Riggs Reigns Supreme In King Memorial
Submitted By: Marcie L. Barlow, Modified Tour Media Relations
The inaugural edition of the Apple Festival Nationals provided area race fans with plenty of “wheel to wheel” racing action and when the final checkered flags of the 2008 season flew Modified veteran Lonny Riggs had captured the biggest win of his career as he brought home the $3,000 first place prize and the coveted Russ King Memorial trophy at the Sharon Speedway on Sunday evening.
Joe Crawford and newly crowned Sharon Speedway Gibson-Governor Insurance Agency Modified Champion Dave Murdick led the 26 car field to the green flag. Murdick immediately moved in to the lead with Crawford riding in the second spot. Murdick weathered two cautions early in the 40 lap event as held off the challenges of Crawford. By lap 16 fourth place starter Jeremiah Shingledecker has gotten by Crawford for the second spot and began closing in on Murdick.
The handling on Murdick’s Armstrong Zoom Internet/Troyer has gone away by lap 20 and Shingledecker was able to overtake Murdick for the lead on lap 22.
The event’s final caution waved on lap 23 for the spinning car of Randy Brown. The ensuing restart placed veteran Lonny Riggs on Shingledecker’s rear bumper. Shingledecker was able to maintain his lead when the green flag flew and appeared to be headed to his second consecutive BRP/Hoosier Race Tires Modified Tour ’08 victory. Riggs however has other ideas and perseverance paid off as the duo entered lapped traffic on lap 35. Shingledecker was unable to maneuver around the slower cars and Riggs capitalized on this error and motored into the lead. The Volant, PA veteran would then lead the final four circuits of the event to capture his first ever Russ King Memorial victory. It was also Riggs’ first BRP/Hoosier Race Tires Modified Tour victory of the 2008 season and his first on the 3/8 mile Sharon Speedway configuration.
Shingledecker was able to hold on to the runner-up spot with Joe Crawford, Kevin Hoffman and Del Rougeux Jr. completing the top five. Jim Rasey, Tim Doran, newly crowned Mod Tour Champion Brian Swartzlander, Murdick and Tommy Kristyak finished sixth through tenth.
Heat events for the 43 card field were won by Murdick, Rasey, Swartzlander and Gary Smoker. Steve Feder and Rougeux captured the B-Main victories with Kristyak capturing the dash. Carl Weatherby brought home the victory in the Australian Pursuit.
The 2008 Modified Tour season is now complete. Leechburg, PA veteran Brian Swartzlander, ended the King Family’s dominance of the series‘ title as he captured his third BRP/Hoosier Race Tires Mod Tour title in the Precise Racing/McCutcheon Enterprises/Ender’s powered Teo Chassis. The youngest member of the King Family, Rex Jr. held on for the runner-up position in the series’ points battle.
The BRP Modified Tour 08 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Bilstein Shocks, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rental, Lowry Auto Body, Lake Erie Speed Specialties, Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, Priest Enterprises, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, Finishline Fabrication, Wilkinson Awards, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hands on Concepts, Waldo’s Towing, Jim’s Supermarket, Pennewell Sandblasting and Painting, Hands on Concepts and Wedge Motorsports.
The Modified Tour Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area a chance to compete with one another for a higher purse structure and for a point fund for the races that are run. Started in 1998 by Tim Engles, Lon and Pam Baker and Randy Myers the Modified Tour has had great success at bringing the local cars together at the area racetracks.
Modified Feature Finish: Lonny Riggs, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Joe Crawford, Kevin Hoffman, Del Rougeux, Jim Rasey, Tim Doran, Brian Swartzlander, Dave Murdick, Tom Kristyak, Skip Moore. Dave Schrader, Travis Shingledecker, Tom Mattocks, Rob Kristyak, JR McGinley, Gary Smoker, Rodney Beltz, Rex King Jr., Steve Feder, Carl Murdick, Garrett Krummert, Rick Hall, Randy Brown, Kyle Fink, Carl Weatherby, Russell King, Rick Ryder.