By: Pam Baker

Franklin, PA……….The grand reopening of Tri City Raceway Park in Franklin, PA found a standing room only crowd in the grandstands and an overflowing pit area as well. Thirty-seven Modifieds from Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Canada attended the event that paid the winner a cool $5,000.

Chad Brachmann and Steve Feder the 26-car field to the drop of the green flag with Brachmann taking control of the race at the drop of the green flag. Brachmann would lead the first four laps of the event which slowed twice; first for Garrett Krummert who stopped on the front stretch and next for Kyle Fink whose car stopped in turn one. Krummert was towed off the track and Fink ended up continuing. Once the race resumed, Erick Rudolph in the Randy Chrysler #21K battled Brachmann for the top position and the two dueled each other for a few laps, side by side with Rudolph taking the lead at the line. After a couple of laps Rudolph was able to shake off Brachmann and opened up quite a lead over Brachmann.

Several cautions throughout the 40-lap event grouped the field together with the final caution on lap 34 for Rex King, Jr. who spun off of turn three. A six lap shootout was about to take place, but Rudolph shot into the lead at the drop of the green and at the end of 40 laps was half a track ahead of second place Brachmann. Rex King, Sr. finished third with eleventh place starter, Jimmy Weller, III riding home fourth. Fifth place went to New York driver, Justin Wright. Sixth through tenth found twenty-fourth place starter Jim Rasey with twenty-third place starter, Brad Rapp in seventh. Eighth place went to Kevin Bolland with Ricky Richer coming from twenty-first to finish ninth and tenth place went to Steve Feder.

Heat races were won by Steve Feder, Rex King, Sr., Jeremiah Shingledecker and Rex King, Jr. The B-Main was won by Ricky Richner.

Finish: Erick Rudolph, Chad Brachmann, Rex King, Sr., Jimmy Weller, III, Justin Wright, Jim Rasey, Brad Rapp, Kevin Bolland, Ricky Richner, Steve Feder, Kyle Fink, Jim Weller, Jr., Rex King, Jr., Rick Regalski, Shawn Fleeger, Dave Murdick, Brian Weaver, Jeremiah Shingledecker, Tom Winkle, Tom Glenn, Dillon Barr, Rodney Beltz, Mat Williamson, J.R. McGinley, Garrett Krummert , Eric Gabany, DNQ: Shayne Pierce, Randy Chronister, Mark Frankhouser, Max Smoker, Steve Barr, Justin Rasey, Carl Murdick, Kevin Hoffman, Richard Whitney, Erik Martin and Bob Warren.