Rohrbaugh and Mohelski take the checkers in Super Cup. Kuntz, Brink, Beam, Shelpman and Koffler add more hardware to their collections

Published: July 11, 2016

Rohrbaugh and Mohelski take the checkers in Super Cup.   Kuntz, Brink, Beam, Shelpman and Koffler add more hardware to their collections.

Jennerstown, PA   (July 9, 2016):   Before over 6,000 fans on Saturday, the Super Cup Stock Car Series made their first of two visits to Jennerstown Speedway Complex in 2016.  Codie Rohrbaugh, winner of three of the four SCSCS events held at the speedway, took the win in the first of two 50-lap events for the touring series.  2009 SCSCS Rookie of the Year Mike Mohelski made his return to the series memorable with a victory in the second 50-lap feature.  Saturday Night Thunder also featured the speedway’s regular five-division program.  Victorious during American Racer “Night at the Races” presented by Lias Tire were: Jeremiah Kuntz (Martella’s Pharmacy Late Models), Chris Brink (Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modifieds), Shawn Beam (Riggs Industries Street Stocks), Stephen Shelpman (Chargers) and Paul Koffler III  *** unofficial pending inspection *** (Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘N Furious 4’s).

The first of two 50-lap features for the Super Cup Stock Series saw Hopwood, Pennsylvania’s Bill Ashton lead the field to the green.  Outside polesitter Codie Rohrbaugh would jump to the lead at the drop of the flag.  Defending champion Dan Bainey of Clearfield, Pennsylvania quickly asserted himself into the runner-up position.  A spin by Brian Kaltreider with two laps completed brought out the caution.  Bainey edged past Rohrbaugh on the restart and led Lap 3 before Rohrbaugh would edge Bainey at the line on the next circuit.  While Rohrbaugh kept Bainey at bay at the front of the pack, a tight battle ensued between Mike Kurkowski, Points Leader Brent Nelson and ARCA veteran Bob Schacht who was making his first SCSCS start.  On Lap 11, Schacht worked around the outside of Kurkowski and Nelson to move into 3rd Place.  Two laps later, Nelson shuffled Kurkowski back to 5th as the lead duo pulled away from the field.  Bainey had another shot to reclaim the lead after a caution on Lap 19, but could not get by Rohrbaugh on the restart.  By the halfway mark, the Top 5 consisted of Rohrbaugh, Bainey, Schacht, Nelson and Harvey Harrison.  Rohrbaugh continued to extent his lead over Bainey who had his hands full as Schacht pressured him for the 2nd Spot.  Rohrbaugh would cruise to the victory with Bainey edging Schacht at the line for 2nd Place.  Nelson and Harvey Harrison rounded out the Top 5.

For the second 50-lap event for the Super Cup Stock Car Series, a redraw placed Codie Rohrbaugh, winner of the first 50-lapper on Saturday, in the fifth starting position.  Harvey Harrison started on the pole with Bob Schacht to his outside.  Harrison jumped to the early lead with Schacht in tow.  Dan Bainey and Rohrbaugh settled into the third and fourth positions respectively during the first six laps.  On Lap 7, Schacht got loose off of Turn 2 causing Bainey to check up.  This provided Rohrbaugh an opening to pass both and take over 2nd Place.  Three laps later, Rohrbaugh worked past Harrison to take the lead.   Bainey began to work to the inside of Harrison and claimed the runner-up spot on Lap 15.  Bainey began to close on Rohrbaugh as the leader encountered lapped traffic just past the halfway mark.  However, a light rain with 33 laps completed temporarily halted the action.  After diligent efforts by track personnel to dry the track, racing resumed with Rohrbaugh getting the jump on Bainey on the restart.  As they charged into Turn 3, Bainey made contact with Rohrbaugh, sending Rohrbaugh’s ride hard into the outer wall; ending his evening and chances for a double.  Bainey received damage in the incident, but was able to continue after repairs in the pits.  Also collected in the wreck were Points Leader Brent Nelson and Brian Harrison.  This moved Harvey Harrison back to the point with Schacht in 2nd Place, Allison Park, Pennsylvania’s Jeff Zillweger in 3rd, Mike Mohelski, Jr. 4th and Bill Ashton in the 5th Spot.  Once racing resumed, Schacht made several attempts to work under Harrison for the lead while the Top 5 ran in a tight bunch.  The driver on the move was Mohelski.  Mohelski, driving the car piloted in the first feature by Mike Kurkowski, took 3rd Place from Zillweger on Lap 43.  On Lap 47, Mohelski got by Schacht for the runner-up position.  A lap later, Mohelski took the lead from Harrison and held him off over the remaining three circuits to claim his second career SCSCS win.   For Mohelski, it was his first start in the series since 2009 when he won Rookie of the Year honors.  Schacht came home in 3rd Place.  Bainey, despite missing much of his front end sheet metal, rebounded to finish 4th.  Zillweger held on to finish in the Top 5.

