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Mother Nature tries to steal the show at PPMS

For immediate release,

Imperial, PA

It was a steamy evening at PPMS for the second outing of the season. Mother nature would try to steal the show during the heat races when a thunderstorm put down a considerable amount of rain onto the grounds. With sunshine behind the storm, track officials decided to run the track in and keep the program moving. PPMS would see five heat races, a rain delay, and five feature events. Ben Policz (14B), from Rices Landing, would take advantage of a late-race restart to pick up the win in the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series feature event. Danny Rich (67X), from Imperial, picked up his first win of the season in the PPMS Pro Stock division, while Casey Grumling (77X), from Elrama, beat out a field of 16 cars to pick up his first win of the season in the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock division. Susie Rudolph (55), from Steubenville, Ohio, picked up her first win of the season in the Young Guns division, while Andy Garlinger (R88), from Hopedale, Ohio, made it two wins in a row in the Four Cylinder division.

In the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series 20-lap feature, John Mollick (60M), from Toronto, Ohio, would pull out to an early lead after starting on the pole. Hot on his heels was the 1ST of Christian Schneider from Pittsburgh. Mollick (60M) continued to lead through lap six but his car was causing a misfire on the long straightaways. Schneider (1ST) continued to gain on Mollick (60M) and on lap seven, Schneider (1ST) would dive under Mollick (60M) in turn two to take the lead. Policz (14B) would follow Schneider (1ST) around Mollick and move into the second spot. At the halfway point, Schneider (1ST) continued to lead the field while Policz (14B) was still in second, Justin Lamb (93X), from Findlay Township, was in third, Garrett Paugh (03), from Elkins, West Virginia, was in fourth, and Ron Hall (01), from Hookstown, was in fifth. Schneider (1ST) and Policz (14B) would contend with lapped-traffic with only five laps to go and it was clear that Policz (14B) would need a restart to catch Schneider (1ST). Bobby Springer (42), from Clinton, would help Policz (14B) out with two laps remaining when he brought out the caution as he bounced off the wall down the front straight. A two-lap shootout would ensue with Schneider (1ST) and Policz (14B) leading the restart. Policz (14B) would steal the lead on the restart, en route to his first PPMS win of the season. Following him to the line was, Schneider (1ST) in second, Lamb (93X) in third, Nice Dabecco (F1) in fourth, Garrett Paugh (01) in fifth, Ron Hall (01) in sixth, Matt Dobnak (42D) in seventh, Jamie Wrightsman (21J) in eighth, Tom Duratz (55D) in ninth, and Josh Stoica (22J) rounded out the top 10. Dabecco (F1) finished second but was docked two spots for passing before the cone on the restart. Heat race winners were Dobnak (42D) and Policz (14B).

Danny Rich (67X) was on a rail and would steal the show in the PPMS Pro Stock 15-lap feature, after starting fourth. Second-starting Joel Johns (M5), from Murrysville, had a good start, but Rich (67X) would take the lead on the first lap. Rich (67X) would have a half of a straightaway lead by the third lap and continued to dominate the event. Dave McManus (114), from Elizabeth, was forced to leave the race only three laps into the event with what appeared to be a blown motor, after starting on the pole. By lap 12, Rich (67X) had a half-track lead and would lead the field to victory in his first PPMS Pro Stock win of the season. Following him to the line was, Johns (M5) in second, last week’s winner A.J. Poljak (36) in third, Mike Harris (18H) in fourth, Josh Langer (11) in fifth, and McManus (114) rounded out the six-car field. The heat race winner was Rich (67X).

In the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock 15-lap feature, 16 cars would start the event with Frank Magill (05), from Jefferson Hills, starting on the pole. To his outside and starting in second was Eric Goldberg (X), from Pittsburgh. Making up the second row was Grumling (77X) in third, and Ed Shelpman (17P), from Pleasant Hills, in fourth. Defending champion Stephen Shelpman (17S), from Pleasant Hills, was set to start in the 10 spot but his car failed to start in the staging area and the race started with him in the pits. When the green flag dropped, Grumling (77X) would shoot to the lead in turns one and two. Grumling (77X) was already weaving through lapped-traffic by the third lap and he had a full straightaway lead by lap five. S. Shelpman (17S) got his car fired and joined the race on lap seven, but it was short-lived as he was forced to enter the pits only two laps later. Grumling (77X) continued to lead with a battle for second place going on behind him. Kayla McManus (171), from Elizabeth, would begin to press Goldberg (X) for his second place spot after starting eighth, but Goldberg (X) would keep his second place spot as lapped-traffic got in the way. Grumling (77X) dominated the event, leading the entire race, en route to his first PPMS win of the season. He was followed to the line by, Goldberg (X) in second, K. McManus (171) in third, F. Magill (05) in fourth, Matt Bernard (15B), in fifth, Marcus Simmons (68X) in sixth, Andrew Sutton (16A) in seventh, Karlee Kovacs (221K) in eighth, Tom Anton (13) in ninth, and John Gill (313) in tenth. Heat race winners were Grumling (77X) and Bernard (15B).

Susie Rudolph (55), would start on the pole in the six-lap Young Guns feature event. To her outside and starting in second was Kyle Janus (88), from Coraopolis. Last week’s winner Tony Magill (05), from Jefferson Hills, would start in third and Young Guns rookie driver Cameron Lambert (22), from Mars, would round out the four-car field. When the green flag dropped, T. Magill (05) would go for the lead below Rudolph (55) in turns one and two but Rudolph (55) would keep the lead. Rudolph (55) dominated the event, leading all six laps, en route to her first PPMS win of the season. She was followed to the line by, Janus (88) in second, T. Magill (05) in third, and Lambert (22) in fourth. The Young Guns did not run a heat race.

