Dillinger Continues Hot Streak in $1250 to Win Charlie Field Sr. Memorial at Latrobe Speedway; Swartzlander Holds off King in Big Block Mods

LATROBE, PA (July 10, 2022) – Dawson’s Braeden Dillinger continued his hot streak in the K2 Engineering Crate Late Models by winning the Charlie Field Sr. Memorial. Brian Swartzlander held off Rex King Jr. to win the Big Block Modified Special. Latrobe’s Brett Hutira became the first repeat winner in the Special T Metals Pro Stocks while his brother, Anthony Monteparte won for the fourth time in the Joe’s Body Shop Pure Stocks. Paul Koffler III won for the first time this season in the Stone & Co. Modified 4 Cylinders. Tom Warburton picked his first-ever in the Vintage Modifieds.

Brett Hutira survived and early battle with Marty Spade and Brett McDonald to become the first repeat winner in the 15-lap Special T Metals Pro Stocks. Hutira held on through two cautions and then ran away from the pack to pick up his second win. Marty Spade was second over Brett McDonald, Anthony Monteparte, Jacob Weyer, Brandon Doland, Tommy Dembowski, Jamey Swank, Bill Slade and Sam Eichelberger. Heats were won by Hutira and Spade.

In the Vintage Modifieds it was all Tom Warburton. Warburton led all ten laps to win his first Vintage Modified feature at Latrobe. Todd Daughenbaugh was closed but had to settle for second over Hank Coles and Matt Hildenbrand. Warburton won the heat.

Jeff Ferguson used his outside front row starting spot to grab the led in the 24-lap Charlie Field Sr. Memorial for the K2 Engineering Crate Late Model feature. Ferguson pulled away at the start before Braeden Dillinger reeled him in. The two ran nose to tail before Ferguson left him and opening on lap eleven and Dillinger pounced. Once in front Dillinger was on rails. A caution on lap 15 closed the field but it was to no avail. Dillinger was long gone by the time the checkered waved on lap 24. The win gave Dillinger $3750 in earnings for the last two weeks. Clate Copeman ended up second followed by Michael Duritsky, Noah Brunell, Jake Gunn, Jeff Ferguson, Troy Shields, Michael Ott, John Over and Joe Zulisky. Taking heat race wins were Dillinger, Duritsky and Brunell.

The 20-lap Big Block Modified Special hit the track next. Heat winner Brian Swartzlander wasted no time grabbing the lead as the green flag flew. Swartzlander led Steve Feder. Rex King Jr. took a few laps to get past Feder but once he did he set off to catch a high flying Swartzlander. Lap after laps King would slowly reel in the leader. He finally caught him but tried many times to get around Swartzlander. His attempts were unsuccessful and Swartzlander took home the $2000 paycheck. King chased Swartzlander across the stripe followed by Steve Feder, Colton Walter, Rick Regalski, Shawn Fleeger, Mark Frankhouser and Randy Chronister. Swartzlander won the lone heat.

Outside pole sitter Corey Faris led the field when the green waved in the 12-lap Joe’s Body Shop Pure Stocks. Faris was looking for his second win as he led Stephen Hazlett and seventh starter Anthony Monteparte. A restart on lap four saw Monteparte get a good start and was able to driver around Hazlett. Faris was pulling away as those two battled for second. Monteparte caught a break when a yellow flew on lap eight. Faris again seemed to be pulling away when suddenly smoke came pouring out from under the 22F and he slowed to a stop. This handed over the top spot to Monteparte. When the green reappeared Hazlett was all over the rear bumper of the #66 and chased him across the line at the checker. Following Hazlett were Joey Koteles, Dakota Hixon and John Hollis. Sixth through tenth were Justin Ruff, EJ Rozak, Jeremy Zufall, John Cain and Tim Neiderhiser. Qualifying heats were won by Joey Koteles and Dakota Hixon.

Paul Koffler III could have started on Route 30 and still won the 12-lap Stone & Co. Modified 4 Cylinders. Koffler took off and the start and never looked back. Dale Grubbs ran second until Jeremy Grubbs worked his was by. Andrew Jones got the second spot on lap seven. It was to no avail as Koffler was gone in the wind and found victory lane for the first time this season. Andrew Jones had his best run for second followed by Dale Grubbs, Matt Welch (McElhose 24), Brandon Myers, Chris Myers, Colton McNaney, Brian Spangler, Wyatt Piper and Shawn Ghrist. Taking the heat wins were Welch, Koffler III and Jeremy Grubbs.