Al Cressley Captures Night One of Tri-City Oil Region Classic Event
The United Emod Series invaded Tri-City Speedway for the two-day Oil Region Labor Day Classic. The beautiful Venango County half-mile oval held the third and fourth event on the UEMS series 2008 schedule and the fans witnessed forty-two Emods battle for twenty-four spots. Al Cressley of Pittsfield, PA won the twenty-lap UEMS – Welding Technologies E Series.
Cressley and Wilcox, PA driver Tim Peterson led the twenty-four car field to Todd Beichner’s green flag. Cressley got the jump on Peterson’s blue #07P as the field rolled into turn one. As lap one was completed Rick Robinson spun his black #34R to bring out the yellow. Cressley again beat Peterson on the restart, as Peterson would slide high, dropping out of the top five. The second yellow of the event came out on lap three for the three cars of Justin Tatlow, Larry Kugel and Jim Frontz. The green was out again and Mike Potosky the current Tri-City E Series point leader was now in second giving chase to Cressley. As lap five clicked off the board, McKean County Raceway track champion, Randy Hall moved into second as he swept past Potosky as the third yellow came out for Jonathan Taylor’s turn four spin. The top five were Cressley, Hall, Potosky, Shawn Shingledecker, and track champion Carl McKinney.
Cressley again timed Todd Beichner’s start perfectly as Hall drove under Cressley as the two dove into turn one. Cressley would get the forward drive off turn two to hold off Hall’s charge. Potosky was sitting in third waiting for the opening he needed but he would spin in turn three to bring out the caution, allowing Shawn Shingledecker to inherit third with McKinney and ninth place starting Dave Hess into fifth. Hall again tried the inside on Cressley in turn one on the restart, but the Hendrickson Motorsports #15 held off the Follman Rental Properties #10 again. Dave Hess would move into fifth on the eighth lap as Cressley’s teammate, McKinney was holding off the challenges of Hess for fourth. Hess kept working the pressure on McKinney and on lap 13, the red and white #44 of Hess would put McKinney back to fifth, but with five to go, McKinney came back and grabbed fourth from Hess. Justin Tatlow would bring out the yellow on lap 16 with aturn four spin giving Hall one more shot at Cressley in the final four laps. Cressley again just had more drive off the corner than Hall as was unable to mount a serious challenge for the win over the final few laps, but Cressley’s teammate, and track champion, McKinney got past Shingledecker on the final lap to come home third, giving car owner Mike Hendrickson a first and third place finish for the night. Shingledecker came home fourth with Hess in fifth.
Heat winners for the forty-two UEMS Emods were: Russ Dunn, Al Cressley, Dave Hess Jr., and Randy Hall. Rich Michael and Ron Roncaglione were the two B main winners. Cressley won by 1.015 seconds over Hall.
RESULTS:
Oil Region Classic Feature:
UEMS E SERIES (E MODS) (20 Laps): 1. Al Cressley, 2. Randy Hall, 3. Carl McKinney, 4. Shawn Shingledecker, 5. Dave Hess Jr., 6. Todd Roncaglione, 7. Bruce Powell, 8. Tim Peterson, 9. Scott Stiffler, 10. Butch Lambert, 11. Russ Dunn, 12. Mike Potosky, 13. George Catanzano, 14. Vic Venna, 15. Gary Sullivan, 16. Ron Roncaglione, 17. Jonathan Taylor, 18. Evan Taylor, 19. Justin Tatlow, 20. Rick Robinson, 21. Brian Douglas, 22. Jim Frontz, 23. Rich Michael Jr., 24. Larry Kugel.
DNQ: Craig Bedell, J.J.Downs, Rick Pratschler, Jon Rohacevich, Tim Engles, Jared Domhoff, David Atkinson, Mike Eschrisch, Jack Young, Rick Loomis, Joe Weber, Dustin Fraley, Jason Stetson, Kyle Bedell, Jeff Deeter, Darren Tarabori, Chip Mahood, John Boyd.
Hoosier Tire Mid-Atlantic Contingency: Al Cressley
Lias Tire – American Racer Tire: Randy Hall