Carl Bowser Picks Up First PPMS Win Of The Season

BY STEVE SKARUPA
AUGUST 27, 2018
Imperial, PA

It was a great night of racing at Dirt’s Monster Half Mile for Colussy Chevrolet night, headlined by the Outlaw Winged 410 Sprints, and the RUSH Sprint Car Series. PPMS would see qualifying, 10 heat races, a four-lap dash, and seven feature races. Carl Bowser (11) from Cabot picked up the Outlaw 410 Sprint Car feature win, while Chad Ruhlman (87R) from Bemus Point, New York picked up the win in the RUSH Sprint Car Series feature event. Nico Dabecco (F1) from Bethel Park took the win in the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series feature, while Greg Beach (33X) from Chicora made it six in a row with another win in the Pro Stock class. Stephen Shelpman (17S) from Pleasant Hills made it two in a row and seven wins on the season in the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock class, while Andy Garlinger (R88) from Hopedale, Ohio picked up win number nine in the Open Four-Cylinder class and Frank Magill (05) from Jefferson Hills took the win in the Three Rivers Karting Young Guns division.

Dale Blaney (4N) from Hartford, Ohio was the fast qualifier for the Outlaw Winged 410 Sprints with a time of 16.030 and Brandon Matus (13) from Wampum was a close second with a time of 16.298, a 0.268-second difference. In the four-lap dash, Blaney (4N) would start on the pole with Matus (13) to his outside. Jack Sodeman Jr. (23JR) from North Jackson, Ohio would start in third in the dash and Bowser (11) would start in fourth. Blaney (4N) would lead all four laps of the dash ensuring him the pole position in the 25-lap feature event with Bowser (11) starting in second, Matus (13) starting in third, and Sodeman Jr. (23JR) starting in fourth. When the green flag dropped, Blaney (4N) would retain an early lead. On lap six Sodeman Jr. (23JR) would steal the third spot from Matus (13) knocking him back to fourth. Lap seven saw the event’s first caution when the 250 of Jared McFarland hit the wall between turns three and four. Blaney (4N) would lead the field on the restart with Bowser (11) in second, Sodeman Jr. (23JR) in third, Matus (13) in fourth, and Max Stambaugh (5M) in fifth. Bowser (11) would make his move on lap nine taking the lead from Blaney (4N), while lap 11 saw another caution when the 76 of David Jones had trouble in turns one and two. Bowser (11) would lead the field on the restart and retain the lead, while Matus (13) had car trouble on the backstretch and fell off the pace. He eventually went to the pits and never returned to the race. Bowser (11) would begin to make his way through lapped traffic by lap 18 and lead the remaining seven laps, picking up his first PPMS win of the season. He was followed to the line by Sodeman Jr. (23JR) in second, George Hobaugh (40) in third, Blaney (4N) in fourth, Stambaugh (5M) in fifth, John Garvin (51) in sixth, Gary Kriess Jr. (55) in seventh, Brent Matus (33) in eighth, Rick Holley (86) in ninth, and Leyton Wagner (38) finished out the top ten. Heat race winners were Blaney (4N) and McFarland (250).

In the RUSH Sprint Car 15-lap feature, David Hawkins (27D) from Lower Burrell would start on the pole with Zach Morrow (27M) from Gibsonia to his outside and starting in second. Gale Ruth Jr. (1C) from Pleasantville started in third and Brian Ruhlman (49) started in fourth rounding out the top two rows. When the green flag dropped, Morrow (27M) would take an early lead with Ruhlman (49) following him into second place. The middle of the event had Morrow (27M) still leading, Ruth Jr. (1C) in second, and Chad Ruhlman (87R) was now threatening from third place. Lap 10 saw the event’s only caution when three cars got together in turns one and two. Morrow (27M) would lead the field on the restart but after starting seventh, Ruhlman (87R) would take the lead from Morrow (27M) with three laps to go and pick up his second PPMS victory of the season. He was followed by Morrow (27M) in second, B. Ruhlman (49) in third, Ruth Jr. (1C) in fourth, Shawn Smith (36) in fifth, Arnie Kent (18) in sixth, Brandon Hawkins (27H) in seventh, Steve Pedley (21) in eighth, Bradley Blackshear (19) in ninth, and David Hawkins (27D) rounded out the top 10. Heat race winners were Morrow (27M) and Ruth Jr. (1C).

