August 15, 2009
Race Results

Cory Stivason's Photos

Late Model	Limited Late Model	Street Stock	Strictly Stock	4-Cylinder
22 - Gregg Satterlee	1P - Rod Phillips	1B - Tim Bish	38 - Tim Laughard	44 - Joe Petyak

After last weeks rainout, everyone was ready to race at Marion Center Speedway on Saturday night.  With one hundred cars prep’ed to take the track and hundreds of fans in their seats to watch them, the night was set for some exciting racing action.

            The Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Limited Late Models were the first division on the track Saturday night and once again Rod Phillips from Punxsutawney pulled off the win.  This week Phillips was gaining on leader, Dave Buchanan from Cherry Tree who had started on the pole and led every lap throughout the race; when during a caution for a separate incident near the end of the race, Buchanan broke down on the track and was done for the night.  This gave Rod Phillips the lead by default.  The feature had five more laps to go with Phillips in the lead when another of many cautions for the division came out.  After trying to get ready to resume the race it became apparent the time for the feature had been surpassed, track officials called the race and awarded Phillips the checkered flag.  Bobby Watt from Latrobe was second, Cheyenne Reed of Punxsutawney was third, Scott Alvetro from Reynoldsville took fourth and Jeff Compton from Jeanette was fifth.  Sixth through tenth places went to Mike Laughard, Joey Valenti, Ron Marsh, Brett Kalanavich, and Scott Stein.  Winning the Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Limited Late Model heat races were Rod Phillips and Bobby Watt.

            Today’s Hot Country Q-102 Front Wheel Drive 4 Cylinder Rice Burners heated up the track next.  Craig Decker from Cherry Tree took the lead after one lap was completed from Dan Luzier of Love Joy who had pole position for the feature.  Decker held the lead throughout many cautions for the next four laps until he was sent to the pits for rough driving.  This put John Ford from Kittanning in the lead until four laps later when Joe Petyak from Gallitzin took the lead away from Ford and went on to take the checkered flag for the win.  Running right behind Petyak was Larry Depp, Jr. from Punxsutawney in second place and John Ford finished third.  Shane Weaver from Marion Center took fourth with his mother, Tina Weaver right behind him in fifth.  Rounding out the top ten were Bob Pease, Dave Butherbaugh, Chris Hickok, Denny Phillips, and Adam Laughard.  Shane Weaver, Craig Decker and Joe Petyak won the Q-102 Todays Hot Country heat races.

            The Lias Tire Late Models were next on the track with Sammy Stile from Charleroi leading them to the racing surface and staying in the lead for the next five laps.  After that Gregg Saterlee from Rochester Mills took control of the race.  Satterlee started in fourth position and had the lead by the sixth lap-never letting up to go for the victory.  Sammy Stile who is the top contender for the Force Inc. Super Late Model Championship Challenge-a joint effort between Marion Center Speedway and Dog Hollow Speedway where if an individual wins the Late Model Points Championship at both tracks they will receive an additional $10, 000 bonus sponsored by Force, Inc. and Lias Tire, American Racer, Hugill Sanitation, Kellar Augering and Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic-continued to chase Satterlee around the track but finished in second place with Ken Schaltenbrand from Sarver in third.  Fourth place went to Matt Gaston from Rochester Mills and Denton Boyer from Punxsutawney took fifth.  John Britsky from Indiana was sixth and followed by Clate Copeman, Rod Phillips, Billy Dickson and Dwayne Taneyhill.  The Lias Tire Late Model heat race winners were Dane Laraway from Harrison City, Denton Boyer and Matt Gaston.

            Pikel’s Universal Auto Repair Strictly Stocks took to the track for their feature with Bryant Small from Cherry Tree leading them out of the pits.  Small led the first three laps before he was passed by Tim Laughard from Johnstown who had started sixth.  Laughard continued in the lead to the checkered flag finish for the win with Ray Hickok Jr. from Commodore hot on his tail and knocking at the door for second place.  Steve Matko from Cherry Tree also passed Small to take third place after starting tenth and left Small in fourth ahead of Nate Smith from Glen Campbell.  The top ten then filled out with A. J. Flick, Greg Buterbaugh, Brett Bingaman, Bobby Noel and Cliff Voss.  Pikel’s Universal Auto Repair Strictly Stock heat races went to Nate Smith, Steve Matko and Greg Buterbaugh.

            The last race of the night was in the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock division.  Andy Klingensmith from Jeanette brought the field of cars onto the track and kept the 47 machine in front for the first seven of twenty laps.  After that, Tim Bish from Ringgold took over and never let up to take the victory home.  Bish was pursued by Nick Goss and Jeff Taylor who ended up battling each other for second place with Taylor from Corsica taking second and leaving Goss from Punxsutawney in third.  Fourth place went to Rod Wilkins from Altoona and Jim Boyer from Indiana was fifth.  Next in line were Bill Phillips, Jr., Chad Covatch, Tim Adamson, Andy Klingensmith and Brent Lee.  Nick Goss and Corey Neal from Trade City won the W. G. Satterlee & Sons Street Stock heat races. 

            Next Saturday Night will be McDonald’s Night at the track and the Indiana area McDonalds Restaurants will have Ronald McDonald there to assist with the Kid’s Championship Bike Races and entertain kids of all ages.  Be SURE TO NOTE that for the remainder of this season if Marion Center Speedway doesn’t race at all Saturday night or the program is rained out before intermission-the Races Will Be Held the NEXT DAY on Sunday at 7:00 PM.  Any Cancellations made after the intermission break will be made up as double features as needed the next Saturday.  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