Penn Can Speedway
June 3, 2011
________________________________________

BRETT TONKIN GETS FIRST MODIFIED WIN OF THE SEASON AT PENN CAN FRIDAY

Susquehanna, PA…On a beautiful night for racing the huge crowd was thrilled by some of the area’s best stock car actions with Carbondale, PA native Brett Tonkin picking up his first modified win of the season at Penn Can Speedway. On a night where the speedway gave away sixty two bicycles to lucky young fans, Alex Stanton and Jeff Crambo were crate sportsman winners with Curt Tunilo winning in the late models. Shane Wolf Jr was the street stock winner with Joe Warner winning both four cylinder features.

2010 modified runner-up Brett Tonkin has been having a season he would rather forget up to this past Friday. Tonkin has had misfortune strike every night out thus far this year. On Friday his luck would change. Tonkin used his pole starting position to take the lead of the thirty lap modified feature event. Rookie Penn Can driver, Rusty Smith, started from the outside pole position and latched on to Tonki’s rear bumber for the early stages of the event. The first on only caution came on lap seven for a spin in turn four. Tonkin and Smith took off on the drop of the green with Billy Thornton, Garth Tonkin, and Bobby Trapper following.

At the mid-point of the action packed main event all eyes were glued to the battle for the top seven positions with drivers swapping spots lap after lap. Butch Tittle, Kevin Bates, Kevin Hartnett, and Darwin Greene were all in the mix. With laps winding down, Tonkin hit all of his marks and claimed his first win of the season followed by Smith, Trapper, Greene, Garth Tonkins, Bates, and Hartnett in what was a very entertaining feature event.

“I finally had a car that could run wherever I put it on the track tonight. The good starting position also helped tonight,” explained a happy Tonkin in Victory Lane. “We really needed this win to hopefully turn our season around. It feels good looking forward to Tuesday night’s Clash.”

Once again the late models showed the fans how to run all grooves of the speedway in an event filled twenty five lap feature event. Past pure stock champion Steven Dienhardt looked to be the man to beat as he took the lead from his third starting spot. The first and only caution came on lap nineteen with Dienhardt leading Curt Tunilo, Ben Whitaker, and Tracy Gregory. When the green came back out Dienhardt kept his car out front only to slip high in turn four on lap twenty allowing Tunilo to grab the top spot. Tunilo cruised on to win for the first time in 2011 followed by Gregory, Dienhardt, Paul Strohl, and Whitaker.

The crate sportsman had two features to run as they completed the race from the previous Friday. Alex Stanton was the leader when the rains came and took off right where he left off winning the held over feature. In the night’s regularly scheduled feature, Jeff Crambo came from the back and held off Adam MacGeorge, and Casey Pavlick for the win.

In street stock action Shane Wolf came from his senior class night activities to jump behind the wheel of his street stock and motor off to his first win of the season. The only caution of the race came on the first lap of action. When racing resumed, Wolf began his charge to the front. Wolf manage to finally catch race leader Rich Talada for the lead on lap twelve. Wolf stayed strong and won over Talada, Doug Plohamus, and Ryan Stone.

Two four cylinder feature events were on the card for Friday with Joe Warner winning both events over point leader Andy Brigham.

PENN NOTES: Head flagger Gary Folk once again coordinated the huge bicycle give-away that has become an annual attraction at the speedway. An overflow crowd of youngsters waited patiently to have them names called for one of the sixty two bikes given out this night. The bikes were donated by fans, businesses, and race teams in the area. Folk promises to exceed the number next year. The track crew again did a masterful job getting the track in shape. The weather did throw a small curve with track watering during intermission. The street stock drivers help get the track in shape for excellent feature racing. The management thanks the drivers for their support. Those drivers were rewarded with some dollars to purchase extra VP racing fuel for their efforts. The Clash at the Canon Tuesday is shaping up to be the biggest race in the history of the speedway. Next Friday the modifieds are off with the street stocks scheduled to run twin twenties. The factory stocks also have double features. The late models, sportsman, and four cylinders will also be in action.

Late Model Feature: Curt Tunilo Jr, Tracy Gregory, Steve Deinhardt, Paul Strohl, Ben Whitaker, Jim O'Hara, Alan Decker, Bud Phillips, Dan Snyder, Gary Griffin

Crate Sportsman Feature: 5-27-11 Alex Stanton, Corey Ziegler, Mike Nagel Jr, Adam MacGeorge, Casey Pavlick, Jeff Crambo, Corey Haab, Dusty Barton, Eric Williams, Steve Hicks, Brennon Butler, DNS Butch Green

4 Cylinder Feature: 5-27-11 Joe Warner, Andy Brigham, Andy Colwell, Beezer Wilkie, Mark Andrus, Justin Welch, Tim Davis Jr, Matt Hynds

Modified Feature: Brett Tonkin, Rusty Smith, Bobby Trapper, Darwin Greene, Garth Tonkin Jr, Kevin Bates, Kevin Hartnett, Butch Tittle, Joey Colsten, Al Rudalavage, Mike Schane, Billy Thornton, Mike Colsten, Steve Babicek, Brian Weaver, Mike Nagel Jr, Jeff Crambo, Chris Weaver, Bobby Gunther Walsh, Bob Trapper, Brent Boyer, Jamie Batzel, Mike Nagel, Dan Pompey, DNS, Chris Piasecki

Street Stock Feature: Shane Wolf Jr, Rich Talada, Doug Polhamus, Ryan Stone, Carl Shimer, Chad Stone, Ken Sparks Jr, Matt Spencer, Rob White, Chris Shimer, Joe Warren, DNS, Jason Bond

Crate Sportsman Feature: Jeff Crambo, Adam MacGeorge, Casey Pavlick, Corey Haab, Mike Nagel Jr, Alex Stanton, Dusty Barton, Corey Ziegler, Andrew Smith

4 Cylinder Feature: Joe Warner, Andy Brigham, Andy Colwell, Dan Smith, Matt Hynds, Mark Andrus, Justin Welch, Beezer Wilkie, Tim Davis Jr