In the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series 20-lap feature, John Mollick (60M) from Toronto, Ohio would start on the pole, while Dabecco (F1) would start to his outside in second place. Bryan Hoffman (15H) from Imperial would start in third and Josh Stoica (22J) from New Cumberland, West Virginia would start in fourth. When the green flag waved, Dabecco (F1) would pull out to an early lead with the 1ST of Christian Schneider following him into second on lap three. Dabecco (F1) began to pick his way through lapped traffic on lap seven and then on lap 12, the yellow came out for Schneider (1ST) who had a broken driveshaft. On the restart, Dabecco (F1) would choose the outside with points leader Justin Lamb (93X) to his inside in second place. Dabecco (F1) would begin to pull away from the field again when another caution slowed the pace for the 18 of Chris Lander who spun out between turns one and two. Dabecco (F1) would again choose the outside on the restart and would lead the remaining six laps of the event, picking up his first PPMS win of the season. He was followed by Lamb (93X) in second, Logan Zarin (1Z) in third, Russ Matejka (17M) in fourth, Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) in fifth, Mollick (60m) in sixth, Matt Dobnak (42) in seventh, Hoffman (15H) in eighth, Stoica (22J) in ninth, and Brian Goebel (12G) in tenth. Heat race winners were Schirnhofer (8S) and Dabecco (F1).

In the PPMS Pro Stocks 15-lap feature, Ryan Moyer (13X) from Portersville would start on the pole. To his outside in second was Danny Rich (67X) from Imperial. A.J. Poljak (36) and Dave McManus (114) would start in third and fourth respectively, while Greg Beach (33X) was forced to start last because of his five wins in a row. When the field came to the green, McManus (114) would take the early lead, while Beach (33X) was already up to sixth place after starting twelfth by the second lap and then Beach (33X) would take the fifth spot on the next lap. Lap four saw the caution for the 36 of Poljak when he hit the wall entering turn one. McManus (114) would lead the field on the restart with Rich (67X) in tow, while Beach (33X) was now up to third place. With 11 laps to go Rich (67X) had an awesome restart but McManus (114) would retain the lead until lap seven when he got loose coming off of turn four which allowed Rich (67X) and Beach (33X) to shoot past him. Beach (33X) would take the lead on lap 8 and wouldn’t look back picking up his sixth win in a row. He was followed to the line by Rich (67X) in second, McManus (114) in third, Moyer (13X) in fourth, Nick Kocuba (10) in fifth, Eric Piotrowski (7) in sixth, Bill Slade (A22) in seventh, Mike Harris (18H) in eighth, Poljak (36) in ninth, and Drew Koteles (64K) in tenth. Beach (33X) and RIch (67X) were the heat race winners.

In the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock 12-lap feature, Karlee Kovacs (221K) from Carnegie would start on the pole. To her outside in second was Adam Ferree (29) from Jefferson Hills. Ben Anton (13) from Jefferson Hills would start in third and Randy DeBerdinis (121) would start in fourth. When the green flag waved, Ferree (29) would take the lead by lap two. By lap three, seventh-starting Stephen Shelpman (17S) from Pleasant Hills had already moved into second place. Shelpman (17S) would take the lead on lap four with Ferree (29) now in second until lap five when the yellow came out for Ferree (29). Shelpman (17S) would lead the field on the restart with Kovacs (221K) in second. Tyler Fox (39F) in third, and Casey Grumling (77X) in fourth. When the field returned to green, Shelpman (17S) would retain the lead with Grumling (77X) now behind him in second. Shelpman (17S) would lead the remaining six laps en route to his seventh PPMS win of the season. He was followed to the line by Fox (39F) in second, Grumling (77X) in third, Kovacs (221K) in fourth, Marcus Simmons (68X) in fifth, Kayla McManus (14) in sixth, DeBerdinis (121) in seventh, Matt Bernard (15) in eighth, Ben Anton (13) in ninth, and Ed Shelpman (17P) in tenth. Fox (39F) was DQed in post-race tech which moves everyone below him up one finishing spot. Heat race winners were Ferree (29) and S. Shelpman (17S).

