Minnick Jr. wins Super Late Model feature at Roaring Knob
On a perfect evening for auto racing, three local race car drivers found victory lane at the Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex in Markleysburg in Saturday’s portion of the Memorial Day weekend. Mel Minnick Jr., of Uniontown, won the 25-lap Super Late Model feature, John Over, of Uniontown, was victorious in the 20-lap Late Model feature, and Mark Peck Jr., of Lemont Furnace, captured the 12-lap Charger feature. The other winners were Vic Vandergrift (Fairmont, W.Va.) in the Modifieds, and Sam King (Mill Run) in the Street Stocks.
Minnick, Jr. took command of the feature early in the race. But all eyes were on Gary Dalton, who was working his way through the pack. Minnick was up to the challenge, and won for the first time since 2004.
“Things are great tonight,” said Minnick, Jr. in victory lane. “I was just holding the hammer down and having a ball. This (winning) is what it’s all about.”
Minnick Jr. was followed to the finish line by Dalton (Morgantown, W.Va.), Bill Holbert (Enterprise, W.Va.), Tim Senic (Elkins, W.Va.), Jeff Ferguson (Uniontown), Bob Gordon (Keyser, W.Va.), Nolan Dalton (Morgantown, W.Va.), Danny Pugh (Morgantown, W.Va.), Steve Booth (Buckhannon, W.Va.), and Scott Spade (Farmington).
Over grabbed the lead in the Late Model feature at the drop of the green and took a huge lead. That lead was wiped out by a caution flag a few laps later. However, Over survived seven more yellow flag periods and pressure by last week’s winner Robbie Black to pick up his second win of the season.
“I could see Robbie Black behind me,” said Over, following the race, “but I was able to hold him off.”
Over, who had a miss in his engine, covered the low groove very well. Black’s only option was to pass Over on the high side, but he was unable to make the move. Black took the runner-up spot ahead of Garry Sisson (Uniontown), John Redshaw (Farmington), Greg Hauger (Uniontown), Rick Meglaye (New Stanton), Fred Zeigler (Chalk Hill), Stanley Spooner (Cassville, W.Va.), Jim “Jimbo” Byers (McClellandtown), Wayne Jordan (Dillner), Bobby Marietta (New Salem), Chuck Bloom (Uniontown) and Dave Gump (Weston, W.Va.).
Peck passed Tim Koffler (Oliver) on lap nine of the Charger feature and kept the lead the rest of the way. Peck’s machine was smoking badly for almost the entire race, and actually caught fire as he pulled into the winner’s circle. Peck quickly snuffed out the flames, but his engine suffered a lot of damage.
Koffler held onto second place. Taking the checkered flag behind Koffler were Bob Miller (Lemont Furnace), Fred Spiker (Gibbon Glade), Shawn Smith (Confluence), Shane Wheeler (Smithfield), Mason Zeigler (Uniontown), Bill Jenkins (Markleysburg), John Matthews (Lemont Furnace), Andy Vogel (Fort Hill), Willie Porter (East Millsboro), Rich Sheek (Acme), Brad Jenkins (Lemont Furnace) and Jason Humberson (Grantsville, MD). Marty Spade of Farmington was unable to start the event.
King won his first Street Stock feature of the year. Uniontown’s Josh Bendishaw was second, after a great battle with Joe Kelley, a Lernerville Speedway regular who’s won Street Stock championships numerous times. Kelley was subbing for Kevin Collins, and finished third. Next in line were Grady Palmer, EJ Rozak (New Salem), Tom Newman (Uniontown), Todd Dennis (Newell), Pat Monaghan (Uniontown), Bob Nelson (Dunbar), Joe Wrona (Smithfield), Dane Burnworth (Markleysburg), and Charlie McClain (Lemont Furnace).
Chalk Hill’s Chris Lucy celebrated a birthday at Roaring Knob on Saturday. However, the party ended early as Lucy’s yellow and red race car lost oil pressure in practice. Chris was done for the evening.
Brent Trimble, of Monongah, W.Va., had the upper hand for 13 laps in the Modified feature, until Vandergrift darted into first after a great side-by-side battle with Trimble. The move enabled Vandergrift to win his first feature of the year.
Paul Wilmouth Jr., of Clarksburg, W.Va., passed Trimble on the final lap for the second spot. Trimble settled for third. Trailing Trimble were Denny Perigo (Stoystown), Shawn Davis (Salem, W.Va.), Rich Logan (Latrobe), Matt Cosner (Cumberland, Md.), Dave Monteleone (Triadelphia, W.Va.), Rod Lanham (Bruceton Mills, W.Va.), and Mike Errett (Greensburg). Ray Johnson of Point Marion placed fifteenth. In an emotional victory lane celebration, Vandergrift dedicated his win to his son, who soon begins a 15-month deployment to Iraq.
Tommy Beck, of Jeannette, won the Late Model feature on Friday evening, the beginning of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, at Motordrome Speedway. There are now four different winners in the four Late Model features contested at Motordrome this season. Shawn Pilla, of Connellsville, ran a strong second, tying his best career finish. Connellsville’s Bobby Henry started 12th and advanced to third. Rounding out the top 10 were Will Thomas (Sharpsville), Garry Wiltrout (Somerset), Dave Marrow (Trafford), Jimmy Weller (Hubbard, Ohio), Mark Cottone (McKeesport), Todd Price (Alum Bank), and Steve Black (Greensburg).
George Nicola Jr., of Pittsburgh, looked like he had the Modified feature won when disaster struck on the final lap. Going into the first turn, the right front suspension broke on Nicola’s modified, sending him hard into the wall. Nicola walked away from the grinding crash. Adam Kostelnik of North Braddock inherited first place and raced to his third win of the year followed by Harry Opfer (Belle Vernon), Chris Brink (Glen Campbell), Gary Scott (Irwin), and Beau Glemba (Charleroi).
Dave Tavormina of Wilmerding broke Adam Kostelnik’s unbeaten streak in the Street Stocks. Tavormina said his car was handling great and described it as “poetry in motion.”
Bill Henry (Vandergrift) raced in Tavormina’s shadow for second, Kostelnik (North Braddock) placed third, Jason Holder (Stoystown) was fourth, and a consistent Shawn Phillips (Jefferson), garnered another top five finish.
Charger driver Jim Christofel (Jefferson Hills) won his first career feature on Friday evening at Motordrome. Ruffsdale’s Matt Gardner was second. Dawson’s Mike Lemley started last in the 15-car field, and charged to a third-place finish. Tracy Keller (Asheville) and Robbie Haught (Washington) rounded out the top five. Jeff Giles Jr., (Vanderbilt) placed seventh, with Jim Stokes (West Newton) eighth, Vic Keller (Mt. Pleasant) ninth, and Bill Oldham (Connellsville) in 12th place.
Connellsville’s Jay Matthews won his second American Flyer feature in a row. He was chased to the finish line by Paul Rosa, Andy Giles (Vanderbilt), and Tony Dukich (Connellsville). Cody Quarrick finished fifth in his first start on the Smithton oval track. Completing the top 10 were Chris Spadacene (Pittsburgh), Mary Catherine Shimko (Keisterville), Kevin Ludwick (Star Junction), new home builder Dan Jordan (Connellsville), and Ron Eiford (Scottdale).
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 590AM, Fridays from 6PM to 7PM, and on Don Gamble’s “Rappin’ On Racin'” radio show on WEDO 810AM, Monday evenings from 6-8:45PM. Dave may also be contacted via e-mail at somersetdave@comcast.net.