Golik wins first on asphalt. Nicola wins enduro. Sever, Long, Aiello and Pluta return to Victory Lane.

Published: August 16, 2015

Golik wins first on asphalt.  Nicola wins enduro.  Sever, Long, Aiello and Pluta return to Victory Lane.

Jennerstown, PA  (August 15, 2015):   Some race fans with a dream of racing on Jennerstown Speedway Complex’s fast, ultra-smooth surface got their chance on Saturday with the running of the Big John’s 100 enduro race presented by Morocco Welding, Memorial Highway Chevrolet, North Star Equipment and Tri-Star Motors.  Rich Nicola outlasted a mixture of novice and experienced drivers to take the $2,000 top prize.  Also victorious during Saturday Night Thunder were Tom Golik (Modifieds), who collected his first checkered flag on asphalt,  Matt Sever (Martella’s Pharmacy Late Models), Andrew Pluta (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘N Furious 4’s), Anthony Aiello (J&J Truck Bodies and Trailers Street Stocks) and Steve Long (Chargers).

Rookie Teddy Gibala would lead the Martella’s Pharmacy Late Models to the green from his pole position.  Joining him on the front row was Matt Sever, who would take the lead of the 40-lap event before the first lap was completed.  Mahaffey’s Jeremiah Kuntz and points leader Barry Awtey would also overtake Gibala for position during the first circuit.  Over the course of the first ten laps, the Top 4 cars had about a four car length separation between each other.  By Lap 15, Kuntz had slightly closed the gap to the leader while the lead duo increased their advantage over Awtey and Gibala.  At the halfway point, Sever’s lead had closed to about two car lengths while Bedford’s Todd Price closed on the 4th Place-running Gibala.  Throughout the first half of the feature, Kuntz ran a slightly higher line through the corners in seeking a way to gain the top spot.  On Lap 28, Kuntz altered his line in Turns 3 and 4.  The move failed to close the gap on Sever and actually allowed Sever to pull away from his closest pursuer.  The cars of Awtey, Gibala and Price seemed to “accordion” throughout the latter stages of the races with gaps between them opening and closing.  Down the stretch, Sever held a five car length lead over Kuntz to garner his second win of 2015.   Awtey, Gibala and Price rounded out the Top 5.   Awtey, from nearby Jenners, won the division’s lone heat race.  With his win, Sever now trails Awtey in the standings by one point.

West Newton’s Tom Golik won many races at dirt tracks in the 70’s and 80’s.  Despite several strong runs on the asphalt during the past few seasons, Golik had never tasted the spoils of victory on pavement; until Saturday night, that is.  Starting on the outside of the front row for the Modified’s 15-lap feature, Golik quickly shot to the lead over McKeeport’s Michael Walker, who started on the pole position in his first visit to Jennerstown Speedway Complex.  Points leader Bryan Shipp, from his third-starting position, would work under Walker for the runner-up spot as they were about to complete the second circuit and would take the position on Lap 3.  Shipp would close to within two car lengths of Golik over during the middle stages of the race.  Walker maintained the third spot with North Huntingdon’s Lou Botti holding down 4th Place and John Gerula from Boswell rounding out the Top 5.  Those position would not change as Golik slightly opened up his advantage over Shipp during the last couple of laps to collect his first checkered flag on pavement.  Golik, who won the heat race earlier in the evening, closed to within 15 points of Shipp in the division standings.

