By: Mike Ackelson
June 21, 2026 – For Immediate Release:

Spithaler Reigns Again at Tri-City Raceway Park as Willard and Ehrenberg Break Through for First Career Wins
FRANKLIN, PA — It was an action-packed Sunday night at Tri-City Raceway Park, featuring a dominant veteran performance, an intense battle, ending a decade-long quest finally reaching victory lane. The night began with an 18-car field taking the green flag for the FAST on Dirt 410 Sprint Car feature, where Apollo’s AJ Flick jumped out to the early advantage from the pole position. Meanwhile, Brandon Spithaler needed a few laps for his machine to come to life, utilizing the high side of the speedway to build momentum. By lap five, Spithaler executed a brilliant pass around Flick in turn two to seize the lead. Ricky Peterson Jr. followed suit, slipping past Flick into second to mount a heavy charge on Spithaler’s No. 22 car. Peterson was visibly gaining ground until the race’s first caution flew at the halfway mark after Bodie McClintock spun out in turn four. On the restart, Spithaler set sail, but the final stoppage of the event occurred on lap 18 when Scott Rogers spun in turn four, setting up a seven-lap dash to the finish. Spithaler masterfully controlled the restart and never looked back, cruising to his third win of the year at Tri-City and his ninth overall at the track, tying him with racing legend Brad Doty for 16th on the speedway’s all-time wins list. Spithaler stated, “man, this car was good. We have two good cars now and we’re gaining a lot of momentum heading into some big races coming up. I used the high side early and then moved down and kept the pedal to the metal because I knew there were some good cars behind me. Love winning at this track.” Peterson settled for second, and Flick held on for third, followed by Brandon Matus and Matt Farnham rounding out the top five.

The momentum shifted to the 35-lap BRP Modified feature event, which began as a clinic by Ransomville, New York’s Erick Rudolph. Starting from the front row, Rudolph checked out on the field, building a near-straightaway lead over Brad Rapp. The smooth sailing ended on lap 13 when Austin Elyer flipped in the middle of turns one and two. Elyer walked away uninjured, but his night was over. Upon the restart, Rudolph quickly re-established a two-second lead, but a debris caution on lap 25 reset the field again, with Tyler Willard now up to second. After a brief stoppage for Kyle Holden, who’s car had some break causing it to stop in turn three, Willard powered past Rudolph to take the lead. The third caution flew on lap 27 when a collision between Jeff Walters and Mike Kinney in turn four. On the restart frontrunners Willard and Rudolph made contact, causing a massive pile-up, leaving nowhere to go for Garrett Krummert, Ayden Cipriano, Mike Kinney, Eric Beggs, Shawn Kozar, Rex King Jr., Jeremy Paup, Jimmy Holden, and Brandon Ritchey. The wreckage ended the night for Krummert, Paup, and Jimmy Holden. Willard survived the melee and dominated the final eight laps to secure his first career BRP victory. In doing so, he broke a streak of five runner-up finishes in 55 BRP events, becoming the 45th different winner in 248 all-time series races and the 73rd driver to win a Big Block Modified race at Tri-City in 377 events. Willard said, “finally, we were able to win one of these races. That’s some great competition we beat here tonight, and to pass Erick Rudolph to win, it doesn’t get any better than that. I can’t thank my crew and family enough for all they do. This is a huge win for us.” Jeremiah Shingledecker put on an impressive drive to finish second after starting ninth, Rudolph recovered for third, while Brad Rapp and Kyle Fink completed the top five.

The spectacular night of racing concluded with the 20-lap RUSH Sportsman Modified feature, which initially shaped up to be a fairytale for third-generation driver Karsten King. The young gun paced the field flawlessly for the first four laps until a spin by Patrick Lane brought out the yellow. King continued to lead through lap 14, when a flat right-front tire for Jerry Schaffer slowed the pace again. On the restart, Jordan Ehrenberg made a bold move on the outside line to challenge for the lead, but a spin by Logan Lockhart negated the pass before the lap could be completed. Undeterred, Ehrenberg executed the exact same high-side maneuver on the next restart attempt, and this time it stuck. Ehrenberg led the final six laps to secure his first career RUSH Sportsman Modified feature win and his first-ever victory at Tri-City Raceway Park. Ehrenberg expressed his excitement, noting, “we’ve been trying for ten years to win one of these races, and finally, after a string of bad luck, we got it done. Thanks to my brother for giving me a great race car. I’m so excited that we finally put it all together. What a sweet win after all these years of struggling.” King crossed the line in a hard-fought second place, followed by Todd English, Chad Reitz, and Jacob Jordan to round out the field. As a final reminder for race fans, there will be no racing for the next two weeks at Tri-City Raceway Park. Action will roar back to life for the next event, featuring a packed 4-Star racing program plus the Econo Mods, who will return to the track to make up their feature race that was rained out earlier this season.

