Run What Ya Brung August 30th, 2014 @ Marion Center Speedway
(9/2/2014)
MARION CENTER SPEEDWAY August 30, 2014
Marion Center Speedway held its final races of the 2014 Racing Season the 48TH season racing under the continued ownership of the Potts family on Saturday Night August 30. The night started out with the top point leaders from each division coming to the front of the infield for photos and then taking a parade lap with American flags during the National Anthem. At intermission, after the heat races, Rich Leydic accepted the ALS ice water bucket challenge and was doused with ice water by Lias Tire Super Late Model Point Co-Champions Billy Eash and Doug Glessner. Leydic then challenged other track promoters to take the challenge as well. Shayleah Juart was representing the Marion Center Speedway Kid’s Club and was doused with ice water also by Kid’s Club Sponsor representative, Herman Bertolini. Marion Center Speedway also took time to honor someone special to the racetrack with gratitude for all they have done over the past seasons with their contributions to door prizes and especially making sure the kids were involved with the nightly program, Herman Bertolini driver for the Bertolini Family Racing Team was awarded the Dave and Belle Potts Outstanding Dedication Award for their support of Marion Center Speedway. Thank-You Bertolini Racing! Saturday night the crowd also got involved by voting with their applause for the Fan Favorite Driver of the Year Award. Congratulations to Nick Fulmer of the Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock division for winning the appeal of the crowd this season and getting the award! The features for the night were interesting for everyone as the drivers came out with wings and sideboards and different spoilers on their cars. Some were reminiscent of years past and some were totally new additions they came up with. Here’s what happened on the track Saturday night:
Mike Blose of New Bethlehem must have dusted off the sideboard from years back and attached it to the car for the Run Whatcha Brung Races in the Lias Tire Super Late Model Division. The winged wonder or “Mike the Missile” as guest announcer Don Seanor dubbed him, dusted the competition with his oldie but goodie configuration. Mike hugged the track and lapped a lot of cars to lead every lap and make his way to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle for the second time this season. Dave Blazavich of Marion Center also sported a sideboard of sorts, but not quite the billboard Blose had and picked up second place. Third place went to John Garvin from Sarver who tried a different approach with a sprint car type wing on the roof of the car. This was working well until it came off the car-oops! Then Dan Swartzlander also from Sarver finished fourth with a small side wing and Wally Fox of Cooperstown was fifth. Rounding out the top ten in order were Billy Eash, Herman Bertolini, Jerry Redden, John Myers and Bill Burns. Competing but not finishing the feature were Ken Schaltenbrand, Jim Kurpakus and Rod Phillips. The Lias Tire Super Late Model heats were won by Mike Blose and Dave Blazavich.
The Force Inc. Steel Block Limited Late Model feature was won by Point Champion of the Division, Cheyenne Reed from Punxsutawney. Reed also had a rather large sideboard attached to the car which helped him maneuver around Chris Schneider for the lead after the halfway mark. Schneider from Springdale had been leading the feature from his outside pole position starting place until after a dozen laps, Cheyenne Reed took over the lead and went on to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle. Frank Brocious from Dayton also made a pass on Schneider putting the former leader in third place and Tom Shaffer of Punxsutawney, who started on the pole, was fourth. Fifth place went to Joe Petyak of Gallitzin and Gale Huey of Glen Campbell was sixth. Tom Jobe of Punxsutawney was seventh. Jeff Weakland was unable to finish the feature and Gabe Shaffer didn’t start the feature. The Force Inc. Steel Block Limited Late Model heat race was won by Cheyenne Reed also.
Mike Laughard from Twin Rocks won the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Crate Late Model feature without any flare, just power as he took command of the feature from start to finish showing why he was the point champion of the division. Starting on the outside pole, Laughard jumped into the lead and stayed there the entire twenty-lap feature. Jeremy Shaffer from Derry started on the pole and tried to stop Laughard from going to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle for the fourth time this season, but had to settle for second place. Third place went to Shane Weaver from Marion Center and Matt Bassaro of Heilwood made his first appearance at the track and took home fourth place leaving Corey Neal of Trade City in fifth. The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Crate Late Model heat race went to Mike Laughard as well.
