Kobylarz Wins Southampton ARDC CARQUEST Midget Feature
CAPRON, Va., June 13 – It was a one-two finish for the Doug and Claudette Starrett team Friday night at Southampton Speedway, as the Yorktown, Va.-based couple's lead driver, Bryan Kobylarz of Birdsboro, Pa., won the 25-lap American Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) CARQUEST Midget Series feature and their second midget, driven by Greg Klar of Reisterstown, Md., was right behind in second place.
Kobylarz is the seventh different winner in the eight ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series races held so far this year. The series' next race will be held Saturday at Langley Raceway in Hampton, Va.
Several of the Starrett team's sponsors were in attendance as the ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series dipped below the Mason-Dixon line in a continuation of its 11th annual "Southern Tour." They came away very pleased when the decals of Coal Export Services, H & B Railroad, Hibbard Iron Works, Stagger Tires and Lobitz Catering were in victory lane at the end of the evening's program, which was delayed some one and one-half hours by rain.
Kobylarz, a top rookie last year in the ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series, was driving the team's Ellis Fontana No. 49. Klar, son of midget legend Russ Klar, was in the team's D & G Fontana No. 94. Kobylarz runs the entire schedule while Klar, who just recently became part of the Starrett team, participates in as many ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series events as his work schedule permits. Leroy Bossler of Birdsboro, Pa., is the crew chief on the top two cars.
Kobylarz's second career ARDC CARQUEST Midget Series feature victory was similar to his first one. That event was held at Southside Speedway, also
in Virginia, June 14, 1996. Like Friday night's race, it was held the same weekend Kobylarz and his wife, Deanna, were celebrating their wedding anniversary.
Kobylarz's first career ARDC CARQUEST feature victory came on an asphalt track and had four lead changes. Kobylarz had an easier time of it Friday on Southampton's three-eighths mile, high-banked clay tri-oval, as there was only one change in position. Klar led the first 13 laps, the last few in which he was caught up in a torrid duel with his teammate. One yellow was needed when Rudy Boetticher of Lake Hopatcong, N.J., stalled, and Kobylarz took the lead from Klar following the restart and brought the car on home in first.
After a duel with Gary Halteman of Gilbertsville, Pa., Ed Stimely Jr. of McVeytown, Pa., came on strong at the end to finish third. Halteman was fourth, just inches behind. Michael Roselli Jr. of Brodheadsville, Pa., was about a half-straightaway behind Stimely and Halteman in fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were defending champion Phil DiMario of Piermont, N.Y.; Tom Martocci of Brodheadsville, Pa.; Fred Schell of Phoenixville, Pa.; Gary Mondschein of Stewartsville, N.J.; and Robert Boetticher of Fanwood, N.J.
Kobylarz had a perfect evening as he also won the first heat. Stimely was victorious in the second qualifier. Both went non-stop.
The action continues tomorrow (Saturday, June 14) when the series appears at Langley (Va.) Raceway. Then it's on to Flemington (N.J.) Speedway on Saturday, June 21 and Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway on Saturday, June 28.
Three shows are slated for July, all on Saturday nights: Lincoln (Pa.) Speedway on July 5; Oswego (N.Y.) Speedway on July 19 and Flemington (N.J.)
Speedway on July 26.
The summary:
First Heat – 1. Ed Stimely Jr., 2. Robert Boetticher, 3. Monnie Wonder III, 4. Doug Borger, 5. Fred Schell, 6. Art Lawshe Sr., 7. Gary Mondschein, 8. Ted Schmid.
Second Heat – 1. Bryan Kobylarz, 2. Gary Halteman, 3. Tim Dietz, 4. Rudy Boetticher, 5. Phil DiMario, 6. Tom Martocci, 7. Michael Roselli Jr., 8. Greg Klar.
Feature (25 laps) – 1. Bryan Kobylarz, 2. Greg Klar, 3. Ed Stimely Jr., 4. Gary Halteman, 5. Michael Roselli Jr., 6. Phil DiMario, 7. Tom Martocci, 8. Fred Schell, 9. Gary Mondschein, 10. Robert Boetticher, 11. Rudy Boetticher, 12. Mark Lawshe, 13. Doug Borger, 14. Ted Schmid, 15. Monnie Wonder III, 16. Art Lawshe Sr., 17. Tim Dietz.
Feature Lap Leaders – Laps 1-13, Greg Klar; lap 14-25, Bryan Kobylarz.