Labor Day Special
September 3, 2007

Marion Center Speedway September 1, 2007

It was a full night of racing at Marion center Speedway Saturday night with the completion of the rained out program from August 25 and the full program for the Season Championships sponsored by Butler Auto Supply of Indiana.   The full grandstands sure got their money’s worth and so did the Marion Center Fireman’s 50/50 drawing sending someone home with just under $2000 for buying the right ticket.

            The first order of business was to finish the remaining heats from the previous Saturday and run the features for all five divisions.   It was double point night when the rains came, so it was important to complete what was started to give everyone an equal chance at double points.   In the Lias Tire Latemodel feature, Mike Blose from Dayton dominated the field.   Starting on the outside pole, Blose took the lead and never let up, leading every lap to the checkered flags.   Dave Satterlee from Home moved up from starting ninth to catch up to Blose by the fifth lap with the help of a caution to bring the pack back together.   After the restart, Satterlee tried his best to get around Blose, but Blose was familiar with Satterlee’s tactics and shut him down at every opportunity.   Satterlee took second.   Tom Kitchen from Clarksburg was the third place car, Dwayne Taneyhill from Bellwood was fourth and Dave Peterman from Indiana was fifth.   The rest of the top ten in order were Dave Blazavich, Sammy Stile, John Britsky, Clate Copeman and Herman Bertolini.   The heats were run the week before and won by Rick Strong (who didn’t race on 9/1) John Britsky and Dave Satterlee

            The Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodel feature was won by Terry Rayko from Creekside.   Rayko started on the pole and led every lap to take home the victory.   John Oaks from Punxsutawney finished second after starting seventh and Rod Phillips followed Oaks from starting ninth to finishing third.   Bobby Watt from Latrobe took fourth place and Scott Stein from Cherry Tree was fifth.   Cheyenne Reed was the sixth place finisher and he was followed by Jeff Weakland, Andrew Satterlee, Jim Baker and Scott Alvetro.   The heats from the previous week were won by John Oaks and Andrew Satterlee.

            Ray Hickok, Jr. won the Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners feature after taking the lead from Tim Bish on lap five.   Bish from Ringgold started on the pole and led the race until overtaken by Hickok.   Bish followed the new leader to the checkers for second place and Bob Pease from Blairsville was third.   Corey Kilgre from Kittanning was fourth.   Fifth place went to Tom Pavelko from Cherry Tree.   Tina Weaver took sixth, Jason Joiner was seventh, Larry Depp-eighth, Matt Weakland-ninth, and Virgil Small took tenth.   The heats went to Tim Bish, Ray Hickok, and Corey Kilgre.

            Tim Laughard from Johnstown won the Pepsi Strictly Stock feature by leading all but the first lap which went to Sam McAdams from Black Lick who started on the pole.   Brett Bingaman from Cherry Tree was second, Nate Smith from Glen Campbell took third and Tom Baun from Rossiter was fourth and Justin Queen from Irvona was fifth.   Sixth place went to Gary Furman, Jr., Robert James was seventh, Bryant Small-eighth, Cliff Voss-ninth and tenth was Steve Fulmer.   In the heat races the winners were Gregg Buterbaugh, Tim Laughard and Justin Queen.

            Jeff Taylor took the lead from pole-sitter Nick Goss on the fourteenth lap to take the victory home in the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock feature.   Taylor from Corsica had a good lead built up between himself and second place finisher Eric Baun from Rossiter.   Nick Goss from Punxsutawney was third.   Cory Wilson from Reynoldsville finished fourth and Tim White from Punxsutawney was fifth.   Rounding out the top ten were Mike Laughard, Don Waltman, Tim Bish, John Poling III, and Randy Reitz.   The heat races were won by Cory Wilson, and Jeff Taylor.

            The second half of the night was a whole new program to determine the Season Champions of   all five divisions for 2007 and was sponsored by Butler Auto Supply from Indiana.  

            In the Lias Tire Latemodel feature the top point man for the division, John Britsky took the season Championship.   Britsky took the lead on lap four from Dwayne Taneyhill who started on the pole.   Taneyhill took second place and Clate Copeman was third.   Dave Blazavich finished fourth and Rick Davis finished fifth.   Tom Kitchen finished sixth and was followed by Dave Peterman, Matt Gaston and Gregg Satterlee and Mark Stair.   Dave Blazavich, Dave Peterman and Clate Copeman won the heat races.