Scottdale’s Bryan Ship led the first three circuits of the 40-lap Martella’s Pharmacy Late Model feature after passing polesitter Jeremy Hill at the drop of the green.  Todd Price ran in the 2nd Spot for the first two laps before being passed by Jeremiah Kuntz, who started the race in eighth.  Kuntz took the top spot on Lap 4 and started to motor away from the field as they battled for positions within the Top 5.  By Lap 10, the running order had settled in with Barry Awtey running 2nd, followed by Garry Wiltrout, Bobby Henry and Matt Sever.  On Lap 33, Teddy Gibala moved Sever out of his Top 5 standing while Kuntz continued to hold a very comfortable lead over Awtey.  Kuntz led 37 of the 40 laps to claim his second victory of the season.  Following him across the line were Awtey, Wiltrout Henry and Gibala.  Heat races were won by Kuntz and Sever.  Awtey leads Wiltrout by 10 points in the season standings.

Chris Brink, winner of four of the first six races this season, took little time to charge his way to the front of the 25-lap Stoystown Auto Wreckers Modified feature.  After starting 9th, Brink was already in the 3rd Spot by Lap 4; trailing leader Lou Botti and Jason Busch.  One lap later, Brink passed Busch for 2nd Place.  By the time the field made another trip around the Somerset County oval, Brink had displaced Botti for the top spot.  Botti would eventually fall back as Busch reclaimed 2nd with Adam Kostelnik running in the 3rd Spot.  On Lap 12, Kostelnik took over 2nd from Busch but was far behind Brink who had built up a four second lead.  As Brink continued to extend his lead during the course of the race, Kostelnik and Busch held their positions with Zane Ferrell and Tom Golik running 4th and 5th respectively.  Brink would go on to capture his fifth win of the season by crossing the line five and a half seconds over Kostelnik.  Busch, Ferrell and Golik complete the Top 5.  With his victory, Brink gained six points on Ferrell and now only trails by 22 markers in the championship battle.

Rockwood’s Steve Long jumped to the lead of the 25-lap Riggs Industries Street Stock main event as he passed polesitter Jason Holder.  Holder’s night would be cut short with a crash on the second lap which also collected Dustin Gursky and Aaron Van Fleet.  Once back underway, Long led the next three circuits before Hollidaysburg’s Mel Wilt took the top spot from the rookie driver.   Long quickly fell back behind Shawn Beam, Andrew Kostelnik, Lauren Butler and Anthony Aiello.  Beam continually pressured Wilt for the lead, yet Wilt held off the Somerset pilot for a number of laps.  On Lap 15, Beam found the opening he needed to take the lead from Wilt.  Five laps later, and with Butler pressuring him for 2nd Place, Wilt spun exiting Turn 4.  On the restart, Beam chose the outer lane and paced the field as they got back underway.  Heading into Turn 3, a three-wide battle resulted with Butler being the meat in the sandwich.  Contact from Kostelnik, who was to Butler’s inside, sent Butler into the outside retaining wall.  All told, seven cars were involved in the incident.  Several cars went pitside, but returned to racing.  Beam was able to hold off Aiello on the restart.  Kostelnik worked past Long to take over 3rd Place.  Mark Houser and Jason Lasky also found their way around Long.  Aiello and Kostelnik battled for the runner-up position in the waning laps as Beam went on to win his fourth feature of the season.  Aiello held onto 2nd ahead of Kostelnik, Houser and Lasky.  With his victory, Beam extended his lead in the points to 13 over Butler.

The first lap of Saturday’s Charger feature will be one that Justin Frampton will never forget.  Frampton, from nearby Bowell, is paraplegic and uses special hand controls to drive his racecar.  The rookie started on the pole for the 15-lap event and led the first lap before giving way to Tanner Friedline.  Over the course of the event, Points Leader Stephen Shelpman ran in 2nd but could not close the gap on Friedline.  Dale Kimberly, Scott Mitchell and Ron Eiford, Jr. held the remaining Top 5 spots during most of the race.  Friedline would beat Shelpman to the checkers by five car lengths.  However, Friedline was disqualified after post-race inspection.  Shelpman was declared the winner; his fourth victory of the season.  This moved Kimberly up to 2nd Place ahead of Mitchell, Eiford and Frampton.  Shelpman leads Mitchell by 49 points in the standings.

Veteran Larry Dunmyer started on the pole position for the 15-lap Somerset Trust Company Fast ‘N Furious 4’s main event.  But, it would be Brian Noel, from his third starting spot, who would lead the first two laps of the feature.  On Lap 3, Paul Koffler III overtook the Mount Pleasant driver for the lead.  From his 14th starting spot, Andrew Pluta charged his way to 2nd Place by the time the fourth lap was completed.  From that lap on, he was engaged in some tight and side-by-side racing with Points Leader Casey Fleegle.  Also having strong runs in the Top 5 were Joe Peifer and Cindy Rhodes.  While Pluta and Fleegle duked it out for 2nd, Koffler, with two wins already this season, began to run away from his closest competitors.  Fleegle took over 2nd with three laps to go, but Koffler had built up a straighaway lead on his way to taking the checkers.   A number of competitor’s cars are to be inspected in the coming week.  Unofficially, Koffler finished in 1st Place ahead of Fleegle, Pluta, Peifer and Rhodes.  Barring a change in the results, Fleegle leads Rhodes by 25 points in the division standings.

This Saturday, July 16th, marks the return of the ISMA Supermodifieds to Jennerstown Speedway Complex.  The program includes a 50-lap feature for the ultrafast Supermodifieds in addition to Saturday Night Thunder’s five-division program.   Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for children.  Spectator gates open at 4PM.   Racing begins at 6PM.