In the Open four-cylinder eight-lap feature, Tom Anton (64) from Jefferson Hills started on the pole and Andy Garlinger (R88) from Hopedale, Ohio started in second. When the green flag dropped, Garlinger (R88) had taken over the lead by turn one. Garlinger (R88) led all eight laps of the event, en route to his ninth win of the season. He was followed to the line by T. Anton (64). Open 4’s did not run a heat race.

In the Three Rivers Karting Young Guns eight-lap feature, Frank Magill (05) from Jefferson Hills would start on the pole. To his outside and starting in second was Kyle Janus (88) from Coraopolis, while Tony Magill (44) from Jefferson Hills started in third and Susie Rudolph (55) from Steubenville, Ohio started in the fourth and final spot. When the green flag waved, F. Magill (05) retained the lead and Rudolph (55) moved behind him in second place. F. Magill (05) would lead all eight laps of the event with Rudolph (55) in tow in second place, while Janus (88) finished third, and T. Magill (44) finished fourth.

RESULTS

Outlaw 410 Sprints feature 25-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, car number, hometown

1 – 2 – Carl Bowser (11) – Cabot

2 – 4 – Jack Sodeman Jr. (23JR) – North Jackson, OH

3 – 7 – George Hobaugh (40) – Chicora

4 – 1 – Dale Blaney (4N) – Hartford, OH

5 – 6 – Max Stambaugh (5M)

6 – 5 – John Garvin (51) – Sarver

7 – 10 – Gary Kriess Jr. (55) – Butler

8 – 12 – Brent Matus (33) – Wampum

9 – 16 – Rick Holly (86)

10 – 14 – Leyton Wagner (38) – Enon Valley

11 – 15 – Gale Ruth Sr. (1R) – Pleasantville

12 – 13 – David Jones (76) – Warrendale

13 – 3 – Brandon Matus (13) – Wampum

14 – 18 – Geral Harrhogan (23C)

15 – 9 – Sye Lynch (42) Apollo

16 – 8 – Dan Kuriger (08) – New Brighton

17 – 11 – Jared McFarland (250)

18 – 17 – Mike Lutz Jr.

Qualifying 410 Sprints

1 – Dale Blaney (4N) – 16.030

2 – Brandon Matus (13) – 16.298

3 – Jack Sodeman Jr. (23JR) – 16.410

4 – Carl Bowser (11) – 16.457

5 – Dan Kuriger (08) – 16.596

6 – John Garvin (51) – 16.640

7 – Sye Lynch (42) – 16.662

8 – Max Stambaugh (5M) – 16.799

9 – Gary Kriess Jr. (55) – 16.898

10 – George Hobaugh (40) – 16.916

11 – Jared McFarland (250) – 17.602

12 – Darren Pifer (23) – 17.275

13 – David Jones (76) – 17.641

14 – Brent Matus (33) – 17.777

15 – Rick Holley (86) – 18.345

16 – Gale Ruth Sr. (1R) – 19.349

17 – Leyton Wagner (38) – 19.553

18 – Mike Lutz Jr. (86L) – 21.364

19 – Gerald Harrhogan (23C) – 21.937

Dash 410 Sprints 4-laps

1 – 1 – Dale Blaney (4N)

2 – 4 – Carl Bowser (11)

