Aug 7, 2008 By Dave Dragovich For The 5 min read

Fans and drivers are getting geared up for the running of the Pizza Hut 100 lap feature for the Super Late Models. The marathon event will take place on Friday at the Smithton oval. Drivers from four states are expected to participate in the crown-jewel race. The Super Late Models and the Super Compacts will run qualifying heat races, while the Modifieds, Street Stocks, Chargers and American Flyers will share a feature-only format. Gates open at 5:30. The action starts a 7:30.

Defending champion Bobby Henry, of Connellsville, who has won his share of extra distance races, is one of the favorites to win the battle. Henry will attempt to achieve the victory and extend his lead over Tommy Beck in the Super Late Model point contest.

Three-time track champion, Richard Mitchell, sits third in the Super Late point standings. Back in action after a one-year hiatus, the Bruceton Mills, W.Va., driver has experienced sub-par handling with his racecar the entire season. Mitchell, who won the NASCAR Northeast Regional Championship twice, would like nothing better than returning to his winning ways with a victory on Friday.

Mark Poole (Eighty-Four), Garry Wiltrout, Mark Cottone, Neil Brown (Acme), Todd Price, Greg Kelley (Connellsville), and Paul Urso, are the rest of the top ten Super Late Model drivers.

Adam Kostelnik will attempt to continue his winning streak on Friday. He’s won six straight features, and currently leads Bob Shipp by 46 points in the Modified point race. Rounding out the top ten Modified drivers are George Nicola, Jr., Tom Frank, Harry Opfer (Belle Vernon), Bryan Shipp, Chris Brink, Lonnie Hoffman, Pete Rech and Rick Huffman.

Greene County’s Shawn Phillips has been in the thick of the Street Stock championship race for the last couple of years, but has never won the coveted title. However, the Jefferson driver presently holds a 15-digit lead over his closest competitor, Jonathan Hileman, of Belle Vernon. Joe Nicola, Jason Holder, Bill Henry, Ted Gibala, Jr., Andrew Kostelnik, Tony Manganello, Tom Knight, Sr., and Aaron Minjock complete the top ten.

Mike Lemley, of Vanderbilt, won his first Charger championship last season. He looks like he’s well on his way to accomplishing that feat once more with a 52-point lead over Jim Stokes going into Friday’s program. The rest of the top ten Charger drivers are Matt Gardner (Ruffsdale), Tracy Keller, Bill Oldham (Connellsville), Ed Neidhardt, Jr., Roger Bryan, Denny Keller, Bob Garchak, Jr., and Bruce Hamilton.

Ed Dinneen leads Connellsville’s Jeff Halfhill by 32 points in the quest for the American Flyer championship. Rounding out the top ten are Ron Eiford (Scottdale), Paul Rosa, rookie Ed Shelpman, Kevin Ludwick (Star Junction), Mary Catherine Shimko (Keisterville), Bill Schwartz, Larry Vance and Garrett O’Patchen.

Motordrome Speedway has added a special event to the schedule. An Enduro race and a Spectator race will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday evening, Aug. 31. The Enduro race will be 100 laps in length with a time limit of one hour. Only four or six cylinder front wheel drive cars are eligible to compete. Roll cages are optional. The winner will earn $1,000.

Any licensed, insured driver may enter their personal street vehicle in the Spectator competition. It will be a bracket elimination event with two participants racing side-by-side as they take one full lap around the track. The overall winner will receive $200.

Roaring Knob news: Saturday night the Markleysburg dirt track will present the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society “Timothy Aaron Lucy Memorial” with an extra-distance feature for the Late Models.

Super Late Models, Street Stocks, Modifieds and Chargers will also be on the racing card. Gates open at 4:30. Racing begins at 7 o’clock.

Gary Dalton is Roaring Knob’s Super Late Model point leader by a 27-digit margin over Bob Gordon. Billy Holbert, LC Powers (Mt. Morris), Mel Minnick, Jr., (Uniontown), Bob Hershman, Scott Spade (Farmington), Dan Pugh, Gary Gellner, and John Over (Uniontown), complete the top ten.

In the Late Model point race, Cody Hardesty and Jim Kutas are locked in a very tight battle as Hardesty leads Kutas by a mere two points. Chuck Bloom and Greg Hauger, both of Uniontown, are next in line. Fred Zeigler, of Chalk Hill, and Jeff Ferguson, from Uniontown, are tied for the fifth spot. Garry Sisson (Uniontown), rookie Mason Zeigler (Chalk Hill), Mike Lewis and Andy Spooner, round out the top ten.

Long time racing veteran Jim “Jimbo” Byers, of McClellandtown, leads Bittner’s Bob Nelson by a five-point spread in the Street Stock point contest. Behind Nelson are Mike Duritsky (Masontown), Tom Newman (Lemont Furnace), Jim Bendishaw, Jr., (Uniontown), Chris Lucy (Chalk Hill), Charlie McClain (Mt. Braddock), Todd Dennis (Newell), Sam King (Mill Run) and Josh Bendishaw (Uniontown).

Vic Vandergrift has the Modified point lead by 29 points over defending champion Denny Perigo. Nick Cramer, Phil Jeffries, Rod Lanham, Bob Bennett, Todd Daughenbaugh, Ron Parrish, Mike Errett, and Ralph “Be” Thorn, are the rest of the top ten Modified drivers.

Marty Spade Jr., of Farmington, heads the Charger group. Marty has a 27-point lead on 2007 Charger champion, Mark Peck, Jr., from Lemont Furnace. Looking up at Mark in the point standings are Brad Jenkins (Lemont Furnace), Bob Miller (Lemont Furnace), Jason Humberson, Ryan Newman (Lemont Furnace), Kyle and Ken Burkholder of Mill Run, followed by two more Lemont Furnace drivers, Bob Matthews, and Bus Matthews.

Jennerstown Speedway notes: Jason Mignogna (Super Late Models) and Steve Long (Hobby Stocks) are the point leaders in their respective classes. In the Street Stocks, Andrew Kostelnik and Lauren Butler are deadlocked in a tight race. Three-division action will begin at 7:30 on Saturday night. Grandstand gates open at 5:30.

Dave Dragovich may be contacted at somersetdave@comcast.net