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Brent Nelson’s Mastery of the
Jennerstown Speedway Complex Continues
Jennerstown,
Pennsylvania (June 19, 2023) – Brent Nelson has constantly
become the name to watch any time the Super Cup Stock Car Series
comes to Jennerstown Speedway Complex, and Saturday night was no
different. Nevertheless,
it was by no means the easiest road to victory on this occasion.
The 10-time winner
at the facility started off the 2023 season on a rather low note,
the motor expiring in his primary car at Franklin County Speedway
two weeks ago and instead bringing back out the trusty ride that has
won at the 1/2-mile oval before.
He then just missed out on claiming the Pole Award and redrew
to start the 50-lap main event on the outside of row three.
Defending series
champion Jason Kitzmiller set the fast time of 19.980 seconds and
his son Isaac, fresh off a top five finish himself in a Legends car
the night before in North Carolina, drew the first start position
for his father. It was
teammate Larry Berg who gave the Maysville, West Virginia driver a
run on 
the opening lap, leading at the start-finish line from the
outside in the No. 9 Grant County Mulch / CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet.
Kitzmiller’s No.
97 A.L.L. Construction / A & J Excavating / CR7 Motorsports
Chevrolet took back the top spot the next time by before the first
yellow of the evening flew when Harvey Harrison, a 2018 winner at
the track, looped his No.51 John 3:16 / Southern Coal Corporation /
Harrison’s Motorsports Chevrolet around between turns one and two.
While Nelson and
Berg battled for second following the restart, Kitzmiller seemed to
have the car to beat throughout the early stages and first half of
the race. That was until
the period following a third caution flag came out a lap after
halfway.
Initially a result
from the yellow before when Renick, West Virginia’s Brian Harrison
and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Zillweger touched upon racing for a position
inside the top five, Brian Harrison’s No. 15 Harrison’s Welding
/ Swearingen Bat Company / Harrison’s Motorsports Chevrolet then
cut a
tire on the restart, ultimately collecting and sheering off
the exhaust on the No. 57 ASAP Energy Drink / Ashton Racing
Chevrolet driven by Warrington, Pennsylvania’s Mike Senica in the
process. A solid top 10
performance for Senica was over for the day due to the significant
damage sustained to the right side, as Harrison limped back onto the
track for the remainder of the main event.
While the field
remained at caution speed, Kitzmiller’s ride came to a stop and
needed a push from the Jennerstown officials.
It turned out to be an ignition box issue that abruptly ended
the chances for a potential win.
This meant Berg and
Nelson would restart from the front row, and despite some attempts
from Berg, Nelson was the Petersburg, West Virginia driver that
checked out on this occasion for his 16th career SCSCS victory.
“I don’t know
what it is about this place,” Nelson commented.
“We’ve got a really good setup and we hit on it.
Actually, we got to the halfway point and we were just
riding. Larry and I had
a good little battle at the (restart) and once I got by him it was
just on cruise control at that point.”
One of the last to
arrive at the speedway on Saturday, less than 24 hours prior the
outlook was not looking as promising during the preparation of this
successful No. 80 Precision Auto Collision / Atkinson Welding / QH
Design / JEBCO Chevrolet.
“Had to make some
major changes yesterday,” Nelson continued.
“At 8:00 last night there was no front clip on this car and
we were able to get it put back on and get everything welded into
place. We took a big
stab at it and we got lucky again tonight.”
Berg held on for
and was satisfied with second, another driver that faced some
challenges despite the strong performance.
“I was
fighting,” the two-time SCSCS winner indicated.
“My right arm’s all messed up, so it was pretty much
driving with one hand so I got tired.
Not bad though. I
can’t complain too much.”
Harvey Harrison
recovered from the early spin to round out the podium and remarked
about some of the enjoyable battles he had, including one with
another past Jennerstown winner who unfortunately was sidelined
later in the going with mechanical woes as well as a driver the team
had assisted in the shop in the weeks leading up, as he maneuvered
through the pack once again.
“I got in a
little bit hot, which did not turn out well,” Harrison noted
regarding the second lap of the race.
“Thought I had it caught up but it went right on around so
that started us in the rear. But
we were patient and came back up to the front and kind of ran out of
time. We had some good
racing. Bill (Ashton)
and I ran side by side a lot and then Jeff Zillweger, he was really
running me hard. He’s
a good driver and it’s a blessing to be able to drive with drivers
you can trust, inches apart. Makes
for some good racing and a lot of fun.”
Zillweger was
inside the top five the entire night and finished an impressive
fourth in the No. 18 Jeff Zillweger Landscaping / Wagner’s Service
/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Chevrolet.
Richard Hauck and
crew came all the way from Howell, Michigan, battled clutch problems
and did not go out to qualify, but persevered with a career best
fifth place finish with the No. 31 Hauck Enterprises Inc. Dodge.
John Komarinski made one unscheduled pit stop but returned to
the track surface in the No. 33 Auto Dynamic Specialties / Marsula
Electric / Hands-On Concepts / Gulisek Construction Chevrolet that
was good enough for Hard Charger of the race and sixth in the final
order.
The second race
that was scheduled for the night was unfortunately cut from the
program due to concerns with time constraints.
When it comes to
points Harvey Harrison is the new leader with son Brian, whose
battered car still came home in seventh, close behind.
Focus though remains on being the best they can be each
event.
“It’s a little
early yet to think about all that,” the 2016 series champion
answered when asked about leading the standings.
“I was really hoping Brian would have a good night, so we
can make a run for this championship.
We just have to take it one race at a time and we were just
glad to come up here and hopefully we get to come back some other
time.”
The Super Cup Stock
Car Series takes a little over a month-long break now before heading
to Pulaski County Motorsports Park (formerly Motor Mile Speedway) on
July 22nd, rescheduled from a rainout on May 20th.
“That’s one of
my favorite tracks,” Harvey Harrison mentioned.
“We used to run Late Model cars there and it’s real close
to my house. We feel
pretty good about it and we are looking forward to going.
We just can’t wait.”
Despite the
momentum that has catapulted Nelson to third in points, the time
away from the racetrack will be much anticipated to regroup in
preparation for the next stretch of races.
“It’s going to
give us a little bit of a breather for a few weeks,” Nelson
concluded. “We’ll be
geared up and ready for (Pulaski County Motorsports Park).”
More information
can be found on the Super Cup Stock Car Series official website
supercupstockcarseries.com with interactive updates throughout race
day available on Facebook (search Super Cup Stock Car Series),
Twitter (@SCSCSRacing), and Instagram (SCSCS_Racing).
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