            Rod Phillips from Punxsutawney picked up the trophy for the season championship in the Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodel feature from Bob Bacha of Butler Auto Supply.   Phillips took the lead from Jeff Weakland after Weakland led the first two laps.   Phillips then held off any other attempts to take the lead by anyone else to cruise to victory.   Scott Alvetro finished second in the feature after starting seventh and Andrew Satterlee took third place.   Bernie Whiteford finished fourth, and Jeff Weakland was fifth.   Sixth place went to Scott Stein and he was followed by Tom Jobe, Jim Baker, John Oaks, and Jeff Compton.   Scott Stein and Bobby Watt won the heats.

            In the feature to determine the season Champion of the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks, it was all Jeff Taylor from start to finish.   Taylor led every lap to secure the win after being awarded the trophy for the top point leader for the division.   Cory Wilson was the second place car at the checkers and Eric Baun finished third.   Fourth place went to Nick Goss, Don Waltman was fifth, Scott Stein sixth, Mike Laughard seventh, Ray Reynolds eighth, Tim Bish ninth and John Poling III was tenth.   Jeff Taylor also won his heat trace with Cory Wilson winning the other heat.

            The Pepsi Strictly Stock Point Champ, Tim Laughard also became the Season Champion Saturday night by leading every lap in the feature.   Laughard started fourth but easily took the lead and stayed in front the entire race.   Second place went to Nate Smith who moved up from tenth at the start and Jack Mumau took third just ahead of Robert James and Justin Queen.   Sixth through tenth places went to Tom Baun, Gary Furman, Jr. Bryant Small, Brett Bingaman and Greg Buterbaugh.   In the heat races, Gary Furman, Jr., Jack Mumau and Justin Queen were the winners.

            Tim Bish who started out dominating the Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners division took the lead for the last three laps of the feature to determine the Season Champion.   Bish took the lead from Corey Kilgre to become the champ; Kilgre finished second and Bob Pease took third, Tom Pavelko was fourth and Matt Weakland finished fifth.   Sixth through tenth places were filled by Chris Smyers, Larry Depp, Ray Hiockok, Jr., Jason Joiner and Tina Weaver.   In the heat races the winners were Jon Lee, Bob Pease and Tim Bish.

                Thanks to Bob Bacha from Butler Auto Supply and the rest of the store’s staff in Indiana for their sponsorship of the Season Championships once again this season.

            The final races of the season will be held Monday, September 3, 2007 as a Labor Day Special at 7:30 PM.  It will be a forty lap Super Late Model race paying $3000 to win. Also appearing will be the Pepsi Strictly Stocks racing 25 laps for $500 top prize and the Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinders racing 20 laps for $250.  If the races cannot be held on Sept. 1 they will be made up on Saturday September 8 at the regular time of 7:30 PM.  

We hope to see you Monday night for the Labor Day Special at Marion Center Speedway- “ The Thrill on the Hill!”

Marion Center Speedway August 25, 2007  

The rain brought an end to the racing Saturday night at Marion Center Speedway before the program could be completed.  A heat race for the Pepsi Strictly Stocks and two heats for the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks were not completed.  Next Saturday tonight's program will be completed and then the Butler Auto Supply Season Championships will take place immediately following the conclusion of the rained out events from August 25.  Next weekend will also be the Labor Day Special, the third ‘Big Three Race’ for the Lias Tire Latemodels- a forty lap $3000 to win event.   The Labor Day races will also include a 25 lap $500 to win Pepsi Strictly Stock feature and a 20 lap $250 to win Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burner feature.  

For the races that were able to be completed the results are for the heat race winners:  

Lias Tire Latemodels:  Rick Strong, John Britsky and Dave Satterlee
Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Limited Latemodel:  John Oaks and Andrew Satterlee
The Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners:   Tim Bish, Ray Hickok,Jr. and Corey Kilgre
Pepsi Strictly Stock: Greg Buterbaugh and Tim Laughard (third heat rained out)
W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks:  two heats scheduled were rained out.