In Four Cylinder action, Andy Garlinger (R88) picked up his second win of the season and second win in a row. With other drivers racing elsewhere, Garlinger (R88) was the only Four Cylinder in action last night. The Four Cylinders did not run a heat race.

RESULTS

Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series feature (20) Laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name (car number) - hometown

1 - 5 - Ben Policz (14B) - Rices Landing

2 - 2 - Christian Schneider (1ST) - Pittsburgh

3 - 3 - Justin Lamb (93X) - Findlay Township

4 - 8 - Nico Dabecco (F1) - Bethel Park

5 - 6 - Garrett Paugh (03) - Elkins, WV

6 - 9 - Ron Hall (01) - Hookstown

7 - 7 - Matt Dobnak (42D) - West Mifflin

8 - 10 - Jamie Wrightsman (21J) - Cortland, OH

9 - 12 - Tom Duratz (55) - Carnegie

10 - 11 - Josh Stoica (22J) - New Cumberland, WV

11 - 4 - Bobby Springer (42) - Clinton

12 - 1 - John Mollick (60M) - Toronto, OH

Heat 1 (8) laps

Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]

1. Ben Policz - 14B - [5];  2. Christian Schneider - 1ST - [1];  3. Justin Lamb - 93X - [2]; 4. Garrett Paugh - 03 - [6];  5. Ron Hall - 01 - [3]; 6. Tony White - 27T - [7]; 7. Zachary Kane - 10 - [4];  

Heat 2 (8) laps

Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]

1. Matt Dobnak - 42D - [2];  2. John Mollick - 60M - [6]; 3. Nico Dabecco - F1 - [5];  4. Bobby Springer - 42 - [1]; 5. Jamie Wrightsman - 21J - [4];  6. Josh Stoica - 22J - [3]; 7. Tom Duratz - 55D - [7]

PPMS Pro Stock feature (15) laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name (car number) - hometown

1 - 4 - Danny Rich (67X) - Imperial

2 - 2 - Joel Johns (Mach 5) - Murrysville

3 - 5 - A.J. Poljak (36) - Baldwin

4 - 3 - Mike Harris (18H) - Bridgeville

5 - 6 - Josh Langer (11) - Imperial

6 - 1 - Dave McManus (114) - Elizabeth

DNS Daryl Charlier (112) - Midway

DNS Heath Close (77) - Shaler

Heat 1 (8) laps

Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]

1. Danny Rich - 67X - [3];  2. Dave McManus - 114 - [6];  3. Joel Johns - M5 - [2]; 4. Mike Harris - 18H - [5];  5. Daryl Charlier - 112 - [8]; 6. A.J. Poljak - 36 - [4];  7. Josh Langer - 11 - [1]; 8. Heath Close - 77 - [7];

Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock feature (15) laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name (car number) - hometown

1 - 3 - Casey Grumling (77X) - Elrama

2 - 6 - Eric Goldberg (X) - Pittsburgh

3 - 8 - Kayla McManus (171) - Elizabeth

4 - 1 - Frank Magill (05) - Jefferson Hills

5 - 7 - Matt Bernard (15B) - Oakdale

6 - 9 - Marcus Simmons (68X) - Beaver Falls

7 - 12 - Andrew Sutton (16A) - Monaca

8 - 5 - Karlee Kovacs (221K) - Carnegie

9 - 16 - Tom Anton (13) - Jefferson Hills

10 - 13 - John Gill (313) - Burgettstown

11 - 4 - Ed Shelpman (17P) Pleasant Hills

12 - 2 - Jacob Wiser (OU2) - Pittsburgh

13 - 15 - Mike Betsch (222) - Monaca

14 - 11 - Randy “Tank” DeBerardinis (121) - Monongahela

15 - 14 - John Hollister (11) - McDonald

16 - 10 - Stephen Shelpman (17S) - Pleasant Hills

Heat 1 (8) laps

Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]

1. Casey Grumling - 77X - [3];  2. Stephen Shelpman - 17S - [8];  3. Kayla McManus - 7 - [7]; 4. Eric Goldberg - X - [6];  5. Tom Anton - 13 - [4]; 6. Frank Magill - 05 - [1]; 7. Andrew Sutton - 16A - [5];  8. John Hollister - 11 - [2];

Heat 2 (8) laps

Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]

1. Matt Bernard - 15B - [6];  2. Marcus Simmons - 68X - [7];  3. Karlee Kovacs - 221K - [5]; 4. Randy “Tank” Deberardinis - 121 - [8];  5. Jacob Wiser - OU2 - [1]; 6. Adam Ferree - 17P - [4]; 7. John Gill - 313 - [3];  8. Mike Betsch - 222 - [2];

Young Guns feature (6) laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name (car number) - hometown

1 - 1 - Susie Rudolph (55) - Steubenville, OH

2 - 3 - Tony Magill (05) - Jefferson Hills

3 - 2 - Kyle Janus (88) - Coraopolis

4 - 4 - Cameron Lambert (22) - Mars

Young Guns did not run a heat race

Four Cylinder feature (6) laps

Finishing spot, starting spot, driver name (car number) - hometown

1 - 1 - Andy Garlinger (R88) - Hopedale, OH

Four Cylinders did not run a heat race

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