Henry Wins From 14th At Motordrome; Andrew Kostelnik Scores Career First in Street Stocks

SMITHTON, PA (8-19-05) - Bobby Henry, of Connellsville, PA, started 14th in the Napa NASCAR Super Late Model feature on Friday night at Motordrome Speedway, and earned his fifth victory of the year in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series. Andrew Kostelnik won his first-career Subway Street Stock feature, while Mike Bakalon (Smail Pontiac-GMC Modifieds), Jimmy Stokes (Yellow Book Chargers), and Ed Dinneen (Advance Auto Parts American Flyers) were repeat winners on August 19.

North Huntington, PA resident, Brandon Manns dominated the first half of the 35-lap Napa NASCAR Super Late Model feature. The sophomore driver started from the outside pole, and built-up a comfortable lead after a lap two caution. The incident that required the yellow flag was a crash involving Dan Lewis, Chad Hemphill, Richard Mitchell, and points leader Rick Miller (who stopped on the track avoiding contact). All cars returned to competition. On lap nine, with Manns many car-lengths in front, first-time Motordrome starter Glenn Gault, Jr. passed pole-sitter Paul Urso for second. On lap 12, Bobby Henry, who took the green flag on the outside of row seven, moved around Urso for third. By lap 17, Henry’s advances found him in second place, with Gault holding off defending track champion Miller who was third after starting 15th. In only three laps, Henry reeled in Manns and made the winning pass on lap 20. Two laps later, Miller was in second giving fans the chance to watch the two most-veteran NASCAR Super Late Model drivers in the field battle for the lead. Three caution periods during Henry’s lead were not enough for Miller make a challenge for the win, and Henry put the Wiltrout Racing/Lint Flooring/Stone & Co./Meegan Ford in victory lane for the fifth time in 2005 by three car-lengths. Miller placed second while Manns was able to maintain third place at the finish. Gault, the son of a former Motordrome Champ was fourth, and ninth starting Jon Messenger advanced to fifth. Garry Wiltrout and Shawn Pilla won the heat races.

The Smail Pontiac-GMC Modified feature exploded with action and controversy on lap four. While battling fiercely for the lead, the top two drivers in the point standings collided in turn two. Beau Glemba, who started in second position led the first four circuits, fending off defending champion Adam Kostelnik, who made slight contact with Glemba’s left rear body panel. The touch was enough to set Glemba loose and into the grass apron of the track. Officials sent Kostelnik to the rear of the field, with Glemba, for whom the caution flag waved. Fifth starting Mike Bakalon inherited the lead, and faced several challenges from Modified rookie Bob Shipp. The 2004 Charger division Champion, Shipp, had his most impressive run, remaining second until a mechanical problem on the final lap dealt him a seventh place finish. Bakalon drove to his third victory of the year, as eleventh starting George Nicola was second in the final rundown, and Kostelnik battled back to third. Jason Busch fought an extremely loose-handling car to a fourth place finish, and Matt Panaia started seventh and placed fifth. Nicola and points leader Kostelnik won the heats.

Andrew Kostelnik, younger brother of Modified ace Adam Kostelnik, found victory lane for the first time in his Subway Street Stock racing career. Perhaps the most exciting Street Stock feature of the year started with Shawn Phillips taking the lead from pole-starter Kostelnik. On lap four, Kostelnik made his winning pass like a veteran, taking the lead he would never relinquish. But for 15-laps, the young Charger division graduate would have to endure heavy pressure from Phillips and points leader Frank Turek. Turek, the leading winner in the division, and Phillips were often side-by-side, just inches behind leader Kostelnik, with Max Schelssinger very close behind in fourth. After winning his heat earlier in the night, Kostelnik’s margin of victory was less than a car-length over Turek, who was barely a car-length ahead of Phillips. Behind fourth finishing Schelssinger was Vince Kaider, placing in the top five for the first time in 2005. Dave Tavormina won the other heat race, and was chosen as the Subway Challenge driver, but placed seventh after a pit stop for steering problems.