3 – 2 – Brandon Matus (13)

4 – 3 – Jack Sodeman Jr. (23JR)

Heat 1 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Dale Blaney – 4N – [1]; 2.) Brandon Matus – 13 – [2]; 3.) Jack Sodeman Jr. – 23JR – [3]; 4.) Carl Bowser – 11 – [4]; 5.) John Garvin – 51 – [6]; 6.) Max Stambaugh – 5M – [8]; 7.) George Hobaugh – 40 – [10]; 8.) Dan Kuriger – 08 – [5]; 9.) Sye Lynch – 42 – [7]; 10.) Gary Kriess Jr. – 55 – [9];

Heat 2 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Jared McFarland – 250 – [1]; 2.) Brent Matus – 33 – [4]; 3.) David Jones – 76 – [3]; 4.) Leyton Wagner – 38 – [7]; 5.) Gale Ruth Sr. – 1C – [6]; 6.) Darren Pifer – 23 – [9]; 7.) Rick Holley – 86 – [5]; 8.) Mike Lutz Jr. – 86L – [8]; 9.) Gerald Harrhogan – 23C – [2];

RUSH Sprints feature 15-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, car number, hometown

1 – 7 – Chad Ruhlman (87R) – Bemus Point, NY

2 – 2 – Zach Morrow (27M) – Gibsonia

3 – 4 – Brian Ruhlman (49) – Bemus Point, NY

4 – 3 – Gale Ruth Jr. (1C) – Pleasantville

5 – 5 – Shawn Smith (36) – Seneca

6 – 9 – Arnie Kent (18) – New Castle

7 – 11 – Brandon Hawkins – Vandergrift

8 – 13 – Steve Pedley (21)

9 – 6 – Bradley Blackshear (19) Brookfield, OH

10 – 1 – David Hawkins (27D) – Lower Burrell

11 – 8 – Steve Cousins (56) – Eldred

12 – 10 – Tyler Powell (25) – Cochranton

13 – 12 – Scott Hawkins – Sarver

Heat 1 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Zach Morrow – 27M – [1]; 2.) Bradley Blackshear – 19 – [2]; 3.) Brian Ruhlman – 49 – [4]; 4.) Chad Ruhlman – 87R – [7]; 5.) Arnie Kent – 18 – [5]; 6.) Brandon Hawkins – 27H – [6]; 7.) Steve Pedley – 21 – [3];

Heat 2 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Gale Ruth Jr. – 1C – [2]; 2.) Shawn Smith – 36 – [1]; 3.) David Hawkins – 27D – [5]; 4.) Steve Cousins – 56 – [6]; 5.) Tyler Powell – 35 – [4]; 6.) Scott Hawkins – 37 – [3];

RUSH Late Model feature 20-laps

1 – 2 – Nico Dabecco (F1) – Bethel Park

2 – 5 – Justin Lamb (93X) – Findlay Township

3 – 8 – Logan Zarin (1Z) – Moon

4 – 10 – Russ Matejka (17M) – Hopewell

5 – 7 – Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) – Dormont

6 – 1 – John Mollick (60M) – Toronto, OH

7 – 9 – Matt Dobnak (42) – West Mifflin

8 – 3 – Bryan Hoffman (15H) – Imperial

9 – 4 – Josh Stoica (22J) – New Cumberland, WV

10 – 11 – Brian Goebel (12G) – Beaver Falls

11 – 12 – Chris Lander (18) – Burgettstown

12 – 6 – Christian Schneider (1ST) – Pittsburgh

DNS Ben Policz (14B) – Rices Landing

Heat 1 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Tommy Schirnhofer – 8S – [2]; 2.) Justin Lamb – 93X – [6]; 3.) Bryan Hoffman – 15H – [4]; 4.) Josh Stoica – 22J – [5]; 5.) Logan Zarin – 1Z – [7}; 6.) Russ Matejka – 17M – [3]; 7.) Chris Lander – 18 – [1];