  We hope to see you Saturday night for the full five division racing program and Double features- including the Butler Auto Supply Season Championships at Marion Center Speedway- “ The Thrill on the Hill!” 

Don Peffer  

MARION CENTER SPEEDWAY- August 18, 2007

            The Butler Auto Supply Season Championships are only two weeks away at Marion Center Speedway and all the drivers are doing their best to gather as many points as possible before the end of the season.    They’ll have a great opportunity to do that next Saturday with ‘Double Point Night’ on the schedule.

            This past Saturday the first division to take the track was the Pepsi Strictly Stocks.   Nate Smith from Glen Campbell battled the entire race against Brett Bingaman from Cherry Tree.   Both cars started up front and raced with a lot of side-by-side action.   Bingaman took the lead first, but Smith took the lead for most of the race and at the final flag, Smith was the winner.   Bingaman took second and Joe Zulisky of Derry finished third with Tim Laughard from Johnstown in fourth.   Jack Mumau from East Run was fifth and the rest of the top ten in order were Bobby Noel, Robert James, Gary Furman, Jr., John Kitz, and Tim Schreckengost.   The Pepsi Strictly Stock heat race winners were Nate Smith, Brett Bingaman and Joe Zulisky.

            In the Lias Tire Latemodel feature Rick Strong from Chambersville had the early lead from his pole position starting point, but before the half way mark, John Britsky took over the lead.    Britsky from Indiana started seventh and moved up a spot every lap until he took over the lead.   Dave Satterlee from Home was chasing Britsky until with two laps to go Satterlee’s car went wide through the turn and a lot of ground was lost before he recovered.   Satterlee drove off to the pits and a caution came out for another incident that took out five other contenders for the race including Jason DuPont, Rick Strong, Ben Satterlee, Bernie Whiteford driving the Hugill car, and Herman Bertolini.   On the restart Dwayne Taneyhill from Bellwood was second in line and finished there.   Sammy Stile from Charleroi made a run for the lead and successfully passed Britsky for the front, but the pass was called back due to another caution before the lap could be completed.   At the finish line it was Britsky, Taneyhill, Stile, then Gregg Satterlee from Rochester Mills, Jerry Redden from Mahaffey, Cody Shultz, Dave Peterman, Chad Helman, Bob Wearing, Sr., and Mark Stair.   Sammy Stile, Dave Satterlee and John Britsky won their heat races.

            The W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks took to the track next.   Scott Stein from Cherry Tree who’s no stranger to the winner’s circle in his Limited Late Model, made a special appearance after a year of not being there in his Street Stock.   Stein Stein started on the outside pole and led every lap to secure the victory.   But it wasn’t as easy as it may seem,   because Jeff Taylor from Corsica was closing in on Stein lap after lap gaining ground from his eighth position start until he was right behind Stein and even beside him at times.   Stein kept his cool and car under control to not allow Taylor the chance to get under him and went on to take the checkered flag with Taylor close behind in second.   Third place was taken by Nick Goss from Punxsutawney, Mike Laughard from Twin Rocks was fourth, and Jim Boyer from Indiana was fifth.   Sixth through tenth places were filled in order by Greg Blystone, Cory Wilson, Rich Waltman, John poling III, and Randy Reitz.   In the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock heat races the winners were Cory Wilson and Jim Boyer.

            The Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners were the next division to run on the track.   Bob Pease from Blairsville started on the pole and was leading every lap until Tim Bish from Ringgold took over to lead the last two laps for the win.   Pease finished second, Mark Faught from Cherry Tree was third, Tom Pavelko from Cherry Tree took fourth and Corey Neal from Trade City was fifth.   Sixth through tenth places went to Corey Kilgre, Tina Weaver, Jason Joiner, Larry Depp and Chris Hickok.   In the Stitching Post 4 Cylinder heat races the winners were Ray Hickok, Jason Joiner, and Bob Pease.

