Revin' Kevin Bolland Hits Grand Slam
Kevin Bolland #777 pacing the field in a four-wide salute to the fans - Stivason Photos
While Bolland certainly did not run away with the win, the real race was behind him for second place. Jeremiah Shingledecker ran second most of the race but upstart youngster Rex King Jr. (#165 of Bristolville, OH) slid under Shingledecker in turns one & two to take second place on the back straightaway with two to go. One more caution slowed the field, but King Jr. (a.k.a. “Cooter&rdquo
crossed the stripe second behind Bolland. Dave Murdick (#61 of Slippery Rock) used the final restart to pass Shingledecker for third. Shingledecker finished fourth, followed by Rex King Sr. (#65 of Bristolville, OH) who rounded out the BRP Top Five. The rest of the top ten went to Jeff Hoffman in sixth, Mark Flick in seventh, Del Rougeux Jr. in eighth, Brad Rap in ninth and Dean Pearson in tenth. Mike Turner (#96 of Butler) won the B-Main, as Gary Smoker, Steve Feder and Tommy Mattocks also transferred into the 30 lap BRP/Diehl Modified Feature. Heat races winners were Rex King Sr., Rex King Jr., Jim Weller Jr. and Tom Winkle.Defending Lernerville Track Champion and BRP Modified Tour Champion Brian Swartzlander missed last night’s feature event as the result of a nasty accident at PPMS last weekend, but hopes to be back behind the wheel of his familiar #83 in two weeks when the Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds return to the schedule after a hiatus next week for the O’Reilly All Star Sprint Show. We certainly wish Brian Swartzlander a quick and complete recovery!
Bolland Again!
www.modifiedtourinc.com
When you’re hot, you’re hot, and nobody is hotter than Kevin Bolland on the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour. The veteran driver from New Brighton, PA scored his third Tour win in a row and fourth overall. The skien started at Lernerville Speedway last week and continued there on Friday. Sandwiched in between were wins at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway and Tri-City Speedway.
Although Bolland would lead 24 of the 30 laps, he did not have an easy time of it. Because the Mods caught yellow fever, Jeremiah Shingledecker and company had many opportunities to overtake him. Ironically, it was a yellow flag that set up Bolland’s winning move. After that, he was up to the task each time. Bolland credited his good starts to the powerful engine prepared in his father’s shop. “That Bolland Machine horsepower; we work on cam shaft design and we’ve come up with a good combination; the thing pulls off the corners.”
Lady luck smiled on Bolland once again, as he drew a front row starting spot for the 30 lap feature. However, the current DIRTcar Western Regional points leader, Jeremiah Shingledecker, would flank him. At the drop of the green, Bolland surged to the outside lane and grabbed the early lead over Shingledecker and Rex King, Sr.
Shingledecker stayed close, and snuck by Bolland on the inside in turn three on lap six. He would lead for six circuits. However, when the aution waived for the first of two cautions charged to Jeremy Paup, Bolland got another chance to flex his muscle. He drove around Shingledecker coming off turn four and grabbed the lead for good as the duo swept through the first and second turns. King Sr. remained in third, followed by Dave Murdick and Jim Weller, Jr.
Despite several more interruptions for minor skirmishes, the lead quintet continued to run in formation until lap 19. On that lap. Rex King, Jr. entered the top five. He came from eleventh on the starting grid. Behind him was Del Rougeux, Jr., the Modified Tour points leader entering this race. Rougeux came from deep in the pack, twentieth.
While still running sixth, Rougeux pitted to replace a flat right front tire during a caution on lap 26. At that time, Bolland still led Shingledecker. But, King Jr. was now in third. King, Sr. held down fourth and D. Murdick rounded out the top five.
The leaders again stayed in position through a couple more cautions. Behind them, drivers were swapping positions. Like Rougeux before him, Brad Rapp also came from deep in the pack to crack the top ten. He held the sixth spot through the final several restarts. However, he gave back a few spots on the final lap. Rapp’s teammate, Kevin Hoffman, was one driver who benefitted from Rapp’s misfortune, as Hoffman gained several positions in the final laps.
Bolland took the checkers, followed by the fast-closing King Jr. D. Murdick climbed to third. Shingledecker and King Sr. rounded out the top five.
Kevin Hoffman, Mark Flick, Rougeux, Rapp and Dean Pearson completed the top ten.
Heats were won by King, Jr., King, Sr., Weller and Tom Winkle.
The B Main was captured by Mike Turner.
The Red Bear Hand Cleaner “Clean Move of the Race Award” was conferred on Rex King, Jr. for his charge from eleventh to second.
The next BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour event will be on Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Eriez Speedway, Hammett, PA.
For more information check our website at www.modifiedtourinc.com.
The BRP Modified Tour ‘09 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Keizer Racing Wheels, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc., Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Red Bear Hand Cleaner, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker, and Randy Myers, the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.
