Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway

8/13/2019

Lukon Wins 30th Annual Jook George Memorial

For immediate release,

Imperial, PA

August 10, 2019

There was a fall chill in the air for what used to be called The Fall Classic at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway, the Jook George Memorial. The 30th Annual Jook George Memorial would go down in the history book as one to remember for the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series. PPMS would see qualifying, seven heat races, two B-mains, a six-lap Dash, a Non-Qualifier feature and five A-main feature events, including the 50-lap 30th Annual Jook George Memorial. PPMS local, Kyle Lukon (184), from Burgettstown, would win the 50- lap marquee event, taking home $11,610. Chad Sines (15), from Orwell, Ohio, would take the win in the Non-Qualifier feature. In the PPMS Pro Stock feature, Ryan Moyer (13X), from Portersville, would bring home his first career PPMS victory. Tyler Fox (39F), from Pittsburgh, would pick up the win in the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock Feature, while Andy Garlinger (R88), from Hopedale, Ohio, would pick up another Four-Cylinder victory and continue his domination in that division. Garlinger (R88), has won every Four Cylinder feature this season at PPMS. Susie Rudolph (55), from Steubenville, Ohio, also continued to dominate the Young Guns division, picking up another victory.

42 Diehl Automotive RUSH Late models would try for 26 starting spots for a chance at the $10,010 to-win, A-main for the 30th Annual Jook George Memorial. Lukon (184) would set the fast time in qualifying with a time of 20.197. Colton Flinner (48F), from Allison Park, wasn’t far behind Lukon (184), with a time of 20.260, a 0.063-second difference. The top two from each heat race would make it into the redraw for the Dash. The six-lap Dash would determine the top eight starting spots for the 50-lap main event.

Lukon (184) and John Mollick (60M), from Toronto, Ohio, would start on the front row of the Dash. Ross Robinson (7R), from Georgetown, Delaware, would start in third, Alex Ferree (184X), from Valencia, would start in fourth, as he was driving Lukon’s (184) backup car, Braden Dillinger (14D), from Dawson, would start in fifth, Flinner (48F) would start in sixth, Mike Reft (9R), from Whitehall, and former Jook George Memorial winner, would start in seventh, and Matt Latta (21L), from Andover, Ohio, was set to start in eighth, but did not start due to an unknown issue. Mollick (60M), took the checkered flag in the Dash, with a 1.390 second lead over the field, ensuring him the pole position in the 50-lap main event. Lukon (184) would finish in second, Ferree (184X) in third, Robinson (7R) in fourth, Dillinger (14D) in fifth, Flinner (48F) in sixth, Reft (9R) in seventh, and Latt (21L) in eighth with the DNS. That finishing order would be the top eight starting spots in the 50-lap main event, but two B-mains would first ensue.

The top two from each B-main would transfer to the main event. In the first B-main, Justin Lamb (93X), from Findlay Township, would take the checkered flag and transfer to the big show. Dan Angelicchio (14), from Mount Pleasant, would finish in second place, behind Lamb (93X), and also transfer to the main event. Mike Duritsky (90J), from Masontown, would win the second B-main, and Scott Gunn (14G), from McDonald, would finish second, with both transferring to the 50-lap main event.

