Blair Captures ULMS Debut Event, Lynch, Jr. Notches Another Sprint Victory, Greg Myers Gets First Ever Thundercar Checkered, Hess Jr., And Haines Get First Tri-City Wins of 2009.

By: Marcie L. Barlow  

Franklin , PA – May 3, 2009- The ULMS Late Model Series made their first ever appearance at the Tri-City Speedway with local Late Model Star Robbie Blair capturing the checkered.  In addition Ed Lynch, Jr. returned to the Tri-City Victory Lane in Super Sprint action with Chris Haines (E.F. Rodgers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stocks), Dave Hess, Jr. (RPM Auto Sales/Shawgo Real Estate E-Mods) and Greg Myers (Klapec Auto Body Thundercars) also picking up feature wins.  

Boom Briggs and Ron Davies led the 20 car ULMS Late Model field to the green flag with Davies leading the first 14 circuits before a fuel pump belt problem would force him to the pit area.  Briggs inherited the lead with Blair in second.  As the laps continued to wind down Blair slowly worked his way up to Briggs’ rear bumper.  Blair overtook Briggs on lap 23 and went on to lead the final seven laps of the event to pick up his first Tri-City Speedway win since 1997.  

“We definitely wanted to win this event before the hometown crowd,” stated Blair.  “I want to thank my crew for the fantastic setup.  The Specialty Products Rocket Chassis was really hooked up tonight.”  

Briggs held on to the runner-up spot with youngsters Jared Miley, Dave Hess, Jr. and Matt Lux completing the top five.  Lux started last in the 20 car feature field after switching to a backup car after his primary mount was damaged in heat race action.  

Miley, Blair and Briggs were victorious in Late Model heat race action.  

The “Apollo Rocket” Ed Lynch, Jr. picked up his 25^th Tri-City Speedway victory in the 30 lap Super Sprint event.  Local drivers, Bob Felmlee and Rob Eyler led the 24 car field to the green with Felmlee leading the first circuit.  Just as the yellow flag flew for a spin by Danny Holtgraver, an unfortunate miscue in turn one resulted in Felmlee striking the retaining wall and retiring to the pit area with a damaged fuel cell.  

When racing resumed, Eyler would lead the field for several laps until he was overtaken by Tim Shaffer on lap nine.  Shaffer’s lead would last just one lap as Lynch bolted by the former WoO star on the following circuit.  Lynch went on to win by a comfortable margin over All Star Circuit of Champions drivers Dale Blaney, Brandon Wimmer and Greg Wilson. 

Lynch, Cole Duncan and Tim Hunter captured the heat events for the 31 car field with Rod George picking up the B-Main.  

Chris Haines would lead just one lap the E.F. Rogers Plumbing and Heating Pro-Stock main event as he squeaked by Matt Thomas to pick up a well deserved victory.  Cochraton veteran Dave Ferringer and Haines paced the feature field with Ferringer pulling ahead to lead the first eight laps.  Thomas got by Ferringer with just five laps to go and appeared to be headed to his career first feature victory when Haines used the high side of the speedway to overtake Thomas at the flagstand.  

Thomas, Jason Johns, Jason Reagle and Ferringer completed the top five.  

Don Cramer and Randy Wyant were victorious in the Pro-Stock prelims.  

Youngster Dave Hess, Jr. used the knowledge he had obtained in the ULMS Late Model feature to assist him in securing his first RPM Auto Sales E-Mod win of the season.  Ron Roncaglione and Carl McKinney brought the field to the green with McKinney leading before Roncaglione took over on lap two.  

Hess moved from the sixth starting spot to second by lap four and cruised by Roncaglione on the next lap.  Hess was never challenged for the remainder of the 15 lap event and went on to claim the victory.  Tim Peterson, Roncaglione, Shawn Shingledecker and McKinney completed the top five.  

Hess also captured the E-mod heat race event earlier in the evening.  

