Henry is late model leader at Motordrome
Motordrome Speedway fell victim to the weather on Friday. Cool temperatures, coupled with an unfavorable forecast of rain later in the day, prompted management to cancel the program early in the afternoon. It was the third weather related cancellation at the Smithton asphalt track in 2007. Bedford Speedway and Dog Hollow Speedway also cancelled their Friday evening shows.
Connellsville’s Bobby Henry leads all drivers in Motordrome’s Late Model point standings with 153 points. Following Henry are Garry Wiltrout (Somerset) 124, Jon Messenger (Clarksburg, WV) 121, John Komarinski (Greensburg) 118, Neil Brown (Acme) 117, Shawn Pilla (Connellsville) 114, and Mark Cottone (McKeesport) 112. Steve Black (Greensburg), Dave Marrow (Trafford), and Todd Price (Alum Bank), are locked in a three-way battle for the eighth position with 106 points each.
Adam Kostelnik, of North Braddock, is doing double duty at Motordrome in 2007, racing a Modified and a Street Stock. He’s currently the point leader in both divisions. Kostelnik is gunning for a fourth consecutive Modified championship, and is unbeaten in Street Stock competition this season. However, Greene County’s Shawn Phillips is only 10 points behind Kostelnik, good enough for a second place ranking. Bill Ashton (Hopwood), always a top contender, got off to a late start in 2007, and is presently 11th.
In Motordrome’s Charger class, Matt Gardner (Ruffsdale) trails leader Jim Christofel by a lone point. Mike Lemley (Dawson), who recently won a feature, is third, followed by Jim Stokes (West Newton).
Andrew Giles (Vanderbilt), sits in second place in Motordrome’s American Flyer division. Ron Eiford (Scottdale) is third, Tony Dukich (Connellsville) is fourth, Jay Matthews (Connellsville) is sixth, Kevin Ludwick (Star Junction) ranks seventh, 14-year-old Mary Catherine Shimko (Keisterville) is eighth and last years champion, Dan Jordan (Connellsville), rounds out the top 10 in points.
There was plenty of action at the Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg on Saturday night. Veteran Super Late Model driver Nolan Dalton (Morgantown, WV) took the lead from the pole position in the 25-lap Super Late feature and held it the rest of the way. Dalton was followed to the finish line by Bob Gordon (Keyser, WV), Jeff Ferguson (Uniontown), Billy Holbert (Fairmont, WV), Tom Senic (Elkins, WV), Doug Horton (Bruceton Mills, WV), Gary Dalton (Morgantown, WV), Danny Pugh (Morgantown, WV), Mel Minnick Jr. (Uniontown), and Gary Gellner (Glen Dale, WV).
Robbie Black (Queen) took the lead from Chuck Bloom (Uniontown) with five laps to go in the 20-lap Late Model feature and became the first repeat winner at Roaring Knob this season. Bloom placed second, while John Redshaw (Farmington), Jim “Jimbo” Byers (McClellandtown), Dave Gump, Rick Meglaye (Youngwood), Garry Sisson (Uniontown), Rusty Ball, Bob Marietta (New Salem) and John Over (Uniontown) completed the top 10.
Shawn Davis of Salem, WV, won the Modified feature in his first appearance at Roaring Knob in 2007. Following Davis to the checkered flag were Vic Vandergrift (Fairmont, WV), Phil Jeffries (Montrose, WV), Matt Cosner (Cumberland, MD), Denny Perigo (Stoystown), Ray Johnson (Point Marion), Nick Cramer (Latrobe), Rod Lanham (Bruceton Mills, WV), Andy Wolfe (Springfield, WV) and Josh Cramer (Latrobe).
Tom Newman (Uniontown) grabbed the lead from his front row starting position in the 15-lap Street Stock feature and never looked back. Sam King (Mill Run) finished a very close second. Trailing King were Lonnie McKenzie (Meyersdale), Josh Bendishaw (Uniontown), Todd Dennis (Markleysburg), Joe Wrona, Kevin Collins (Dunbar), Charlie McClain (Mt. Braddock), Dane Burnsworth (Markleysburg) and EJ Rozak (New Salem).
Mark Peck (Lemont Furnace) wasted no time charging to the front of the pack from his fifth starting spot in the 12-lap Charger feature and cruised to victory. Peck had his hands full holding off Fred Spiker (Gibbon Glade), who finished second. Tim Koffler (Oliver), Brad Jenkins (Markleysburg), Bob Miller (Lemont Furnace), Marty Spade (Farmington), Andy Vogel (Fort Hill), John Matthews (Lemont Furnace), Mason Zeigler (Chalk Hill), and 14-year-old Shane Wheeler, Jr. (Smithfield) rounded out the top 10.
Dave Dragovich is a freelance motorsports journalist for the Herald-Standard. A former competitor at Motordrome Speedway (1992-1998), Dragovich can be heard on Mike Lysakowski’s “Motordrome Live” broadcast on WMBS Radio 590 AM, Fridays from 6 to 7 p.m. and on Don Gamble’s “Rappin’ On Racin'” radio show on WEDO 810 AM, Monday evenings from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Dave may also be contacted via e-mail at somersetdave@comcast.net.