6/21/2020
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Motor Speedway
Schneider, Wolbert, and Morrow Big Winners on Opening Night at PPMS
Imperial, PA
Racing season is finally upon us and what a night it was at Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile for the 2020 season opener on Saturday night. With a nice socially-distanced crowd on hand, PPMS would have a nice field of cars spread out through seven different divisions and see 10 heat races and seven feature events.
Zach Morrow (27M), from Gibsonia, would take the win in the RUSH Sprint Car 15-lap main event as he edged out Jeremy Weaver (41), from Stoneboro, by 0.188 of a second. After starting last, Chas Wolbert (C3), from Howland, Ohio would take home the win in the RUSH Sportsman Modified feature, while Christian Schneider (1ST), from Warren, Ohio took the first win of the season in the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series 20-lap feature event. Dave McManus (114), from Elizabeth, got the first win of the season in the PPMS Pro Stock division, and Stephen Shelpman (17S), from Jefferson Hills, picked up where he left off last season with another win in the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock 12-lap feature. Bill Tennant (2), from Colliers, West Virginia brought home the win in the Four Cylinder feature, while Noah Bubeck (2), from Washington, got the win in the Young Guns Feature.
Jeremy Weaver (41) would start on the pole in the RUSH Sprint Car 15-lap main event, while Zach Morrow (27M) was lined up to his outside in second place. Andy Feil (9J), from Youngstown, Ohio, and Greg Beach (33X), from Chicora, would make up the second row starting third and fourth respectively. When the green flag dropped, it didn’t take Morrow (27M) long to take over the lead but Weaver (41) was hot on his heels. Morrow (27M), Weaver (41), and Feil (9J) would run first, second, and third for the entire event. The race would go green to checkered in record fashion with Morrow (27M) taking the win. Weaver (41) finished in second, Feil (9J) in third, Brian Hartzell (69) in fourth, Beach (33X) in fifth, Steve Pedley (21) in sixth, and A.J. MacQuarrie (69X) in seventh. The heat race winner was Morrow (27M).
The action would begin to heat up in the RUSH Sportsman Modified feature as David Kalb Jr. (11J), from Aurora, Ohio, would lead the 16-car field to the green flag. Second-starting Kole Holden (2), from Tiona, would take the early lead. Lap two saw the event’s first caution and Holden (2) would choose the outside on the restart with Kalb Jr. (11J) in second, Kyle Martel (8M) in third, Wolbert (C3) in fourth, and Garrett Krummert (10S) in fifth. When the green flag dropped, Holden (2) would keep the lead, while Krummert (10S) went from fifth to second, but another caution would come on lap three when Tony Tatgenhorst (63T) hit the wall in turn two. The field would line up and try it again with Holden (2) leading, Krummert (10S) in second, Kalb Jr. (11J) in third, Wolbert (C3) in fourth, and Jacob Jordan (28J) in fifth. Once the field returned to green-flag conditions, Krummert (10S) would press Holden (2) for the lead but Holden (2) would retain it, and on the same lap, Wolbert (C3) would get around Krummert (10S) to take over second place. Wolbert (C3) would take over the lead on lap six with Holden (2) now in second, and Krummert (10S) in third. Wolbert (C3) was on a rail as he began to pad his lead over the field and would eventually gain almost a full straightaway lead over second-place Holden (2). Wolbert (C3) would lead the field to the checkered flag and pick up his first PPMS victory of the season. Following him to the line were Holden (2) in second, Krummert (10S) in third, Eric Gabany (4S) in fourth, Chelsie Kriegisch (10) in fifth, Kalb Jr. (11J) in sixth, Jessica Kriegisch (63) in seventh, Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) in eighth, Brian Sadler (5) in ninth, and Martel (8M) would round out the top 10. The heat race winners were Krummert (10S) and Tatgenhorst (63T). Notables: Wolbert (C3) started the race in last place.
