NASCAR Truck Series winner Cale Gale made the trip from North Carolina to compete for the first time at Jennerstown Speedway Complex on Saturday, June 13, 2020, and earned a victory in the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division of racing. Three former Jennerstown Champions also celebrated in Stoney's Beer Victory Lane: Aaron Van Fleet (Ron's Collision Center Street Stocks), Dale Kimberly (Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers) and Evan Nibert (Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinders). The Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division raced for a significantly increased payout in an extra-distance special event, the “Total Mobility Services 30.” Young R.J. Dallape won the event, after a thrilling battle.
Alabama-born Cale Gale has been residing in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, since being hired to drive for the famous Kevin Harvick Racing team years ago. Gale, a winner of multiple ARCA Super Car Series events, and a winner in the NASCAR Gander Truck Series, began his career in Late Model racing, following is his father’s footsteps. Saturday night at Jennerstown Speedway, Gale climbed into the Mark Smith Racing machine for the first time, to battle the local stars of the Martella's Pharmacies Late Model division. Smith was the 2006 Jennerstown Speedway Champion as a driver, but now focuses on his racing suspension business, reducing his career as a wheelman. Gale finished second in his preliminary heat race to start the night, and by sheer luck Gale started from row one in the 30-lap feature race (after the random drawing for top starting spots). Defending Champion Teddy Gibala started from the pole position, but Gale snagged the lead in turn one and led his first lap of feature racing at Jennerstown. On lap two, Barry Awtey passed Gibala for second place. Awtey, a five-time Champion, remained three car-lengths behind leader Gale in the early stages of the race. Albert Francis, a touring series pro from Ohio won his heat race for the second time in two events this year. Francis then started the feature race in ninth place on Saturday night. Young Francis passed sophomore Paul Fess, Jr. for fifth place on lap three and passed former Modified winner Jarred Barclay for fourth spot on lap four. In the middle stages of the race, the top four remained separated from one another in the order of Gale, Awtey, Gibala, and Franics. In spite of the strong burst at the start, Francis’ climb from the mid-pack starting position would level off, as Gibala, remained ahead of Francis for the duration of the event. Gibala was the leading winner of 2019. At times, Awtey seemed to be gaining slightly on leader Gale. But, the all-time leading Jennerstown winner would eventually settle for second place, losing ground to Gale in the final stage of the event. No caution flag incidents occurred during the race, and Gale turned his first Jennerstown visit into a trip to Stoney’s Victory Lane. He spoke highly of the stellar handling of the Brooks Services/MS Shock Therapy, #44 car.
“The car just got better and better every lap, so I can’t thank Mark (Smith) enough for the amazing setup he gave this car. My girlfriend and I really like it up here, so I’m pretty sure we will be back more than once,” Gale predicted. The official top five finishers were Gale, heat race winner Awtey, Gibala, Francis, and Fess.
The Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds competed for extra dollars and extra laps in the evening’s grand finale – the “Total Mobility Services 30.” A rookie driver to paved-track racing started on the outside of row one, John Fama. Fama, a long time dirt track racer lined up alongside the previous week’s winner, R.J. Dallape to take the green flag. Dallape pulled ahead of the rookie when the race was launched. Dallape led the first lap, in large part, due to the “luck” of drawing the pole position in a random draw for the top eight starting spots. Dallape maintained his lead by sheer speed and talent, however. Veteran Tom Golik started third and moved into the second position on lap two. Golik who showed great strength in dominating his heat race early in the night, held the runner-up spot until the midpoint of the race. Golik never seriously threatened Dallape’s lead, and on lap 16 Anthony Aiello passed Golik for second place. Aiello, the defending Champion, started eighth and quickly reeled in leader Dallape. Close friends off the track, Aiello and Dallape thrilled the fans with a tense fight for the top spot in the closing laps. Once making light contact, Aiello was nearly door-to-door with Dallape in the final laps. But second generation racer, Dallape, held the lead and crossed the finish line exactly one car length ahead of Aiello to score the big win. A former 4-Cylinder winner, Dallape also scored a giant paycheck, with special a event win in 2019, and is now “two for two” in the opening events of 2020. Aiello, Golik, Adam Kostelnik, and “Racin’ Jason” Busch completed the top five. Busch, who won his heat race, rallied from the tail of the field after a spin on lap six, while battling Aiello.
Rookie Jeff Barclay launched from the pole starting position, when the 20-lap Ron's Collision Center Street Stock feature race began. But the division’s defending Champion officially led lap one, after winning his heat race earlier in the night - Aaron Van Fleet. Van Fleet showed great determination one week prior, climbing from the tail of the field to a second place finish on opening night 2020. In round two, he outran all competitors for the entire distance of the race. Barclay was the runner up for six laps, before Casey Fleegle claimed second place. Although he won the previous Saturday, Fleegle was not able to gain ground on Van Fleet, and the event was contested without a caution flag. Veteran Mel Wilt, who led during the feature race a week earlier, advanced from fifth starting spot to third in the middle stages of the race. When the checkered flag was displayed, Van Fleet cruised to an easy victory, in defense of his 2019 title, and eighth-starting Fleegle placed second ahead of Wilt. Rick Meehleib, a winner in the 1990’s, scored a fourth place finish ahead of heat race winner Angie Kimberly who crossed the line in fifth position.
Kyle Burkholder started in third place for the 15-lap Farmers Union Co-Op Charger division feature race, and he grabbed the lead on lap two, passing New Jersey driver Bryan O’Shea. A rookie, and former dirt track racer, Burkholder maintained the lead for almost half of the event, in only his second race at Jennerstown’s pavement. But, on lap seven, defending Champion Dale Kimberly grabbed the top spot. Both leaders were displaying heavy tire smoke, and sliding their machines through the turns every lap. Kimberly earned his second straight victory by a few car lengths when the race came to a close. Kimberly also won his heat race. Burkholder was impressive, nailing down a second place finish, ahead of veteran Scott Mitchell. Mitchell, a former Champion, also won a heat race before finishing third. O’shea and local favorite Steven Singo completed the top five.
Former Somerset Trust Company Fast 'n Furious 4-Cylinder Champion Evan Nibert had a memorable night, after he made his first start in a Modified, and won the 4-Cylinder feature race, which he dedicated to his niece who is recovering from health issues. Sophomore driver Michael Strouse won a heat race and led the first six laps of the 15-lap feature. But Nibert, in car number seven, took the lead on lap number seven, to score an emotional first win of the year. Strouse finished second, ahead of the opening night winner, Jeff Vasos who started twelfth and gained nine positions during the event. Vasos also won his heat. Former dirt tracker Rick McNulty placed fourth as a rookie, and 2019 winner Michael Saler finished in fifth position.
Saturday, June 20th, Jennerstown Speedway Complex presents round three of “5 Division Racing” for 2020, with gates opening at 4pm and racing at 6pm. For more information visit www.jennerstown.org
