By: Mike Ackelson
July 31, 2026 – For Immediate Release:
Farnham Gets Redemption and Myers Rules RUSH Sprints on a Thrilling Friday Night at Tri-City
FRANKLIN, PA — It was a night of pure redemption, milestone victories, and championship drama as Tri-City Raceway Park roared to life on Friday night. On a smooth, fast racing surface that drew praise from competitors all night long, the track set the stage for crucial point battles with only one night of track points remaining.
The Hovis Auto & Truck Supply 410 Sprint car 25 lap feature saw pole sitter Matt Farnham take the lead heading into turn one and quickly got his machine rolling on the high side. Logan McCandless followed the leader to move into second while the pack was charging behind them. The first of three cautions came on lap two when Charlie Utsinger spun out in turn four. Farnham quickly jumped back to a second and a half advantage over McCandless on the restart, as Bob Felmlee moved into third with Chris Smith, Dusty Larson, Derek Hauck, and Brandon Matus in hot pursuit. Matus was picking cars off every lap while Farnham and McCandless opened some distance on the rest of the field. Matus, the former track champion, continued his charge and began to reel in the two leaders. McCandless was catching the 7NY machine when the second caution flag flew for Joel Mellon who looped his car around in turn one. When the green flag flew Matus was right there and looking to challenge the two front runners when the driveline broke on the 13 machine on lap 14 for the final caution of the race, ending his night and dropping him out of the points lead with just one night of points remaining. Farnham continued to set the pace with McCandless staying within striking distance as the laps wound down, but after several good runs of late Farnham would park his car in victory lane for the first time in nearly a year. “Finally, we’ve been really good here this year and gave one away a few weeks ago, so this is redemption,” Farnham stated. “This track is fantastic, all the work the Shiffer’s and the crew are putting in is making this a place you want to be here every week and compete.” It appears Farnham had a major issue when his machine lost speed in the heat race. “The wing line broke and oil was coming and blocking my vision, so I eased up the final few laps,” Farnham said. “A big shout out to Logan McCandless who loaned us a spare.” McCandless would come home in the runner-up spot, but also a shout out to him and his girlfriend Ryanne Michaels who got engaged last week. Derek Hauck, making his first start at Tri City of the season, would finish third with Bob Felmlee and Dusty Larson rounding out the top five. Felmlee now holds a 21-point advantage over Brandon Matus in the points race.
The 21st Century Energy Group RUSH Sprint car 20 lap feature saw Gale Ruth Jr. quickly taking command at the drop of the green and building a 2.5 second advantage over the field, but there was a lot of action behind the Pleasantville chauffer as they were three and four wide coming off of turn two in the opening laps. Brayden Blackshear, Lucas Roessner, Logan Lockhart, Grayson Bayle, Samantha Priest, and Cooper Macormac were all battling it out for positions. Blaze Myers, the all-time leading winner in the division, was picking them off one by one, making his way to second on lap four, but the action was hot and heavy as they continued to fight for positions behind the two front running cars. The only caution flag flew on lap six when Owen James’ night ended after making contact with the retaining wall in turn one. When the green flag waved again Myers was right on Ruth’s tail as they battled it out for three laps before the 41 machine made his move in turns one and two to grab the lead. Ruth kept the 24 car within striking distance. The action behind them was fantastic to watch as Lockhart, Blackshear, Bayle, Priest, Roessner, and Devon Deeter continued to fight for every inch of ground they could muster. Back at the lead, it was Myers pulling away in the closing laps to secure his sixth feature win of the season and upping his track record to 21 wins in the division. “It’s always fun to win here, this new car is really coming to life,” Myers said. “I felt like a sissy in the heat race laying back and not wanting to go up top and race where this car just comes to life, so I’m glad I made the adjustment in the feature. Man, this track was smooth and just awesome to race on tonight.” Ruth would settle for second while 14-year-old Logan Lockhart had one of his best runs at the track finishing third, Grayson Bayle was fourth, and teenager Brayden Blackshear was fifth. Myers leads Ruth by 37 points in the standings. Copper Macormac was the Kenny’s cash $100 bonus recipient for his 14th place finish. Kenny’s cash is a bonus award given out by Arnie Kent in memory of his brother.
The RK Virgile Iron & Steel 20 lap feature saw Jake Whitling and Curt J. Bish starting on the front row. Bish would grab the lead coming off turn two, but Whitling was right there and only a fender behind as they finished lap one. However, the only caution of the race came on lap two with Troy Norman and Tony Spaghetti both spinning out in turn four. On the restart, Whitling wasted no time taking command from Bish. The points leader in the division ran away with this race, leading 19 laps and pulling away to a six and a half second lead over the 29 car. For Whitling, it is his second win of the season. “I would not be here without my crew, family, and friends,” Whitling said. “They gave me a Rocketship to drive tonight and that was fun. I could go anywhere I wanted to on the track and we were just hooked up. I remember my dad and I talking about getting that second win, well it didn’t take me as long as him, but I was starting to wonder if it was going to happen. Man, this is sweet to win at Tri City.” Bish finished second, followed by Rod Laskey, Pat Fielding, and Bobby Whitling coming home fifth. Ironically, Jake Whitling has a 67-point lead over Pat Fielding in the standings, and his father Bobby has 67 wins all time in the division.
The Complete Car Care Center RUSH Pro Stocks feature was the William Baker show again. The track’s all-time leading winner in the division grabbed the lead at the drop of the green from his second starting position and never looked back, leading wire to wire in the caution-free race. It marks his 10th win in the last 11 races at the track and his fifth straight season. “This place just brings out the best of me, love racing here,” Baker said. “I really hope we can grow this division; the cars are fun to drive and the more we get will even make it more competitive. We have a great facility to compete on, now we just need to get more guys coming here. Also, a special shout out to the Shiffer’s who are really making this place special, the track surface is awesome.” Cole Laskey finished second with Robert Switzer, Jim Buchanan, and Raiddan Wilson finishing fifth. Baker has a 49-point lead over Wilson in the standings. With Baker dominating the division, a bounty has been placed on the 620 car. There will be an extra $100 up for grabs if anyone can knock him off on August 14th at their next race.
Just a reminder that there will be no racing on August 7. Racing action returns to the facility on Friday night, August 14, when track championships will be decided.