Official Order of Finish: BRP/Hoosier Race Tire Modified Tour (Round 4): Lernerville Speedway: 30 Laps: May 29, 2009
1. Kevin Bolland $1,300; 2. Rex King, Jr. $870; 3. Dave Murdick $650; 4. Jeremiah Shingledecker $550; 5. Rex King, Sr. $500; 6. Kevin Hoffman $420; 7. Mark Flick $400; 8. Del Rougeux, Jr. $380; 9. Brad Rapp $360; 10. Dean Pearson $330; 11. Tom Winkle $320; 12. Jim Weller, Jr. $310; 13. Tommy Mattocks $300; 14. Gary Smoker $290; 15. Jeff Miller $280; 16. Chris Dye $260; 17. Carl Murdick $240; 18. Steve Feder $230; 19. Gene Kirila $220; 20. Mike Turner $200; 21. Jim Rasey $200; 22. Joe Crawford $200; 23. Jeremy Paup $200; 24. Mike Miller $200; 25. Garrett Krummert $200; 26. Carl Weatherby $200.
DNQ (all $100): Mark Frankhouser, Ron Eperthener, Ryan Hall, Eric Martin, Rick Ryder, Bryan Sadler, Shawn Fleeger, Rodney Beltz.
Bolland Doubles on Tour
Kevin Bolland captured Tri-City Speedway’s first of three events for the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour. It was Bolland’s second Tour win of the weekend and third overall.
Brad Papp and Dean Pearson led the way at the drop of the green flag for the 30 lapper. However, Crawford was the man with a plan, as he quickly worked his way to the front.
Close behind Crawford, who was seeking his first Tour win, Bolland executed a brilliant thread the needle move to go from sixth to fourth in one corner of the speedway. Bolland took second on lap 6 and started to track down Crawford.
Bolland got his chance on the restart after a caution on lap 9. Crawford took the high side, thinking that he could drive off the corner. When he hit the throttle, though, the tires broke loose and there may have been some contact between the leaders. Bolland got the better bite on the bottom and that allowed him to assume command. Bolland continued to lead Crawford through the middle stages of the race. However, action for positions in the top ten was hot and heavy. Rapp, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Del Rougeux, Jr., Kevin Hoffman, Gary Smoker, Dave Murdick and Rex King, Jr. were swapping positions lap after lap.
The race was marred by a major crash on lap 28. While fighting for position, Gary Smoker went three wide coming off turn two. He got into the backstretch fence. The car spun wildly several times and came to rest facing traffic. With the pack rapidly approaching his disabled mount, Skip Moore had no place to go. He went up over Smoker’s right front wheel and was launched high into the air. Moore flipped several times before coming to rest entering turn three. Moore’s new car was demolished. Smoker’s car sustained major crash damage as well and may require a new front clip. Fortunately, neither driver was injured in the melee.
This unfortunate event set up a two lap dash for the cash. Bolland got away cleanly and was chased to the checkers by Rougeux. Hoffman charged around the outside to take third, followed by Crawford and Shingledecker. Rounding out the top ten were Rapp, D. Murdick, Pearson, Tommy Kristyak and King, Jr.
The heat races were won by Bolland, King, Jr. and Andy Priest.
There was no B Main, as the speedway elected to start 29 cars. Jeremy Paup scratched from the B and was unable to start the feature.
The Red Bear Hand Cleaner “Clean Move of the Race Award” was conferred on Kevin Bolland for his amazing pass to move from sixth to fourth in turn four early in the feature.
The next BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour event will be held on May 29, 2009, at Lernerville Speedway, in Sarver, PA.
For more information, please check our website at www.modifiedtourinc.com.
The BRP Modified Tour ‘09 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Keizer Racing Wheels, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc., Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Red Bear Hand Cleaner, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker, and Randy Myers, the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.
Official Order of Finish: BRP/Hoosier Race Tire Modified Tour (Round 3): Tri-City: 30 Laps: May 24, 2009
1. Kevin Bolland $1,300; 2. Del Rougeux, Jr. $870; 3. Kevin Hoffman $650; 4. Joe Crawford $550; 5. Jeremiah Shingledecker $500; 6. Brad Rapp $420; 7. Dave Murdick $400; 8. Dean Pearson $380; 9. Tommy Kristyak $360; 10. Rex King, Jr. $330; 11. Jim Rasey $320; 12. Mike Turner $310; 13. Jeff Miller $300; 14. Tommy Mattocks $290; 15. Mark Frankhouser $280; 16. Ron Eperthener $260; 17. Rick Ryder $240; 18. Ryan Hall $230; 19. Steve Feder $220; 20. Gary Smoker $200; 21. Skip Moore $200; 22. Mike Miller $200; 23. Carl Murdick $200; 24. Kyle Fink $200; 25. Garrett Krummert $200; 26. Rex King, Sr. $200; 27. Andy Priest $200; 28. Brian Sadler $200; 29. Rodney Beltz $200. DNS: Jeremy Paup $100.
Bolland Catches Modified Mania at PPMS
Kevin Bolland, of nearby New Brighton, PA, scored the win in the Modified Mania 30 presented by Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc., at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
“When I picked that number (2), I knew that we would be OK,” Bolland said Saturday night after his win. He jumped to an early lead and led the entire distance on Dirt’s Monster Half Mile.
