Jun 20, 2010 By Herald Standard Staff 3 min read

SMITHTON — Steve Black, of Greensburg, took the lead from a three-time track champion to earn his first career victory in the NASCAR Subway Super Late Models Friday at Motordrome Speedway. Teddy Gibala won the biggest race of the year for the Napa Street Stocks on the same night, marking his third victory of the season.

Lonnie Hoffman won the Wyotech Modified feature event; Ed McConnell scored his first career win in the Pro Auto Supply Service Chargers and Eugene “Hillbilly” Zerfoss won his first race of 2010 in the Coca Cola Super Compacts.

After Paul Urso and Gary Wiltrout won heat races for the NASCAR Subway Super Late Models, Urso started the 50-lap feature on the pole.

Rick Miller took the lead on the first lap, as former Rookie of the Year, Urso, settled into second. Miller, a three time Motordrome champion, set the pace until lap five when fourth-place starter Steve Black took the lead.

Black had led several feature laps, and won heat races already in 2010 to compliment several top five and top three finishes. As Miller lost ground to Black, eighth starting Wiltrout was advancing. On lap 10, Miller’s ride slowed, and all drivers avoided contact, allowing Miller to exit the speedway relinquishing second place to Wiltrout. Eleventh starter, Mark Cottone, advanced to fourth place by lap twelve, behind Mark Poole; that duo raced side by side for numerous laps. Cottone completed the pass for third on lap 28, but Black and Wiltrout were far ahead of the rest of the pack. In the closing stages of the race, Wiltrout would gain car lengths then lose car lengths on the hot, slick, asphalt. At times, Wiltrout was right under Black’s spoiler, but at the finish Black notched his first career victory by more than two-car lengths. The former Truck division Champion climbed onto the roof his Black’s Enterprises/Baker Race Cars Toyota to celebrate, after losing his long-time primary sponsor during the off-season and persevering into the 2010 racing season with blank fenders. Wiltrout, Cottone, the previous week’s winner Barry Awtey, and

This week, Motordrome Speedway presents the first of the “Triple Crown Series” events for the NASCAR Subway Super Late Models.

“The Steel City 100” is a crown-jewel event for NASCAR racers in the entire region, and the agenda includes time trials, heats, and a 100-lap feature for the top division of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series.

Racing will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the other four divisions competing in a “features only” program.