In the RUSH Late Model Dirt Series 20-lap feature, Christian Schneider (1ST) would start on the pole, while John Mollick (60M), from Toronto, Ohio would line up to his outside in second place. Defending division champion Ben Policz (14B), from Rices Landing, would start in third, and Bryan Hoffman (15H), from Imperial, would start in fourth. When the green flag waved, Schneider (1ST) would have an awesome start but before a lap was completed, the caution was out for the 33X of Eric Hamilton Jr. The field would line up again and give it another try with Schneider (1ST) leading them to green. Lap two would see another caution when Dan Lepro (2L) would have car trouble on the front-stretch which also put debris on the race track. Schneider (1ST) would choose the inside on the restart with Mollick (60M) to his outside in second and Policz (14B) in third. Schneider (1ST) would have another awesome restart and would lead the field through lap four with Mollick (60M) still in second, Policz (14B) still in third, Mike Duritsky (90J) in fourth, and Garret Paugh (03) in fifth. Schneider (1ST) would contend with lapped traffic on lap nine but a caution on lap 10 for Cole Petrelle (184) would reset the field. Schneider (1ST), Mollick (60M), Policz (14B), Paugh (03), and Duritsky (90J) would line up for the restart one through five and when the green flag dropped, Schneider (1ST) would keep the lead again. With Schneider (1ST) still leading, Paugh (03) would take over third place, knocking Policz (14B) back to fourth, and Daryl Charlier (10) would crack the top five. With three laps to go in the event, Schneider (1ST) would enter lapped-traffic again and he wouldn’t look back as he led the field to the checkered flag. Following him to the line was Mollick (60M) in second, Paugh (03) in third, Charlier (10) in fourth, Policz (14B) in fifth, Justin Lamb (93X) in sixth, Duritsky (90J) in seventh, Nico Dabecco (42) in eighth, Bob Schwartzmiller (28S) in ninth, and Colby Beighey (36B) in tenth. The heat race winners were Paugh (03), Duritsky (90J), and Policz (14B). Notables: Lamb (93X) started 16th and finished sixth.
Ryan Moyer (13X), from Portersville, would start on the pole in the PPMS Pro Stock 15-lap feature event. Starting to his outside and in second place was Jake Simmons (69X), from Beaver Falls. Dave McManus (114) would start in third, while Jacob Billyk (4), from New Castle, would start in fourth, Eric Piotrowski (7), from Evans City, would start in fifth, Bill Slade (A22), from Bethel Park, would start in sixth, and Mike Harris (18), from Bridgeville, would complete the seven-car field. When the green flag waved and as the field raced down the front-stretch, Slade (A22) would tag the wall under the flag stand and lose his rear bumper. Once the debris was clear, the field would line up for another try with Slade (A22) having to go to the rear. When the field returned to green flag conditions, Simmons (69X) would take over the lead. Another caution would slow the pace on lap two and Simmons (69X) would take the outside on the restart with Moyer (13X) to his inside in second place, and McManus (114) in third place. With the green flag waving, Simmons (69X) would keep the lead until lap five when McManus (114) would take over the lead. McManus (114) would lead through lap 11 when Slade (A22) would spin out in turn two bringing out another caution. McManus (114) would choose the outside on the restart with Moyer (13X) to his inside in second place, and Simmons (69X) in third place. When the field returned to green for the final time, McManus (114) would lead the field to the checkered flag. Following him to the line was Moyer (13X) in second, Simmons (69X) in third, Billyk (4) in fourth, Slade (A22) in fifth, Piotrowski (7) in sixth, and Harris (18) in seventh. The heat race winner was Simmons (69X).
