Mark Smith Captures Late Model Victory At Jennerstown



Even though the temperature was dropping in the Laurel Highlands, it remained …HOT… at Jennerstown Speedway as the Super Late Models thundered through the valley in a 40-lap feature run. In a surprising start, the #82 of Jason Lasky jumped out to five car length lead until lap 6 when Meyersdale, PA Mark Smith, in the #94, drove underneath Lasky and captured the lead. By lap 10, the top three of Smith, Lasky and Boyer calmly stretched out single file but the battle for fifth heated up in a four car shoot out. On lap 15, the Jenners, PA #75 of Barry Awtey began his 15 lap challenge for fifth against the #99 of Robby Marhefka, the current point leader and last week’s feature winner.

Awtey got to the inside in every corner but couldn’t get a clean line to get past Marhefka creating side by side racing until lap 30. On lap thirty, the field began to shuffle positions with Awtey finally getting past Marhefka edging his way closer to the point lead he held just two weeks ago. The #31 of Mark Cottone would follow Awtey’s line on lap 33 also getting past Marhefka. Also on lap 33, Boyer would move closer to the front as he grabbed the second spot away from Lasky. Awtey and Cottone continued pushing to the front after getting around Marhefka. Kyle Martel in the Lebanon, PA #59 became their next target. Awtey would get by Kyle on lap 35 and Cottone followed suit on lap 37. Mark Smith would stay out front and take the checkered to capture his first win of the 2007 season in this caution free event. The Super Late Model division has yet to repeat a feature winner after five consecutive weeks of competition.

In the Somerset Trust Company Street Stock division, Adam Kostelnik would continue his dominant run this season defending his point lead in the #05. Taking the lead away from Scott Bowman in the #19 close to the half way mark, Adam would stretch out to a comfortable ten car length lead until the caution came out on lap 14. The #25 of Dave Tavormina would surrender to engine failure leaving a trail of oil and smoke as he found his way back to his hauler. Following the caution, the field would remain tight but Kostelnik would stay out front taking his second win of the season and maintaining the 2007 point lead over Bowman. Bowman, coming off of a hard hitting wreck last week would hold the second spot in the feature followed by the #91 of Lauren Butler in a career best finish.

The Modified division would make their way back to Jennerstown Speedway in their second feature event of the 2007 season. Jimmy Nicola in the #5 would jump out to a commanding lead but a spin in turn 3 would bring out the caution on lap 4. The #58 of Lonnie Hoffman would loop but quickly return to the field for the restart. Following the restart on lap four, the field would not go far before the yellow flag would fly again. Going through turn one, a four car pileup would prevent any laps from getting in the record book. On the restart, the #60 of Adam Kostelnik, who already captured a feature trophy in the street stock feature, would take the top spot from Nicola. Nicola would take the lead back from Adam on lap 10 where the duo would battle side by side until the checkered dropped on lap 20 putting the win in Nicola’s corner. Victory lane would prove to be emotional as Nicola captured his first career victory at Jennerstown Speedway. Jimmy Nicola dedicated his win to his late son Steven and nephew Jonathan who died tragically not so long ago.

Steve Long in the #27 found his way back to victory lane in the Budweiser Hobby Stock division after scraping the wall last week and dropping the point lead to last week’s feature winner, Eugene Zerefoss. Zerefoss battled his way from the 10th position in the #23 hobby stock but fell short on laps finishing in the second position over the #60 of Doug Long. In victory lane, Long realized how difficult it is going to be

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