THE PENN OHIO PRO STOCK CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ENDS THE RACE WEEKEND AT ERIEZ AND FINDS RUSTY MARTZ IN VICTORY LANE FOR THE $1,000 TO-WIN SHOW!
For Immediate Release
July 17, 2017 (Sandy Lake, PA) With forty-two stock cars competing on Friday night, officials expected about the same car count for Sunday’s event and were thrilled when forty-four cars showed up. It is apparent drivers are ready to race after so many rained out events and that was proven this weekend as many traveled over two hours for both events. Current Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series’ Point Leader and winner of the Ed Laboon Memorial event at PPMS back in June, Rusty Martz of Brookville, PA, parked his #16M SS Chassis in victory lane after leading the A Main 20-lap event from green to checker.
As Eriez does not run hot laps, many drivers pulled onto the track for the very first time to race an eight lap heat race. Five heat races had four drivers advancing to the A Main feature and the top two participating in the pill draw for starting position. Heat race winners were Rusty Martz #16M; Randy Wyant #11T; Pat Fielding #23; Don McGuire #630; and Chris McGuire #63.
Prior to running the two B Mains, drivers gave fans a thrill by participating in autograph night sponsored by Phantom Signs and Shirts. The front stretch from turn 1 to turn 4 was packed with cars in all divisions.
Once racing resumed after the autograph session, two drivers from each 10-lap B Main would advance to the A Main while the other twenty-four drivers would end their evening early. Winners of the B Mains were Friday night’s Raceway 7 Feature Winner, Bobby Whitling #7W, and Brad Church #40. Unlike Friday night at Raceway, no provisionals were granted and 24 cars would start the feature.
Leading the 24 car field to the green in the twenty lap feature were Martz and Brian Rhed’s #69R. Martz quickly jumped out front and although Garrett Calvert #77 and Paul Davis #3 slowed on the track at the start no caution flag was needed as they were able to exit to the infield and pits without incident. Nine laps without any cautions had leaders, Martz followed by Rhed, Bill Applebee #9, Rusty Moore #17M, and Randy Wyant #11T, catching the back of the field, but before leaders lapped anyone, Michael Reed spun in turn 4 right in front of Martz to bring out the yellow on lap 10.
A Delaware restart gave Martz breathing room over the fast pack of drivers. The restart benefited Wyant as he was able to pass Moore and Applebee for the third spot while Rhed held onto second. A second caution came out for Brandon Groters in turns 3 & 4 as he made his way from the twelfth spot to the sixth spot before spinning his #22 car. Under the yellow Curt Bish’s #29 retired to the pit area.
Racing would resume with Martz having the sole spot out front in another Delaware restart followed by Rhed, Wyant, Applebee and Bill Hurrelbrink’s #c8. The restart again had Wyant advancing taking over the second spot from Rhed. Chris McGuire #63 was also able to advance to the top five as he passed Hurrelbrink on the restart. Green lap racing would continue with door to door action from fourth back through the pack until the caution flag flew on lap 16 finding Jamie Duncan’s #67J and Jackson Humanic’s #17 exiting to the pits.
Again without feeling pressured for that top spot yet, Martz maintained control in a Delaware restart. Wyant had the choice of the inside or outside lane and although he used the inside lane to pass Rhed, he chose to restart on the outside with Rhed on the inside. The restart found Rhed using the inside to his advantage to take back the second spot. After one more lap in the books, the final caution would slow the racing action as many cars were involved in a mishap in turn 4 sending many drivers to the pits before completing the final three laps.
The last restart of the 20-lap event had Martz leading the remaining 15 cars back to green for 3 final laps. Martz maintained his smooth and consistent run to park his #16M in victory lane for the $1,000 win. Rhed held on for second, Wyant with another strong finish in third, Chris McGuire making his way to fourth, and Moore rounding out the top five with another consistent top five run. Crossing the checkers in sixth was Applebee, Hurrelbrink in seventh, Leigh Wheeler #717 in eighth, Pat Fielding #23 in ninth, and tenth went to hard-charger of the race, Tim Bish in #1B, advancing 10 positions.
Contingency prizes awarded went to: Rusty Martz #16M, Hoosier Tire from Precise Racing & Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic; Chris McGuire #63c, American Racer Tire from Lias Tire; Tim Bish #1B advancing 10 positions, $50 Hard Charger from Shaffer’s Auto & Exhaust; Nick Kocuba #10, $25 Certificate from Big Daddy’s Speed Center; Pat Fielding #23, $100 certificate Close Racing Products; Brian Rhed #69R, case of oil from Les Frickshun; Jacob Billyk #4, $75 certificate Genesis Shocks; Bill Hurrelbrink #c8, $50 certificate from Schoenfeld Headers; Fuzzy Fields #28, $25 certificate from ARbodies; Andy Buckley #965, $25 certificate from Big Daddy’s; Jeff Broniszewski #08, $25 certificate from Wedge Motorsports; Joe Stajnrajh Jr. #04, $25 gift card from Precise Racing Products; Paul Davis #3, fuel jug from Precise Racing Products; Randy Wyant #11T, wheel cover from Dirt Defender; Tim Bish #1B, Hood Scoop from Dirt Defender.
The next Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series event is this upcoming Saturday, July 22nd at Sharon Speedway. The event is Twin State Auto Club night and kids’ power wheels race.
For more information on the Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Championship Series contact Series Director, Shaun Hooks, at 724-730-1623, visit the website at www.pennohioprostock.com, or email info@pennohioprostocks.com. Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennohioprostocks.
Homak Penn Ohio Pro Stock Series, Eriez Speedway, July 16, 2017, finishing order: (1) *Rusty Martz #16M; (2) *Brian Rhed #69R ; (3) Randy Wyant #11T; (4) *Chris McGuire #63c; (5) *Rusty Moore #17M; (6) Bill Applebee #9; (7) *Bill Hurrelbrink #c8; (8) *Leigh Wheeler #717; (9) *Pat Fielding #23; (10) *Tim Bish #1B; (11) *Bobby Heim #92; (12) Michael Reed #34R; (13) John Boardman #777; (14) Eric McCray #32; (15) *Bobby Whitling #7W; (16) Brad Church #40; (17) Brandon Groters #22; (18) *Andy Buckley #965; (19) Jamie Duncan #67J; (20) *Jackson Humanic #17; (21) Curtis Bish #29; (22) Don McGuire #630; (23) *Paul Davis #3; (24) Garrett Calvert #77; DNS-Darrin Waldron #97; *Russ Byler #06R; Brent Crandall #73; *Ryan Newman #12; *Jeff Broniszewski #08; Brian Crandall #24c; *Gary Fisher #99F; *Curt Bish #00; Wesley McCray #32JR; *Rod Laskey #1R; *Fuzzy Fields #28; Tyler Dynys #3D; Bill Best #14B; *Jacob Billyk #4; *Joe Stajnrajh Jr. #04; *Nick Kocuba #10; *Tim Deutsch #20; Darr Diegelman #15D; *Sonny Baker #94B; Jimmy Kennerknecht #18K