After establishing a goal of five wins for 2005, Jimmy Stokes took his fourth checkered flag of the year in the Yellow Book Charger division. Points leader, and eleven-time winner, Jeff Giles started fourth and took second place on lap three, but only made one serious challenge for the lead, with the help of two caution flags. Heat winner Stokes held an advantage of several car-lengths at the end of the feature after leading every lap. Behind Giles in second was Dan Jordan and Victor Keller. Two-time winner Rick Broadwater started 14th and finished fifth, while Tracy Keller was the other heat winner.

Ed Dinneen is the points leader and dominant winner in the Advance Auto Parts American Flyers, but after starting second in the feature he was nearly passed for the win twice. Aaron Minjock was first to try a lead change, pulling even with Dinneen in turn four. Richie Miller was next, playing bumper tag with Dinneen twice, but to no avail. Dinneen won for the eleventh time, with rookie Miller second and previous week’s winner Minjock third. Larry Vance and Roger Bryan completed the top five.

Racing continues Friday, August 26 as Dick’s Sporting Goods presents five division NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action for the Napa Late Models, Smail Pontiac GMC Modifieds, Subway Street Stocks, Yellow Book Chargers, and the Advance Auto Parts American Flyers. Gates open at 5:30 with Spectator Drag Racing at 7:00pm followed by stock car racing at 7:30pm. For additional information about the racing at Motordrome Speedway, visit our web site at www.motordrome.com, or you can call the business office at 724-853-7223.

MOTORDROME SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS – AUGUST 19, 2005

Napa Late Models

Top Dog Challenge Winner: Bobby Henry

Heat Race Winners: Garry Wiltrout, Shawn Pilla

Valvoline Oil Hard Charger: Bobby Henry

Feature (35 Laps): 1. Bobby Henry, 2. Rick Miller, 3. Brandon Manns, 4. Glen Gault Jr., 5. Jon Messenger, 6. Paul Urso, 7. Doug Bacchiochi, 8. Shawn Pilla, 9. Mike Adams, 10. Dan Lewis, 11. Steve Black, 12. Chad T Hemphill, 13. John Komarinski, 14. Tony Musolino, 15. Richard Mitchell, 16. Garry Wiltrout

Smail Pontiac GMC Modifieds

Heat Race Winners: George P. Nicola, Adam Kostelnik

Valvoline Oil Hard Charger: George P. Nicola

Feature (20 Laps): 1. Mike Bakalon, 2. Beorge P. Nicola, 3. Adam Kostelnik, 4. Jason Busch, 5. Matt Panai, 6. Tom Frank, 7. Robert Shipp, 8. Beau Glemba, 9. Harry Opfer, 10. Ben Easler, 11. Jim Nicola, 12. Al Sivik, 13. Rich Nicola, 14. John Pribanich

Subway Street Stocks

Heat Race Winners: Andrew Kostelnik, Dave Tavormina

Valvoline Oil Hard Charger: Jason Holder

Feature (20 Laps): 1. Andrew Kostelnik, 2. Frank Turek, 3. Shawn Phillips, 4. Max Schlessinger, 5. Vince Kaider, 6. Jason Holder, 7. Dave Tavormina, 8. Richard Burbidge, 9. Joe Holp, 10. Jonathan Hileman, 11. Jamie Shipley, 12. Al Minjock, 13. Bill Henry, 14. Bill Ashton, 15. Robin Rimel

Yellow Book Chargers

Heat Race Winners: Jim Stokes, Tracy Keller

Valvoline Oil Hard Charger: Rick Broadwater

Feature (15 Laps): 1. Jim Stokes, 2. Jeff Giles, Jr. 3. Dan Jordan, 4. Victor Keller, 5. Rick Broadwater, 6. Cliff Abbott, 7. Harld Hunt, 8. Garry Ankrom, 9. Tracy Keller, 10. Robbie Haught, 11. Bob Garchak Jr., 12. Denny Keller, 13. Bryan Shipp, 14. Patrick Dooen

Advance Auto Part American Flyers

Heat Race Winner: Ed Dinneen

Valvoline Oil Hard Charger: Aaron Minjock

Feature (8 Laps): 1. Ed Dinneen, 2. Richie Miller, 3. Aaron Minjock, 4. Larry Vance, 5. Roger Bryan, 6. Andrew Giles, 7. William Oldham, 8. Jim Connelly, 9. Kevin J. Ludwick