Hemminger Scores First Win Of The Year At Jennerstown Speedway

Popular veteran Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger became the fifth different winner this year, in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division of racing on Allied Milk Producers’ Night at the Races at Jennerstown Speedway Complex. Also celebrating in Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane on Saturday August 3rd, 2019 were: R.J. Dallape (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Casey Fleegle (Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stocks), and Andrew Pluta (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders). Two make up events from the June 29th rainout were contested before the regularly scheduled racing action began, won by: Zac Todaro (Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stocks) and Brent Bickerstaff (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders).

During the intermission break, six retired drivers were enshrined as part of the “Tri-Star Motors Jennerstown Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2019.” Cal Fry, Al Zuccolotto, Tommy Serokman, Butch Moyer, Dave Maggs, and West Anderson Reed are now immortalized on plaques, joining previous inductees on the Speedway’s wall of fame.

Lap one of the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models’ 30-lap feature race was a three car fight for the lead. Front row starters Todd Price and Rick Boyer were joined by Mike “Hollywood” Hemminger at the front of the field. Although he started in the fifth position, Hemminger reached the scoring line first, to officially lead the opening lap. Former Champion, Barry Awtey quickly advanced from his seventh place starting berth, into the runner up spot. On lap eight, a four car crash involved Price, Scott Stern, Boyer, and former Champion Mark Smith – all continued after the cleanup. Hemminger vaulted out to a lead of several car lengths on the restart over Awtey, as recent winner Zane Ferrell maintained the third position. Awtey, the all-time leading winner, closed the gap between himself and close friend Hemminger, creating an exciting duel at the head of the pack. The battle continued through the midpoint of the race, with Hemminger seeking his first win of the year. Two-time 2019 winner, Awtey, began to fade in the closing stages of the event. Teddy Gibala advanced into the second position, passing Awtey with just nine laps to go. Gibala, the point standings leader, then quickly gained ground on Hemminger. Hemminger’s lead evaporated to only one car-length over the final two laps, and Gibala was able to challenge for the victory. Although Hemminger officially led every lap, he thwarted both the early race attacks of Awtey, and the late race surge of Gibala, to turn his dismal season around and take the checkered flag. On the strength of multiple victories last year, Hemminger was a title contender throughout all of 2018, finishing a close second in the championship chase. But, the family-operated team has suffered catastrophic bad luck the entire duration of the 2019 season, including multiple collisions and mechanical failures. Still sore from a devastating crash four weeks prior, Hemminger climbed from his North Star Equipment/Jeffrey Carey & Associates/Chevy feeling as though “Lady Luck” had finally been defeated, as well five-time-winner Gibala, who placed a close second. Rookie Jarred Barclay earned his first “podium finish,” with an impressive late-race pass of Awtey. Barclay, a former Modified winner, has also earned multiple heat race wins as a Late Model freshman. Awtey and Ferrell completed the top five. Gibala and Hemminger won the heats.

Late race drama thrilled the fans during the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds’ 20-lap feature race. Adam Kostelnik took the early lead, with Pete Rech close behind. Kostelnik, perhaps the most successful Modified driver in the region throughout his career, held off Rech for the first eight laps of action. Meanwhile, R.J. Dallape was climbing from the middle of the pack into third place. On lap nine, Rech nearly spun after contact with Kostelnik, as the lead battle entered turn four. The next lap, Dallape took second place from Rech. On lap 14, more contact, as Dallape and Kostenik engaged in a brief, aggressive lead battle. Dallape immediately pulled away from Kostelnik, and led the final six laps, opening up a comfortable margin. Dallape started in the tenth position, yet still earned the victory. In the final turn of the final lap, defending Champion Anthony Aiello stole second place from off-track friend Kostelnik. Third through fifth in the final rundown were: Kostelnik, Rech, and former Champion Chris Brink. Dallape, a sophomore to the division after a winning 4-Cylinder career, has now won three straight events. Rech and Dallape and won the heat races.

The 20-lap Tunstall Auto & Truck Repair Street Stock makeup feature was completed without a caution flag. Second generation driver Zac Todaro scored his second career victory; which is also his second of 2019. Recent winner Jeremy Shaffer started from the pole position and led the first six laps. Heated action and position swapping occurred from the start of the event, to the finish, all throughout the field. Todaro wrestled the lead away from Shaffer and then kept Casey Fleegle in his rearview mirror to claim the win. Todaro started in fifth place and Fleegle started fourth. Shaffer, point standings leader Aaron Van Fleet – who started sixth, and defending Champion Josh Coughenour finished third through fifth. On the first attempt at a start in the regularly scheduled 20-lap feature race, the caution flag waved for a spin involving rookie Dan Jackson and Todaro. When the green flag waved a second time, veteran Rick Meehleib took the lead from Greg Burbidge on lap one. Fleegle, who started in seventh place, patiently advanced and showed that a conservative driving style can yield victory. Taking the lead on lap twelve, Fleegle claimed his division leading fifth win of 2019, while Meehleib placed second. Former Champion and sixth place starter, Andrew Kostelnik finished third, with Shaffer and Coughenour placing fourth and fifth, after both started deep in the field.

Former Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder Champion Brent Bickerstaff dominated the makeup 15-lap feature event. To earn his second win of the season, Bickerstaff withstood two restarts in the second half of the race. Leading from green to checkered flag, Bickerstaff extended his lead in the point standings. After starting in tenth place, Andrew Pluta earned second position at the finish. David Campbell finished third, defending Champion Evan Nibert drove from 13th starting spot to a fourth place finish, and Michael Saler was fifth. The second 15-lap feature race of the night began with a violent three car crash, in turn three, which negated the original start. Former winner Campbell, Dennis Shawley, and Jason Fulton, were all uninjured. Steve Settle, in his first visit of the year, led the first two laps, before Bickerstaff led one circuit. Nibert then took the top spot, and opened up a healthy advantage. Late in the race, Pluta chased down Nibert, and made the race an exciting one. With two laps to go, Pluta became the fourth and final leader of the event, earning his fifth win of the year – the leading total in the division. He started in seventh place. Nibert, Settle, Saler, and eleventh place starter Michael Strouse were the official top five finishers.

Next week is the biggest racing event in over 25 years, at Jennerstown Speedway: the Motor Mountain Masters. Friday, August 9th will be an evening practice session starting at 6pm, followed by a party at Racer’s Pub featuring a live performance by The Katelyn Rose Band at 9:30pm. Fans are admitted FREE for the on-track practice and party agenda on Friday. Saturday, August 10th, qualifying begins at 5pm with racing at 6pm for this crown-jewel, national caliber event. Race teams from all over the United States will converge on the Laurel Highlands to challenge the Jennerstown Speedway regional superstars for the prestigious title of “Masters Champion.” The feature event, presented by Arsenberger Trucking and sponsored by Dale Oxygen Inc., is 150-laps for Late Models. The Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds will compete in a 50-lap event with thousands of extra dollars in prize money on the line, thanks to www.StoystownAuto.com. The Farmers Union Co-Op Charger division will compete in a 35-lap contest. All three divisions will also battle in preliminary heat races. Advance Tickets and more information are available at www.jennerstown.org