FAST on Dirt 410 Sprint Car Series 25 Lap Feature Finish: 1. 22-Brandon Spithaler [2]; 2. 98-Ricky PetersonJr. [4]; 3. 2-AJ Flick [1]; 4. 13-Brandon Matus [3]; 5. 7NY-Matt Farnham [9]; 6. 3-John Jerich [6]; 7. 29M-Logan McCandless [5]; 8. 68G-Tyler Gunn [12]; 9. 47L-Dusty Larson 8]; 10. 32-Jeremy Kornbau [16]; 11. 3TN-Tyler Newhart [14]; 12. 19-Tyler Esh [10]; 13. 6-Bob Felmlee [7]; 14. 33-Jeremy Weaver [13]; 15. 6J-Jonah Aumend [11]; 16. 47- Brett Brunkenhoefer [17]; 17. 55-Scott Rogers [18]; 18. 19M-Bodie McClintock [15]

Heat Race Winners: 3 John Jerich, 98 Ricky Peterson Jr., 13. Brandon Matus

BRP Modified 35 Lap Feature Finish: 1. 777-Tyler Willard {6]; 2. 37MD-Jeremiah Shingledecker [9]; 3. Erick Rudolph [1]; 4. 11R-Brad Rapp [3]; 5. 17M-Kyle Fink [8]; 6. 13-Rick Regalski [11]; 7. B4-Brayden Beatty [13]; 8. 61-Dave Murdick [12]; 9. 28h- Hayden Holden [21]; 10. 3K-Shawn Kozar [19]; 11. 165-Rex King Jr. [2]; 12. 29*-Eric Beggs [20]; 13. 20P-Mike Kinney [18]; 14. 18W-Jeff Walters [10]; 15. x-Jeremy Paup [5]; 16. 5C-Ayden Cipriano [15]; 17. 29-Garrett Krummert [7]; 18. 27H- Jimmy Holden [22]; 19. 1R-Brandon Ritchey [17]; 20. 8m-Macey Adamik [4]; 21. 60-Thomas Holden [16]; 22. 5A-Austin Elyer [14}; DNS. 18-Colton Walters DNS. 64 Rodney Beltz

Heat Race Winners: 165 Rex King Jr., 17M Kyle Fink, X Jeremy Paup

RUSH Sportsman Modified 20 Lap Feature Finish: 1. JD57-Jordan Ehrenberg [1]; 2. 165K-Karsten King [2]; 3. 711-Todd English [4]; 4. 1R-Chad Reitz [7]; 5. 28J-Jacob Jordan [11]; 6. 2- Kole Holden [3]; 7. 57R-Jacob Rutana [6]; 8. 58-Logan Lockhart [5]; 9. 21X-Ryan Riffe [10]; 10. 10s-Trevn Schaffer 11. 12L-Patrick Lane [9]; 12. 04-Josh Seippel [12]; 13. 12*-Troy Pinch [14]; 14. 10-Jerry Schaffer [8]; DNS 70 B-Nolan Burns

Heat Race Winners: 57R-Jacob Rutana & 711-Todd English

Upcoming Races

June 21 – BRP Modifieds – FAST 410 Sprints – RUSH Sportsman Modifieds

June 26 & July 3 – No Racing

July 10 – 4 Star Racing + Mini Stocks

July 17 – 4 Star Racing Kids Night Give Aways & Bike Races

July 24 – Summer Sizzler – Andy & Billie Lutz Memorial FAST 410 Sprint Series – Pro Stocks – RUSH Stocks

Race Day Information at Tri City Raceway Park
Fridays: Racing begins at 7:00 PM
Sundays: Racing starts at 6:30 PM
Pit Gates Open at 3:00 pm
Grandstands Gates Open at 4:00 pm

Ticket Pricing
General Admission
Adults (17+) $15.00
Students / Seniors/ Military $13.00
Kids 10 and Under FREE
Pit Passes (3+) $35.00

Special Races
General Admission
Adults (17+) $20.00
Students / Seniors/ Military $15.00
Kids 10 and Under FREE
Pit Passes (3+) $40.00

Marketing Partners
Hovis Auto & Truck Supply, 21st Century Energy Group, RK Virgile Iron & Steel, Complete Car Care Center, Marsh Heating & Cooling, Erie Beer, KEI Klapec Express Trucking, Shambaugh Towing, McCandless Ford, United Community Independence Program, Close Racing Supply, Schaeffer’s Oil, BKI Bert Klapec INC, Clarion County Community Bank, McCandless Trailer Sales, Heffren Septic systems, Gates & Burns Reality, Bernards Electrical Service & Troubleshooting, Sunbelt Rental Meadville, MAD Tree Service, Friedhaber’s Appliances, PJ’S Excavating & Concrete, Top Notch Tree and Stump Services, Vape Shop & Game Room, Tionesta Builders Supply, First Rate Reality, Log Cabin Restaurant, MAD MAC BBQ, Bish Heating and Cooling, Forbidden Fantasies Adult Cabaret, Triple Sanitation, Franklin Service & Supply and Oil Creek Family Campground, Flea Flickers, Allegheny Toyota, American Legion Post 0334
Tri-City Raceway Park is proudly owned and operated by Josh and Kyrsten Shiffer and is located at 3430 State Route 417 in Franklin, Pennsylvania. The historic half-mile dirt oval offers competitive racing and special events in a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere.

For the complete 2026 schedule, ticket information, and updates throughout the season, visit http://www.racetri-city.com and follow Tri-City Raceway Park on Facebook