Bolland held control through the first caution, on lap 8, for Rick Ryder, Tommy Kristyak and Rodney Beltz. Behind Bolland, though, Mike Miller was putting on the race of his life. Miller briefly lost second to Rex King, Sr. at the drop of the green, but used the momentum coming off the high side of turn two to regain the position. He maintained it through the entire first half of the race. He slipped back one position, but pitted for a new tire while the race was halted on lap 22 for a major crash in turn one.
Battles trough the pack were furious as the 32 car field of Big Block Mods thundered around Dirt’s Monster Half Mile. Dave Murdick, Jeremiah Shingledecker, King Sr., Rex King, Jr., Del Rougeux, Jr., Joe Crawford and Brad Rapp were mixing it up lap after lap.
The action came to an abrupt halt on lap 22, when two cars tangled briefly in turn one. Brian Swartzlander was turned in the confusion and his car was hit hard on the left side by Phil Evans, who had no place to go to avoid impact. Others involved were Mark Flick, who backed into turn one’s wall, and Kevin Hoffman, who hit Flick. All four cars were unable to return, but, fortunately, the drivers did not require major medical attention.
When racing resumed, Jeremiah Shingledecker was positioned to take a run at the leader. Shingledecker had been turning quicker laps than Bolland before the red and many thought that he could take the lead away from Bolland. However, Shingledecker’s mount broke a drive flange and he retired from the event.
Racing was stopped again briefly for Jeremy Paup’s flat tire. He cut it down on some debris from the lapp 22 crash.
The heat races for the 37 car field were won by Kevin Bolland, Mike Turner, Kevin Hoffman and Rex King, Sr. The B Mains was captured by Dean Pearson, the Harrisville Hustler.
The Red Bear Hand Cleaner “Clean Move of the Race Award” was conferred on Mike Miller for his strong top five feature run until suffering a flat tire.
The next BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour event will be held on May 24, 2009, at Tri-City Speedway, in Franklin, PA. For more information, please check our website at www.modifiedtourinc.com.
The BRP Modified Tour ‘09 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Keizer Racing Wheels, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc., Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Red Bear Hand Cleaner, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker, and Randy Myers, the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.
Official Order of Finish: BRP/Hoosier Race Tire Modified Tour (Round 2): Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway: 30 Laps: May 23, 2009
1. Kevin Bolland $1,500; 2. Dave Murdick $1,000; 3. Rex King, Sr. $800; 4. Del Rougeux, Jr. $600; 5. Tom Winkle $550; 6. Brad Rapp $500; 7. Joe Crawford $450; 8. Jim Rasey $400; 9. Gary Smoker $350; 10. Rex King, Jr. $325; 11. Garrett Krummert $300; 12. Ron Eperthener $290; 13. Tommy Mattocks $280; 14. Ryan Hall $270; 15. Carl Murdick $260; 16. Brian Sadler $250; 17. Steve Barr $240; 18. Mike Miller $230; 19. Mark Frankhouser $225; 20. Rick Ryder $220; 21. Mike Turner $210; 22. Jeremy Paup $205; 23. Jeremiah Shingledecker $200; 24. Brian Swartzlander $200; 25. Mark Flick $200; 26. Phil Evans $200; 27. Kevin Hoffman $200; 28. Steve Feder $200; 29. Randy Chronister $200; 30. Rodney Beltz $200; 31. Dean Pearson $200; 32. Tommy Kristyak $200. DNQ (all $100): Jeff Miller, Shawn Fleeger, Kyle Fink, Skip Moore, Rich Whitney.
777 JackPot
The Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds rumbled onto the speedway next with most of the big hitters in rows three through six. Dean Pearson jumped into the lead on the opening lap from the second row, then his second starting row make Phil Evans Jr. took the lead. After an early DNF in last week’s feature, Kevin Bolland was on a mission last night. On the lap three restart, Bolland (#777 of New Brighton) looked like he was shot out of a cannon, moving up one spot on each of the next three laps before taking the lead from Evans (#38 of Greensburg) on lap six. Once in front, Bolland stretched his lead to almost half a straightaway until a caution slowed the field on laps 12 and 16 allowing Two-time Defending Track Champion Brian Swartzlander to restart alongside the leader. By lap 21, Bolland had stretched his lead almost a half straightaway again and appeared to be on cruise control with Sheetz Victory Lane in sight; but one final caution provided a green-white-checkered restart. Bolland, however, would not be denied the victory and held off Swartzlander and a hard charging Dave Murdick to take his second feature win of the season at Lernerville Speedway.
Despite the win, Bolland did not make up much ground in the Bud Points chase, as Brian Swartzlander (#83 of Leechburg), Dave Murdick (#61 of Slippery Rock), Jeremiah Shingledecker (#37MD of Polk) and Del Rougeux Jr. (#20D of Frenchville) rounded out the top five. The Bud Points chase in the Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds is the closest of any of the Fab Four Divisions and these five drivers are separated by just 15 points from first to fifth! Finishing positions six through ten went to Tom Winkle, Jim Weller Jr., Phil Evans Jr., Mike Turner and Mike Miller. Heat race victors were Swartzlander and Murdick. Up next for the Diehl Mods is next week’s BRP race.