August 1, 2009
Race Results

Cory Stivason's Photos

Late Model	Limited Late Model	Street Stock	Strictly Stock	4-Cylinder
2s - Sammy Stile	1P - Rod Phillips	80 - Nick Goss	38 - Tim Laughard	63 - Larry Depp Jr.

                      There were radio personalities, fans on the racetrack and Speedy the clown –plus racing in five divisions all going on in one night!  That was Saturday night at Marion Center Speedway for their Fan Appreciation Night/Today’s Hot Country Q-102 Night.  During the intermission break, race cars were brought out onto the track and fans were allowed to get on the track to look over the cars and get autographs of the drivers-some of whom also passed out stickers, t-shirts, hats and photos.  Speedy the Clown was also out there with “Old Betsy”- not his wife but his 1929 Model A.  Speedy entertained the crowd and gave away candy, t-shirts and autographs.  It was a great night for fun and exciting racing action.

            The first division on the track this week was the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock.  Starting in the fourth position, Nick Goss from Punxsutawney took control of the feature from the very beginning.  Goss led every lap for the win and was lapping cars at the end the race.  Jeff Taylor from Corsica was following Goss throughout the race but couldn’t pass him for second place.  Tim Bish was also in the running, but the Ringgold native settled into third place.  Fourth place went to Jim Boyer from Indiana and Corey Neal of Trade City was fifth.  Rounding out the top ten were Ray Reynolds, Bill Phillips, Jr., Rob Wilkins, Randy Reitz and Dave Potter, Jr.  The W. G. Satterlee and Sons heat races were won by Tim White and Bill Phillips, Jr.

            Next to take the track was the Pikel’s Universal Auto Repair Strictly Stock feature.  The Strictly Stocks also only had one leader for the feature and that was Tim Laughard from Johnstown.  Laughard started on the pole and held off advances from Denny Smith and Bobby Noel to take home the win.  Denny Smith from Glen Campbell was second, and Bobby Noel from Mundys Corner was third.  Bryant Small from Cherry Tree took fourth and Justin Queen from Irvona was fifth.  Sixth through tenth places went to Kevin Kilgore, Ray Hickok, Jr., A. J. Flick, Greg Buterbaugh and Nate Smith.  Winning the Pikel’s Universal Auto Repair Strictly Stock heat races were Gary Furman, Jr.,  Greg Buterbaugh and Ray Hickok, Jr.  There was also a consolation race for the division and Jim Gullace, Jr. from Clymer was the winner of the ‘consy.’

            Another beginning to end leader occurred in the Lias Tire Latemodel feature.  Top Point Leader at the two tracks in the Force Inc. Super Late Model Championship Challenge, Dog Hollow and Marion Center, Sammy Stile showed why he is on top of the list by leading every lap at Marion Center for the feature win.  It wasn’t quite as easy as Speedy the Clown out running the four-wheeler in his race, but Sammy Stile from Charleroi made it look that easy.  Stile did have competition from Matt Gaston and Rod Phillips, but neither Gaston from Rochester Mills or Phillips from Punxsutawney could pass Stile.  Phillips took second place and Gaston was third.  Dane Laraway of Harrison City took fourth place and Dave Blazavich from Marion Center was fifth.  John Britsky, last weeks winner was sixth and he was followed by Rick Davis, Clate Copeman, Mark Stair and Dwayne Taneyhill for the top ten.  Sammy Stile and Rick Davis were winners in the Lias Tire Latemodel heat races.

            From second place in his Lias Tire Latemodel car to once again dominating the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Limited Latemodel feature, was the night for Rod Phillips of Punxsutawney.  Phillips jumped into his Limited Latemodel after just completing the Latemodel feature and rolled onto the track in second place on the grid.  But he appeared already warmed up and immediately took the lead for the Hoosier Tire sponsored division and never let up.  Bobby Watt from Latrobe stayed on Phillips the whole race but picked up second at the checkers.  Third place went to Bernie Whiteford from Hastings who moved up from seventh for third.  Andrew Satterlee from Rochester Mills came from dead last on the start to take fourth place and Scott Alvetro from Reynoldsville went form fifteenth to fifth.  Joey Valenti picked up sixth place and following him were Scott Stein, Jeff Weakland, Jeff Compton and Chris Clark.  The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Limited Latemodel heat races were won by Bernie Whiteford and Joey Valenti.

            The only feature to not have the winner lead every lap Saturday night was in the Today’s Hot Country, Q-102 Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners.  It was almost a beginning to end lead for race winner, Larry Depp, Jr. from Punxsutawney but he missed out on the first lap, which went to Eric Boozel from McVaytown.  Boozel had started fourth and Depp fifth and Boozel got to the front first but not for long as Depp took the lead on the second lap and for the rest of the laps too.  Bob Pease from Blairsville moved into second place from eleventh and Johny Miller from Punxsutawney took third.  Boozel took fourth and Tom Pavelko from Cherry Tree was fifth.  Rounding out the top ten in order were Tina Weaver, Craig Decker, David Buterbaugh, Denny Phillips and Adam Laughard.  In the heat races for the Q-102 4 Cylinders, the winners were Bob Pease, Craig Decker and Tina Weaver.  Adam Pletcher from Johnstown won the consolation race to move into the feature. 

            Next Saturday Night will be Pittsburgh Circle Track Club night at Marion Center Speedway with the full five divisions of racing.  August 22 will be McDonald’s Night at the track and the Indiana McDonalds Restaurants are sponsoring a Food Drive to benefit ICCAP (Indiana County Community Action Program) food bank.  Bring a non-perishable food item to the track that night and McDonalds will reward you with food coupons.  All this is leading up to the Butler Auto Supply Season Championships in September.  Also be sure to check the web site for more exciting news and links to other race related sites like the Force Inc. Super Late Model Championship Challenge and Corey Stivason’s Photo Pages.  See you Saturday night at Marion Center Speedway-“the Thrill on the Hill.” 

By: Don Peffer

Results