ROOKIE OLSOMMER ROMPS TO FIRST CAREER MODIFIED FEATURE WIN IN FRONT OF A PACKED HOUSE FRIDAY AT PENN CAN SPEEDWAY
SUSQUEHANNA, PA…Ryan Olsommer has taken Penn Can Speedway by storm in this his rookie season in a Modified. Friday night he kept it going by capturing his first career Modified win in front of a full house on Bike Giveaway Night. Mike Schane, Ryan Codington, Bud Phillips, Jeremy Williams and Josh Wilder were also victorious on a night when 130 bicycles were given away to area kids.
Nick Rochinski and Brian Malcolm took off at the outset of the 30 lap Modified feature and provided the fans with a hotly contested battle for the lead. With six laps in the books it was Rochinski out front on the top of the multi groove track and Malcolm working the bottom.
As they came out of turn four to complete lap seven, something broke in Rochinski’s car and he quickly pulled to the infield to get out of harm’s way. Malcolm was momentarily trapped to the inside of Rochinski as he exited the speedway, which allowed Olsommer to sweep around both of them into the lead.
With the final 24 laps going caution free it set up an incredible battle between Olsommer, Malcolm, Alan Rudalavage and Defending Track Champ Kevin Hartnett. Olsommer ran the top, Malcolm was on the bottom and Rudalavage ran the middle as Hartnett began tracking them all down. Malcolm was relentless and on several occasions was able to pull alongside and even nose ahead of Olsommer.
Olsommer, a former Sportsman Track Champ, was never rattled and maintained his line around the top. With two laps to go Malcolm had his best shot at the lead and pulled alongside Olsommer as they took the white flag. Olsommer never flinched and withstood the challenge to score his first career Modified feature win.
Malcolm was a close second ahead of Rudalavage, Hartnett and Mike Dougherty, who raced to the top five from his 11th starting spot. Positions six through ten went to Dan Pompey, Joey Colsten, Alan Kellogg, Frank Porreca and Mike Loney.
The 602 Crate Sportsman feature went green to checkers but when it was all said and done things finished a little differently. Devon Zona was the early race leader but Paul Rooney needed just four laps to blast into the lead on lap four from his fourth starting spot. Once in front Rooney checked out and opened up a half track lead.
The race was for second as Zona was hounded by Mike Schane. The two drivers raged an impressive battle lap after lap with Zona up top and Schane on the bottom. Little did either driver know at the time that they were actually racing for the win. Rooney came across the line first but did not pass post race tech and was ultimately disqualified.
Schane continued to keep the pressure on Zona and as they came to the checkers Schane came across first by a few inches to secure what would eventually become the win. Zona was second ahead of Dusty Barton, Mike Decker and Marty Bunker. Sixth went to Adam MacGeorge, Ryan Stone, Eric Bonham, Leo McGurrin and Lee Foland.
Keeping up with the theme of close finishes, the Street Stocks provided the best finish of the night. Matt Spencer was the early leader, holding Chuck Murray at bay in the early going. Ricky Davis, Sr. moved into second on lap nine with Ryan Codington close behind in third. With Spencer enjoying the lead, Davis and Codington made contact in turn two and hooked bumpers, bringing out the yellow flag.
Shane Wolf, Jr. was now into second and on the restart he quickly raced around Spencer to take the lead. As the raced progressed Codington was on a mission as he charged through the field and back up to third with five laps to go. With just four laps remaining Wolf slowed on the backstretch and pulled down low as Spencer and Codington raced past him.
Whatever problem Wolf had was short lived as the car took right off again after he fell to third. That set up an incredible finish that had the capacity crowd on their feet. The top three went turns three and four three wide and stayed that way as they raced to the checkers. When the black and white silks waved over them it was Codington taking his first win of the season over Spencer and Wolf. You could have thrown a blanket over the three of them. Kevin Garland and Davis rounded out the top five.
