Greensburg PA's Davey Johnson picked up his second DIRTcar Super Late Model feature of 2009 Saturday night in a non-stop event. A rare straight up start saw heat winners Davey Johnson and Al Atallah bring the field down for the start. Johnson grabbed the lead at the start, with Keith Barbara, Atallah and Tommy Beck trailing. Johnson began to open up a bit of a lead, while Beck got by Atallah for third and Mike Basich moved into fifth. By lap 7 Beck moved into second, and began to close in on Johnson. Meanwhile 8th Starting Steve Baker moved into fourth and 17th starting Jared Miley 9th. Beck began to battle with Johnson for first, and moved by on lap 13, only to have Johnson get back upfront on lap 14. Steve Baker and Keith Barbara began there own battle, as Baker got by Barbara for third on lap 17. Beck pulled even with Johnson on several occasions, as the top four hit lapped traffic, and Baker began to close a bit on the top two, while Barbara and Miley battled for 4th. With four to go, Beck made a charge on Johnson and looked as if he might have him only to have his car push up a bit and allow Johnson to get back into the lead. At the end Johnson won by a couple car lengths over Beck and Baker a few behind them, with Barbara (in his first start since his bad wreck a couple weeks ago) holding off Miley for fourth. Rounding out the top ten were 14th starting Brandon Burgoon, Atallah, Mike Johnson, Jim Stephans, and Mike Basich. The heats for the 20 cars on hand went to Davey Johnson and Al Atallah. Gary Dalton made his first start of the season and finished 12th.
The Brougher's Machine Shop Pro Late Models saw Burgettstown PA's Kyle Lukon pick up his 5th win of the season and first since May 30 and extended his point lead in the class with two weeks left in the regular season. Dennis Niederriter and Josh Holtgraver brought the field down for the start with Niederriter grabbing the lead at the drop of the green. Fourth starting Kyle Lukon moved into second at the end of the first lap with Holtgraver falling to third. Niederriter and Lukon began to battle for first for the next several laps, until lap 10 when third running Holtgraver spun in one and two bringing out the caution. On the restart Niederriter was back out front, with Lukon right behind and now with Tommy Schirnhofer in third followed by Pete Rech (subbing for the Mike Reft), Laura Lukon and last week's winner Jason Rider. Niederriter and Lukon continued to battle for first until a pair of cautions on lap 16 and 17 which allowed the field to tighten up, and Lukon was able to get by for first on the second restart. Niederriter made a couple tries to get by Lukon to regain the lead, but Lukon was able to fend him off and pick up the win. At the line it was Lukon, Niederriter, Jason Rider (who charged into third in the last few laps), Holtgraver (who rallied from his lap 10 spin), Schirnhofer, Laura Lukon, Rech, Justin Lamb, Dusty Curry, and Mark Moats Jr. Heats for the 24 cars on hand fell to Rocky Kugel, Jason Rider, and Dan Karalagas (who broke while he was running third in the feature).
Fairmont WV's Jacob Hawkins won his second feature in a row in the Miley Truck Rental UMP Modifieds. J.E. Stalder and Jared Hawkins brought the field down for the green. Stalder led the first lap, while Jared led the next go round, with Stalder back on top by lap 3. Stalder led the next two laps until a lap 6 restart. On the restart Jacob Hawkins, who was up to third, swept by the leaders and took over first. From that point on Hawkins pulled away to a huge lead while behind Stalder and Kevin Miller battled for second. Miller moved by Stalder for second on lap 9. A caution on lap 15 allowed Miller to start beside Hawkins on the restart. However Hawkins was not to be denied, and he pulled away to grab the win. Miller finished second followed by Stalder, Jeff Bametzrieder, Vince Laboon, Daryl Charlier (who recovered from a first lap flat tire), Jared Hawkins, Kari Gasser, Tom Martineck and Wayne Tessean. Wayne Tessean and Jacob Hawkins took the heat wins.
McKees Rocks PA's Jake Simmons picked up his 6th win of the season and third in the month of August in the Sunoco Race Fuels UMP Sportsman. Bob Heim started on the pole and grabbed the lead at the start. Heim led, while Bob Schwartzmiller moved into second and chased him. Meanwhile, 12th starting Simmons had moved into third by lap 5, and began to battle Schwartzmiller for second. The front trio pulled away from the field and battled for the top spot. Simmons was able to get by Schwartzmiller for second on lap 10, and got by Heim for first on lap 11 and held it to the checker. Heim was second followed by Schwartzmiller. Craig Koteles took fourth after a battle with Nick Kocuba, Davy Lee (in the Mohn #39), and point leader Pat Weldon for the spot. Vince Kamicker was 8th followed by Joe Koteles Sr., and Tyler Fox. Jake Simmons and Pat Weldon picked up the heat wins.
