FRANKLIN, Pa. – Jeremiah Shingledecker became the first three-time winner this season in the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modified division Sunday at Tri-City Raceway Park.
Breaking through with his first victory in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars was Brandon Matus. Also scoring wins were Bobby Whitling (Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks), Dalton Speer (4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks) and David Myers (Vintage Modifieds).
Shingledecker was worried when he pulled the pills for the starting lineup for the Krill Recycling LLC 358 Modifieds. The track uses a modified re-draw system based on heat finishes.
“I put the two fastest cars on the front row,” he said.
To make matters worse, he lined up in eighth as the last feature winner in the class. His concerns went for naught.
J.R. McGinley started from the pole in his first appearance of the season at Tri-City Raceway Park. On his flank was Jimmy Holden. Kyle Fink and D.J. Schrader were in row two, with Travis Shingledecker and Kevin Hoffman in the third stanza. Steve Barr was lined up inside Shingledecker, who also happens to be the points leader in the division. Then came Tom Holden and Curt Bish, Jr. Lonny Riggs and Max Smoker were in the sixth row.
McGinley took the early lead, but Jimmy Holden was nipping on his heels. Fink slid into third, with Schrader, Travis Shingledecker and Steve Barr fighting for position. Soon, they were joined by Jeremiah Shingledecker.
McGinley held control through the first five laps. After a caution for Nathan McDowell, Holden stayed close enough on the restart to nose ahead in turns one and two. However, a caution for Travis Shingledecker’s bout with the water barrels lining the wall in turns one and two negated the pass for the lead.
On the ensuing restart, McGinley got into turn one a bit too hot. He slid up out of the groove, opening the door for Holden. Holden ducked under him to take the lead.
A series of restarts over the next couple of laps enabled Jeremiah Shingledecker to climb through the ranks. As he was doing so, McGinley started to slide back through the field.
Jeremiah Shingledecker stalked Jimmy Holden for eight laps during a longer green flag session. Coming through turn four with fifteen laps completed, Shingledecker got his nose under Holden, who continued to use the high side through the race. Shingledecker powered off the corner with the lead. Holden fought back, but he was unable to overtake Shingledecker.
During the final laps in the race, Shingledecker stretched his advantage. Holden was second, followed by Fink, Riggs, and McGinley. Kevin Hoffman crossed in sixth, followed by Travis Shingledecker, the winner’s brother, D.J. Schrader, Curt Bish, and Ryan Riffe.
Brandon Matus said after the feature that he felt badly about an hour before the green flag dropped for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars. He had experimented in his heat race and the new set-up did not work.
“We went back to what I know will make the car go straight,” he said.
It went straight as an arrow, and it was fast.
Leyton Wagner and Brandon Matus were third generation drivers leading the way in the Sprint Car feature event. They were followed by Brandon Spithaler. Chase Metheny was slated to start in fourth, but he opted for the tail, so that moved Bob Felmlee into row two. Darin Gallageher and Jack Sodeman, Jr. became the new third row. Sodeman rolled out an old favorite car for Sunday night action after crashing the night before at another area speedway. Then came Brent Matus and Ken Rossey. Bob McMillin and Logan McCandless made up row five. Bryan Salisbury made his first Tri-City start of the season from row six, with Francis Sesco returning to action after several years lay-off.
Brandon Matus wasted no time sailing into the lead. Wagner and Felmlee followed. Things were shaping up for a three-way battle for the lead when a red flag was thrown due to the violent crash of Ken Rossey on the third trip around the big half mile. Rossey was not hurt.
When the race resumed, Matus had the point, followed by Felmlee, Wagner, Spithaler, Gallagher, Sodeman, and Brent Matus.
Brandon Matus and Felmlee flew out front by themselves for almost the entire race. Matus was able to stretch his lead even after he encountered the slower cars. Quite a distance behind them was Wagner, who went on to log his best finish ever at Tri-City Raceway Park. Taking fourth was Gallagher. Spithaler was fifth.
Sodeman rode old reliable to the sixth spot. McCandless, Brent Matus, Salisbury and Davey Jones completed the top-10.