Monteparte Wins Sears Memorial; Shields, Hutira, McNaney, and Deiter Victorious at Latrobe Speedway
****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
Monteparte Wins Sears Memorial; Shields, Hutira, McNaney, and Deiter Victorious at Latrobe Speedway
By DJ Johnson
LATROBE, PA (August 26, 2023) Anthony Monteparte won the Bob Sears Memorial for the Joe’s Auto Body & Towing Pure Stocks, collecting $3,000 for his efforts. The win was Monteparte’s fifth of the season and second extra money win in a row. Monteparte also picked up $100 for being the Quick Qualifier. The $100 Hard Charger Award went to John Cain.
Second went to EJ Rozak, who was trying the low side to pass Monteparte; Rookie Matt Weltz was third, Joey Koteles lost his brakes mid-race and still managed to finish fourth, and Greg Blystone was fifth.
Troy Shields won his first feature in 2023 with an impressive performance in the K2 Engineering Crate Late Models. Shields went flag-to-flag for the victory. Michael Duritsky finished second, Ryan Frazee was third, fourth went to last week’s winner, Marino Angelicchio, and fifth went to Jeff Ferguson.
Brett Hutira took his third consecutive Checkered Flag in the Wisneski Waste Removal Penn Ohio Pro Stocks. Barry Farris finished second, followed by Bill Pluta Jr., Mike DiFrancesca, and Steve Mitchell.
Colton McNaney was victorious for the fourth time in ’23 and clinched the Special T Metals LLC Modified 4 Cylinder Championship. Paul Koffler III couldn’t take advantage of the double points offered to catch McNaney in the title chase as he lost an engine on lap 4. Joe Jacobs took second place after starting seventh. Dayton Hazlett was third, another top-5 finish for Tifani McElhose, and Chris Myers was fifth.
Jason Deiter was declared the Dean Pollock’s Hobby Stocks winner after a disqualification for Non-Approved Parts on the No. 30 of Mat Underwood. The second position went to Scott Casto, Dontae Buggio was third, fourth went to Andrew Jones, and fifth was Joe Huffman.
BOB SEARS MEMORIAL SUMMARY:
Joe’s Auto Body & Towing Pure Stocks 15-Lap Feature
1. 66-Anthony Monteparte 2. 77-EJ Rozak 3. 717-Matt Weltz 4. 33-Joey Koteles 5. 6*29 Greg Blystone 6. 06-John Cain 7. 03-Bill Schramm 8. 95-Pete Miller 9. 22F- Corey Farris 10. 15-McCabe Elliotte 11. 24-Chris Hickok 12. 81-Shawn Hollis 13. 3Z-Jim Zufall 14. 29-Sam McAdams
Heat Race Winners: Monteparte & Rozak
K2 Engineering Crate Late Models 20-Lap Feature
1. 11S-Troy Shields 2. 90J-Michael Duritsky 3. 17F-Ryan Frazee 4. 55-Marino Angelicchio 5. 11L-Jeff Ferguson 6. 16-Clinton Hersh 7. 711-Jay McCracken 8. 58-Joe Zulisky 9. K2-John Over 10. 61-Vince Masi
Heat Race Winners: Hersh & Frazee
Wisneski’s Waste Removal Penn Ohio Pro Stocks
15-Lap Feature
1. 4-Brett Hutira 2. 3C-Barry Farris 3. 73C-Bill Pluta Jr. 4. 9-Mike DiFrancesca 5. 49-Steve Mitchell 6. 66-Joe Kelley
Heat Race Winner: Hutira
Special T Metals LLC Modified 4 Cylinders 12-Lap Feature
1. 51-Colton McNaney 2.27-Joe Jacobs. 3. 711-Dayton Hazlett 4. 24-Tifani McElhose 5. 830-Chris Myers 6. 89-Shawn Ghrist 7. 62-Jeremy Grubbs 8. 39-Brian Noel 9. 00-Bud Lawver 10. E8-Kenny Swink 11. 2-Brandon Dempsey 12. 513-Andrew Jones 13. 307-Brandon Myers 14. 47-Mike Pavlak 15. 3-Steve Lakin 16. 48-Paul Koffler III 17. 79-Bryan Spangler 18. 30-Jeremy DeGlau 19. 64-Josh Grubbs
Heat Race Winners: McNaney, Koffler III & Brandon Myers
Dean Pollock Hobby Stocks 12-Lap Feature
1. 28-Jason Deiter 2. 84-Scott Casto 3. 7-Dontae Buggio 4. 38-Adam Jones 5. 713-Huffman 6. 5-Bryce Hensel 6. 30-Mat Underwood
We’ll repeat it: hopefully, the fourth time will be a charm for Fan Appreciation Night at Latrobe Speedway during the 3rd Annual Bill Koerber Memorial on Saturday, September 2.
We will still have giveaways, prizes, and Chinese Auction baskets on Saturday. There will be kids’ baskets, a Lottery Ticket basket, a basket with Summertime items, a Back-to-School basket, a basket with assorted Wines, and even a basket for Pets. We have a TV and lots more…
Fans will meet their favorite drivers on the front stretch, get autographs, and take photos. Fans will enter the track from turn 1.
The 3rd Annual Bill Koerber Memorial is dedicated to the late Bill Koeber, a former Pure Stock racer at Latrobe Speedway who passed away in 2021. Koerber was planning a comeback in 2019 before his illness.
The 3rd Annual Bill Koerber Memorial will pay $1,375 to the 12-lap Joe’s Auto Body & Towing Pure Stocks winner.
Previous winners include Anthony Monteparte in 2021 and Corey Faris in ’22.
Will we have a repeat winner, or will EJ Rozak or the field claim a Bill Koerber Memorial custom check by Vinyl Destination?
General Admission prices: Adults: $15, Seniors: $12, Military: $12, Kids 7-11: $10, and Kids 6 and under are always free.
PIT Gate prices: Adults:$35, and Youth: $20.
PIT Gates open at 4 p.m., the Grandstands at 5 p.m., and FAST-FIVE Racing at 7.
The Latrobe Speedway Kidz Klub is always accepting new members. Go to www.latrobemotorsports.com and click the Kidz Klub tab for the registration form if your child still needs to be signed up.
Please have a look at our website for more information. Go to www.latrobemotorsports.com or the Latrobe Speedway Stock Car Dirt Track page on Facebook.
Check out the latest version of Latrobe Speedway’s Ride Along powered by Joe’s Body Shop & Towing on our Facebook page and website. The ‘Cobalt Cowboy’ Colton McNaney is Mike’s guest.
Thank you to the great businesses that support Grassroots Racing every Saturday night.
A-1 Machine & Performance
Bowman’s Inc. Plumbing and Remodeling
Garry’s Auto Sales
General Carbide
G.V.D. Coating Inc.
Hillview Motorsports
Latrobe Billiards
Latrobe Glass & Mirror
RPM Racing Parts & Sales LLC.
The Auto Tag Store Inc.
Tidal Wave Precision Touchless Carwash
Latrobe Speedway and Arena Cross is located at 5114 Pleasant Unity Road, Latrobe, PA.
