Brian Swartzlander Dominant In Taking 2nd Event On Tour Schedule
by Eric J. Westendorf - Lernerville PR
Brian Swartzlander (#83 of Leechburg) was flat out dominant in winning the 2nd race on the BRP/Hoosier Race Tire/Sunoco Race Fuel Modified Tour 2008. Swartzlander didn’t have far to go to take the lead as he started on the pole, (alongside Del Rougeux Jr.), of the 30-lap, $1300-to-win BRP A-Main. When the green flag dropped, Swartzlander took the lead and he never looked back. By lap six, he had a full straightaway lead, but a caution on lap eight slowed the field, allowing Del Rougeux Jr. and Jeremiah Shingledecker to close back in on the bumper of Swartzlander’s familiar #83 McCutcheon Enterprises/Precise Racing Products Modified. A handful of cautions prevented Swartzlander from truly running away with the race, but restarts were not enough to derail Swartzlander who basically pulled uncontested into Sheetz Victory Lane. There was one new face welcoming Swartzlander in Sheetz Victory Lane, “This is for my granddaughter!” stated Swartzlander. “This is her first night at the track, so I wanted to win it for her!” He went on to say, “The crew is the only reason we’re in Victory Lane!”
The real race was right behind Swartzlander as Del Rougeux Jr. (#20D of Frenchville) and Jeremiah Shingledecker (#37MD of Polk) battled throughout the race for second place. The two drivers swapped the position a few times as Rougeux held second for laps one through eight when the yellow flag flew. Shingledecker was the beneficiary of the lap eight restart as he took the spot from Rougeux on lap nine. But Rougeux battled back and passed him on circuit 19 and ultimately prevailed for second, while Shingledecker crossed the stripe third. Jim Weller Jr. (#31 of Hubbard, OH) recovered well, after last week’s nasty flip in turn three with Garrett Krummert, to finish fourth. “Double Duty” Dave Murdick (#61 of Slippery Rock) ran a strong race to finish fifth. Kevin Bolland, Rex King Jr., J.R. McGinley, Skip Moore and Kevin Hoffman rounded out the top ten. Great run by J.R. McGinley who had to transfer from the B-main after leaving his heat race on the hook; He started 24th in a loaded field of BRP Mods and avoided trouble to finish eighth. Skip Moore, Joe Crawford and Rex King Jr. won heat races and Rex King checkered the B-Main. The elder King had problems both in his heat race and again in the feature, where he officially was scored 22nd.