Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway
Satterlee wins $10,000 at Tri Star Pittsburgher
Gregg Satterlee heads to a $10,000 victory. (Todd Battin)
IMPERIAL, Pa. (Sept. 15) — Inheriting the lead when fast qualifier Josh Richards tangled with a lapped car, Gregg Satterlee of Rochester Mills, Pa., led the last 21 laps of the 24th annual Tri Star Pittsburgher for a career-high $10,000 victory.
Satterlee crossed the finish line first in the UFO Race Championship Series event for his 12th feature victory of the season overall and his second at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway.
Dave Hess Jr. of Waterford, Pa., finished second followed by reigning track champion Michael Norris of Sarver, Pa. Last year’s winner Keith Barbara of South Park, Pa., and former track champion Lynn Geisler of Cranberry Township, Pa., rounded out the top five.
Richards, of Shinnston, W.Va., was leading big when a lap-33 tangle with Kari Gasser’s slower car knocked him out of the race in 24th.
Keith Berner and Norris started on the front row with Berner leading the first two laps. Norris took control on the third lap, but Richards, taking a weekend off from the NASCAR Nationwide Series, went out front on the 11th circuit.
With Richards out front, Norris, Satterlee, Berner and Jared Miley gave chase with Satterlee taking the second spot from Norris on the 14th lap. Miley took third on the 18th lap while Barbara also moved into the top five.
While the frontrunners tightened amid traffic, Barbara briefly took third from Miley on lap 23, but the pair tangled and Barbara’s spin resulted in him going to the track.
With clear track ahead on the restart, Richards opened a big lead in the hunt for his second Pittsburgher title. But while lapping Gasser on lap 33, the pair tangled and the crashed ended the night for Richards.
That handed the lead to Satterlee with Miley, Russ King and Norris making up the top four.
On the ensuing restart, Satterlee and Miley tangled, ending Miley’s race. Because the green flag never appeared, officials rule, Satterlee was restored to the lead.
Satterlee led into the second half of the 53-lapper with Hess, King, Norris and Coleby Frye giving chase. Satterlee built a comfortable lead before a lap-45 caution as Frye got a flat tire and tangled with Steve Baker.
With Satterlee still out front, Barbara continued his rally from the rear as part of a flurry of drivers battling behind the leader. Satterlee held on at the finish while Barbara got back to fourth and Geisler outdueled Baker for fifth on the final lap.
Notes: Satterlee’s Rocket Chassis is powered by a Roush-Yates Engine with sponsorship from Satterlee Petroleum Distributors, East American Motorsport, Integra Shocks and JNJ Motorsports Media. ... Jason Covert recovered from a lap-22 flat tire to finish seventh. ... Dusty Hamrick won hard charger honors in finishing 14th. ... Friday’s scheduled prelims were rained out, condensing the event into a single day Saturday. ... Kyle Lukon won the Fastrak Crate feature. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Rod Phillips, Rick Armstrong, Brandon Burgoon, Scott Gunn, Dennis Lunger and Davey Johnson, who scratched from time trials.
Tri Star Pittsburgher: (1) Gregg Satterlee, (2) Dave Hess Jr., (3) Michael Norris, (4) Keith Barbara, (5) Lynn Geisler, (6) Steve Baker, (7) Jason Covert, (8) Daryl Charlier, (9) Russ King, (10) Tony Musolino, (11) Tommy Beck, (12) Keith Berner, (13) Mason Zeigler, (14) Dusty Hamrick, (15) Jon Henry, (16) Jim Stephans, (17) Kari Gasser, (18) Coleby Frye, (19) Jon Hodgkiss, (20) John Garvin Jr., (21) Ben Miley, (22) John Flinner, (23) Garrett Krummert, (24) Josh Richards, (25) Jared Miley, (26) Steve Casebolt, (27) Matt Lux, (28) Mike Johnson, (29) Davey Johnson, (30) Jason Rider, (31) Brandon Burgoon, (32) Alex Ferree. Fast qualifier (among 41 cars): Richards, 21.718 seconds. Heat race winners: Richards, Barbara, Norris, Covert. Consolation winner: Ferree.