            Bernie Whiteford from Hastings captured the checkered flag in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodels.   Whiteford led every lap from pole position start to the end to take home the victory.   Whiteford was challenged throughout the feature by Cheyenne Reed from Punxsutawney, but Reed couldn’t get around Whiteford and had to settle for second place.   Scott Stein from Cherry Tree (the winner of the Street Stock feature) finished third after starting seventh in his Limited Latemodel.   Fourth place went to Bobby Watt from Latrobe and Scott Alvetro from Reynoldsville was fifth.   Rounding out the top ten were Andrew Satterlee, Jim Baker, Jeff Weakland, John Oaks and Jeff Compton.   The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodel heat races went to Bernie Whiteford and   Jeff Compton.  

            The next special races coming to Marion Center Speedway will be the Labor Day Celebration, the third ‘Big Three Race’ for the Lias Tire Latemodels- a forty lap $3000 to win event.   The Labor Day races will also include a 25 lap $500 to win Pepsi Strictly Stock feature and a 20 lap $250 to win Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burner feature.     We hope to see you Saturday night for the full five division racing program at Marion Center Speedway- “ The Thrill on the Hill!”

Don Peffer

MARION CENTER SPEEDWAY- August 11, 2007

The Championship Kid’s Bike Races were the focal point of the intermission activities Saturday night at Marion Center Speedway with Ronald McDonald in attendance from the McDonald’s restaurants in Indiana and Route 22 in Blairsville.   At the conclusion of the bike races, a drawing was held of all the participants to give away a bike donated by the Pepsi Company.   Also at the track was Hillbilly the rescue dog with his handler Dave that fans could come and see and have pictures taken with Hillbilly.

            The Lias Tire Latemodels were the fist division to race Saturday.   Sammy stile from Charleroi led the field of cars onto the track and also the first couple laps of the feature.   John Britsky from Indiana took over the lead for laps four through twenty to secure the win and get a big boost in his points lead as well.   Sammy Stile continued to pursue Britsky around the track and placed second at the checkers and Mike Blose from Dayton was close behind Stile for third.   Fourth and fifth places went to Rick Davis of Home and Greg Satterlee from Rochester Mills.   Rounding out the top ten in order were Ben Satterlee, Dwayne Taneyhill, Mark Stair, Dave Blazavich and Dave Peterman.   The Lias Tire Latemodel heat races were won by Sammy Stile, John Garvin from Sarver and John Britsky.

            The Latemodels were followed by the Pepsi Strictly Stocks.   Joe Zulisky from Derry took the early lead for the feature but by the seventh lap, Brett Bingaman from Cherry Tree took over the front position which he maintained the rest of the race for the victory.   Zulisky finished in second and Nate Smith from Glen Campbell was third.   Gregg Buterbaugh from Clymer took fourth and fifth went to Gary Furman, Jr. from New Alexandria.   Next were Tim Laughard, Bobby Noel, Tim Shreckengost, Michael Sisitki, and Robin Welsh.   The Pepsi Strictly Stock heat races were won by Tom Baun from Rossiter, Sam McAdams from Black Lick and John Kitz from Mt. Pleasant.

            In the Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodels, Tom Shaffer from Punxsutawney took the first lead of the race from pole sitter, Ron Marsh from Dixonville.   Shaffer kept the front position until lap four when he was passed by Scott Stein from Cherry Tree.   Stein led the race through the crossed flags of the halfway point then was overtaken by Bernie Whiteford from Hastings.   Whiteford stayed in front of Stein and also Cheyenne Reed who had come up from eighth place at the start to challenge Whiteford for the lead.   Reed from Punxsutawney took second place and Terry Rayko from Creekside maneuvered his way around Stein to take third place leaving Stein in fourth.   Jeff Weakland from Hastings finished fifth.   The top ten included Brian Smith, Ron Marsh, Tom Jobe, Jeff Compton and Tom Shaffer in that order.   The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodel heat races were won by Terry Rayko and John Oaks from Punxsutawney.

            Jeff Taylor from Corsica was the winner of the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks’ feature.   Taylor was following Nick Goss from Punxsutawney at the end of the feature when several cautions delayed the finish of the race.   Time after time, the green flag would drop and Taylor would power around Goss and the caution would once again be displayed to stop the progress.   Finally a good restart without a caution gave Taylor the opportunity to make his pass on Goss and reach the checkered flags.   Goss finished second with Jake Ayers from Sarver close behind him in third.   Cory Wilson from Reynoldsville was fourth and Tommy Dembowski from Export was fifth.   Sixth through tenth places were filled by Bob Benedict, John McCann, Jim Boyer, Scott Stein, and John Poling III.   Ray Reynolds, Nick Goss and Jeff Taylor were the heat race winners.

