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As the Diehl Auto Group DIRTcar Modifieds rumbled onto the Action Track, Swartzlander held a nine point margin over second place Kevin Bolland and 13 points over third place Jeremiah Shingledecker. And with the first two Track Championships being claimed by the points leader entering the night, it seemed inevitable that Brian Swartzlander would clinch his seventh Track Championship. But inevitable was not in the cards! After a disappointing finish to the late model feature, Dave Murdick took the green flag from the pole and took the early lead. Swartzlander’s championship thoughts got a slap in the face on lap three when he got some help spinning in turns one and two while running fifth. Staring down the rest of the field while facing the wrong way in turn two, Swartzlander took what appeared to be light contact on the right front with the 29D car of Dustin Martin. Swartzlander rolled into the pits to assess the damage, but returned to tail the field. Apparently the damage was significant as he spun again in turn two just two laps later and was drilled by Dustin Martin, knocking him out of the race and the title hunt. Swartzlander’s surprising DNF left the 2009 Track Championship up for grabs between Bolland and Shingledecker.

By lap five, Shingledecker had wrestled the lead away from Murdick, while Bolland restarted lap six in sixth place. In order to at least enjoy a share of the championship, Bolland needed to finish two spots behind Shingledecker. That scenario became more of a reality on the lap 11 restart as Murdick took the lead, relegating Shingledecker to second. Meanwhile, Bolland got around Skip Moore for fifth. By lap 15, Shingledecker took the lead back for the final time, but Bolland could not get around Dean Pearson who ran strong all night long! As the race progressed, Murdick had trouble keeping his Armstrong sponsored mount on the top cushion of turns three & four. He was faster than Shingledecker in turns one & two, but bounced around the cushion in turns three & four, losing significant ground on each lap. Perhaps trying to find a smoother line around the top of three & four, Murdick jumped the cushion coming to the white flag, allowing Shingledecker to pull away to a thrilling win of the race and to steal away the 2009 Track Championship!

By Lou Long, Modified Tour VP and PR Director, and Pam Baker, Modified Tour Secretary

Jeremiah Shingledecker, of Polk, PA, romped home with the BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour win at Mercer Raceway Park. The victory, worth $2,000, was his first of the Modified Tour season and second of his career.

The luck of the draw put Mercer regulars, Jimmy Holden and Eric Gabany, on the front row for the start of the feature event. At the drop of the green, Gabany took the lead, seeking the $1,000 Small Block bonus offered by promoter Vicki Emig. Gabany led the first two circuits before action was halted for the disabled car of Jeremy Paup in turn four.

On the restart, Jeremiah Shingledecker used the brute horsepower of his Big Block to take the lead as the field raced through turn one. He was unable to open any lead because the caution flag flew on lap three for Gary Smoker and Matt Reher, both of whom stopped on the back stretch.

The line-up for the restart showed Shingledcker on the point, followed by the Small Blocks of Gabany and Holden and the Big Block of Del Rouguex, Jr. However, the surprise was Brian Swartzlander, who advanced six spots in the early going.

A series of cautions occurred on lap four. The first was for a spin by Eric Gabany in turn four. Fortunately, the rest of the field was able to negotiate around him. During this stoppage, Jason Longwell was towed to the pit area. The second caution was for Joe Crawford, who came to a rest just off the second turn. Crawford ducked into the pits and was able to restart the event, as did Jeremy Paup. On the third try to complete the lap, a three car crash in turn four produced a red flag. The cars of Skip Moore, Rex King, Jr. and Brad Rapp took heavy damage, and were unable to continue the race. None of the drivers were injured in the melee.

Shingledecker and company finally got past lap four. During the five-lap run, Rougeux worked his way into second and Rex King, Sr. raced up to third. Holden was still hanging onto the fourth spot. Ron Cartwright caused the next caution when his engine blew up and caught fire.

The remaining 21 laps were completed without incident. With that long run, Shingledecker was able to open a full straightaway lead over Rougeux. Rex King, Sr., Kevin Hoffman and Brian Swartzlander rounded out the top five. Positions six through ten went to Dave Murdick, Frank Guidace, Dean Pearson, Joe Crawford and Tommy Mattocks.