The W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock feature was filled with excitement and proved anything can happen if you don’t give up. Jeff Sweeney form Marion Center started on the pole but lost the lead to outside pole starter, Eric Lingenfelter from Creekside. Lingenfelter kept the lead for the first six laps of the twenty-lap feature until Ryan Sager from Huntington maneuvered his sideboard attached car from last place into the lead. Sager made his debut appearance at the track with sideboard and once in the lead seemed unstoppable. But Sager stopped himself when he spun out with a big lead and only two laps to go bringing out the caution and setting up a green/white/checker finish for the feature. The restart formation put Jeff Sweeney back in the lead position and he held off Eric Lingenfelter for the trip to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle. Lingenfelter finished second and Joey Zambotti from Kittanning was third. Sager recovered for a fourth place finish and Gary Furman, Jr. of New Alexandria was fifth. Point Champion and Mr. Consistent, Andy Burns of Johnstown was sixth and Dave Betush, another new comer to the track was seventh. Ray Hickok, Jr. and newbie, Ridge Bookwalter were unable to finish the feature and Matt Hugill and Matt Krause didn’t start the feature. The W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock heat races were won by Eric Lingenfelter and Ray Hickok, Jr.
The Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock Division’s feature was nearly dominated by Rich Waltman, Jr. from Coolspring. Waltman started on the outside pole and lead nearly every lap of the fifteen lap feature. On the final lap, Point Champion of the division and Fan Favorite, Nick Fulmer from Marion Center passed Waltman for the run to the checkers. Fulmer pulled off the victory for his tenth win of the season leaving Waltman in second place. Ryan Caldwell from Marion Center took third place and Justin Queen from Irvona was fourth. Fifth place went to Kyle Smith, Jr. from Windber and Derek Buterbaugh of Indiana was sixth. Then came Gary Fulmer from Marion Center, Dillon Smith and Jim Decker. The other two competitors were Bruce Large and Jim Hamilton. The Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock heat races were won by Kyle Smith, Jr. and Rich Waltman, Jr.
Congratulations to all the Point leaders and all their pit crews for an outstanding season this year. All the point standings are posted on the website for you to review. Hope you have a great off season and enjoy rebuilding for next year. Marion Center Speedway is currently making plans to have a “Front Wheel Drive, V-6, pure stock car” division next season. The idea is to provide a division for low budget racing, cars without modifications from the factory, no turbos, nothing but nearly street legal cars without the glass attached and roll bars added. MCS staff is currently working on rules/spec sheets for the division so keep an eye on the website for more information to come. Anyone can keep up to date with what’s happening and the final point’s standings via the internet and our website: marioncenterspeedway.net, or Facebook and our blog.
Special thanks to the drivers, fans and staff for their continued support of the Potts family operating Marion Center Speedway for the past 48 years. Thanks to our sponsors which include AmsOil, Butler Auto Supplies of Indiana, Colonial Motor Mart, Delaney Hyundai, Force Inc., Froggy 95, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Integra Racing Shocks, Lias Tire and Auto Service, Mike’s Towing from Clymer, Tri-Star Motors of Indiana, W. G. Satterlee & Sons and Willow Farm Campground. Race Fans, Rich’s Garage is now open to serve the community with oil changes, mechanical work, welding, painting and more. If you need help with your vehicle call Rich’s Garage at 724-388-6462. Rich’s garage is conveniently located adjacent to Marion Center Speedway on Potts Road. See you next season- the 49TH season under the continued direction of the Potts Family at Marion Center Speedway, “The Little Track with the Big Attitude,” “The Thrill on the Hill.”
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