Tony Magill (5), from Jefferson Hill, would start on the pole in the Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock 12-lap main event. Marcus Simmons (68X), from Beaver Falls, started to his outside and in second place, while Matt Bernard (15B), from Oakdale, starting in third, and Kayla McManus (00K), from Elizabeth, would start in fourth. When the green flag dropped, Simmons (68X) would take over the lead. By lap four Shelpman (17S) was already up to third place and battling for second. Eventually, he would take over second place and would start to chase down Simmons (68X) but with only two laps remaining in the event, it appeared that Shelpman (17S) was going to run out of time until the caution came out on lap 10. Simmons (68X) would choose the outside on the restart, giving Shelpman (17S) the inside. When the green flag waved for the final time in the event, Shelpman (17S) would take over the lead and not look back, picking up his first PPMS win of the season. Following him to the line was Frank Magil (05) in second, Cody Koteles (1K) in third, Karlee Kovacs (221K) in fourth, Simmons (68X) in fifth, K. McManus (00K) in sixth, Andrew Sutton (16A) in seventh, Matt Bernard (15B) in eighth, Ben Anton (13) in ninth, and John Cain (06) completes the top 10. The heat race winners were C. Koteles (1K) and B. Anton (13). Notables: Shelpman’s (17S) car was on fire during his heat race and he started 13th in the feature, while Frank Magil started 12th. Both Shelpman (17S) and F. Magill (05) finished first and second.
In the Four Cylinder feature, defending Four Cylinder champion Andy Garlinger (R88), from Hopedale, Ohio would start on the pole. Garlinger (R88) has a brand new car this season and hasn’t had the best of luck with it. Starting to his outside and in second place was John Gill (19G), from Burgettstown. Bill Tennant (2) would start in third, and Philip Bubeck (2L), from Washington, would start in fourth. When the green flag waved, Bubeck (2L) would take over the lead with Garlinger (R88) falling back to second, and B. Tennant (2) staying in third. The event’s first caution would come on lap two and P. Bubeck (2L) would take the outside on the restart with Garlinger (R88) to his inside in second and B. Tennant in third. When the field returned to green flag conditions, P. Bubeck (2L) would keep the lead, while B. Tennant (2) would take the second spot from Garlinger (R88). P. Bubeck (2L) was forced to pit on lap six for an unknown issue which gave B. Tennant (2) the lead. Another caution came out on lap six and while the field was under yellow, Garlinger (R88) limped to the pits with another car issue. B. Tennant (2) would keep the lead on the restart and led the remaining laps of the event en route to his first PPMS win of the season. Following him to the line was Kyle Janas (88) in second, Susie Rudolph (55) in third, Gill (19G) in fourth, Bob Quaigg (16) in fifth, Tanya Charlier (21) in sixth, (53) in seventh, Garlinger (R88) in eighth, and P. Bubeck (2L) in ninth. The heat race winner was Jason Romine (71) who was also a DNS in the feature.
In the Young Guns 3-lap feature, Noah Bubeck (2) and Cameron Hollister (44) would line up side by side to do battle. When the green flag dropped, N. Bubeck (2) took the lead and he didn’t look back. He led all laps of the event, en route to his first PPMS win of the season. Hollister (44) finished in second place.
Racing resumes at Dirt’s Monster Half-Mile on Saturday, July 4, 2020, for a RUSH Late Model Dirt Series Touring Event for the Herb Scott Memorial. Also on the card will be the RUSH Sprint Car Series, the RUSH Sportsman Modified 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. Visit www.ppms.com/schedule for pricing and tickets.
Happy racing!