With the lineup set for the 30th Annual Jook George Memorial, it was showtime, and when the green flag dropped, Lukon (184), Ferree (184X) and Mollick (60M), would come out of turn two three-wide. Lukon (184) and Ferree (184X) would split Mollick (60M) with Lukon (184) taking the lead, Ferree (184X) taking second, and Mollick (60M) taking third. On the next lap, Mollick (60M), would take the second spot from Ferree (184X), knocking him back to third. Ferree (184X) and Flinner (48F) would engage in a battle for third place, which lasted for several laps. On lap three, Mollick (60M) would get a good run coming off of the high-side of turn four and would challenge Lukon (184) for the lead in turns one and two. Mollick (60M), would throw a slider on Lukon (184) coming out of turn two and he would take the lead, as the field headed onto the backstretch. Lap seven would see the first caution, slowing the pace. Mollick (60M), would choose the outside on the restart with Lukon (184) in second, Ferree (184X) in third, and Flinner (48F) in fourth. When the field returned to green, Mollick (60M) would keep the lead, with Lukon (184) staying in second, and Ferree (184X) and Flinner (48F) would continue their battle for third place with Flinner (48F) taking the spot coming off of turn four. Robinson (7R) attempted to take the third spot off of Ferree (184X) on lap 10, but Ferree (184X) would shut the door on him and keep his third-place spot for the time being. Mollick (60M) would start to contend with lapped traffic on lap 16, allowing Lukon (184) to begin to close the gap on the race leader. The field would reset on lap 17 when the caution came out for Angelicchio (14), who hit the wall hard in turn four. Mollick (60M) would choose the outside on the restart with Lukon (184) in second, Flinner (48F) now in third, Ferree (184X) in fourth, and Robinson (7R) in fifth. When green replaced yellow, Ferree (184X) had a great restart and would go three-wide with Mollick (60M) and Lukon (184) into turn one. As the trio was coming off of turn two, Flinner (48F) tried to go to the outside of all of them but he slid up too much, tagging the wall on the backstretch, and another caution would ensue. With 32 laps to go, Mollick (60M) would again choose the outside on the restart with Ferree (184X) in second, Lukon (184) in third, Garrett Paugh (03), from Elkins, West Virginia, was now in fourth, and Robinson (7R) in fifth. When the green flag waved, Mollick (60M) would once again keep the lead with Ferree (184X) and Lukon (184) battling for second behind him, which allowed Paugh (03), to get into the battle as well, but Lukon (184) would take the second spot. Two laps later, another caution would come for the 90J of Duritsky with an unknown issue. Again, Mollick (60M) would choose the outside on the restart with Lukon (184) in second, Paugh (03) in third, Ferree (184X) in fourth, and Robinson (7R) in fifth. Mollick (60M) would keep the lead when the field returned to green but the man on the move was Logan Roberson (17R), from Waynesboro, Virginia, who moved into fourth place after starting eighteenth. Roberson (17R) would then move into the third spot on the following lap with Mollick (60M) still leading the field. Lap 29 would see another caution for Flinner (48F), who had an unknown issue after tagging the wall earlier in the event. Mollick (60M) would choose the outside on the restart, with Lukon (184) in second, Roberson (17R) in third, and Paugh (03) in fourth. When the field returned to green-flag action, Mollick (60M) would keep the lead once again and Roberson (17R) would steal the second spot from Lukon (184), knocking him back to third. With only 18 laps remaining, and Mollick (60M) still leading, Roberson (17R) was in second, Lukon (184) in third, Robinson (7R) was in fourth, Paugh (03) in fifth, Nico Dabecco (F1), from Verona, was in sixth, and Tommy Schirnhofer (8S), from Dormont, was in seventh. Another caution would slow the pace for Schirnhofer (8S) who hit the wall in turn three. Again, Mollick (60M) choose the outside on the restart, with Roberson (17R) in second, Lukon (184) in third, and Robinson (7R) in fourth. Mollick (60M) would keep the lead after fending off Roberson (17R) after Roberson (17R) had a great restart. With Mollick (60M) still leading on lap 39, Roberson (17R) would try to pass him on the inside of turn two. Mollick (60M) would make a mistake exiting turn two and would bump the wall but kept on moving. Roberson (17R) would pass Mollick (60M) coming off of turn four to take the lead with 11 laps to go. Lukon (184) would take the second spot from Mollick (60M) on the next lap with 10 laps remaining in the event. Lukon (184) would get the caution that he needed with six laps to go, thanks to Mollick (60M) who had a flat tire after hitting the wall a few laps earlier. Roberson (7R) would choose the inside on the restart, with Lukon (184) in second, Robinson (7R) in third, and Paugh (03) in fourth. Roberson (17R) had a great restart and would keep the lead, but Lukon (184) had a good run coming off of turn two and would make up some ground on the leader. As the pair entered turns three and four, Roberson (17R) would go to the low side, with Lukon (184) going to the high side. As they exited turn four, Lukon (184) displayed some amazing driving skills and would cross over, shooting to the inside of Roberson (17R), and Lukon (184) would take the lead with five laps to go. Lukon (184) would lead the remaining five laps of the event, en route to his third Jook George Memorial win. He was followed to the line by, Roberson (17R) in second, Robinson (7R) in third, Eddie Carrier Jr. (13) in fourth, Garret Paugh (03) in fifth, Logan Zarin (1Z) in sixth, Dillinger (14D) in seventh, Latta (21D) in eighth, Christian Schneider (1ST) in ninth, and Dabecco (F1) would round out the top 10. Heat race winners were, Reft (9R), Flinner (48F), Ferree(184X), and Mollick (60M).