Gary Koteles, Stockdale PA won his 9th feature of the season and his 4th in a row in the Flynn's Tire and Auto Factory Stock feature. Koteles, who started 10th took the lead on lap 5 off Brian Huchko and rolled to the win. Huchko finished second followed by Tony White (who led the first two laps), Ian Tomei, Edward Wiser, Jason Herniak, Jennifer Barker, Garrett O'Patchen and Brian Reddcliff. Gary Koteles also won the heat. Rich Mason flipped in the heat race but was uninjured.
Justin Pons, Pittsburgh PA won his 5th Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns feature of the season. Pons grabbed the lead from his pole starting spot and defeated Joe Gombach III for the win. Daniel White, Tyler Atkinson, Nico DaBecco, Alec Broniszewski, Ricky Steigerwald, Hannah Ramsey and Brittney Davis trailed.
In the Wacky Wheels Figure 8 Feature, Joe Podolinsky won his third event this season over Ian Tomei and Jake Simmons.
SUMMARY - AUGUST 29, 2009
DirtCar Super Late Models
Heats - Davey Johnson and Al Atallah
Feature (25 Laps) - 1. Davey Johnson, 2. Tommy Beck, 3. Steve Baker, 4. Keith Barbara, 5. Jared Miley, 6. Brandon Burgoon, 7. Al Atallah, 8. Mike Johnson, 9. Jim Stephans, 10. Mike Basich, 11. Ben Miley, 12. Gary Dalton, 13. Lynn Geisler, 14. Daryl Charlier, 15. Leo Stadelman, 16. Larry Marks, 17. Chuck Medved, 18. Brandon Wearing, 19. Lou Bradich, 20. Jon Hodgkiss
Brougher's Machine Shop Pro Late Models
Heats - Rocky Kugel, Jason Rider and Dan Karalagas
Feature (20 Laps) - 1. Kyle Lukon, 2. Dennis Niederriter, 3. Jason Rider, 4. Josh Holtgraver, 5. Tommy Schirnhofer, 6. Laura Lukon, 7. Pete Rech, 8. Justin Lamb, 9. Dusty Curry, 10. Mark Moats Jr, 11. Scott Schempp, 12. Colton Flinner, 13. Beau Glemba, 14. Rocky Kugel, 15. Jeff Broniszewski, 16. Thomas Dembowski, 17. Darrell Dow, 18. Derek Stefanick, 19. Jeremy Kleemock, 20. Bryant Hank, 21. Terry Kerr, 22. Dan Karalagas, 23. John Cain, DNS - Dave McNabb
Miley Truck Rental UMP Modifieds
Heats - Wayne Tessean and Jacob Hawkins
Feature (15 Laps) - 1. Jacob Hawkins, 2. Kevin Miller, 3. J E Stalder, 4. J J Bametzrieder, 5. Vince Laboon, 6. Daryl Charlier, 7. Jared Hawkins, 8. Kari Gasser, 9. Tom Martineck, 10. Wayne Tessean, 11. Chuck Kennedy, 12. Clayton Kennedy, 13. Jared Domhoff, 14. Bill Westlake, 15. Brad Westover, 16. Sean Graham, 17. Robbie Behanna, DNS - Denny Nakutis
Sunoco Race Fuels UMP Sportsman
Heats - Jake Simmons and Pat Weldon
Feature (12 Laps) - 1. Jake Simmons, 2. Bobby Heim, 3. Bob Schwartzmiller, 4. Craig Koteles, 5. Nick Kocuba, 6. Davy Lee, 7. Pat Weldon, 8. Vincent Kamicker, 9. Joe Koteles Sr, 10. Tyler Fox, 11. Curt Bish, 12. Dave Slade, 13. Robert Betz, 14. Todd Janas
Flynn's Tire and Auto Factory Stocks
Heat - Gary Koteles
Feature (10 Laps) - 1. Gary Koteles, 2. Brian Huchko, 3. Tony White, 4. Ian Tomei, 5. Edward Wiser, 6. Jason Herniak, 7. Jennifer Barker, 8. Kenny Puglishi Jr, 9. Garrett O'Patchen, 10. Brian Reddcliff, DNS - Rich Mason
Imperial Heights Garage Young Guns Sport Compacts
Feature (8 Laps) - 1. Justin Pons, 2. Joe Gombach III, 3. Daniel White, 4. Tyler Atkinson, 5. Nico Dabecco, 6. Alec Broniszewski, 7. Ricky Steigerwald, 8. Hannah Ramsey, 9. Brittney Davis
