Kuntz Wins Back To Back; Rech Wins First of the Year at Jennerstown

Published: July 2, 2017

(Jennerstown, PA)  Jeremiah Kuntz, of Mahaffey, PA, scored his second consecutive win in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model division of racing at Jennerstown Speedway Complex, after the leaders collided with just three laps to go.  Also on July 1, 2017, Pete Rech earned his first win of the year in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified division.  Josh Coughenour also became a back-to-back winner in the J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks, while Jason Pritts won for the third time this year in the Famers Union Co-Op Chargers.  Young R.J. Dallape won for the second time in his career in the Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinders, after fans were treated to a pre-race, on-track, autograph session courtesy of MedExpress.

Excitement and controversy had the large crowd on their feet at the conclusion of the 30-lap Martella’s Pharmacies Late Model feature event.  Veteran Todd Price grabbed the lead from pole starter Rick Boyer to lead lap number one.  On lap two, former Track Champion, Garry Wiltrout powered into the top spot, after starting fourth.  Price remained the runner-up for nine laps, until Matt Sever advanced from his eighth starting position.  When Sever took over second place on lap ten, Wiltrout had built a comfortable lead over the field.  Sever started to close the distance between himself and the leader, and was able to haunt Wiltrout’s rear bumper with ten laps to go.  Sever, also a former Champion, parked in victory lane two weeks prior.  Wiltrout won early in 2017, so the battle for the lead involved two of the season’s five different winners, and became a hotly contested fight on lap 25.  Then, with three laps to go, the lead duo made contact on the front straight, sending Wiltrout’s car spinning into the outside wall toward turn one, heavily damaging the front end.  As fans gasped, the leader’s car was towed into the pits, retiring from competition.  Sever drove away from the incident with no damage, but track officials placed him at the tail of the field for the restart, since he was involved in the caution-flag incident.  Previous week’s winner Jeremiah Kuntz inherited the lead on lap 27, when racing resumed.  Kuntz became only the second driver to win more than once in 2017, as he drove a flawless three laps to the checkered flag.  Price was second at the restart, but a late race charge by ninth place starter, Barry Awtey, pushed Price back in order.  Awtey, the defending Champion, was involved in a multi-car spin early in the race, but rallied to a second place finish, as the only other repeat winner this season.  Bryan Shipp advanced late in the race to claim third place, followed by Price and Mike Hemminger, who finished fifth, after also coming from the tail of the pack, following a spin.  Kuntz increased his margin as division point standings leader, after the win, driving his Kuntz Motors/”Jesus Is The Answer”/Dodge number 7 machine. New rivals, Sever and Wiltrout also won the heat races.

A similar fate awaited the leaders in the 20-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified feature race.  Early season winner Tom Golik started from the pole position, and took the lead on lap one, with Dustin Gursky following closely.  On lap four, points leader Chris Brink advanced into second place after starting seventh.  But, on lap five, previous week’s winner “Racin’ Jason” Busch passed Brink for the runner-up position, and began to challenge leader Golik.  Busch started tenth, and while attempting to take the lead from Golik on lap seven, the leaders touched on the back straight, sending Golik for a spin and forcing a caution flag.  Brink, the leading winner of 2017, headed to the pits with broken front suspension after the caution flag was displayed. Officials placed Busch at the rear of the pack for the restart, since he was involved in the incident that halted the racing.  Young Patrick Waugh inherited the lead, and held the position for two circuits.  At the midway point of the race, Pete Rech made the winning pass, darting around Waugh for a lead he would never relinquish.  Defending Champ Zane Ferrell advanced to second place after starting eighth, and looked strong, but not strong enough to earn his first victory of the year.  Former dirt track star, Rech, who started in ninth plave, took the checkered flag for the first time in 2017, as Ferrell earned second position.  Busch rallied to finish third, ahead of Waugh, and veteran Gary Scott, who placed fourth and fifth respectively.  Brink and Golik won the heat races.

The J&J Truck Equipment Street Stocks’ 20-lap feature ended in a thrilling photo finish, with the crowd whipped into a frenzy, as a pair of popular drivers crossed the finish line, door-to-door.  At the start, early season winner Aaron Van Fleet grabbed the lead from veteran Jason Holder.  On lap four, previous week’s winner Josh Coughenour took the lead, and opened up a giant interval over the field.  On lap eleven, Anthony Aiello took the second position from Van Fleet, but it was a distant second to leader Coughenour.  Fifth place starter Lauren Butler advanced to third place and began to challenge Aiello. Butler, a winner earlier this year, was threatening to move into second place, while she and Aiello began to cut down the space between themselves and leader Coughenour.  Coughenour’s comfortable advantage evaporated to barely a car length with two laps to go, with Aiello on his rear bumper.  On the final lap, Butler moved to the outside lane, passing Aiello for second and pulling alongside Coughenour.  With the checkered flag waving, Coughenour beat Butler to the line by inches for his second victory, after starting the race in sixth position.  Butler’s last lap effort earned her second place to Coughenour in the race – and in the points – as the duo are atop the 2017 standings in the same order.  Aiello, Van Fleet, and Holder completed the top five in the finish order.  Coughenour and Van Fleet were also the heat race winners.

After a multi-car melee at the start of the 15-lap Famers Union Co-Op Charger feature damaged the cars of three 2017 winners, a complete restart was required.  Steve Long, Tanner Friedline, and Dale Kimberly were all involved in the incident, with Long and Friedline unable to continue.  Veteran Scott Mitchell led the first four laps, seeking his first win of the year.  But on lap five, Jason Pritts made the winning move, slipping beneath Mitchell for the lead.  Kimberly, the previous week’s winner, advanced from the tail of the field, and despite visible damage, was able to reel in Pritts late in the race.  Pritts defended his lead and claimed his third win of his racing career – also the third of 2017, and earned a $100 cash bonus from the division sponsor.  Kimberly and Mitchell placed second and third.  Joe Ruskey earned a season’s best, fourth place finish, and ninth place starter Justin Frampton placed fifth.  Friedline and Mitchell were the heat race winners.

Young R.J. Dallape scored a career-first victory two weeks prior, after dominating a Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘n Furious 4-Cylinder feature event.  Similarly, his second career win was earned with another impressive display of speed.  Dallape won his heat race, then led every one of the 15 laps in the feature event, to drive to victory lane unchallenged and become one of three repeat winners in the division this year.  Cindy Rhodes, also a winner this year, started sixth and finished second, with two-time winner Evan Nibert finishing third after winning his heat.  Consistent Brian Noel placed fourth, ahead of division points leader Brent Bickerstaff, who finished fifth.

Saturday July 8, the Super Cup Stock Car Series tour visits Jennerstown Speedway Complex, to compete in two 50-lap feature races, at regular general admission ticket prices.  The Martella’s Pharmacy Late Models will compete in heat and feature events, while the other Jennerstown divisions will compete in features, only.  Super Cup time trials begin at 5:00pm, with racing at 6:00pm.

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