Mike Pegher Jr Easily Outdistanced A Stellar Field Of RUSH Late Models For First PPMS Win Of Season

BY STEVE SKARUPA
AUGUST 6, 2018
Imperial, PA

It was a beautiful summer night at Dirt’s Monster Half Mile for the second Diehl Automotive Rush Late Model Dirt Series Summer Sizzler in preparation for the Jook George Memorial next week. PPMS would run seven heat races, a six-lap dash, and five feature events. Mike Pegher Jr. (1C) picked up the win in the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series Summer Sizzler 25-lap feature. Adam Ferree (29) took the win in the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stocks inaugural 350 20-lap feature, while Greg Beach (33X) made it four in a row in the PPMS Pro Stock division. “The Dominator” Andy Garlinger picked up his eighth victory of the season in the Black Label Business Center Open 4’s 10-lap feature, and Susie Rudolph (55) made it four in a row in the Three Rivers Karting Young Guns 10-lap feature.

In the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series division, Ron Hall (01) set the fast time during qualifying with a time of 19.378. Garrett Paugh (03) from Elkins, West Virginia was a close second with a time of 19.480, a 0.102-second difference. In the 25-lap feature event, Hall (01) would start on the pole after winning the six-lap dash. To his outside and starting in second was Ben Policz (14B) from Rices Landing. Christian Schneider (1ST) from Burgettstown would start in third, and Nico Dabecco (F1) from Pittsburgh would start in fourth, making up the second row, while Paugh (03) started in fifth, and Russ Matejka (17M) started in sixth. When the green flag waved, the field didn’t even complete a lap before the first caution slowed the pace for the 42 of Matt Dobnak from West Mifflin when he spun out on the back-stretch. A complete restart would ensue, and Hall (01) would pull out to an early lead. By the third lap, seventh-starting Daryl Charlier (12C) had moved into fourth, and eighth-starting Pegher Jr. (1C) would follow him to fifth. The next lap saw the event’s second caution when Matejka (17M) fell off the pace on the front-stretch for an unknown issue, and Logan Zarin (1Z) hit him from behind. The restart had Hall (01) still leading, Paugh (03) in second, Charlier (12C) in third, Schneider (1ST) in fourth, and Pegher Jr. in fifth. When the green flag dropped, there would be more drama when the 1Z of Zarin drove through the door of Mike Reft (9R) putting him hard into the wall between turns three and four, destroying his car. Reft(9R) would walk away uninjured, but his car was totaled. Zarin (1Z) was sent to the back of the field by track officials for rough driving. Again, the restart would remain the same since a lap wasn’t completed on the last restart. By lap seven, Charlier (12C) moved into second behind Hall (01), while Pegher Jr. (1C) moved into fourth behind Paugh (03). With Hall (01) still leading on lap 12 and beginning to pick his way through lapped traffic, the caution would come out again for Jabo Jablonski (3J) from Carnegie when he hit the wall in turn three, and Charlier (12C) blew a tire, sending him hard into the wall in turn four at the same time. The restart had Hall (01) leading, Pegher Jr. (1C) now in second, Paugh (03) in third, Policz (14B) in fourth, Schneider (1ST) in fifth, and points-leader Justin Lamb (93X) from Findlay Township threatening from sixth. When the field returned to green, Pegher Jr. (1C) would make his move, taking the first spot from Hall (01). Lap 18 would see another caution when Schneider (1ST) blew a tire and stopped on the back-stretch. Pegher Jr. would choose the inside on the restart with Hall (01) in second, Paugh (03) in third, Policz (14B) in fourth, and Dan Angelicchio (14A in fifth. When the field returned to green Pegher Jr. (1C) would lead the remaining seven laps en route to his first PPMS victory of the season. He was followed to the line by Paugh (03) in second, Lamb (93X) in third, John Mollick (60M) in fourth, Policz (14B) in fifth, Angelicchio (14A) in sixth, Hall (01) in seventh, Dabecco (F1) in eighth, Chad Sines (15) in ninth, and Josh Stoica (22J) rounded out the top 10. Hall (01), Dabecco (F1), and Schneider (1ST) won the heat races.

