JENNERSTOWN — The excitement is building at Jennerstown Speedway Complex as the final week of racing unfolded ahead of championship night scheduled for Saturday, September 5. This pivotal week saw several divisions solidifying their standings as drivers vied for crucial points in their respective championships.
In the One Stop Auto Sales Pro Stock division, defending champion Brent Bickerstaff showcased his skills by winning the 20-lap makeup feature from August 22. Bickerstaff took command of the race on lap four and successfully defended his lead against strong competition from Josh Dunmyer and current points leader Kyle Burkholder, ultimately securing the victory.
Later in the evening, Burkholder continued to demonstrate his dominance by clinching his third win of the season, which effectively locked up the points title for him. He finished ahead of Dunmyer and Bickerstaff, further solidifying his position at the top of the standings as the season nears its conclusion.
Veteran racer Mike Bakalon also had a notable performance in the Crown Vic Northeast Series. After an early lead by Somerset's Scott Mitchell, who faced mechanical issues, Bakalon seized the opportunity. Following a caution with 11 laps remaining, Bakalon battled fiercely with Jake Gracan and Johnathan Haburcsak. On the restart, Bakalon emerged victorious, claiming his third win of the season and extending his lead in the points standings.
Mitchell, undeterred by his earlier troubles, returned to the track for the second feature and secured his first win of the season. He maintained the lead from the start, managing to fend off Gracan despite running on older tires.
In the Somerset Trust Fast 4s feature, Cameron Ruggles led all 10 laps to claim victory, finishing ahead of Seth Nedrow in a five-car field. Ruggles entered the race with a narrow point lead over Nedrow, who had assisted him in repairing his car prior to the feature after Ruggles experienced a wire fire in his No. 2 vehicle.
Mike Sweeney also made headlines by winning his third Martella's Pharmacies Late Model feature of the year. An early caution involving Joe Maruca and points leader Jarred Barclay set the stage for an intense race. Barry Awtey initially took the lead on the restart, but Sweeney regained control with 20 laps to go and maintained his advantage to the finish. R.J. Dallape, who is in contention for the championship, finished second, while Awtey rounded out the top three. Barclay managed to recover from a challenging start, finishing fifth.
In the Integrity Coatings Charger division, defending champion Ken Burkholder continued to assert his dominance by claiming his fifth win of the season. After passing Brian Ready for the lead following a caution, Burkholder held off challenges from the West Virginia driver, with Nick McGowan finishing third.
Lastly, Teddy Gibala pulled off an unexpected victory in the Ron's Collision Center Street Stock feature. Casey Fleegle had led the race by a significant margin until a late caution disrupted his momentum. Gibala, who started from the back of the field, seized the opportunity on the restart to claim the win, denying Fleegle his fourth victory of the year.
As the season draws to a close, these performances at Jennerstown Speedway Complex set the stage for an exciting championship night, with drivers eager to secure their titles and solidify their legacies.
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