Heat 2 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Nico Dabecco – F1 – [1]; 2.) Christian Schneider – 1ST – [3]; 3.) John Mollick – 60M – [5]; 4.) Ben Policz – 14B – [4]; 5.) Matt Dobnak – 42 – [6]; 6.) Brian Goebel – 12G – [2];

Pro Stocks feature 15-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, car number, hometown

1 – 13 – Greg Beach (33X) – Chicora

2 – 2 – Danny Rich (67X) – Imperial

3 – 4 – Dave McManus (114) – Elizabeth

4 – 1 – Ryan Moyer (13X) – Portersville

5 – 5 – Nick Kocuba (10) – Bulger

6 – 7 – Eric Piotrowski (7) – Evans City

7 – 11 – Bill Slade (A22)

8 – 8 – Mike Harris (18H) – Bridgeville

9 – 3 – A.J. Poljak (36) – Baldwin

10 – 6 – Drew Koteles (64K)

11 – 12 – Jeff Broniszewski (08) – Coraopolis

12 – 9 – Shawn Newbert (73)

13 – 10 – John Dotten (88)

Heat 1 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Greg Beach – 33X – [3]; 2.) Dave McManus – 114 – [1]; 3.) Nick Kocuba – 10 – [5]; 4.) Drew Koteles – 64K – [4]; 5.) Mike Harris – 18H – [2]; 6.) John Dotten – 88 – [6];

Heat 2 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Danny Rich – 67X – [4]; 2.) A.J. Poljak – 36 – [1]; 3.) Ryan Moyer – 13X – [2]; 4.) Eric Piotrowski – 7 – [5]; 5.) Shawn Newbert – 73 – [6]; 6.) Bill Slade – A22 – [3];

Hobby Stock feature 12-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, car number, hometown

1 – 7 – Stephen Shelpman (17S) – Pleasant Hills

2 – 6 – Casey Grumling (77X) – Elrama

3 – 1 – Karlee Kovacs (221K)

4 – 11 – Marcus Simmons (68X)

5 – 9 – Kayla McManus (14) – Elizabeth

6 – 4 – Randy DeBerdinis (121)

7 – 10 – Matt Bernard (15) – Oakdale

8 – 3 – Ben Anton (13) – Jefferson Hills

9 – 12 – Ed Shelpman (17P) – Pleasant Hills

10 – 13 – Andrew Sutton (16A)

11 – 2 – Adam Ferree (29) – Jefferson Hills

12 – 5 – Dave Sheriff (8) – Imperial

DQed Tyler Fox (39F) started 8th, disqualified at post race tech

Heat 1 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Stephen Shelpman – 17S – [5]; 2.) Casey Grumling – 77X – [1]; 3.) Tyler Fox – 39F – [7]; 4.) Karlee Kovacs – 221K – [2]; 5.) Kayla McManus – 14 – [3]; 6.) Marcus Simmons – 68X – [4]; 7.) Andrew Sutton – 16A – [6];

Heat 2 (8)-laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number, [starting spot]

1.) Adam Ferree – 29 – [1]; 2.) Randy DeBerdinis – 121 – [2]; 3.) Ben Anton – 13 – [3]; 4.) Dave Sheriff – 8 – [5]; 5.) Matt Bernard – 15B – [6]; 6.) Ed Shelpman – 17P – [4];

Open 4s feature 8-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, car number, hometown

1 – 2 – Andy Garlinger (R88) – Hopedale, OH

2 – 1 – Tom Anton (64) – Jefferson Hills

Open 4’s did not run a heat race

Young Guns feature 8-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, car number, hometown

1 – 1 – Frank Magill (05) – Jefferson Hills

2 – 4 – Susie Rudolph (55) – Steubenville, OH

3 – 2 – Kyle Janus (88) – Coraopolis

4 – 3 – Tony Magill (44) – Jefferson Hills

Young Guns did not run a heat race

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