Anthony Aiello’s 2015 season at Jennerstown Speedway Complex has had its share of highs and lows.  From visits to Victory Lane to incidents on the track, the young driver from North Huntingdon has dealt with adversity to climb to the top of the J&J Truck Bodies and Trailers Street Stock point standings.   In seeking his third win of 2015, Aiello would have to do so from the sixth-starting position.  Scottdale’s Ron Eiford III came into the night second in points.  From his pole position, he would take the early lead of the 25-lap feature.  Zane Ferrell, from Ruff’s Dale, started second and mounted an early challenge to Eiford on the first lap.  His car slowed and subsequently pitted on Lap 2.  This moved Hollidaysburg’s Mel Wilt up to the second spot briefly before Aiello took the position before the completion of the lap.  As they were about to complete the seventh circuit, Aiello worked to the outside of Eiford.  Aiello completed the pass for the lead moments later.  Eiford began to slow on Lap 10, allowing Wilt to slip by for 2nd Place.  Eiford seemed to regain some power and attempted to retake the position, yet spun out on Lap 12 as he challenged Wilt.  Aiello held the lead on the restart while Stoystown’s Jason Holder moved past rookie Dustin Gursky for the fourth spot.  Eiford, who restarted last, again slowed and pitted; ending his evening.  Aiello held a comfortable lead over Wilt during the last half of the event.  Gursky, from Ridgeley, West Virginia, shot to the inside of Holder in Turn 4 on Lap 16 to regain 3rd Place.  Aiello would cruise to his third victory of 2015 over Wilt, Gursky and Jeff Thomas.  Holder and Eiford won their respective heat races.  Aiello holds a 25-point edge in the Street Stock title hunt.

Earlier this season, Andrew Pluta won the biggest Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘N Furious 4’s race held at Jennerstown this year; The Hillbilly 500.  Running a partial schedule, the Stoystown’s driver returned to action Saturday seeking his second win of 2015.  He would start the event in seventh with pole sitter Joe Laposky and rookie Casey Fleegle making up the front row of the 15-lap feature.   Fleegle took the early lead as Paul Koffler, Jr., who started eighth, passed Laposky for the runner-up spot before the second lap was completed.  Pluta would also overtake Laposky on the same lap.  Fleegle, Koffler and Pluta held the Top 3 positions for the first half of the race while points leader Cindy Rhodes, defending champion Steve Settle and Laposky waged a close battle for 4th Place.  Koffler, the winner of four features this season, slowed on Lap 8 and went pitside, moving Pluta up to 2nd Place.  As he exited Turn 4 on Lap 10, a blown right front tire sent Fleegle’s mount into the outside retaining wall to bring out a caution.  Fleegle’s crew changed the tire and returned him to competition for the restart.  The Top 5 consisted of Pluta, Settle, Rhodes, Laposky and rookie Kristin Lakin as the field went back to green.  As Pluta was holding off Settle for the lead, Fleegle was charging up through the field.  He would pass Laposky and Lakin in the last two laps before the checkers flew for Pluta.  Settle and Rhodes held onto the third and fourth spots, respectively, with Fleegle coming home in 4th Place ahead of Lakin.  Heat race wins went to Pluta and Fleegle.  Rhodes extended her points lead over Koffler, which stands at 29 markers.

Defending Chargers champion Steve Long has turned his car over to fellow competitors during the course of this season.  When he is behind the wheel, the Rockwood driver is always a threat to win.  Starting outside of the front row, he would chase pole sitter Jon Scott for the lead in the early going of their 15-lap feature.  On Lap 6, Long worked under Scott through Turn 4 to take the top spot.  Three laps later, Scott’s car got loose exiting Turn 2 allowing points leader Ron Eiford Jr. to challenge Scott for 2nd Place.  Working to Scott’s outside, Eiford took the position on Lap 10.  Long would go unchallenged the rest of the way to pick up Win#4 of the season.  He was followed across the line by Eiford, Scott, Pittsburgh’s Jason Garchak, making his racing debut, and fellow rookie PJ Molnar.   Long also won the division’s sole heat race.  Eiford holds a commanding 47-point lead over Scott in the standings.

The night culminated with the running of the Big John’s 100 enduro race.  36 cars started the event with Rich Nicola taking the lead on Lap 16 and holding it until the event ended on Lap 91 after reaching its one-hour time limit.  For his impressive win, Nicola earned $2,000 thanks to Morocco Welding, Memorial Highway Chevrolet, North Star Equipment and Tri-Star Motors.

This Saturday, August 22nd, is Martella’s Pharmacy Night at Jennerstown Speedway Complex.  The Super Cup Stock Car Series pays a visit to the Somerset County speed plant with twin 35-lap features in addition to Saturday Night Thunder’s 5-division program.  Also, Jennerstown’s Hall of Fame Class of 2015 will be inducted.  They include Fred Foster, Jeff Dunmyer, Hoss Grubbs and Jerry Claar.  Admission is only $10, $8 for senior citizens and free for children 12 and under.  Spectator gates open at 4PM.