John Stivason/Stivason Photos
Sarver, PA (August 25, 2017) Under picture perfect skies and with a rather large crowd in the stands, the Fab Four regular season came to an end on Friday night at Lernerville Speedway. The drivers on hand turned in some of the most memorable performances of the year. Which was evidenced by two features that were won at the end of the last corner of the last lap, a patient and brilliant performance by a driver who makes winning look effortless, and a familiar face that emerged in victory lane having held off a champion who has just finished writing his first championship story.
Carl Bowser picked the perfect time to make his final move in the People's Natural Gas DIRTcar Sprints, and that time was at the end of a thrilling main event that saw Gary Kriess come as close as a driver can to experiencing victory for the second time this season. Bowser made his way around Kriess on the high side in turn four on lap 25 en route to his second win of the season in as many weeks. AJ Flick turned up the wick on Friday night and was not at all appearing to be a driver protecting a modest points lead, but yet a driver that was racing to win as he came home on the podium once again, seizing his second Lernerville points championship in the process.
Alex Ferree found his way to Terry Bowser Excavating Victory Lane after seemingly putting the field well in his wake, the six time champion found himself holding off a strong charge from eventual track champion Michael Norris in the Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models. Ferree gave himself a memorable birthday present, taking his first feature victory of 2017 at Lernerville. Meanwhile, Mat Williamson once again proved that he was the class of the Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds by making his way through the field, and picking the precise moment to make a bid for the lead as he ran down and made his way around Jeremiah Shingledecker and Brian Swartzlander. Williamson took home his eighth feature win and fourth track championship, demonstrating his dominance over the weekly fields yet again.
And in the Millerstown Pic-A-Part DIRTcar/RUSH Pro Stocks, Joey Zambotti took a page out of Carl Bowser's book and found just enough momentum coming out of turn four on the final circuit to rocket past Tyler Dietz for his first win of 2017. Corey McPherson had already clinched his fifth track championship a week earlier and found the going rough as he made contact with Joe Kelley on the back stretch in the middle portion of the 20 lap feature and saw his night come to and end prematurely.
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (98) Carl Bowser, Sarver
2. (55) Gary Kreiss, Jr., Butler
3. (2) AJ Flick, Apollo
4. (40) George Hobaugh Jr. , Chicora
5. (4N) Jimmy Morris, Fowler, OH
6. (08) Dan Kuriger, New Brighton
7. (42) Sye Lynch, Apollo
8. (7K) Dan Shetler, Johnstown
9. (56) Ralph Spithaler, Evans City
10. (C1) Clay Riney, Wellsburg, WV
11. (23JR) Darin Gallagher, Butler
12. (76) Davey Jones, Warrendale
13. (23) Darren Pifer, Punxsutawney
14. (58) Joe Lockhart, Oil City
15. (44) Pete Landrum, Jeanette
16. (91) Sadie Siegel, Saxonburg
17. (4K) Bill Kiley, Cabot
18. (331) Nevan O’Donnell, Mars
19. (40X) Cory Good, Smicksburg
20. (23X) Catilin Chaffman, Freeport
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Models Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (10) Alex Ferree, Saxonburg
2. (72) Michael Norris, Sarver
3. (111) Matt Lux, Franklin
4. (C02) Mark Whitener, Middleburg, FL
5. (29) Ken Schaltenbrand, Sarver
6. (10L) Gary Lyle, Hyde Park
7. (4) Ed Ferree, Valencia
8. (81) Mike Miller, Chicora
9. (55) Chris Schneider, Springdale
10. (9) Clayton Kennedy, Mars
11. (1C) Mike Pegher Jr, Wexford
12. (91) Weston Phillis, Slippery Rock
DNS (77) Danny Huston, Natrona Heights
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Big Block Modified Feature: (25 Laps)
1. (6M) Mat Williamson, St. Catharines, ONT
2. (83) Brian Swartzlander, Leechburg
3. (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker, Polk
4. (4J) John Mollick, Toronto, OH
5. (29) Garrett Krummert, Slippery Rock
6. (61) Dave Murdick, Meridian
7. (64) Rodney Beltz, Ellwood City
8. (45) Steve Feder, Butler
9. (18) Colton Waters, Butler
10. (88) Shawn Fleeger, Butler
11. (27R) Dave Reges, Butler
12. (45F) Matt Feder, Cheswick
13. (82) Josh Deems, Volant