RESULTS
RUSH Sprint Car Series Feature (15) Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 2 - Zach Morrow (27M) - Gibsonia
2 - 1 - Jeremy Weaver (41) - Stoneboro
3 - 3 - Andy Feil (9J) - Youngstown, OH
4 - 5 - Brian Hartzell (69) - Oil City
5 - 4 - Greg Beach (33X) - Chicora
6 - 6 - Steve Pedley (21) - Seneca
7 - 7 - AJ MacQuarrie (69X)
Heat 1 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Zach Morrow - 27M - [2]; 2. Jeremy Weaver - 41 - [6]; 3. Andy Feil - 9J - [3]; 4. Greg Beach - 33X - [4]; 5. Brian Hartzell - 69 - [5]; 6. Steve Pedley - 21 - [7]; 7. AJ MacQuarrie - 69X - [1];
RUSH Sportsman Modifieds Feature (15) - Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 16 - Chas Wolbert (C3) - Howland, OH
2 - 2 - Kole Holden (2) - Tiona
3 - 8 - Garrett Krummert (10S) - Ellwood City
4 - 12 - Eric Gabany (4S) - Mercer
5 - 7 - Chelsie Kriegisch (10) - Ellwood City
6 - 1 - David Kalb Jr. (11J) - Aurora, OH
7 - 14 - Jessica Kriegisch (63) - Ellwood City
8 - 3 - Jordan Ehrenberg (JD57) - New Castle
9 - 15 - Brian Sadler (5) - Apollo
10 - 6 - Kyle Martel (8M) - Rootstown, OH
11 - 9 - Joe Gibson (119)
12 - 10 - Jacob Jordan (28J) - Aliquippa
13 - 11 - Nathan McDowell (11G) - Greenville
14 - 4 - Ayden Cipriano (5C)
15 - 5 - Tony Tatgenhorst (63T) - Columbiana, OH
16 - 13 - Brandon Richie (17)
Heat 1 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Garrett Krummert - 10S - [2]; 2. Jordan Ehrenberg - JD57 - [6]; 3. Kyle Martel - 8M - [4]; 4. Ayden Cipriano - 5C - [5]; 5. Joe Gibson - 119 - [1]; 6. Nathan McDowell - 11G - [3]; 7. Brandon Richie - 17 - [7]; DNS Chas Wolbert - C3 -
Heat 2 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Tony Tatgenhorst - 63T - [1]; 2. David Kalb Jr. - 11J - [2]; 3. Chelsie Kriegisch - 10 - [5]; 4. Kole Holden - 2 - [6]; 5. Jacob Jordan - 28J - [4]; 6. Eric Gabany - 4S - [8]; 7. Jessica Kriegisch - 63 - [3]; 8. Brian Sadler - 5 - [7];
RUSH Late Model Dirt Series Feature (20) - Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 1 - Christian Schneider (1ST) - Warren, OH
2 - 2 - John Mollick (60M) - Toronto, OH
3 - 6 - Garret Paugh (03) - Elkins, WV
4 - 8 - Daryl Charlier (10) - Midway
5 - 3 - Ben Policz (14B) - Rices Landing
6 - 16 - Justin Lamb (93X) - Findlay Township
7 - 7 - Mike Duritsky (90J) - Masontown
8 - 12 - Nico Dabecco (42) - Verona
9 - 9 - Bob Schwartzmiller (28S) - Pittsburgh
10 - 10 - Colby Beighey (36B) - Taylor, MI
11 - 13 - Bill Kessler (09) - Freedom
12 - 18 - Zach Gunn (17G) - McDonald
13 - 4 - Bryan Hoffman (15H) - Imperial
14 - 11 - D.J. Nakutis (31) - Beallsville
15 - 20 - Dan Lepro (2L) - Midway
16 - 15 - Jake Gunn (14G) - McDonald
17 - 19 - Eric Hamilton (33X) - Pittsburgh
18 - 17 - Brandon Lott (47) - Plum
19 - 14 - John Boring (58B) - Valley Grove, WV
20 - 5 - Cole Petrelle (184) - Weirton, WV
Heat 1 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Garret Paugh - 03 - [2]; 2. Bryan Hoffman - 15H - [1]; 3. John Mollick - 60M - [6]; 4. Colby Beighey - 36B - [3]; 5. Bill Kessler - 09 - [4]; 6. Justin Lamb - 93X - [7]; 7. Eric Hamilton Jr. - 33X - [5];
Heat 2 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Ben Policz - 14B - [1]; 2. Nico Dabecco - 42 - [2]; 3. Christian Schneider - 1ST - [5]; 4. DJ Nakutis - 31 - [3]; 5. John Boring - 58 - [6]; 6. Brandon Lott - 47 - [4]; DNS Keith Barbara - 64K
