Jared Miley, Rich Michael Jr., Jim Fosnaught and Adam Hilton Stand Victorious
Sarver, PA (July 20, 2014) While the Elite 8 Late Model Series didn’t bring in more than a handful of series touring drivers, it did reel in some elite regional drivers, (namely Davey Johnson, Gregg Satterlee, Dave Hess Jr. and Max Blair), and put a $3,000 check into the hands of one of our local driver as Jared Miley bested the 20-car field. Rich Michael Jr. took the checkered flag in the $1,500-to-win Renegades of Dirt Modified Feature. Jim Fosnaught recorded his fourth win of the season in the Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman and Adam Hilton won his second Rush Sportsman Modified feature of the season in three events at the Action Track.
Just three weeks ago, Jared Miley’s #H1 Rocket Chassis was practically destroyed during Firecracker weekend, but after some repairs and a new body, it was truly a rocket ship Friday Night as Miley ran down Defending Track Champion and current Budweiser Points leader Alex Ferree to secure the $3,000 winner’s share of the Elite 8 Late Model feature purse. After chasing Ferree for 13 laps, Miley used a great restart to briefly take the lead on lap 14 only to see Ferree drive past the following lap. But on lap 21, Miley slid under Ferree in turns three and four to take the lead at the flagstand just before the final caution slowed the race. On the final restart, Miley jumped out to the quick lead once again while Davey Johnson challenged Ferree for second which allowed Miley to roll into Sheetz Victory Lane for his second win of the season and 21st of his career; oddly enough tying Alex’s father Ed Ferree for eighth all time in the division.
Davey Johnson passed Alex Ferree late in the race for second. Behind Ferree in third were Mike Pegher Jr. in fourth and John Garvin Jr. in fifth. Last week’s feature winner Michael Norris scratched from his heat race after issues in hot laps, but rallied to a sixth place finish from the tail of the field. Brian Swartzlander ran a solid race to finish seventh ahead of Gary Lyle, Brandon Wearing and Jordan Eck who was making his Lernerville debut in a Super Late Model. Dan Angelicchio and John Garvin Jr. scored heat race wins earlier in the evening. Gregg Satterlee flipped the Force #31 in the race, while Northern Tier invaders Dave Hess Jr. and Max Blair were scored as DNF; each rolled pit-side mid-race.
After a four-wide salute to the fans, the Renegades of Dirt Modifids put on one heck of a show with a deep and talented field of UMP style Modifieds. Jacob Hawkins, better known at Lernerville for racing Late Models, jumped out to the early lead, but a hard charging Rich Michael Jr. got past Tyler Nicely and Jonathan Taylor for second by lap three and began his pursuit of Hawkins. Michael really began reeling him in on lap nine and passed him for the lead on lap 11. Once out front, Michaels quickly pulled away and deftly navigated lapped traffic to secure a $1,500 victory in the Lernerville debut of the Renegades of Dirt Modifieds.
Hawkins held on to finish second ahead of Chris Basich, Steve Dixon and Evan Taylor. Renegades point leader Kyle Strickler came from 14th on the grid after winning the B-Main to finish sixth ahead of Shane Crotty, Travis Dickson, Tyler Nicely and Jonathan Taylor. Hawkins, Nicely and Michael won their respective heat races.
Jim Fosnaught’s dream season continues as he worked the bottom of the Action Track to perfection and came from 12th on the grid to score his fourth Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar Sportsman feature of the season. To do so, he had to pass All Time division wins leader Joe Kelley; not once, but twice. After passing 10 guys locked down on the bottom of both sets of turns, Fosnaught thought he took the lead on lap nine by passing Kelley low in turns three & four, but a caution for Eric Piotrowski nullified the pass. Worse yet, the pass showed Kelley the faster way around the Action Track and the seasoned veteran used that to his advantage and took the line away on the restart to hold him off for a few more laps. Unfortunately for Kelley, his car simply didn’t hug the bottom like Fosnaught’s did and Jimmy eventually got back underneath and past him. Once out front, Fosnaught would not be denied another Bairdford celebration in Sheetz Victory Lane.
Kelley would have to settle for his best finish of the season in second and getting ever closer to his first win of the season. Speaking of getting ever closer, Aaron Easler finished on the podium for the second straight week as well, swapping positions with Kelley from last week. Terry Young and Pat Hanley rounded out the top five ahead of Mike Miller, Corey McPherson, Paul Schreckengost, Mark Sanders and Rob Shook. Shook appeared to be on his way to another top five finish, but spun in turn two early in the race with a flat left rear tire surrendering third place and being sent to the tail after a quick change in the pits. McPherson and Fosnaught continued their heat race success; scoring their seventh and fourth heat race wins respectively.
The third round of the Rush Sportsman Modified Series ended the same as their debut . . . with Adam Hilton standing victorious in Sheetz Victory Lane. Starting third, Hilton was in the lead by the time they hit the back straightaway on the first lap and was never seriously challenged on the way to his second Lernerville feature win and his fourth Rush win. Rockey Kugel ran a strong race to finish second and might have given Hilton a run for his money had the race been another five to ten laps. Jeremy Paup was third ahead of Jamie Duncan, Jeremy Zufall, Will Schaffer and Chelsie Kriegisch. Kugel won the only Rush heat race.
Fab Four Racing returns next Friday with the first of five races to the 2014 Budweiser Track Championships. Carl Bowser, Alex Ferree, Rex King Jr. and Jim Fosnaught enter the five week frenzy with the lead in their respective divisions, while Brandon Matus, Russell King, Rex King Sr., Dave Murdick, Corey McPherson and Rob Shook all still have serious and legitimate title aspirations. In the midst of this title run, however, we’ll also make time on Tuesday, July 29 to put our “biggest” fans on the track to compete during the “Summer Vacation” School Bus and Kids Bike Races. Dozens, even hundreds, of our youngest but most important fans will strap on helmets, put two wheels on the track they watch their favorite drivers race on every week and pedal to childhood glory! “Summer Vacation” Night will also include Trailer Races and the first Enduro 100 of the season.
Contact: Lernerville Speedway
Eric J. Westendorf, Public Relations Director
(724) 664-1075 / ewestendorf@dirtcar.com
Photos Courtesy of John Stivason/Stivason Photos
