Sweet Revenge for Swartzlander at PPMS
Brian Swartzlander had a score to settle at Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway. When the BRP/Hoosier Modified Tour made its first-ever appearance a Dirt’s Monster Half Mile in May, Swartzlander was involved in a violent wreck in turn one. The injuries he sustained kept him out of the cockpit for several weeks. When he returned to action, he had some catching up to do on the tracks. But, most of all, he wanted to even things up with the Monster.
Friday night’s winner at Tri-City Speedway, Rex King, Sr., and the Modified Tour’s winningest driver, Kevin Bolland, paced the field for the start of Modisaurus X. The drivers had great difficulty getting off to a clean start. Garret Krummert and Rex King, Jr., tangled in turn one, but both were able to continue. Rex King was penalized two spots for jumping a start. He caught a break and got back onto the front row when Kevin Bolland lost an engine on one of the false starts. When the race finally did go green, it was King Sr. in command.
The drivers made up up for their earlier miscues by reeling off 22 green flag laps. During the long run, King and Swartzlander battled for position. But, it was Jeremiah Shingledecker who was the man on the move. He climbed from fifteenth to the top 5 by the time the caution flew.
Shortly after the restart, Shingledecker would make a bold move from fourth to second in one corner, earing him another “Clean Move of the Race Award” courtesy of sponsor Red Bear Hand Cleaner.
The next caution came for a scary incident on the front stretch. Points leader Dave Murdick lost a wheel, which was hit by Ryan Hall. The impact sent the wheel flying. It struck the flagstand. Hall’s car, meanwhile, struck the inside barrier with great force, eliminating the rookie from the race.
On the restart, Swartzlander pulled away to a comfortable lead. However, Shingledecker was saving his tires, and he came on strong at the end of the 30 lapper. Shingledecker drew close in the final circuits, but Swartzlander pulled a three car length lead coming off turn two on the final lap. Shingledecker still had enough for one last ditch move, diving low in turn four on the final lap. Swartzlander stayed up high on the big banks, and his momentum carried him to a win by three car lengths.
Finishing third was Del Rougeux, Jr., followed by King Sr., and Jim Rasey. Krummert came back from his lap one incident to claims sixth. Gary Smoker, Tommy Kristyak, Mike Turner and Mike Miller rounded out the top ten.
The heat races for the 26 car field were presented by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The winners were King Sr., Murdick and Bolland.
There was no B-Main.
The next BRP/Hoosier Tire Modified Tour events will be on Friday, September 11, at Lernerville Speedway, Sarver, PA; and Saturday, September 19, at Sharon Speedway, Hartford, OH.
For more information, check our website at www.modifiedtourinc.com
The BRP Modified Tour ’09 would like to thank the following series sponsors: Bicknell Racing Products, Hoosier Race Tire, Sunoco Race Fuel, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, Bilstein Shocks, Keizer Racing Wheels, Landrum Spring, ISC Racerstape, Wrisco Aluminum, Fast Axle, LLC, Smokey’s, Ray’s Racing Collectibles, Approved Toilet Rentals, Inc., Hall’s Safety Equipment, Engles Trucking, Big Daddy’s Speed Center, King Brothers Feed and Supply, Oyler Action Photos, McCool’s Signs and Graphics, Hometown Pharmacy, Wedge Motorsports, Red Bear Hand Cleaner, Motorsports World, and Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP.
The Modified Tour, Inc. racing series is a non-profit organization established to give the V-8 Modifieds in the Western Pennsylvania area the opportunity to compete for higher purses and for a seasonal point fund. 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.
Official Order of Finish: BRP/Hoosier Race Tire Modified Tour (Round 8): Pittsburgh’s Pennsylvania Motor Speedway: 30 Laps: September 5, 2009
1. Brian Swartzlander $1,500; 2. Jeremiah Shingledecker $1,000; 3. Del Rougeux, Jr. $800; 4. Rex King, Sr. $600; 5. Jim Rasey $550; 6. Garret Krummert $500; 7. Gary Smoker $450; 8. Tommy Kristyak $400; 9. Mike Turner $350; 10. Mike Miller $325; 11. Steve Feder $320; 12. Mark Frankhouser $290; 13. Steve Barr $280; 14. Ted Ryan $270; 15. Joe Crawford $260; 16. Dave Murdick $250; 17. Ryan Hall $240; 18. Dave Reges $230; 19. Jeff Miller $225; 20. Brad Rapp $220; 21. Dillon Barr $210; 22. Rodney Beltz $205; 23. Kevin Bolland $200; 24. Rex King, Jr.$200; 25. Carl Murdick $200; 26. Ron Eperthener (DNS) $50.