Twenty one Four Cylinders took the green flag in their 15 lap feature and it too was a dandy. Josh Wilder quickly hustled his mount into the lead from the outside front row. The first 11 laps went caution free with Wilder leading Andy Brigham into heavy lapped traffic. Brigham constantly pressured Wilder as the two drivers manipulated lapped traffic. At one point they split a lapped car and Brigham took a slight advantage before Wilder shut the door.
With only two cautions slowing the action the final three laps provided a clean track in front of the leaders. Wilder held off Brigham to capture his first win of the year. Brigham was second ahead of Nick Kennedy, Frank Kennedy and Kenny Underwood. Six through tenth went to Phil Burns, Ryan Wood, Rick Lunn, Chris Taylor and Charlie Towner.
Bud Phillips won his third Crate Late Model feature of the season. He took the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. He was followed to the line by Jim O’Hara and Jamie Bedford.
Jeremy Williams continued his hot streak in the Factory Stock feature, claiming his fourth win of the season. Heat winner Jason Travis was a solid second ahead of rookie Jason Rinker, Brad Marvin and Kevin McDonald. Sixth through tenth went to Jason Neyra, Neil DiBlasi, Alecia Towner, Chris Groover and Dustin Burdick.
Race Director Gary Folk, Jr. and his wife Fran once again went above and beyond to once again make it a memorable night for a lot of children. They raised enough money to give away 130 bicycles. A huge thank you goes out to them for their hard work in making this a special night. Susquehanna County Sherriff Lance Benedict was on hand to raise awareness for the DARE Program. The night started off with The Sister Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints Choir singing a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. The choir was made up of 12 young ladies ranging from 19 to 22 years of age coming from California, Kansas, Arizona, Texas, Montana, Utah and Idaho, who are currently doing their missionary work.
PENN CAN NOTES…The Modifieds have only had one caution total in the last two races…The Sportsman and Late Models went caution free with the Street Stocks only slowed by one caution…It Wilder’s second feature win at Penn Can with both of them coming on Bike Night…Codington celebrated his birthday by taking his Street Stock to Victory Lane…Two days of racing are coming up this weekend with a full show of all divisions on Friday night and our first of four Small Car Shootouts on Sunday. All Street Stock drivers will be admitted free of charge to Friday’s night of racing as part of our Driver Appreciation Program.
MODIFIED FEATURE FINISH: RYAN OLSOMMER, Brian Malcolm, Alan Rudalavage, Kevin Hartnett, Mike Dougherty, Dan Pompey, Joey Colsten, Alan Kellogg, Frank Porreca, Mike Loney, Tom McGurrin, Dan Solomon, Nick Rochinski. DNS: Joey Grammes.
602 CRATE SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH: MIKE SCHANE, Devon Zona, Dusty Barton, Mike Decker, Mary Bunker, Adam MacGeorge, Ryan Stone, Eric Bonham, Leo McGurrin, Lee Foland, Chris Rendell. DNQ: Paul Rooney.
STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH: RYAN CODINGTON, Matt Spencer, Shane Wolf, Jr., Kevin Garland, Ricky Davis, Sr., Jon White, Chuck Murray.
CRATE LATE MODEL FEATURE FINISH: BUD PHILLIPS, Jim O’Hara, Jamie Bedford.
FOUR CYLINDER FEATURE FINISH: JOSH WILDER, Andy Brigham, Nick Kennedy, Frank Kennedy, Kenny Underwood, Phil Burns, Ryan Wood, Rick Lunn, Chris Taylor, Charlie Towner, Laverne Conklin, Brian Brown, Ronnie Welch, Dan Bryden, Rich Wagner, Jr., Brett Neely, Sheldon Whitman, Carter Bixby, Don Doster, Jr., Keith Beach, Lawrence Norton
FACTORY STOCK FEATURE FINISH: JEREMY WILLIAMS, Jason Travis, Jason Rinker, Brad Marvin, Kevin McDonald, Jason Neyra, Neil DiBlasi, Alecia Towner, Chris Groover, Dustin Burdick, Kris Shimer.