14. (29S) Steve Slater, Butler
15. (12W) Travis Walsh, Mars
16. (18D) Damon Doutt, Cabot
17. (83T) Tom Glenn, Barkeyville
18. (96) Mike Turner, Herman
19. (13) Rick Regalski, Slippery Rock
20. (75) Jeff Miller, Sarver
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Feature: (20 Laps)
1. (948) Joey Zambotti, Kittanning
2. (35) Tyler Dietz, Saxonburg
3. (31) Noah Brunell, New Alexandria
4. (32) Mark Sanders, Lowellville, OH
5. (30) Bob Egley, Kittanning
6. (25) Jason Fosnaught, Bairford
7. (11) Aaron Easler, Butler
8. (41) Collin Burke, Sarver
9. (10) John Hartman, Cabot
10. (22J) Chase Lambert, Mars
11. (29B) Scott Byers, Butler
12. (77) Heath Close, Pittsburgh
13. (26) Mike Bordt, Mars
14. (66) Joe Kelley, Mt. Pleasant
15. (C33) Corey McPherson, Tarentum
16. (3S) Chris Schneider, Springdale
17. (27) Brandon Wearing, Callery
18. (28Y) Terry Young, Butler
19. (310) Dale Tuche, Pittsburgh
DNS (35B) Jacob Dietz, Saxonburg
DQ (20J) Jim Fosnaught, Bairdford
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint B-Main:
1. (56) Ralph Spithaler, Evans City
2. (44) Pete Landrum, Jeanette
3. (91) Sadie Siegel, Saxonburg
4. (23X) Catilin Chaffman, Freeport
5. (331) Nevan O’Donnell, Mars
6. (31) Shamus O’Donnell, Valencia
DNS (4X) Rod George, Kittanning
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Heat 1:
1. (42) Sye Lynch, Apollo
2. (4N) Jimmy Morris, Fowler, OH
3. (C1) Clay Riney, Wellsburg, WV
4. (08) Dan Kuriger, New Brighton
5. (76) Davey Jones, Warrendale
6. (56) Ralph Spithaler, Evans City
7. (91) Sadie Siegel, Saxonburg
8. (31) Shamus O’Donnell, Valencia
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Heat 2:
1. (40X) Cory Good, Smicksburg
2. (2) AJ Flick, Apollo
3. (58) Joe Lockhart, Oil City
4. (23JR) Darin Gallagher, Butler
5. (4K) Bill Kiley, Cabot
6. (23X) Catilin Chaffman, Freeport
DNS (4X) Rod George, Kittanning
Peoples Natural Gas DIRTcar 410 Sprint Heat 3:
1. (98) Carl Bowser, Sarver
2. (40) George Hobaugh Jr. , Chicora
3. (55) Gary Kreiss, Jr., Butler
4. (7K) Dan Shetler, Johnstown
5. (23) Darren Pifer, Punxsutawney
6. (44) Pete Landrum, Jeanette
7. (331) Nevan O’Donnell, Mars
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Model Heat 1:
1. (72) Michael Norris, Sarver
2. (10) Alex Ferree, Saxonburg
3. (10L) Gary Lyle, Hyde Park
4. (29) Ken Schaltenbrand, Sarver
5. (81) Mike Miller, Chicora
6. (55) Chris Schneider, Springdale
DNS (77) Danny Huston, Natrona Heights
Precise Racing Products DIRTcar Late Model Heat 2:
1. (1C) Mike Pegher Jr, Wexford
2. (C02) Mark Whitener, Middleburg, FL
3. (111) Matt Lux, Franklin
4. (4) Ed Ferree, Valencia
5. (9) Clayton Kennedy, Mars
6. (91) Weston Phillis, Slippery Rock
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Big Block Modified Heat 1:
1. (83) Brian Swartzlander, Leechburg
2. (6M) Mat Williamson, St. Catharines, ONT
3. (96) Mike Turner, Herman
4. (61) Dave Murdick, Meridian
5. (83T) Tom Glenn, Barkeyville
6. (88) Shawn Fleeger, Butler
7. (29S) Steve Slater, Butler
8. (12W) Travis Walsh, Mars
9. (75) Jeff Miller, Sarver
DNS (64) Rodney Beltz, Ellwood City
Diehl Automotive DIRTcar Big Block Modified Heat 2:
1. (29) Garrett Krummert, Slippery Rock
2. (13) Rick Regalski, Slippery Rock
3. (4J) John Mollick, Toronto, OH
4. (37MD) Jeremiah Shingledecker, Polk
5. (45) Steve Feder, Butler
6. (18D) Damon Doutt, Cabot
7. (45F) Matt Feder, Cheswick
8. (27R) Dave Reges, Butler
9. (82) Josh Deems, Volant
10. (18) Colton Waters, Butler
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Heat 1:
1. (30) Bob Egley, Kittanning
2. (C33) Corey McPherson, Tarentum
3. (66) Joe Kelley, Mt. Pleasant
4. (11) Aaron Easler, Butler
5. (31) Noah Brunell, New Alexandria
6. (29B) Scott Byers, Butler
7. (32) Mark Sanders, Lowellville, OH
8. (10) John Hartman, Cabot
9. (77) Heath Close, Pittsburgh
DNS (20J) Jim Fosnaught, Bairdford
Millerstown Pic-A-Part RUSH/DIRTcar Pro Stocks Heat 2:
1. (948) Joey Zambotti, Kittanning
2. (35) Tyler Dietz, Saxonburg
3. (25) Jason Fosnaught, Bairford
4. (28Y) Terry Young, Butler
5. (20J) Jim Fosnaught, Bairdford
6. (22J) Chase Lambert, Mars
7. (3S) Chris Schneider, Springdale
8. (27) Brandon Wearing, Callery
9. (310) Dale Tuche, Pittsburgh
10. (41) Collin Burke, Sarver
11. (25) Jason Fosnaught, Bairford
12. (26) Mike Bordt, Mars
13. (35B) Jacob Dietz, Saxonburg
Car Count Total: 76
Peoples Natural Gas Sprints: 22
Precise Late Models: 13
Diehl Modifieds: 20
Pic-A-Part Pro Stocks: 21