The race behind Shingledecker for second was a heated battle between early leader Tom Winkle, Del Rouguex Jr. and Kevin Bolland. When the checkered flag waved is was Bolland (#777 of New Brighton) prevailing, with Winkle crossing the stripe third. Rougeux had to pit under caution on lap 21 and would eventually recover to finish ninth. Tri-City regular Joe Crawford (#25 of Polk) ran a solid race to finish fourth after starting 11th. Dave Murdick (#61 of Slippery Rock) finished fifth after a lengthy battle with Keith Swartzlander, subbing for brother Brian, whom was still feeling the after effects of the wreck at PPMS last month. Swartzlander was joined in the top ten by Dean Pearson, Erik Martin, Del Rougeux Jr. and Steve Feder. Heat races were checkered by Kevin Bolland and Del Rougeux Jr.

An “Invert Zero” redraw placed heat race winners Jeremiah Shingledecker and Rex King, Jr. on the front row of the 20-lap Engles Trucking DIRTcar Modified feature event. Youngster Rex King, Jr. led the first circuit before Shingledecker took command on lap two. The event, which went non-stop and was completed in six minutes and 47 seconds, was Shingledecker’s third Tri-City victory of the season.

 

The 20 lap featured event was marred by two caution on the initial start; the first for a spin by Brad Rapp and Andy Priest in turn one and the second for a spin by Kevin Green and Dustin Martin in turn two. When the green flag finally waved second place starter Rex King jumped into the lead and would paced the field for the first three laps until Shingledecker took command. Once in front Shingledecker would weather two cautions as he held on for the win.

Fellow Polk resident Joe Crawford has a great run to bring home a second place finish with King holding on for third. Del Rougeux Jr. (who started in the 20th spot) and Dean Pearson completed the top five.

 

“I want to thank my brother and crew chief, Travis, for getting this new Bicknell chassis dialed in. This is out seventh race with the new car and he had it hooked up perfectly,” said Shingledecker.

It was Shingledecker’s third consecutive year to claim the DIRTcar Modified opener at the Franklin, PA oval as he also captured last year’s opening day feature event.

Rasey, who had led the first 19 laps of the event settled for second over Andy Priest, Joe Crawford and Dave Murdick. The event was slowed by just one caution as a lap nine spin by Jeremy Paup also collected Rex King Sr., Rex King, Jr. Dean Pearson and Mike Turner. King Jr., Paup and Pearson retired from the event as a result of the incident.

Shingledecker and Crawford won the DIRTcar Modified heat events.

 

“It’s been a few years,” expressed the Stoneboro, Pa. driver. “I don’t ever really race. My brother just let me in his car and said have some fun- that’s what we did! This is a 358 he’s had for five or six years. He’s tore it up a couple times, but never bad enough to throw it away so here we are!”

Shingledecker raced off into the lead with Tom Holden and Jr. Baker in tow. Fifth starting Eric Gabany passed Baker for third on lap two then inherited second when Holden came to a stop with four laps completed. Gabany was all over Shingledecker on lap seven right before a caution for a spin by Dustin Martin. The man on the move was last week’s winner and 12th starting Gary Smoker, who drove under Jimmy Holden in turns one and two for third on lap eight.

The race was slowed for the third and final time when Martin and Jr. Baker spun with nine laps completed. Shingledecker’s only scare came on lap 12 when he nearly lost the handle coming out of turn four allowing Gabany to close. Gabany though pretty much ruined his shot when he got high in turn four the following lap.

Shingledecker’s win came in the Morton Building/Hands Welding/Steve’s Teez-sponsored #37MD. Gabany held off Smoker for runner-up. Jimmy Holden was fourth over 10th starting Frank Guidace. Sixth through 10th were Mark Frankhouser, Matt Reeher, Kevin Green, Rick Hall, and Martin. Heat winners were Frankhouser and Guidace.