            In the Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners feature, Tim Bish from Ringgold took the lead first then it was Virgil Small and Bob Pease in the front trading spots for first and second.   At the end Virgil Small from Gipsy had secured his lead for the win and Bob Pease from Blairsville took second.   Tim Bish finished third, Tina Weaver from Marion Center was fourth and Larry Depp from Punxsutawney was fifth.   Chris Hickok was sixth; Jason Joiner-seventh, Tom Pavelko-eighth, Tim Brant-ninth and Ed Sackandy took tenth.    The Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burner heat races were won by Tim Bish, Virgil Small and Cory Kilgre from Kittanning.

             The Kid’s Bike Race Championships are: 2-3 Yrs.: Fawntana Plyer, 4 Yr.: Brianna Zernick, 5-Deegan Watt, 6-Jenna Keener, 7-Bryce Sallack, 8-Tanny Landsbury, 9- Bailey Mumau, 10-Trevor McCann, 11- Daran Bingaman and the12 Yr. Old class: Matt Marsh.   Also Congratulations to Michayla on winning the Pepsi Bicycle in the drawing.

            Special Thanks to Ronald McDonald and his crew for their help with the Kid’s Bike Race Championships and also Dave and “Hillbilly” for coming out to the track.   The next special races coming to Marion Center Speedway will be the Labor Day Celebration, the third ‘Big Three Race’ for the Lias Tire Latemodels- a forty lap $3000 to win event.   The Labor Day races will also include a 25 lap $500 to win Pepsi Strictly Stock feature and a 20 lap $250 to win Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burner feature.   We hope to see you Saturday night for the full five division racing program at Marion Center Speedway- “ The Thrill on the Hill!”  

Don Peffer

MARION CENTER SPEEDWAY- August 4, 2007

            The Pittsburgh Circle Track Club was at Marion Center Speedway Saturday night as the race sponsors and it was also Specialty Tires of America employee night.   The over 100 participants in the five divisions of racing put on a great show for the crowd with lots of exciting action.

            The Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodels took the track first.   Andy Teno from Portage started on the pole for the feature and was able to lead every lap to pickup his first win in a limited latemodel car.   Teno was pursued heavily by Rod Phillips from Punxsutawney, but Phillips couldn’t get around Teno and settled for second place at the checkers.   Last week’s winner, Terry Rayko from Creekside placed third and a new driver at the track, Brian Smith from Reynoldsville was fourth leaving Bernie Whiteford from Hastings in fifth.   Sixth place went to Bobby Watt; John Oaks was seventh then Scott Stein, Tom Jobe and Ron Marsh for the top ten.   The Hoosier Tire-Mid Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodel heats were won by Bernie Whiteford, Scott Stein and Bobby Watt.

            The Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners had a red flag dropped to stop the race when Nikki Sikora from Punxsutawney rolled over near turn two.   Sikora was uninjured and even able to return to the track before the feature finished.   Sikora was running in the middle of the field when the incident occurred.   Running up front the entire race was Bob Pease from Blairsville.   Pease started in fourth place but wasted no time getting into the lead by the first lap.   Pease went on to lead every lap with Mark Faught from Cherry Tree hot on his tail the entire time until an unknown incident put Faught in the pits.   Virgil Small close behind though to keep thing interesting and Small placed second.   Third went to Larry Depp from Punxsutawney and Corey Neal from Trade City took fourth with Cory Kilgre from Kittanning in fifth.   Sixth through tenth places were taken by Tina Weaver, Michael Gervasoni, John Watt, Tom Pavelko and Merle Bolette.   The Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive heats were won by Corey Neal, Mark Faught and Cory Kilgre.   A consolation race for the 4 cylinders was won by Tom Pavelko from Cherry Tree.

