MARION CENTER SPEEDWAY July26, 2014

Marion Center Speedway competitors raced not only against their competition but also against the time and weather front moving into the area Saturday night July 26 for the evening’s program which also had Kid’s Bike Races on the schedule.  But it all came together with only a short rain delay after the bike races sponsored by Bertolini racing.  A short shower wet the track enough that it had to be run in again by the speedway staff which didn’t take long at all to complete and have an excellent racing surface once again for all five division features.

The Lias Tire Super Late Model feature was won by the only driver this season to make repeat appearances in the Integra Racing Shocks Winners Circle for the division, Doug Glessner from Johnstown.  Glessner picked up the checkered flag for the third time this season with a good lead built up for the finish Saturday night.  Starting on the pole, Glessner was able to maintain the lead throughout the 25 lap feature for a clean sweep of the race.  Billy Eash also from Johnstown finished second to Glessner and just ahead of Sammy Stile from Charleroi.  Fourth place went to Dan Lee from Windber and Dave Blazavich of Marion Center was fifth.  The rest of the field finished with Rod Phillips in sixth then Herman Bertolini, John Myers, Chad Helman and Bill Burns who didn’t finish the feature.  The Lias Tire Super Late Model heat race was won by Sammy Stile.

The Force Inc. Steel Block Limited Late Model feature was won by Bernie Whiteford from Hastings.  Whiteford also started on the pole and led every lap to capture the victory trip to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle.  Whiteford was challenged throughout the 20 lap feature by Cheyenne Reed and Gale Huey with Jeff Weakland close behind.  At the checkers it was Bernie Whiteford taking the win and Cheyenne Reed from Punxsutawney finishing second and Gale Huey of Glen Campbell taking third.  Fourth Lace went to Jeff Weakland from Hastings and Ronny Botenfield of Hopewell was fifth.  Rounding out the top ten in order were Joe Petyak, Tom Jobe, Levi Sikora, Frank Brocious and Carl Pierce.  The Force Inc. Steel Block Limited Latemodel heat races were won by Cheyenne Reed and Jeff Weakland.

The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Crate Late Models had their own feature Saturday night, and the twelve laps were enough to give Andrew Satterlee another victory for this season.  Satterlee raced against Corey Neal of Trade City and Mike Lauaghard from Twin Rocks for the win.  The Fourth competitor in the feature was Scott Ickes from Johnstown who didn’t start the feature.  At the finish it was Satterlee, Neal and Laughard.  Satterlee also won the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Crate Late Model heat race with Neal and Laughard switching places at that finish.

Nate Smith of Glen Campbell does it again in the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock feature, that is wins again!  Smith racked up his ninth victory out of a possible 12 this season.  Starting on the pole, Smith maintained the lead despite the efforts of Matt Hugill from Mahaffey.  Hugill started up front right beside Smith and raced hard against Smith to try to get the lead, but it wasn’t to be as Smith kept the front spot to himself the entire twenty laps for the familiar trip to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle.  Hugill kept the race interesting but settled for second place and Luke Barnett from Mahaffey beat out Ray Hickok, Jr. of Commodore for third place as Hickok pushed Eric Lingenfelter from fourth to fifth in the later stages of the race to keep race fans on the edge of their seats for the battle back in the pack.  Jeff Sweeney from Marion Center took sixth and was followed across the finish line by Matt Krause, Andy Burns, Tim Bish, Gary Furman, Jr. and Bill Mumau.  The W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock heat races were won by Luke Barnett and Ray Hickok, Jr.

Nick Fulmer from Marion Center won his seventh out of 12 possible features for the Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock division Saturday night at Marion Center Speedway.  Fulmer also started on the pole and made it a clean sweep to the Integra Racing Shocks Winner’s Circle.  Fulmer didn’t have it that easy though as Nick Erskine of Mahaffey stayed on his tail the entire race, even as the battle went into slower traffic, Erskine was right there to make sure Fulmer kept up the pace.  Fulmer was the winner with Erskine taking second and Jim Hamilton of Coalport finishing third.  Fourth place went to Chris Hickok of Commodore and David Beahr of Windber was fifth.  Completing the top ten in order were Ben Krause, Ryan Caldwell, Gary Stitt, Rich Waltman, Jr. and Brandon Lansberry.  The Willow Farm Campground Strictly Stock heat races were won by Ben Krause and Nick Fulmer.

The Marion Center Speedway Kids Club members were joined by non member kids to compete in the Kid’s Bike Races sponsored by Bertolini Racing at intermission.  Bertolini Racing always makes sure all the kids are winners at Marion Center Speedway with their donations of prizes and trophies.  Kid’s Club Members and others can keep up to date with what’s happening via the internet and our website: marioncenterspeedway.net, or Facebook and our blog.  You can also get race day information on Saturdays by calling the Speedway Race Day Hotline at 724-397-2108 (we do apologize that the hotline and other phones have been out of service and/or acting erratically lately), or now go online to RainedOut.com and follow the easy instructions to get race day text or e- mail messages sent to you if Marion Center Speedway is rained out.  Also stayed tuned to Froggy 95 for Speedway information and a chance to win free admission tickets.  That’s 95.5 on the FM dial for Froggy 95. 

Special thanks to the drivers, fans and staff for their continued support of the Potts family operating Marion Center Speedway for the past 48 years.  Thanks to our sponsors which include AmsOil, Butler Auto Supplies of Indiana, Colonial Motor Mart, Delaney Hyundai, Force Inc., Froggy 95, Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic, Integra Racing Shocks, Lias Tire and Auto Service, Mike’s Towing from Clymer, Tri-Star Motors of Indiana, W. G. Satterlee & Sons and Willow Farm Campground.  Special thanks to Bertolini racing for their help to sponsor the Kids’ Bike Races.  Race Fans, Rich’s Garage is now open to serve the community with oil changes, mechanical work, welding, painting and more.  If you need help with your vehicle call Rich’s Garage at 724-388-6462.  Rich’s garage is conveniently located at the Marion Center Speedway Complex on Potts Road.  See you next Saturday for a full five division racing program at Marion Center Speedway “The Thrill On The Hill.”