In the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock inaugural 350 20-lap feature, Justin Shipley (47) from Portvue would start on the pole. The 39F of Tyler Fox would start to his outside in second. Making up the second row were Casey Grumling (77X) of Elrama in third, and Stephen Shelpman (17S) from Pleasant Hills in fourth, while the 29 of Adam Ferree from Jefferson Hills started in fifth, and Karlee Kovacs (221K) from Carnegie started in sixth. Fox (39F) would take an early lead until lap two when the caution came out for a car that spun out in turn two. On the restart Fox (39F) would lead the field, while Shipley (47) was in second, S. Shelpman (17S) was in third, and Grumling (77X) was in fourth. Lap two would see another caution when Fox (39F) spun out on the front-stretch while leading the field. Fox (39F) was forced to tag the field and when the green flag waved, S. Shelpman (17S) and Ferree (29) would drag race for the lead heading into turn one. Ferree (29) would have the lead at the line with S. Shelpman (17S) in tow. With Ferree (29) leading, lap six saw another caution for a car that hit the wall between turns one and two. Ferree (29) would choose the outside on the restart with S. Shelpman (17S) to his inside and in second, while Fox (39F) had made his way back up to third after his earlier spin-out. Lap seven would see yet another caution as Frank Fazio (1ST) would spinout for the second time. Fox (39F) would enter the pits as he had a tire rubbing. On the restart, Ferree (29) would lead the field to green with S. Shelpman (17S) in second, and Dave Sheriff (8) from Imperial in third. The field didn’t even make it to turn one before the caution was back out when Sheriff (8) blew a tire and took out Fazio (1ST), Matt Bernard (15B), and Randy DeBerdinis (121). The restart had seven cars remaining and when the green flag waved Ferree (29) would retain the lead with S. Shelpman (17S) right behind him in second. Ferree (29) started to make his way through lapped traffic by lap 14 and would cruise his way to victory lane. He was followed to the line by S. Shelpman (17S) in second, Grumling (77X) in third, Ben Anton (13) in fourth, E. Shelpman (17P) in fifth, Bernard (15B) in sixth, Marcus Simmons (68X) in seventh, Fox (39F) in eighth, Sheriff (8) in ninth, DeBerdinis (121) in tenth, Fazio (1ST) in eleventh, Kovacs (221K) in twelfth, and Shipley (47) rounded out the field in thirteenth. S. Shelpman (17S) and Grumling (77X) won the heat races.

In the PPMS Pro Stocks 15-lap feature, Todd Weldon (45) from Monongahela started on the pole. To his outside and starting second was Cam Kraisinger (47) from Mount Pleasant, while Jeff Broniszewski (08) from Coraopolis started in third, Dave McManus (114) from Elizabeth started in fourth, Jim Gumbaugh III (5) started in fifth, and A.J. Poljak (36) from Baldwin made up the top three rows. When the green flag dropped, track officials called a no-start and a complete restart would ensue. With a good start on the second attempt, Weldon (45) pulled out to an early lead, while seventh-starting Greg Beach (77X) from Chicora was already up to fourth. Lap two saw trouble when Poljak (36) hit the wall in turn four, bringing out the caution. Weldon (45) would choose the outside on the restart and when the field returned to green Broniszewski (08) would challenge him for the lead. They were side by side for an entire lap but Weldon (45) would retain the lead. Beach (33X) would take over second place on lap eight behind Weldon (45), and on the very next lap Beach (33X) would take over the lead. On the same lap, the caution came out for Broniszewski (08) who had an unknown issue. There were five laps to go with five cars remaining in the event. When the green flag dropped, Beach (33X) would retain the lead and cruise his way to his fourth victory in three weeks. He was followed to the line by Kraisinger (47) in second, Gumbaugh III (5) in third, Eric Piotrowski (7) in fourth, Mike Harris (18H) in fifth, Weldon (45) in sixth, Broniszewski (08) in seventh, Jake Hoelle (6) in eighth, Gary Koteles (64K) in ninth, McManus (114) in tenth, and Poljak (36) rounded out the eleven car field. Weldon (45) and Beach (33X) won the heat races.

In the Black Label Business Center Open 4’s 10-lap feature, Tom Anton (64) from Jefferson Hills was the pole-sitter. To his outside and starting in second was Mike Kelly (6K), while Josh Hollister (11) started in third, John Gill (19G) from Pittsburgh started in fourth, and Andy Garlinger (R88) from Hopedale, Ohio started in fifth and rounded out the field. When the green flag dropped, “The Dominator” Garlinger (R88) did just that and took the lead heading into turn one. Garlinger (R88) lead all 10 laps, en route to his eighth PPMS victory of the season. He was followed to the line by Kelly (6K) in second, T. Anton (64) in third, Hollister (11) in fourth, and Gill (19G) in fifth. The Open 4’s did not run a heat race.

Could Susie Rudolph (55) from Steubenville, Ohio make it four in a row in the Three Rivers Karting Young Guns 10-lap feature? Frank Magill (05) from Jefferson Hills started on the pole, while his brother Tony Magill (44) from Jefferson Hills started in second, and Rudolph (55) started in third. When the green flag dropped, Rudolph (55) took the lead on the first lap. She had the lead at the halfway point and would lead all 10 laps of the event, en route to her fourth PPMS win of the season and fourth win in a row. She was followed by F. Magill (05) in second, and T. Magill (44) in third. Young Guns did not run a heat race.

