerica Open Fours, Pittsburgh’s Anthony DiCesaro earned a hard fought victory. Capping off Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night, the visiting Super Six class had Justin Koebler of West Sunbury earn his first career feature win, in his first ever race!

Matt Dobnak and John Mollick led the 25 lap Diehl Automotive Super Late Model feature to the green flag with Mollick leading from the start. Sixth starting Keith Barbara was quickly on the move, passing Mollick on lap 2 before the first and only caution period of the event for a spin by Alex Ferree. Barbara led the way over Mollick once racing resumed, but Ferree quickly made his way through the ten car field, taking second on lap 6. The heat race winners would battle for the top spot over the remaining distance, as Ferree made a strong challenge at halfway. Barbara inched away again, as the high flying leaders battled through race traffic over the long green flag segment. Ferree’s strongest challenge came on lap 21 when they were nose to tail on the backstretch. Barbara made the right moves over the closing laps in earning the victory by .696 seconds over Ferree. Mollick was third ahead of John Flinner, Jr. and Jon Hodgkiss.

The 25-lap Spring Sizzler for the Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models started with Steve Beatty and John Mollick on the front row, with Mollick taking the lead. The one and only caution period in the event came at lap 4, as Mollick regained the top spot. As the laps clicked by, Beatty closed in on the race leader, and made the pass in turn three to take over the lead on lap 11. Once in front, Beatty assumed command and motored away from the field. Beatty would go on to score the victory by 5.497 seconds over Justin Lamb, Mike Reft, Daryl Charlier, and Mollick. Heat winners were Mollick and Lamb.

2016 division champion Dave McManus took the early lead in the Sunoco Sportsman feature event, ahead of fellow front row starter Josh Langer. Fourth starting A.J. Poljak moved up quickly to challenge at lap 3, but McManus was able to pull to a comfortable advantage before the event’s first caution period with 9 laps complete. Poljak would make the pass for the lead on the restart, as a final caution period would come with four laps remaining. Poljak had no issues over the remaining laps, winning by 1.320 seconds at the checkered flag. Nick Kocuba passed McManus on the final lap to take second, as Danny Rich and Ryan Moyer filled the top five. Rich and McManus were the heat winners.

Just three Miley Truck Rental Hobby Stocks started their 10 lap main event after two drivers were unable to start. The three drivers were three wide on the backstretch on the opening lap as Tyler Fox pulled ahead. Fox led the entire distance to win over Casey Grumling and Karlee Kovacs.

Justin Clark dominated the 6 lap Imperial Heights Garage Young Gun feature. Picking up where he left off after earning his first career win in the final race of 2016, he started the new season with his second career win. Starting fourth in the four car field, Clark quickly advanced to the lead which he would hold the entire distance. Ben Anton won the battle for second over Michael Jackson and Kayla McManus.

The 12 lap CruiseAmerica Open Four feature started with Anthony DiCesaro and Matt Rubright on the front row, with DiCesaro leading from the start of the non-stop event. Third starting Paul Koffler, III moved to second on the opening lap and began challenging for the lead, making a strong challenge on lap 3 before falling back. Koffler closed back in again, and made the pass for the lead in turn three to lead lap 9. Their battle continued, as DiCesaro regained the lead at the white flag to take the win over Koffler, Steve Settle, Rubright, and Stephen Shelpman. Settle and Koffler took the heat race wins.

The fledgling Super 6 Late Model division brought five entries to their first visit to the track, and produced an entertaining 12 lap event. Heat race winner Mike Spinneweber took the early lead and was holding off a challenge from Justin Koebler. On lap 4, Koebler passed Spinnerweber on the inside of turn two to take the lead, but spun to bring out the event’s only yellow flag. Undaunted by his spin, Koebler again advanced to battle Spinneweber for the race lead. Koebler made the pass on the inside in turn one working lap 10, and would take the win in his first ever race over Spinneweber, Jim Thompson, Frank McFeaters, and Levi Spinneweber.

Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway will be back in action on Saturday, May 20, with the first special event of the season. The 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints, the fastest cars on dirt, will make their first visit of the season. There will be weekly point racing for the Diehl Automotive Super Late Models, Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, and Sunoco Sportsman. The RUSH Modified will make their first visit of the season. For all racing programs, the gates open at 5:00 PM, with warm-ups at 6:00 PM and racing at 7:00 PM. Follow us on Facebook at @PAMotorSpeedway or on Twitter at @PAMotorSpeedway for timely information updates. The Twitter account is used extensively on race nights for live updates. Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway is located west of the city of Pittsburgh, just south of the Noblestown exit of U.S. Route 22, or 170 Kelso Road in Imperial, PA, for GPS purposes. The track phone is 724-695-3363 on race days, or call 412-279-RACE. For complete information including ticket information, please visit the track website at www.ppms.com .

Results for Saturday, May 13, 2017

Diehl Automotive Super Late Models

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 6, 17, Keith Barbara, South Park.

2, 7, 10, Alex Ferree, Valencia.

3, 2, 4J, John Mollick, Toronto, OH.

4, 4, 4T8, John Flinner, Jr., Zelienople.

5, 10, 69, Jon Hodgkiss, Kennedy.

6, 1, 42, Matt Dobnak, West Mifflin.

7, 8, 18, Chris Lander, Burgettstown.

8, 3, 36, Tony Musolino, Scott Twp.

9, 9, 7, Jake Gunn, McDonald.

10, 5, 38, Steve Pyeritz, Brentwood.