            In the Lias Tire Latemodel feature Rod Phillips was providing the excitement both good and bad.   Phillips brought the field of cars to the starting line from his pole position and dominated the front position.   By lap nine Phillips was getting ready to lap cars on the track.   In passing one of the slower cars, the passed car was put into a spin that resulted in a caution that was charged to Phillips.   An irate Phillips left the track making his displeasure with the call known to all.   When the race resumed, Dave Blazavich from Marion Center was the new leader, but he was soon overtaken by Ken Schaltenbrand from Sarver.   Schaltenbrand had been absent from the track for a while, but unfortunately for Blazavich he was back and took the lead from Blazavich to secure the victory.   Rick Davis from Home also passed Blazavich to take away second place leaving Blazavich in third ahead of John Britsky from Indiana in fourth.   Jerry Redden from Mahaffey finished fifth.   Dave Peterman was sixth, Sammy Stile-seventh, Dwayne Taneyhill-eighth, Herman Bertolini-ninth and Chad Helman in tenth.   The Lias Tire Latemodel heat races were won by Dave Blazavich, Sammy Stile and Rod Phillips.

            The W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks were next on the track and another green to checker leader was Cory Wilson from Reynoldsville.   Wilson started on the pole and held off the advances of Jeff Taylor at the end of the race to keep the lead for the win.   Taylor from Corsica picked up second place (although I’m sure he wanted a win for this birthday!) and Jim Boyer from Indiana was one of the pack of four running up front to take third place with the fourth place car being Nick Goss from Punxsutawney.   Eric Baun from Rossiter was fifth.   Sixth through tenth places were filled in order by Mike Laughard, Eric Lingenfelter, Tim White, Dave Potter, and Don Waltman.   The heats fort he W.G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stocks were won by Mike Laughard, Jeff Taylor, and Denny Keener.

            Tim Laughard from Johnstown led nearly every lap in the Pepsi Strictly Stock feature but his near perfect performance was marred by Nate Smith from Glen Campbell.   Smith was able to take the lead away from Laughard when a caution occurred in the tenth lap and the resulting restart gave Smith the opportunity to get the jump on Laughard for the lead.   Smith stayed in front until the final lap, the white flag was displayed and Laughard was trying desperately to get around Smith, but Smith was able to block Laughard every time but once-and Laughard took that break in the final turn to reach the finish line first for the win.   A very Close second place was Nate Smith and third place went to Robert James from Mahaffey.   Bobby Noel from Johnstown took fourth and Bryant Small from Cherry Tree was fifth.   Cliff Voss from Rossiter was sixth and the rest of the top ten included Michael Sisitki, Steven Fulmer, Tom Baun, and Brett Bingaman.   The Pepsi Strictly Stock heat races were won by Michael Sisitki, Tim Laughard and Brett Bingaman.

            Next Saturday will be McDonald’s night with Kid’s Bike Race Championships and the Pepsi bike giveaway to one lucky bike race contestant.   Kids remember to bring your bikes, helmets and tickets from the previous bike races.   Bringing your previous tickets increases your chances of winning the Pepsi bike.

            Special Thanks to the guys from the Pittsburgh Circle Track Cub for the sponsorship and door prizes.

The next special races coming to Marion Center Speedway will be the Labor Day Celebration, the third ‘Big Three Race’ for the Lias Tire Latemodels- a forty lap $3000 to win event.   We hope to see you Saturday night for the full five division racing program at Marion Center Speedway- “ The Thrill on the Hill!”  

Don Peffer

MARION CENTER SPEEDWAY- July 28, 2007

Despite the somewhat gloomy weather, Marion Center Speedway was able to run its entire program Saturday night for Lias Tire Night of Indiana at the track.   Lias Tire and Auto Service from North Fifth Street in Indiana sponsored the night of racing and trophies were awarded to all the feature winners.

            The first race of the evening was in the Pepsi Strictly Stock Division.   Robert James from Mahaffey started on the outside pole and led the first three laps of the feature.   Then Brett Bingaman from Cherry Tree passed James for the lead and continued in the front for the rest of the race.   By the time the checkered flags came out, Bingaman had a good lead built up for the victory.   James was running in second place, but Tim Laughard from Johnstown moved into second place for a half-dozen or so laps until James recovered that position to finish the feature in second with Laughard close behind in third.   Fourth place went to Nate Smith from Glen Campbell and Gary Furman, Jr. from New Alexandria was fifth.   Sixth place went to Cliff Voss, John Kitz was seventh, Bryant Small-eighth, Tom Baun-ninth and Bobby Noel was tenth.   Brett Bingaman and Cliff Voss were heat race winners.

