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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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