Lukon (184) scored the biggest victory of his career with the 50-lap 30th Annual Jook George Steel City Classic. The victory was worth $10,010 plus, a $1,000 bonus from Miley Motor Sports and race promoter Branden Lockwich for contributing to the event, $500 for setting fast time in memory of Tanya Flinner, and $100 for his runner-up dash finish bringing his night's earnings to a whopping $11,610!

"This is just amazing what this race has turned into," expressed the Burgettstown, Pa. driver after his 36th career PPMS win. "Branden puts so much effort into this. I think just about every driver contributed money to the purse. My mom and sister did it about 12 years ago and I won that race. Then a few people since like Mark Flinner and Branden have taken over to try and build it up. Branden has made it his baby. I thought I had a good shot back at Lernerville for the $10,000 and felt like I had that one taken from me, but that's racing I guess."

"At the beginning of the race I got the jump on John (Mollick) and was trying to get out there and set an early pace, but the next thing I knew he came flying in there and wanted the lead," explained Lukon. "The cautions weren't really working to my favor as I'd get going then get stuck on the bottom. I thought I threw it all away when I got into the wall in (turns) one and two. I was surprised on the last restart to see Logan (Roberson) take the bottom, but I threw it away anyways with a bad restart. Then I got a big run down the front stretch with five to go and I knew that was my only shot at it so I was just hoping I'd clear him. Logan probably could have moved me if he wanted to. It's great running with him as he's a class act and one of the best there is. I have to thank everyone that supports me. I want to thank Alex (Ferree) for running my other car. It was fun battling with him a handful of laps."

In the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series “Wheelman” Non-Qualifier 12-lap feature event, Sines (15), would start on the pole. Levi Crowl (5), from Clearspring, Maryland, would start in second place. Sines (15) would lead all 12 laps of the event, earning him the $400 victory. Crowl (5) and Jamie Wrightsman (21J) were all over Sines (15) on the final lap, but he was able to hold them off for the win. Following him to the line were, Crowl (5) in second, Wrightsman (21J) in third, Zach Gunn (17G) in fourth, Tony White (27T) was in fifth, Paul Jablonski (3JX) in sixth, Al Shawver Jr. (215) in seventh, Zach Kane (10) in eighth, Bryan Hoffman (15H) in ninth, and Colby Beighey (36B) would complete the top 10.