RESULTS

Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model feature 25-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, (car number) – hometown

1 – 8 – Mike Pegher Jr. (1C) – Wexford

2 – 5 – Garrett Paugh (03) – Elkins, WV

3 – 9 – Justin Lamb (93X) – Findlay Township

4 – 15 – John Mollick (60M) – Toronto, OH

5 – 2 – Ben Policz (14B) – Rices Landing

6 – 17 – Dan Angelicchio (14A)

7 – 1 – Ron Hall (01) – Pittsburgh

8 – 4 – Nico Dabecco (F1) – Pittsburgh

9 – 18 – Chad Sines (15) – Orwell, OH

10 – 14 – Josh Stoica (22J) – New Cumberland, WV

11 – 16 – Zachary Kane (10) – Washington

12 – 24 – Chuck Medved (2M) – Imperial

13 – 21 – Jabo Jablonski (3J) – Carnegie

14 – 28 – Corey McPherson (C33) – Leechburg

15 – 29 – Joey Zambotti (948) – Kitanning

16 – 3 – Christian Schneider (1ST) – Burgettstown

17 – 7 – Daryl Charlier (12C) – Midway

18 – 27 – Pete Wearing (111) – Evans City

19 – 10 – Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) – Dormont

20 – 13 – Mike Reft (9R) – Whitehall

21 – 20 – Logan Zarin (1Z) – Pittsburgh

22 – 22 – Bryan Hoffman (15H) – Imperial

23 – 25 – Jamie Wrightsman (21J)

24 – 6 – Russ Matejka (17M) – Hopewell

25 – 19 – Matt Dobnak (42) – West Mifflin

26 – 23 – Bill Kessler (09) – Freedom

27 – 26 – Chris Lander (18) – Burgettstown

DNS Cory Sines (9S)

Heat (1) 8-laps

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

1.) Nico Dabecco – F1 – [2]; 2.) Ron Hall – 01 – [1]; 3.) Daryl Charlier – 12C – [3]; 4.) Tommy Schirnhofer – 8S – [4]; 5.) John Mollick – 60M – [8]; 6.) Chad Sines – 15 – [7]; 7.) Jabo Jablonski – 3J – [5]; 8.) Chuck Medved – 2M – [9]; 9.) Pete Wearing – 111 – [6]; DNS Cory Sines – 9S –

Heat (2) 8-laps

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

1.) Garrett Paugh – 03 – [1]; 2.) Ben Policz – 14B – [2]; 3.) Mike Pegher Jr. – 1C – [3]; 4.) Mike Reft – 9R – [4]; 5.) Zachary Kane – 10 – [6]; 6.) Matt Dobnak – 42 – [5]; 7.) Bryan Hoffman – 15H – [7]; 8.) Jamie Wrightsman – 21J – [8]; 9.) Corey McPherson – C33 – [9];

Heat (3) 8-laps

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

1.) Christian Schneider – 1ST – [2]; 2.) Russ Matejka – 17M – [1]; 3.) Justin Lamb – 93X – [3]; 4.) Josh Stoica – 22J – [5]; 5.) Dan Angelicchio – 14A – [7]; 6.) Logan Zarin – 1Z – [4]; 7.) Bill Kessler – 09 – [6]; 8.) Chris Lander – 18 – [8]; 9.) Joey Zambotti – 948 – [9];

Qualifying

1 – Ron Hall (01) – 19.378

2 – Garrett Paugh (03) – 19.480

3 – Russ Matejka (17M) – 19.761

4 – Nico Dabecco (F1) – 19.834

5 – Ben Policz (14B) – 19.855

6 – Christian Schneider (1ST) – 19.861

7 – Daryl Charlier (12C) – 19.985

8 – Mike Pegher Jr. (1C) – 19.995

9 – Justin Lamb (93X) – 20.000

10 – Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) – 20.055

11 – Mike Reft (9R) – 20.079

12 – Logan Zarin (1Z) – 20.082

13 – Jabo Jablonski (3J) – 20.098

14 – Matt Dobnak (42) – 20.200

15 – Josh Stoica (22J) – 20.273

16 – Pete Wearing (111) – 20.364

17 – Zachary Kane (10) – 20.547

18 – Bill Kessler (09) – 20.557

19 – Chad Sines (15) – 20.635

20 – Bryan Hoffman (15H) – 20.641

21 – Dan Angelicchio (14A) – 20.645

22 – John Mollick (60M) – 20.652

23 – Jamie Wrightsman (21J) – 20.677

24 – Chris Lander (18) – 20.770

25 – Chuck Medved (2M) – 20.794

26 – Corey McPherson (C33) – 20.908

27 – Cory Sines (9S) – 23.984

28 – Joey Zambotti (948) – 0.000

Dash 6-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name (car number)