Heat 3 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Mike Duritsky - 90J - [1]; 2. Zach Kane - 10 - [5]; 3. Bob Schwartzmiller - 28S - [4]; 4. Cole Petrelle - 184 - [3]; 5. Jake Gunn - 14G - [6]; 6. Zach Gunn - 17G - [2]; 7. Dan Lepro - 2L - [7];
PPMS Pro Stock Feature (15) - Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 3 - Dave McManus (114) - Elizabeth
2 - 1 - Ryan Moyer (13X) - Portersville
3 - 2 - Jake Simmons (69X) - Beaver Falls
4 - 4 - Jacob Billyk (4) - New Castle
5 - 6 - Bill Slade (A22) - Bethel Park
6 - 5 - Eric Piotrowski (7) - Evans City
7 - 7 - Mike Harris (18) - Bridgeville
Heat 1 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Jake Simmons - 69X - [1]; 2. Dave McManus - 114 - [4]; 3. Jacob Billyk - 4 - [2]; 4. Ryan Moyer - 13X - [6]; 5. Eric Piotrowski - 7 - [5]; 6. Bill Slade - A22 - [3]; 7. Mike Harris - 18 - [7]; DNS A.J. Poljak - 36 -
Keystone Coach Works Hobby Stock Feature (12) - Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 13 - Stephen Shelpman (17S) - Pleasant Hills
2 - 12 - Frank Magill (05) - Jefferson Hills
3 - 7 - Cody Koteles (1K) - Stockdale
4 - 5 - Karlee Kovacs (221K) - Carnegie
5 - 2 - Marcus Simmons (68X) - Beaver Falls
6 - 4 - Kayla McManus (00K) - Elizabeth
7 - 6 - Andrew Sutton (16A) - Monaca
8 - 3 - Matt Bernard (15B) - Oakdale
9 - 9 - Ben Anton (13) - Jefferson Hills
10 - 8 - John Cain (06)
11 - 1 - Tony Magill (5) - Jefferson Hills
12 - 15 - Tom Anton (64) - Jefferson Hills
13 - 11 - Jon Koteles (2K) - Stockdale
14 - 10 - Mike Tropeck (47T)
15 - 14 - Richard Ours (70)
16 - 16 - Robert Betz (22) - South Heights
DNS - AJ Poljak (17P) - Baldwin
DNS - Adam Ferree (29) - Jefferson Hills
Heat 1 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Cody Koteles - 1K - [4]; 2. Karlee Kovacs - 221K - [3]; 3. Marcus Simmons - 68X - [7]; 4. Kayla McManus - 00K - [6]; 5. Andrew Sutton - 16A - [1]; 6. Robert Betz - 22 - [5]; 7. Jon Koteles - 2K - [8]; 8. Frank Magill - 05 - [2]; 9. Richard Ours - 70 - [9];
Heat 2 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Ben Anton - 13 - [1]; 2. Adam Ferree - 29 - [2]; 3. Matt Bernard - 15B - [4]; 4. Tony Magill - 5 - [7]; 5. John Cain - 06 - [8]; 6. Mike Tropeck - 47T - [9]; 7. A.J. Poljak - 17P - [6]; 8. Stephen Shelpman - 17S - [5]; DNS Tom Anton - 64 -
Four Cylinder Feature (12) - Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 3 - Bill Tennant (2) - Colliers, WV
2 - 5 - Kyle Janas (88) - Coraopolis
3 - 7 - Susie Rudolph (55)
4 - 2 - John Gill (19G) - Burgettstown
5 - 6 - Bob Quaigg (16)
6 - 8 - Tanya Charlier (21) - Midway
7 - 9 - (53)
8 - 1 - Andy Garlinger (R88) - Hopedale, OH
9 - 4 - Philip Bubeck (2L) - Washington
DNS - April Tennant (95) - Colliers, WV
DNS - Jason Romine (71)
Heat 1 (8) - laps
Finishing spot, driver name - car number - [starting spot]
Philip Bubeck - 2L - [3]; 2. Andy Garlinger - R88 - [2]; 3. April Tennant - 95 - [6]; 4. Bill Tennant - 2 - [7]; 5. John Gill - 19G - [5]; 6. Kyle Janas [4]; 7. - 16 - [10]; 8. Susie Rudolph - 55 - [11]; 9. Tanya Charlier - 21 - [9]; 10. Jason Romine - 71 - [8]; - 53 - [1];
Young Guns Feature (3) - Laps
Finishing spot - starting spot - driver name (car number) - hometown
1 - 1 - Noah Bubeck (2) - Washington
2 - 2 - Cameron Hollister (44) - McDonald
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