Hovis Auto & Truck Supply 410 Sprint Cars 25 Lap Feature Results: 1. 7NY-Matt Farnham [1]; 2. 29M-Logan McCandless [3]; 3. 12J-Derek Hauck [6]; 4. 6-Bob Felmlee [5]; 5. 47L-Dusty Larson [4]; 6. 56N-Nash Gierke [11]; 7. 7-Chris Smith [2]; 8. X7-Andy Cavanaugh [8]; 9. 14K Tori Knutson [10]; 10. 33-Brent Matus [12]; 11. 30-Jazlyn Boyles [14]; 12. 3J-Joel Mellon [13]; 13. 23-Charlie Utsinger [16]; 14. 13- Brandon Matus [9]; 15. 19M-Bodie McClintock [15]; 16. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr. [7]: 17. 32-Jeremy Kornbau [17]
1st Heat Race Result: 1. 6-Bob Felmlee [2]; 2. 47L-Dusty Larson [1]; 3. 29M-Logan McCandless [5]; 4. 12J-Derek Hauck [6]; 5. X7-Andy Cavanaugh [3]; 6. 14K Tori Knutson [4]; 7. 33-Brent Matus [8]; 8. 30-Jazlyn Boyles [7]; 9. 23-Charlie Utsinger [9]
2nd Heat Race Result: 1. 32-Jeremy Kornbau [3]: 2. 7NY-Matt Farnham [1]; 3. 7-Chris Smith [4]; 4. 23JR-Jack Sodeman Jr. [6]: 5. 13- Brandon Matus [5]; 6. 56N-Nash Gierke [7]; 7. 3J-Joel Mellon [2]; 8. 19M-Bodie McClintock [8]
RK Virgile Iron & Steel Pro Stocks 20 Lap Feature Results: 1. 07-Jake Whitling [1]; 2. 29-Curt J Bish [2]; 3. 1R-Rod Laskey [3]; 4. 23-Pat Fielding [5]; 5. 7W-Bobby Whitling [4]; 6. 19T-Troy Norman [7]; 7. 97-Tony Spaghetti [6]; 8. 12M-Scott Malone [8]; DNS 57-Jason Kimmy
Heat Race Results: 1. 1R-Rod Laskey [2]; 2. 07-Jake Whitling [1]; 3. 29-Curt J Bish [7]; 4. 7W-Bobby Whitling [5]; 5. 23-Pat Fielding [4]; 6. 97-Tony Spaghetti [6]; 7. 19T-Troy Norman [8]; 8. 57-Jason Kimmy [3]: DNS 12M-Scott Malone
21st Century Energy Group RUSH Sprint Cars 20 Lap Feature Results: 1. 41-Blaze Myers [7]: 2. 24-Gale Ruth Jr. [1]; 3. 58-Logan Lockhart [4]; 4. 21-Grayson Bayle [5]; 5. 10-Brayden Blackshear [3]; 6. 54-Devon Deeter [10]; 7. 21N-Samantha Priest [8]; 8. 213-Lucas Roessner [2]; 9. 5B-Joe Buccola [12]; 10. 16-Jayden Shiffer [11]; 11. 17M-CJ McClintock [13]; 12. 9-Arnie Kent [9]; 13. 29-Owen James [14]; 14. 7-Cooper Macormac [6]
1st Heat Race Result: 1. 7-Cooper Macormac [2]; 2. 24-Gale Ruth Jr. [4]; 3. 21-Grayson Bayle [1]; 4. 41-Blaze Myers [5]: 5. 9-Arnie Kent [6]; 6. 16-Jayden Shiffer [7]; 7. 17M-CJ McClintock [3]
2nd Heat Race Results: 1. 58-Logan Lockhart [2]; 2. 10-Brayden Blackshear [1]; 3. 213-Lucas Roessner [3]; 4. 21N-Samantha Priest [4]; 5. 54-Devon Deeter [5]; 6. 5B-Joe Buccola [6]; 7. 29-Owen James [7]
Complete Car Care Center RUSH Stock Car 15 Lap Feature Results: 1. 620-William Baker [2]; 2. 2c-Cole Laskey [1]; 3. 97M-Robert Switzer [4]; 4. 22-Jim Buchanan [5]; 5. 77-Raiddan Wilson [3]
Heat Race Results: 1. 620-William Baker [4]; 2. 77-Raiddan Wilson [2]; 3. 2c-Cole Laskey [3]; 4. 97M-Robert Switzer [4]; 5. 22-Jim Buchanan [1]

Upcoming Races

August 7 – NO RACING

August 14 – 4 Star Racing Final Points night – Legends Night + Autograph Night

August 21 – Super Late Model Special – Penn Ohio Pro-Stocks Tour – RUSH Stocks – Mini 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.