1 – 2 – Ron Hall (01)

2 – 1 – Ben Policz (14B)

3 – 3 – Christian Schneider (1ST)

4 – 6 – Nico Dabecco (F1)

5 – 4 – Garrett Paugh (03)

6 – 5 – Russ Matejka (17M)

Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock feature 20-laps

1 – 5 – Adam Ferree (29) – Jefferson Hills

2 – 4 – Stephen Shelpman (17S) – Pleasant Hills

3 – 3 – Casey Grumling (77X) – Elrama

4 – 12 – Ben Anton (13) – Jefferson Hills

5 – 13 – Ed Shelpman (17P) – Pleasant Hills

6 – 10 – Matt Bernard (15B) – Oakdale

7 – 11 – Marcus Simmons (68X)

8 – 2 – Tyler Fox (39F)

9 – 8 – Dave Sheriff (8) – Imperial

10 – 7 – Randy DeBerdinis (121)

11 – 9 – Frank Fazio (1ST)

12 – 6 – Karlee Kovacs (221K) – Carnegie

13 – 1 – Justin Shipley (47) – Portvue

Heat (1) 6-laps

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

1.) Casey Grumling – 77X – [2]; 2.) Tyler Fox – 39F – [6]; 3.) Adam Ferree – 29 – [4]; 4.) Randy DeBerdinis – 121 – [1]; 5.) Frank Fazio – 1ST – [3]; 6.) Marcus Simmons – 68X – [5]; DNS Ed Shelpman – 17P –

Heat (2) 6-laps

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

1.) Stephen Shelpman – 17S – [2]; 2.) Justin Shipley – 47 – [1]; 3.) Karlee Kovacs – 221K – [4]; 4.) Dave Sheriff – 8 – [3]; 5.) Matt Bernard – 15B – [6]; 6.) Ben Anton – 13 – [5];

Pro Stock feature 15-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, (car number) – hometown

1 – 7 – Greg Beach (33X) – Chicora

2 – 2 – Cam Kraisinger (47) – Mount Pleasant

3 – 5 – Jim Gumbaugh III (5)

4 – 9 – Eric Piotrowski (7) – Evans City

5 – 8 – Mike Harris (18H) – Bridgeville

6 – 1 – Todd Weldon (45) – Monongahela

7 – 3 – Jeff Broniszewski (08) – Coraopolis

8 – 10 – Jake Hoelle (6)

9 – 11 – Gary Koteles (64K)

10 – 4 – Dave McManus (114) – Elizabeth

11 – 6 – A.J. Poljak (36) – Baldwin

DNS Bill Robertson (1B) – Upper Saint Clair, DNS Nick Kocuba (10) – Bulger, DNS Shaun Nevbert (73) – Bellaire, OH

Heat (1) 8-laps

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

1.) Greg Beach – 33X – [3]; 2.) Jeff Broniszewski – 08 – [2]; 3.) Cam Kraisinger – 47 – [4]; 4.) Nick Kocuba – 10 – [1]; 5.) Mike Harris – 18H – [5]; 6.) Eric Piotrowski – 7 – [6]; 7.) Jake Hoelle – 6 – [7];

Heat (2) 8-laps

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

1.) Todd Weldon – 45 – [1]; 2.) Dave McManus – 114 – [3]; 3.) A.J. Poljak – 36 – [4]; 4.) Jim Gumbaugh III – 5 – [5]; 5.) Bill Robertson – 1B – [2]; 6.) Shawn Newbert – 73 – [6]; DNS Gary Koteles – 64K –

Black Label Business Center Open 4’s feature 10-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, (car number) – hometown

1 – 5 – Andy Garlinger (R88) – Hopedale, OH

2 – 2 – Mike Kelly (6K)

3 – 1 – Tom Anton (64) – Jefferson Hills

4 – 3 – Josh Hollister (11)

5 – 4 – John Gill (19G) – Pittsburgh

Open 4’s did not run a heat race

Three Rivers Karting Young Guns feature 10-laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name, (car number) – hometown

1 – 3 – Susie Rudolph (55) – Steubenville, OH

2 – 1 – Frank Magill (05) – Jefferson Hills

3 – 2 – Tony Magill (55) – Jefferson Hills

DNS Kyle Janus (88) – Coraopolis

Young Guns did not run a heat race

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