Bolland and Shingledecker Split Tri-City Loot
Kevin Bolland and Jeremiah Shingledecker each scored $2,000 wins at Tri-City Speedway in BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour action. Bolland’s triumph came in the completion of the annual Kodiak Memorial, which was halted after just 16 laps were run on May 29. Shingledcker’s victory came in the nightcap of the regularly scheduled holiday race.
Bolland, who was running second to Rex King, Sr. when the rains came, said that it was his goal to come out and win the Kodiak. He came to the track with a different set-up on his car than that which he used on Memorial Day weekend. “Every night is a new night, and we put a different package in the car and then we just adjusted from there.”
King Sr. had the point for the Delaware double file restart, but Bolland immediately began to apply pressure at the drop of the green. Bolland made a power move coming off turn two on lap 18 to take the lead and he never looked back.
King Sr. thought that he would get a shot at Bolland on lap 25, when the action was halted for the faltering car of Tommy Mattocks. During that stoppage, Jeremiah Shingledecker pitted for the first of his two flat tires. King Sr. did not capitalize on the opportunity, though, as he briefly surrendered second spot to Brian Swartzlander. King Sr. regained his momentum racing down the backstretch and took the position away from his challenger as they entered the third turn.
King Sr. would get another shot at the leader on lap 33, when the caution was displayed for his son, Rex King, Jr., who backed into the water barrels that sat atop turn one. The restart proved to be a bigger misfortune for King than the first one, as he drifted high in turns one and two, losing several positions.
Bolland won the two-lap dash for the cash. Dave Murdick took advantage of King’s miscue, and crossed in second. King Sr. came back for third. Swartzlander finished fourth. Eric Gabany, driving a 358 Modified, finished a strong fifth.
Shannon Whaley, Mark Flick, Brian Weaver, Chris Haines and Jeff Schaffer completed the top ten.
The Landrum Spring Racer of the Race award was conferred on Eric Gabany for his outstanding run with a 358 Modified.
Due to his prior win at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, Bolland was ineligible for the R2C Performance award. It was conferred on runner-up Dave Murdick.
In the night’s full feature, Jeremiah Shingledecker had things working to perfection. He chased down early leader Brian Weaver and the two waged a monumental battle before Shingledecker pulled away for the win. Their struggle had the fans on the edges of their seats for several laps, as the drivers had to navigate around several lapped cars while dicing for the lead.
In victory lane, Shingledecker said of the intense battle with Weaver in lapped traffic: “I was just biding my time, they (the lapped cars) were racing for position, too. I was just glad that I could get through without any incident.” He added that the win was like a homecoming for him, as he lives just down the road from the track and was a staunch supporter of Tri-City when it ran Modifieds on a weekly basis. The partisan crowd obviously approved.
As noted, Weaver jumped out to a quick lead over pole sitter Les Myers. The Reno Rocket fought Weaver for the first few lap before surrendering second to Shingledecker. Weaver was looking for second Modified Tour win of the week. However, Shingledecker was racing in second and the two put on quite a show in the early going, just as they did two nights before in a non-sanctioned race at Lernerville Speedway.
Shingledecker pulled even as they raced down the front stretch to complete lap 9 and he entered turn one with the lead. Weaver rallied back and took the lead again coming off the second corner.
Weaver would hold his lead for a few more laps until Shingledecker dropped to the low side coming trough turn four. Shingledecker emerged with the lead. He then opened a slight margin over Weaver, but heavy lapped traffic gave the New Yorker the chance to reel him in again. The racing was intense for several laps as they tried to outmaneuver each other and the lapped cars! Shingledecker squeezed through a small opening coming down the front stretch and Weaver got hung up behind a lapped car as they entered turn one. That gave Shingledecker a little breathing room.
A caution on lap 20 gave Shingledecker a clean track and Weaver another opportunity to challenge for the lead. However, instead of fighting for the lead when the race resumed, Weaver was now in a battle to keep second spot for Brian Swartzlander entered the fray. Swartzlander could not hold the spot for long, though. Indeed, Dave Murdick benefitted the most from the caution, as he would soon slip past Swartzlander for third.
In the final ten laps of the race, Murdick was the fastest man on the speedway. He tracked down and passed Weaver and set out after Shingledecker. However, time ran out on Murdick.
Shingledecker got the popular win, followed by Murdick. Weaver held on for third, ahead of Swartzlander and Brad Rapp.
Rex King, Sr., Kevin Bolland, Shannon Whaley, Rex King, Jr. and Mike Turner finished sixth through tenth.
Jeremiah Shingledecker was awarded the Landrum Spring Racer of the Race award for his amazing run through traffic to keep his lead. He also received the R2C Performance award as a first-time winner for the season.
Rod End Supply heat race wins were scored by King Sr., Mark Flick and Bolland.
There was no B Main.
No provisionals were needed to complete the field.
The next event for the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour will be held at Mercer Raceway Park on Saturday, August 13, 2011.
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.