An Invert 0 feature redraw placed Thundercar heat race winners, Greg Myers and Jon Huff, on the front row if the Klapec Auto Body Thundercar finale.  Myers led the first four laps before Huff got by to lead laps five through seven.  Myers perseverance paid off as he wrestled the lead away from Huff on lap eight and would go on to capture his career first feature event.  

Jeff Manners got by Huff in the closing laps to claim the runner-up spot with Huff, Bill Winters and Curt Bish, Sr. rounding out the top five.  

Racing action at the Tri-City Speedway will return next Sunday, May 9th as H&H Motorsports present a complete Five-Star Racing program for the Engles Trucking DIRTcar Big Block, Modifieds, the 4-Your Car Connection FASTRAK Late Models, the RPM Auto Sales/Sherry Shawgo Real Estate E Mods, E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks and Klapec Auto Body Thundercars. In addition the first 200 mothers will receive flowers courtesy of McElroy’s Flower Shoppe and the Tri-City Lady Racers will compete in a Pro-Stock Powder Puff event. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing starts at 6 p.m. Adult grandstand admission will be a family friendly $11.            

SUPER SPRINTS (30 Laps): 1. ED LYNCH JR., 2. Tim Shaffer, 3. Dale Blaney, 4. Brandon Wimmer, 5. Greg Wilson, 6. Tim Hunter, 7. Rob Eyler, 8. Rod George, 9. Kevin Schaeffer, 10. Todd Bauer, 11. Scott Bonnell, 12. Mike Lutz, 13. Garrett Krummert, 14. Carl Bowser, 15. Ralph Spithaler Jr., 16. Charlie Holben, 17. Tony Beaber, 18. Brad Knab, 19. Russ Sansosti, 20. Gale Ruth Jr., 21. Cole Duncan, 22. Danny Holtgraver, 23. Arnie Kent , 24. Bob Felmlee. DNS: Brent Matus, Bud Watt, Joe Butera, Lindsey Enscoe, Johnny Beaber, Eric Williams, Bill Jones Jr., Jack Sodeman Jr.  

ULMS LATE MODELS (30 Laps): 1. ROBBIE BLAIR, 2. Rick Briggs, 3. Jared Miley, 4. Dave Hess Jr., 5. Matt Lux, 6. Mike Blose, 7. Russell King, 8. Jason Dupont, 9. Brent Rhebergen, 10. Dick Barton, 11. Bob Close, 12. Mike Johnson, 13. Mickey Wright, 14. Darrell Bossard, 15. Billy Henry, 16. Jeff Hoffman, 17. Luke Hoffner, 18. Dave Norton Jr., 19. Ron Davies, 20. Rex King Jr.

E MODS (15 Laps): 1. DAVE HESS JR., 2. Tim Peterson, 3. Ron Roncaglione, 4. Shawn Shingledecker, 5. Carl McKinney, 6. Tim Engles, 7. Dan Davies, 8. Jeff Deeter, 9. Rick Pratschler, 10. Mike Eschrich, 11. Tyler Powell, 12. David Atkinson.  

PRO STOCK (15 Laps): 1. CHRIS HAINES, 2. Matt Thomas, 3. Jason Johns, 4. Jason Reagle, 5. Dave Ferringer, 6. Les Myers, 7. Rod Laskey, 8. Josh Seippel, 9. Jackson Humanic, 10. Scotty Carbaugh, 11. Bill Myers, 12. Arthur Edwards, 13. Ronnie Davis, 14. Randy Wyant, 15. Bob Sloss, 16. Don Kramer, 17. Nathan Kellogg.  

THUNDERCARS (12 Laps): 1. GREG MYERS, 2. Jeff Manners, 3. Jon Huff, 4. Bill Winters, 5. Curt Bish Sr., 6. Scott Kilgore, 7. Mike Dobrick, 8. Mick Broscious, 9. Patrick Fielding, 10. Joe Sloss, 11. Jason Swartz, 12. John K. Miller, 13. Charlie McMillen, 14. Dave Baker, 15. Ed Deloe, 16. Richard Swartz, 17. Regina Deloe