‘BROTHER’S DIESEL’ TAKES WARREN COUNTY WIN

PHOTOS BY Brian Seeley 

A super crowd and an awesome track greeted the USA-EAST Pulling Series at the Warren County Fairgrounds near Pittsfield, Pennsylvania on Friday evening (August 13).  With a cool and refreshing evening on tap the Pro Stock Diesel 4x4 class showcased an incredible array of power as fourteen of the modified trucks hooked to the Well Oiled Machine transfer for Chad Mayhill from Reynolds, Indiana.  Up to this point of the season each of the sanctioned hooks for this division had been won by a different truck.  No truck had won two pulls with USA-EAST this summer.

That all changed in a stirring six-way pull-off as Joe Gambino from Springville, New York powered his way to the top spot with his “Brother’s Diesel” Dodge with Cummins under the hood.  Gambino and his brother, Dom, are the partners in “Brothers Diesel” in the southeastern suburbs of Buffalo, New York and together they have made their mark recently in the Pro Stock Diesel ranks. They have posted three straight victories on the New York State circuit and finished 2nd a week ago at the Chemung County Fair in Horseheads, New York with USA-EAST.  And moreover the “Brothers Diesel” truck is now second in the point race for 2010.

The runner-up was the “Real Deal” and Bill Debenedictus from Mentor, Ohio as that Dodge continues to improve rapidly as it becomes a definite force with the Pro Stock Diesels.  Justin Wilkins from Fresno, Ohio was third at Pittsfield after his first win of the year on Wednesday evening in Sandusky, Ohio.  Wilkin’s “Bad Reputation” Dodge is a former regional champion that is rounding back to the form that got him into the winner’s circle numerous times in the past.    Sam Tatalovic and “Gone Wild” in from nearby Guys Mills, Pennsylvania was third on this night after gaining the winners circle in New York a week ago.

John Lorenz, the 2008 and 2009 USA-EAST champion continues to cling to a tenuous lead in the point race, but has fallen victim to some excellent trucks of late and finished fifth at the Warren County Fair with the “Gray Wolf” Dodge.  And sixth in the pull-off went to newcomer Jonathon Waskob from Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania driving an impressive Dodge that is named “Rollin’ Coal”.

The Pro Stock Diesels have a very busy week coming up as the trucks travel to the McKean County Fair in Smethport, Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening before their first-ever appearance at the Lake County Fair in Painesville, Ohio on Wednesday night.  And then on Saturday night the Pro Stock Diesel 4x4 class is the featured truck division on the opening night of the Crawford County Fair in Meadville, Pennsylvania.