FRANKLIN, Pa. — There was no doubt that A.J. Flick was on a mission at Tri-City Raceway Park. In the Diehl Chevrolet Sprint Car finale, he took the lead coming through turn two on the opening lap and he never looked back. In fact, his eyes were fixed forward, as he lapped all but two competitors in the non-stop affair.
Flick, who also won his heat race, noted that the track was in excellent shape for the feature event. “The track was a little narrow the last two weeks, but it was great tonight. It did not take any rubber. I have a tendency to over think things sometimes, but I listened to my dad, and he said to let things go for the feature. That obviously was a good call. The car was flawless.”
Flick apologized to the fans for the low car count. “I feel that we have to do something. Merle Black supports us, he has not cut the purses. The fans have been great and we hope that we can get more cars and more fans to help him keep this track going. It is one of the best in Western PA.”
In the final race of the season for the Diehl Chevrolet 410 Sprint Cars, Jack Sodeman, Jr. started on the pole with Flick next to him. Flick was seeking his second track championship. Andy Cavanaugh and Bob Felmlee were in row two. Felmlee entered the race second in points, 25 markers behind Flick. Andy Priest and Steven Bright were in the third row. The fourth row belonged to Bodey McClintock and Cameron Nastasi.
Flick rode the outside line to take the lead from Sodeman going through turns one and two on the opening lap. Felmlee raced along in third, ahead of Priest, Cavanaugh, McClintock, Nastasi and Bright.
As the laps clicked away, Flick’s lead got bigger and bigger. He had more than two-thirds of a lap on Sodeman and he was within striking distance of putting Felmlee one lap in arrears by the time the checkered flag fell.
Also scoring wins were Chad Reitz in the Pitt Stop Pub 358 Modifieds, Bobby Whitling for the second night in a row in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks, Mike Potosky in the A & MP electric, Inc. UMP Modifieds, and Matt Urey in the 4 Your Car Connection Four Cylinder Mini Stocks.
The Old Skool Kool Vintage Tour also presented a pair of races. The Stock Car win went to Larry Walters. The Modified win belonged to Paul Bacchus.
Feature Finish
A.J. Flick, Jack Sodeman, Jr., Bob Felmlee, Andy Priest, Andy Cavanaugh, Bodey McClintock, Steve Bright, and Cameron Nastasi.