Heat 1, Alex Ferree, Matt Dobnak, Steve Pyeritz, Chris Lander, Jake Gunn.

Heat 2, Keith Barbara, Tony Musolino, John Flinner, Jr., John Mollick, Jon Hodgkiss.

Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 1, B4, Steve Beatty, Allison Park.

2, 4, 93X, Justin Lamb, Findlay Twp.

3, 3, 9R, Mike Reft, Whitehall.

4, 6, 12, Daryl Charlier, Midway.

5, 2, 60M, John Mollick, Toronto, OH.

6, 9, 28S, Bob Schwartzmiller, Robinson Twp.

7, 7, 54, Tony Iarrapino, Butler.

8, 10, 111, Pete Wearing, Evans City.

9, 11, 1ST, Ken Mawiecki, Imperial.

10, 8, 36B, Colby Beighey, Fombell.

11, 5, 2M, Chuck Medved, Imperial.

Did not start, 09, Bill Kessler, Freedom.

Did not start, 6, Chuck Recker, West View.

Heat 1, John Mollick, Chuck Medved, Ken Mawiecki, Pete Wearing, Tony Iarrapino, Bill Kessler, Chuck Recker.

Heat 2, Justin Lamb, Steve Beatty, Daryl Charlier, Mike Reft, Colby Beighey, Bob Schwartzmiller.

Sunoco Sportsman

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 4, 36, A.J. Poljak, Baldwin.

2, 3, 10, Nick Kocuba, Bulger.

3, 2, 114, Dave McManus, Elizabeth.

4, 7, 67X, Danny Rich, Imperial.

5, 8, 13X, Ryan Moyer, Portersville.

6, 1, 1B, Josh Langer, Clinton for Bill Robertson.

7, 5, 15, Joe Wrona, Uniontown.

8, 6, 18, Mike Harris, Bridgeville.

9, 9, 25, Mark Lee, Oakdale.

Did not start, 45, Todd Weldon, Monongahela.

Heat 1, Danny Rich, Ryan Moyer, Josh Langer, Mike Harris, Todd Weldon.

Heat 2, Dave McManus, Joe Wrona, A.J. Poljak, Nick Kocuba, Mark Lee.

Miley Truck Rental Hobby Stocks

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 3, 39F, Tyler Fox, Pittsburgh.

2, 1, 77X, Casey Grumling, Elrama.

3, 2, 221K, Karlee Kovacs, Carnegie.

Did not start, 17S, Stephen Shelpman, Pleasant Hills.

Did not start, 8, Dave Sheriff, Imperial.

Heat 1, Tyler Fox, Stephen Shelpman, Casey Grumling, Karlee Kovacs.

Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 4, 02, Justin Clark, Pittsburgh

2, 3, 13, Ben Anton, Jefferson Hills

3, 2, 89, Michael Jackson, South Park

4, 1, 14, Kayla McManus, Elizabeth

CruiseAmerica Open Fours

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 1, 5.0, Anthony DiCesaro, Pittsburgh.

2, 3, 48, Paul Koffler, III, Connellsville.

3, 5, 3S, Steve Settle, West Leisenring.

4, 2, 44, Matt Rubright, Harmony.

5, 10, 64, Stephen Shelpman, Pleasant Hills for Tom Anton.

6, 4, 39, Brian Noel, Mt. Pleasant.

7, 9, X, Dale Rubright, Harmony.

8, 8, 87, C.J. Parrill, South Connellsville.

9, 6, 62, Dale Grubbs, Connellsville.

10, 7, 37, Jeremy Grubbs, Connellsville.

Did not start 27, Scott Gilliland, Warren, OH.

Heat 1, Steve Settle, Tom Anton, Dale Grubbs, Brian Noel, C.J. Parrill, Dale Rubright.

Heat 2, Paul Koffler, III, Anthony DiCesaro, Matt Rubright, Jeremy Grubbs.

Super 6 Late Models

Feature results with finish position, starting position, car number, driver, and hometown.

1, 2, 7, Justin Koebler, West Sunbury

2, 1, 20, Mike Spinneweber, Butler

3, 3, 4B, Jim Thompson, West Sunbury

4, 4, 1, Frank McFeaters, Butler

5, 5, 10S, Levi Spinneweber, Butler

Heat 1, Mike Spinneweber, Justin Koebler, Jim Thompson, Frank McFeaters, Levi Spinneweber.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, May 20, 2017 – 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints plus Diehl Automotive Super Late Models, Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, Sunoco Sportsman, plus RUSH Modifieds.

Saturday, May 27, 2017 – Wahl Family Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing presents an “Action Event.” Diehl Automotive presents Driver Autograph Night. Diehl Automotive Super Late Models, Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, Sunoco Sportsman, Miley Truck Rental Hobby Stocks, Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns, CruiseAmerica Open Fours, plus the Alternative Power Sources Allegheny Sprint Tour.

Saturday, June 3, 2017 – “Action Event” featuring the Sixth Annual Ed Laboon Memorial for the Homak Manufacturing Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series for Sunoco Sportsman, plus Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, Miley Truck Rental Hobby Stocks, Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns, CruiseAmerica Open Fours, plus the Alternative Power Sources Allegheny Sprint Tour.

Saturday, June 10, 2017 – 410 Outlaw Winged Sprints plus Diehl Automotive Super Late Models, Precise Racing Products RUSH Late Models, Sunoco Sportsman, Miley Truck Rental Hobby Stocks, Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns, CruiseAmerica Open Fours.