Meehleib Earns First Win of the Season at Jennerstown
Awtey, Glessner, Giles, Mitchell, Berkey Continue Winning Ways 

JENNERSTOWN, July 9 – Rick Meehleib hadn’t been in the winner’s circle at Jennerstown since the mid-90’s, but the Stoystown, PA driver celebrated with the checkered flag in-hand on Saturday night. Meehleib racked up a bunch of second place finishes in 2021, but was never able to cross the stripe in first. That changed Saturday with a hard-earned win in the Ron’s Collision Center Street Stocks.

With Meehlieb holding onto the lead with four laps to go, defending champion Casey Fleegle, who has five wins of this own this season, was charging through the field. Dale Kimberly, trying to hold onto second, got into the back of Fleegle crashing the two cars.

On the restart, Meehleib had to hold off points leader Greg Burbidge. Burbidge started to the outside and held on as they battled door-to-door. Burbidge got loose and slid up the track and touched Meehleib, but the loss of momentum hurt Burbidge more than Meehleib who drove off for the win.

Meehleib joins Burbidge and Fleegle as the only drivers to win in a street stock so far this season.

Barry Awtey continued his dominant season with yet another win in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models. Awtey, already the track’s winningest driver, has now won half of the late model features this season with five trips to Stoney’s Beer Victory Lane.

After his win last Sunday, Awtey had to start in the back of the pack. With the fastest car in the field, Awtey picked his way through traffic. Mike Sweeney enjoyed a lead for the first 10 laps, but Bryan Shipp tracked him down. Shipp didn’t have the lead for long, though. Awtey soared through the field and grabbed the lead with 13 laps to go and drove off for his second consecutive win. The defending champion continues to lead the point standings.

An exciting finish is the Farmer’s Union Co-Op Chargers had fans on their feet. Nick Niemeic had led most of the feature, but Scott Mitchell closed the gap late in the race. Niemeic had thrown a few blocks to hold off Mitchell, but Mitchell had a strong run out of Turn 4. The two touched and Mitchell was able to finally make the pass with two laps to go. The win is Mitchell’s second of the year despite not running a full schedule.

After crashing a few weeks ago, Skylar Berkey brought a brand new four-cylinder car to the track on Saturday. After spending all week preparing the new car, Berkey was involved in a wreck in the heat race.

Despite the damage, Berkey drove his new car to the front of the pack. Points leader Johnathan Haburcsak wrecked on Lap 3. The restart put Berkey on the front row and he drove off for his second Somerset Trust Fast N’ Furious 4 win of the year. Caleb Vasos, Berkey’s teammate, finished second.

Teammates also finished one-two in the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified Division.

RJ Dallape, making just his second start of the year at Jennerstown, started on the pole. Dallape led the first few laps, but it didn’t take long for Doug Glessner to track him down.

Glessner, who drives a car owned by the Dallape family, made the pass around his teammate for the lead and earned the victory. The win is Glessner’s third of the season.

In the One Stop Auto Sales Pro Stocks, points leader Jeff Giles started on the pole and led every lap of the feature event on his way to his second win of the year.

The night was capped off with fireworks and a concert from local band Stampede. The events were in celebration of Jennerstown winning the ‘Advance My Track Challenge’ hosted by Advance Auto Parts. NASCAR and Advanced Auto Parts were on hand to present the winning $50,000 check.

Racing continues next week at Jennerstown Speedway as the Super Cup Stock Car Series comes to town for the frist time this season. Gates will open at 4 p.m. for fans. Racing gets underway at 6 p.m.