            The Lias Tire Latemodels were the next division onto the quarter-mile clay oval.   Sammy Stile and Dave Satterlee led the group onto the race area and at the drop of the green flag; Dave Satterlee from Home took the lead from the outside pole.   Satterlee led every lap for the victory but coming on strong from the sixth position start was John Britsky from Indiana.   At the finish line, Dave Satterlee just barely made it across the line first with Britsky too close for comfort.   Sammy Stile from Charleroi was third, Dave Blazavich from Marion Center was fourth and Rod Phillips from Punxsutawney was fifth.   Sixth through tenth places went to Clate Copeman from Greensburg, Dave Peterman from Indiana, Jim Detman from Leechburg, Ben Satterlee from Rochester Mills, and Lee Smith from Homer City.   Rod Phillips and John Britsky won the Lias Tire heat races.

            Terry Rayko from Creekside picked up his first career feature win Saturday night in the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Steel Block Limited Latemodels.   Rayko started third in the lineup and moved in behind Keith Witherite from Curwensville who started on the outside pole and took the lead from pole position starter, Tom Shaffer from Punxsutawney.   After following Witherite for six laps, Rayko took over the lead and went on to win his first feature.   Rod Phillips had come up from eighth to challenge Rayko for the lead, but with only three laps remaining, Phillips went to the pits.   With Phillips pitting, the second spot went to Scott Stein from Cherry Tree and Bernie Whiteford from Hastings was third.   Bobby Watt from Latrobe was fourth, and Jeff Weakland from Hastings was fifth.   Rounding out the top ten were John Oaks, Keith Witherite, Larry Wingard, Rod Phillips and Cheyenne Reed.   Bernie Whiteford and Jeff Weakland, both from Hastings won the Hoosier Tire Limited Latemodel heat races.

            The Stitching Post Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners were next on the program.   Matt Weakland from Northern Cambria led the field onto the track from his pole position starting point.   Weakland led the first lap then it was all Virgil Small from Gipsy in the lead for the rest of the race.   Weakland continued his pursuit of Small but Small kept ahead of the field for the win.   Weakland came in second and Corey Neal from Trade City took third.   Tim Bish from Ringgold finished fourth and John Watt from New Alexandria was fifth.   Jason Joiner from Brookville was sixth, Bob Pease took seventh, Larry Depp eighth, Ray Hickok, Jr.-ninth and Cory Kilgre was tenth.   Ray Hickok, Jr., Bob Pease and Jason Joiner won the Stitching Post 4 Cylinder heats.

            Another outside pole starter took the lead at the start of a race; this time it was Jeff Taylor in the W. G. Satterlee and Sons Street Stocks. Taylor from Corsica took the lead from Denny Keener at the start of the race, but after six laps Mike Laughard from Twin Rocks passed Taylor for the lead.   Laughard led the remaining laps to secure the victory.   Scott Stein from Cherry Tree started third and stayed in contention throughout the race picking up second at the checkers.   Nick Goss from Punxsutawney finished third, Dale Yeaney from Corsica finished fourth and fifth place went to Don Waltman from Rossiter.   Finishing the top ten in order were Jeff Taylor, Denny Keener, Jim Boyer, Tim White and Corey Wilson.   Scott Stein and Mike Laughard won the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock heat races.

            Next Saturday will be Pittsburgh Circle Track Club Night at the speedway and also Specialty Tires of America employee night.   The following week, August 11 will be McDonald’s night with Kid’s Bike Race Championships and the Pepsi bike giveaway to one lucky bike race contestant.   Kids remember to bring your bikes, helmets and tickets from the previous bike races Saturday, August 11.   Bringing your previous tickets increases your chances of winning the Pepsi bike.

The next special races coming to Marion Center Speedway will be the Labor Day Celebration, the third ‘Big Three Race’ for the Lias Tire Latemodels- a forty lap $3000 to win event.

We hope to see you Saturday night for the full five division racing program at Marion Center Speedway- “ The Thrill on the Hill!”

 Don Peffer