In the PPMS Pro Stock 15-lap feature, Jeff Broniszewski (08), from Coraopolis, would start on the pole. To his outside and starting in second was Moyer (13X). A.J. Poljak (36), from Baldwin, would start in third, while Todd Weldon (45), from Monongahela, would start in fourth, Robert Betz (81), from South Heights, would start in fifth, and Dave McManus (114), from Elizabeth, would complete the top three rows. When the green flag dropped, Moyer (13X) would take the lead on the first lap and lead all 15 laps of the event, en route to his first career PPMS victory by a 0.522-second margin over Broniszewski (08), who finished in second. Weldon (45) finished third, McManus (114) finished fourth, Danny Rich (67X) finished in fifth, Mike Harris (18) finished in sixth, Chase Lambert (22JR) finished in seventh, Betz (81) finished in eighth, Jim Gumbaugh III (5) finished in ninth, and Poljak (36) would round out the 10-car field. The heat race winner was Weldon (45).

In the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock 12-lap feature, Fox (39F) would start on the pole. Starting in second was Adam Ferree (29) from Jefferson Hills. Ben Anton (13), from Jefferson Hills, would start in third, while Marcus Simmons (68X), from Beaver Falls, would start in fourth, Casey Grumling (77X), from Elrama, would start in fifth, and Kayla McManus (171), from Elizabeth, would complete the top 3 rows. When the field came under green flag conditions, seventh-starting, and last week’s winner, Stephen Shelpman (17S), from Pleasant Hills, would make his way through the field and would eventually find himself in second place behind Fox (39F). Fox (39F) would pick up the 4.057-second win over S. Shelpman (17S) and the rest of the field. Following Fox (39F) and S. Shelpman (17S) to the line were, Ferree (29) in third, Grumling (77X) in fourth, Frank Magill (05) in fifth, Karlee Kovacs (221K) in sixth, B. Anton (13) in seventh, Ed Shelpman (17P) in eighth, Tom Anton (313) in ninth, and Simmons (68X) would complete the top 10. The heat race winners were S. Shelpman (17S) and Grumling (77X).

The same driver has won every Four Cylinder feature this season at PPMS, Andy Garlinger (R88), aka “The Dominator”. In the Four Cylinder eight-lap feature on Saturday, John Gill (19G), from Burgettstown, would start on the pole. Craig Rudolph (5R), from Steubenville, Ohio, would start in second, while Jason Romine (71), would start in third, Tanya Charlier (21), from Midway, would start in fourth, and Garlinger (R88) would start last, completing the five-car field. When the green flag dropped, it didn’t take Garlinger (R88) long to take the lead. Garlinger (R88) would lead all eight laps of the event, en route to another PPMS victory. Garlinger (R88) out-paced the field by 5.113 seconds. Following his to the line was, Gill (19G) in second, C. Rudolph (5R) in third, Romine (71) in fourth, and T. Charlier (21) in fifth. The Four Cylinders did not run a heat race.

Susie Rudolph (55), could also be called, “The Dominator”, because she has been simply dominating the Young Guns division at PPMS in the 2019 season. On Saturday, in the Young Guns eight-lap feature, Kyle Janas (88), from Coraopolis, would start on the pole. Cameron Hollister (44), from McDonald, would start in second, while Tony Magill (05), from Jefferson Hills, would start in third, and S. Rudolph (55), would complete the four-car field. Once S. Rudolph (55) stole the lead, she did not look back, picking up another PPMS victory by 4.076 seconds. Following her to the line was, Janas (88) in second, T. Magill (05) in third, and Hollister (44) in fourth. The Young Guns did not run a heat race.

Racing resumes at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 17, with the rain date for the Ed Laboon Memorial and the Wee Willie White Memorial for the Penn Ohio Pro Stocks. The Ed Laboon Memorial, which was originally run back on June 1, was rained out after completing only three laps of the main event. The stellar-field of Penn Ohio Pro Stocks will lineup and race the remaining 27 laps of the 30 lap event. The Dobs Non-Qualifier will also be run, with the Wee Willie White Memorial coming later in the night. PPMS will also be featuring, the Diehl Automotive RUSH Late Model Dirt Series, the PPMS Pro Stocks, the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stocks, the Four Cylinders, and the Young Guns. Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps begin at 6 p.m., and the racing action will commence at 7 p.m.

