Northeastern Pa. Teammates Win at Jennerstown
Samantha Osborn makes late race pass for first win

 JENNERSTOWN, June 18 – Nineteen-year-old Samantha Osborn started just her second race ever at Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday night, but capitalized on a late caution and restart to drive to her first win in the One Stop Auto Sales Pro Stocks.

Jeff Giles started on the front row and led the first 17 laps. With three laps to go, Osborn was battling with Adam Kostelnik for second. Kostelnik, whose car broke when leading the race a week ago, suffered another bout of misfortune. Kostelnik’s car’s back end broke and brought out the caution.

The yellow flag eliminated Giles’ three-second lead and setup a restart with Giles and Osborn on the front row. Giles had the lead for one lap, but Osborn made the move to the lead with two laps to go and drove to her first career win at Jennerstown.

Osborn’s crew continued celebrating later in the night when teammate Mike Sweeney drove to his second career win in the Martella’s Pharmacies Late Models. Sweeney led all 30 laps of the feature for a dominating win.

For the last three years, Osborn has traveled to Jennerstown with Sweeney to work on Sweeney’s crew. She has raced quarter midget cars and is competitive in iRacing - online simulated racing. The two travel four hours on Saturday nights to Jennerstown from eastern Pennsylvania.

In the Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified Division, Tom Golik earned his second win in a row despite suffering damage during the race. On the fourth lap, Joey School got loose in front of Golik. Golik had nowhere to go and drove into the side of School, but kept going. The yellow flag flew again before completing a lap when Jason Busch and Adam Henry got together in Turn 3.

On the next restart attempt, Doug Glessner and John Fama started on the front row. Coming to the green flag, the two touched and Fama ended up riding the outside retaining wall on two wheels. The crash created a scary scene in Turn 1 when Anthony Fama, John’s nephew, moved left to avoid the wreck and hit Cindy Shaulis causing an even bigger wreck. Everyone walked away from the crash after being evaluated by emergency services.

When the race went back to green, Golik started on the front row, took the lead, and drove to the win. Glessner finished second. Jason Busch raced his way back up for a third-place finish.

Nate Valente picked up his first win of the season in the Farmers Union Co-Op Chargers. Valente started on the pole and led every lap of the feature. Steve Singo worked his way through the field and closed the gap on Valente, but Valente held of Singo on the last lap for the win.

In the Somerset Trust Fast N’ Furious 4’s, Lance Shawley drove his way from fifth to second when the caution flew for Brianna Mohle and Donald Hillegass. The restart put Shawley on the front row with points leader Jonathan Haburscak. Shawley got the lead off the restart and didn’t look back. Shawley’s dad, Dennis, finished second. Haburscak ended up third.

It appeared that Casey Fleegle had won his fourth race of the season in the Ron’s Collision Center Street Stocks, but the defending champion was disqualified in post-race inspection. On the last lap, Greg Burbidge passed Dale Kimberly for second. Fleegle’s disqualification gives Burbidge his second win of the season.

The Somerset Trust Company is sponsoring a First Responders Appreciation Night at Jennerstown Speedway next Saturday night. The night will also feature an autograph session for fans to meet the local Jennerstown drivers and get their autographs. Visit jennerstown.org for more information.