PPMS Results 8-9-2014

After a rainy July, dirt track racing at its finest was back in action at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on August 9, with Lynn Geisler earning his 75th career win in the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model division at PPMS. The night also showcased the PENN Ohio Pro Stock Series Showdown and had Brookeville, PA’s Rusty Martz taking the checkered flag in the Sunoco Race Fuels Sportsman class. Russ Kolesar claimed his first win of the season in the Precise Racing Products Rush Late Models feature. Steve Pyeritz and Karlee Kovacs were repeat winners in the Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stocks and Imperial Heights Garage Young Gun features, and Colton Flinner, pulling triple duty during the night, won the ¾ Late Model event. Finishing off the night was a special race featuring Vintage Mods, with Gary Haupt earning the win.

Taking the top spot in his heat, Dirt Track Hall of Fame driver Lynn Geisler took over the lead on lap 2 of the Diehl of Robinson Super Late Model feature and maintained the position to cruise on to his 75th career win at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. Imperial’s Mike Johnson had a solid race and finished behind Geisler. South Park’s Keith Barbara had a strong car but was forced to leave the feature after drawing the caution flag for a race limit three times. Rounding out the top 5 were John Mollick, Alex Ferree and Ben Miley.

Daryl Charlier and Josh Holtgraver each claimed the top spot in the Precise Racing Products Rush Late Model heats. The feature had Pittsburgh’s Nico DaBecco starting on the pole position and Chuck Medved in the second spot. After the green flag dropped, DaBecco was able to hold onto the lead until lap 11, when he was passed by West Mifflin’s Russ Kolesar. Kolesar was able to hold on for the win. Charlier, Holtgraver, DaBecco and Colton Flinner claimed the remaining top 5 spots.

The showcase event of the night featured some of the area’s top Sportsman division drivers in the PENN Ohio Pro Stock Series Showdown. The top speed qualifier was Brookville’s Rusty Martz, who ran the fastest lap in 21.839 seconds, which is just a little faster than 103 mph. The four heat winners were Chris Schneider, Rod Laskey, Jeff Miller and Martz. Thirty-three drivers started the main event, with Martz and Shawn Fawcett in the top spots. Martz led every lap and took the checkered flag. After a number of cautions toward the end of the race, the field settled down and saw Jeff Broniszewski, Curt Bish, Shane Applebee and Pat Weldon finish behind the leader.

Steve Pyeritz of Brentwood adding to his feature wins this season in the Miley BP Car Wash Hobby Stock feature, and Carnegie’s 16 year old Karlee Kovacs won her third in a row in the Imperial Heights Garage Young Gun main event.

Colton Flinner, pulling triple driving duty the evening – driving also in the Super Late and Rush Late Model features – won the ¾ Late Model division race.

The last event of the evening showcased a 12 lap Vintage Mods main event. Ten cars started the feature, and on the second lap Gary Haupt took the lead in his AMC Gremlin and held on for the win. The first heat saw Kevin “Marbles” Mohney in a 1953 Nash Metropolitan finishing first and the second heat had Al Harju earning the top spot.