Kostelnik wins six straight at Motordrome
Modified driver Adam Kostelnik is on a roll at Motordrome Speedway. He picked up his sixth consecutive Modified feature victory on Friday evening at the paved Smithton oval, and shows no signs of slowing down. Kostelnik has visited the winner’s circle 95 times in his career.
Starting last in the 18-car Modified field, Kostelnik stormed through the pack. By lap 7, he gained fourth place, and began to challenge the other frontrunners. After the yellow flag was displayed a few laps later, the restart pitted Kostelnik against rival Harry Opfer, of Belle Vernon. Aware of the fact that the two competitors have had controversial races and disputes in the past, the fans sat on the edge of their seats, anticipating what would happen next. As the green flag dropped, their eyes were fixed on the No. 01 of Opfer and the No. 60 of Kostelnik. Opfer held the inside line on the next circuit, while Kostlelnik found an opening to the outside of Opfer on the backstretch. The two combatants raced side-by-side for a brief time. After making a clean pass, Kostelnik pulled away from Opfer, Bob Shipp, Lonnie Hoffman, Tom Frank, George Nicola, Jr., Marion Reno, Chris Brink, Matt Panaia, and Bryan Shipp.
In victory lane, Kostelnik gave his pit crew of Joe Viglione, Buzz Viglione, and Harry Luzader, all of the credit for the win. The Vigliones own the modified, and Luzader builds the engines.
“We had a game plan, and we followed it,” stated Adam.
During a pre-race ceremony, Kostelnik was presented with a plaque commemorating his 2007 Cavalcade Point Championship for Stock Cars. Walt Wimer, a racing columnist and radio personality, developed the Cavalcade award in 1968. Keeping statistics from at least 30 different speedways in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and New York, Wimer uses a point system to determine champions in the Late Model, Sprint, Modified, and Stock Car divisions. The award ascertained that Adam Kostelnik was the best support division competitor in the tri-state area for the 2007 racing season.
Ironically, Kostelnik, who’s channeling most of his energy towards his Modified program, did not enter the 30-lap Street Stock special race on Friday evening. However, he had a hand in the outcome of the event. Tony Manganello, driving a car constructed by Kostelnik, raced to his first career victory. Tony took the lead from Ted Gibala, Jr., on lap 14, and looked strong as he drove under the checkered flag ahead of Shawn Phillips (Jefferson), Gibala, Jason Holder, Joe Nicola, Bill Henry, Jonathan Hileman (Belle Vernon), Andrew Kostelnik, Scott Bowman, and Jeff Zillweger.
Charleroi’s Beau Glemba started on the pole in the Super Late Model feature. Taking off like a rocket, Glemba built up a half straightaway lead over his nearest competitor. However, Mark Poole, who started sixth, ran Glemba down and took the lead for keeps on lap 10. The driver from Eighty-Four drove to his second win of the season over Bobby Henry (Connellsville), Garry Wiltrout, Richard Mitchell, Mark Cottone, Tommy Beck, Glemba, Todd Price, Steve Black, Shawn Pilla (Connellsville), Mike Zombar, Paul Urso, Nathan Russell, Dan Lewis, Cody Quarrick (Uniontown), John Komarinski, Marion Reno, and Greg Kelley (Connellsville).
After the race, Poole said, “This is the best car I ever had. We got up there pretty quick. It worked out real well. There were a lot of top quality drivers behind me.”
Denny Keller led the Charger feature for 11 laps. Defending champion Mike Lemley, of Vanderbilt, made an inside pass on Keller exiting turn four, and picked up his third win of the year. Lemley defeated Keller, Tracy Keller, Bill Oldham (Connellsville), Bob Garchak, Jr., Roger Bryan, Dave McMannus, Jim Stokes, Ed Neidhardt, and Matt Gardner (Ruffsdale).
Paul Rosa and Ed Dinneen had another good battle in the American Flyer division. Rosa won the feature by a narrow margin. Jeff Halfhill (Connellsville), Garrett O’Patchen, Ron Eiford (Scottdale), Bill Schwartz, Ed Shelpman, and Kevin Ludwick (Star Junction) completed the field.
West Newton’s Matt Sever won the Super Compact heat race in his first appearance at Motordrome. Rain started to fall as the Super Compact feature hit the track, and the event was cancelled.
At Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday night, Jason Mignogna drove to his third Super Late Model feature win of the year, besting Barry Awtey, Mark Smith, Robbie Marhefka, Rick Miller (Dunbar), Todd Price, and Cody Quarrick (Uniontown).
Bryan Awtey, the brother of Barry, was victorious in the Street Stock feature. He was subbing for Scott Bowman, who normally drives the No. 19 car. Following Awtey to the checkered flag were Lauren Butler, Jim Bodziak, Steve Singo (Connellsville), Tom Knight, Sr., Bob Young, Andrew Kostelnik, Dave Manns, and Adam Kostelnik.
Dee Petrie picked up her second Hobby Stock feature win of the season by beating Steve Long, Gene Zerfoss, Larry Dunmyer, Cliff Zerfoss, Phil Wiltrout, and Kevin Keffer (Connellsville). Sam King of Stafford, Va., and Heath Hnedershot, of Williamsport, split the Super Mini-Cup features.
Forty-nine Late Models were on hand for Sunday’s Earl Hill Memorial UFo race at Tyler County Speedway in West Virginia. Tim Dohm, from Cross Lanes, W. Va., won the 51-lap feature, and received a $4,000 paycheck. Doug Horton, driving the Bobby Lake Motorsports entry, came home second. Placing behind Horton were Alex Ferree, Mike Balzano, Joe Loudin, Jared Hawkins, Butch McGill, Jared Miley, Shawn McGarvey, and Clate Copeman.
Steve Francis, from Kentucky, won $7,000 after taking the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory at Bedford Speedway on Thursday night. Earl Pearson, Jr., Josh Richards, Jeremy Miller, Rick Eckert, Steve Shaver, Terry Casey, Ricky Elliott, Billy Drake, and Steve Casebolt, completed the top 10. Fifty-one Late Models signed into the pits.
Dave Dragovich may be contacted at somersetdave@comcast.net