RESULTS

30th Annual Jook George Memorial (50) laps

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

1 - 2 - Kyle Lukon (184) - Burgettstown

2 - 18 - Logan Roberson (17R) - Waynesboro, VA

3 - 4 - Ross Robinson (7R) - Georgetown, DE

4 - 12 - Eddie Carrier Jr. (13) - Fairmont, WV

5 - 10 - Garrett Paugh (03) - Elkins, WV

6 - 20 - Logan Zarin (1Z) - Moon Township

7 - 5 - Braeden Dillinger (14D) - Dawson

8 - 8 - Matt Latta (21L) - Andover, OH

9 - 13 - Christian Schneider (1ST) - Warren, OH

10 - 9 - Nico Dabecco (F1) - Verona

11 - 19 - Ben Policz (14B) - Rices Landing

12 - 24 - Scott Gunn (14G) - McDonald

13 - 7 - Mike Reft (9R) - Whitehall

14 - 17 - Daryl Charlier (42S) - Midway

15 - 15 - Jeremy Wonderling (3J) - Wellsville, NY

16 - 11 - Ryan Frazee (11F) - Addison

17 - 1 - John Mollick (60M) - Toronto, OH

18 - 26 - Josh Stoica (22J) - New Cumberland, WV

19 - 25 - Bill Kessler (09) - Freedom

20 - 14 - Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) - Dormont

21 - 6 - Colton Flinner (48F) - Allison Park

22 - 3 - Alex Ferree (184X) - Valencia

23 - 22 - Mike Duritsky (90J) - Masontown

24 - 16 - Grant Garrison (1G) - Walton, KY

25 - 23 - Dan Angelicchio (14) - Mount Pleasant

26 - 21 - Justin Lamb (93X) - Findlay Township

RUSH Late Model Dirt Series Non - Qualifier (12) - laps

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

1 - 1 - Chad Sines (15) - Orwell, OH

2 - 2 - Levi Crowl (5) - Clearspring, MD

3 - 7 - Jamie Wrightsman (21J) - Cortland, OH

4 - 4 - Zach Gunn (17G) - McDonald

5 - 3 - Tony White (27T) - Aliquippa

6 - 10 - Paul Jablonski (3JX) - Carnegie

7 - 5 - Al Shawver Jr. (215) - Hampstead, MD

8 - 8 - Zach Kane (10) - Washington

9 - 13 - Bryan Hoffman (15H) - Imperial

10 - 9 - Colby Beighey (36B) - Taylor, MI

11 - 12 - Brian Goebel (12G) - Beaver Falls

12 - 11 - Pete Wearing (111) - Evans City

13 - 6 - Jared Kane (7K) - Scenery Hill

DNS John Waters (11L) - Whitesville, NY

DNS Ron Hall (01) - Hookstown

DNS Clayton Tarabori (16T) - Coudersport

Qualifying Group 1

1 - Kyle Lukon (184) - 20.197

2 - Colton Flinner (48F) - 20.260

3 - Mike Reft (9R) - 20.461

4 - Braden Dillinger (14D) - 20.553

5 - Nico Dabecco (F1) - 20.595

6 - Ryan Frazee (11F) - 20.625

7 - Christian Schneider (1ST) - 20.761

8 - Dan Angelicchio (14) - 20.774

9 - Daryl Charlier (42S) - 20.867

10 - Ben Policz (14B) - 20.978

11 - Justin Lamb (93X) - 21.117

12 - Zach Gunn (17G) - 21.273

13 - Bill Kessler (09) - 21.318

14 - Josh Stoica (22J) - 21.449

15 - Paul Jablonski (3JX) - 21.512

16 - Jeremy Wonderling (3J) - 21.627

17 - Ron Hall (01) - 21.668

18 - Levi Crowl (5) - 21.722

19 - Jared Kane (7K) - 21.784

