The Challenger Raceway

July,24,1999
By Chris Schaeffer

For Immediate Release:

The hot,muggy weather continued its grip on the area. But
that didn't deter the 100+ cars from filling the pits on Saturday
evening at the Challenger Raceway. With the P.C.T.C. Senior
Series adding to our regular five division show, the track
officals managed to run off a super quick, 31/2 hour program.
        The evenings big winners included, Apollos' Ed Lynch
taking the Super Winged Sprint checkers, Texaco Late Model
first time winner Mike Johnson, Coca-Cola Mid-Eastern Modified
pilot Chuck Kennedy, Stewart Bus Line Pure Stock winner Brian
Jakosh, Strictly Stock victor Mark Olechovski, and P.C.T.C. Senior
Series winner Duane Mohney.
        Tom Decker and Jason Carnahan paced the 21 car field of
Texaco Late Models to the green. Decker vaulted to the point and
led the first three revolutions. Mike Johnson, who had started 5th,
was poised in second and slid by on the start of lap four. Johnson
immediately began padding his lead. Decker settled in and ran a strong
second, until a hard charging Ron Davies, up from 12th, rooted Decker
off the bottom line, to take away the second spot. Davies began to reel
Johnson in, but ran out of laps, as Mike Johnson cruised to his first
ever win at the Jacksonville oval. Davies had a strong run to fill
second,with Lynn Geisler, Bob Wearing Jr., and Tom Decker rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were filled by: Dave Norton, Nick Jones, Dave
Satterlee, Chris Conner, and Bobby Bertges. Geisler and Johnson won the
heats.
        Coming into the night Daryl Stimeling held the points lead in
the  Super Winged Sprints  by a slim five points. Stimeling broke a motor in 
 hot laps, which should have sent him home. However, in an act of what
can only be called unselfish racing Sportsmanship, Chuck Kirk gave Stimeling
 his 3k car, as to not lose all of his points for the night. With a 30 taped on the wing, Stimeling came trackside for the 20 lap feature.
        Scott Priester took charge of the field of Super Winged Sprints
at the drop of the green, with Marshall Whitesell tucking in to second. Kevin
Schaeffer,who had started 10th, was charging through the field, and by lap 9 was in second. Schaeffer began to chip away at Priesters' lead, when a
caution for Jim Kennedy on lap 12 tightened the field. Priester again took the point,but Ed Lynch Jr. overtook Schaeffer for second and had Priester in his sights.Lynch  made the pass coming out of turn four to take charge, and cruised to the checkers. Priester held on for second, with Schaeffer coming home third ,Gary Rankin and Marshall Whitesell rounding out the top five. The bottom tier of five was filled by: Steve Kenawell, Chris Strait, Charlie Holben,Daryl Stimeling,and Matt Wingard. The heats were won by: Strait and Lynch.
        Chuck Kennedy grabbed the top spot at the drop of the green and
never looked back, to take home the Coca-Cola Mid-Eastern Modified feature
win.Rich Logan had a good run to cruise home second, with Jeff Taylor, Ken
Herman,and Bob Rougeaux rounding out the top five. Sixth through tenth were filled by:Jim Fry, Fred Bratchie, Carl McKinney, Joe Kelley, and Rich Womeldorf.Taking the prelims were: Taylor and Kennedy.
        Clarksburgs' Brian Jakosh scored his second feature win of the
season in the Stewart Bus Line Pure Stocks. Rob Kosecki, up from 8th, filled the second spot, with Rusty Martz, Greg Hauger, and Bill Lyons rounding out the top five. Six through ten went to: Butch Lambert, John Ponikvar, Brent Nulph, Dave Harbaugh, and Rob Shook. The heat race wins went to: Joe Kelley and John Ponikvar.
        Mark Olechovski scored the win in the Strictly Stocks. First
time visitor,Darren Buell won the 4 Cylinder Class, and Duane Mohney took home the trophy in the P.C.T.C. Senior Series Feature.

        July 31 will be a full five divison Regular Show, plus a Strictly Stock Mechanics Race. We will also be welcoming the A.R.C.H. Fan Club.

Late Model Feature:
Mike Johnson, Ron Davies, Lynn Geisler, Bob Wearing Jr., Tom Decker,
Dave Norton, Nick Jones, Dave Satterlee, Chris Conner, Bobby Bertges,
Jason Carnahan, Rob King, Gene Kain, Bill Cunningham, Wally Fox,
Mickey Wright, Bill Reges, Dale Zimmerman, Jim Mazur, Mike Blose,
Dave Padula.

Sprint Feature:
Ed Lynch Jr., Scott Priester, Kevin Schaeffer, Gary Rankin, Marshall
Whitesell, Steve Kenawell, Chris Strait, Charlie Holben,
Daryl Stimeling, Matt Wingard, Jeff Weaver, Mary Ann Williams,
Jim Kennedy.

Coca-Cola Mid-Eastern Modifieds                Started: 24 cars
1. A1 Chuck Kennedy, Mars                         20 Laps Lap Leaders:
2. 33 Rich Logan, Latrobe                             1-20 Kennedy
3. 3 Jeff Taylor, Saltsburg                              Heat RaceWinners:
4. 12 Ken Herman, Connellsville                   Heat 1- Taylor
5. 1 Bob Rougeaux, Rochester Mills              Heat 2- Kennedy
6. 2j Jim Fry, Vienna ,Ohio
7. v2 Fred Bratchie, Valencia
8. 6m Carl McKinney, Cranberry Twp.
9. 66* Joe Kelley, Mt.Pleasant
10. 2R Rich Womeldorf, Apollo

Stewart Bus Line Pure Stocks                        Started: 20 cars
1. 8 Brian Jakosh, Clarksburg                         15 Laps  Lap Leaders:
2. 36d Rob Kosecki, Leechburg                      1-15 Jakosh
3. 16m Rusty Martz, Brookville                      Heat Race Winners:
4. 1 Greg Hauger, Uniontown                         Heat 1- Kelley
5. 03 Bill Lyons, Shelocta                               Heat 2-Ponikvar
6. 27 Butch Lambert, Mars
7. 16 John Ponikvar, Canonsburg
8. 69 Brent Nulph, Templeton
9. 33 Dave Harbaugh,Ellwood City
10. 64Rob Shook, Cheswick

Amateur Strictly Stocks and 4 Cylinders        Started: 20 cars
1. 77 Mark Olechovski,Blairsville                   15 Laps Lap Leaders:

2. 55 John Mazey, Boliver                                1-15 Olechovski

3. 74 Paul Leary, Blairsville
4. 93 Brad Shirey, Ligonier
5. 7 Henry Wilfong, Sewickly
4 Cylinders:
1. 27 Darren Buell, Jefferson ,Ohio
2. 91d Dan Bowers

P.C.T.C.Senior Series                                      Started: 9
cars
1. 52 Duane Mohney                                       Heat Race
Winner #33