20 - Brian Goebel (12G) - 22.183

21 - Clayton Tarabori (16T) - 22.722

Qualifying Group 2

1 - Logan Roberson (17R) - 20.397

2 - John Mollick (60M) - 20.491

3 - Alex Ferree (184X) - 20.589

4 - Matt Latta (21L) - 20.627

5 - Ross Robinson (7R) - 20.691

6 - Eddie Carrier Jr. (13) - 20.701

7 - Tommy Schirnhofer (8S) 20.703

8 - Grant Garrison (1G) - 20.789

9 - Mike Duritsky (90J) - 20.822

10 - Logan Zarin (1Z) - 20.935

11 - Garrett Paugh (03) - 20.945

12 - Zach Kane (10) - 21.306

13 - John Waters (11L) - 21.538

14 - Jamie Wrightsman (21J) - 21.544

15 - Pete Wearing (111) - 21.590

16 - Scott Gunn (14G) - 21.604

17 - Al Shawver Jr. (215) - 21.626

18 - Tony White (27T) - 21.685

19 - Chad Sines (15) - 21.912

20 - Bryan Hoffman (15H) - 22.750

21 - Colby Beighey (36B) - 28.614

RUSH Heat 1 (8) - laps

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

Mike Reft - 9R - [2]; 2. Kyle Lukon - 184 - [1]; 3. Nico Dabecco - F1 - [3]; 4. Christian Schneider - 1ST - [4]; 5. Daryl Charlier - 42S - [5]; 6. Justin Lamb - 93X - [6]; 7. Bill Kessler - 09 - [7]; 8. Paul Jablonski - 3JX - [8]; 9. Ron Hall - 01 - [9]; 10. Jared Kane - 7K - [10]; DNS Clayton Tarabori - 16T -

RUSH Heat 2 (8) - laps

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

Colton Flinner - 48F - [1]; 2. Braeden Dillinger - 14D - [2]; 3. Ryan Frazee - 11F - [3]; 4. Jeremy Wonderling - 3J - [8]; 5. Ben Policz - 14B - [5]; 6. Dan Angelicchio - 14 - [4]; 7. Levi Crowl - 5 - [9]; 8. Josh Stoica - 22J - [7]; 9. Zach Gunn - 17G - [6]; 10. Brian Goebel - 12G - [10];

RUSH Heat 3 (8) - laps

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

Alex Ferree - 184X - [2]; 2. Ross Robinson - 7R - [3]; 3. Garrett Paugh - 03 - [6]; 4. Tommy Schirnhofer - 8S - [4]; 5. Logan Roberson - 17R - [1]; 6. Mike Duritsky - 90J - [5]; 7. Chad Sines - 15 - [10]; 8. Zach Kane - 10 - [7]; 9. Al Shawver Jr. - 215 - [9]; 10. Jamie Wrightsman - 21J - [8]; 11. Colby Beighey - 36B - [11];

RUSH Heat 4 (8) - laps

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

John Mollick - 60M - [1]; 2. Matt Latta - 21L - [2]; 3. Eddie Carrier Jr. - 13 - [3]; 4. Grant Garrison - 1G - [4]; 5. Logan Zarin - 1Z - [5]; 6. Scott Gunn - 14G - [6]; 7. Tony White - 27T - [9]; 8. John Waters - 11L - [7]; 9. Bryan Hoffman - 15H - [10]; 10. Pete Wearing - 111 - [8];

RUSH Dash (6) - laps

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

1 - 2 - John Mollick (60M)

2 - 1 - Kyle Lukon (184)

3 - 4 - Alex Ferree (184X)

4 - 3 - Ross Robinson (7R)

5 - 5 - Braeden Dillinger (14D)

6 - 6 - Colton Flinner (48F)

7 - 7 - Mike Reft (9R)

DNS Matt Latta (21L)

RUSH B-main 1 (10) - laps

Finishing spot, driver name, car number