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View Full Version : Same Weekend, Same Results for Tom Flanagan at Mahoning Valley Speedway



LongIslandJam
07-18-2010, 08:18 AM
(LEHIGHTON, PA 7-17-10) The weekend of July 17 is turning out to be a good one for Tom Flanagan as the Bethlehem driver won the Modified feature at Mahoning Valley Speedway the same time one year ago.

Although Flanagan did lead every lap it was a fight to the finish as he had to fend off a blitz of on-comers throughout the race.

When the feature commenced Matt Wentz was the first to challenge Flanagan. Also running strong was Tyler Haydt. While Flanagan defended his spot by racing just the right line, Wentz and Haydt continued to trade off second. Chip Santee and John Bennett added themselves to the mix just past lap15. That foursome where changing spots with each other and all had turns at trying to pass Flanagan but he was able to turn back each attempt.

Late into the event Santee took control of second but never quite had enough to make a dare on Flanagan who went on to score his first win of the season and fifth in a Modified.

“I just want to thank my dad and crew for giving me an awesome race car. I had to battle back Chipper (Santee), Tyler (Haydt) and all the other big guns and I held them off. It was a real good car,” said Flanagan. “You’d never have known that the car was junk when we first got here but we worked and adjusted and got it real close to where we need to be. This is a great momentum boost heading into next week’s 100-lapper.”

Flanagan was referencing the Hand 2 Seven Card Stud Modified 100 on July 24 which pays $3000 to win.

Santee’s second was his best effort since a win on April 24. He was able to run both high and low but just fell short in his pursuit of Flanagan.

“We’ve been struggling and even tonight we were tight. I think I had a lot more motor than Tommy (Flanagan) and I was able to run it in deeper in the corners but the car just wouldn’t stick like his was,” said Santee. “Congratulations to him on a well deserved win. We ran each other clean and I could see he was tight like I was but he had the inside line and was a little bit better.”

In the late laps Anthony Sesely once again became a factor and notched a solid third ahead of Don Wagner and Bennett.

“It was a good clean run and all the wheels are still on it and well be back next week for the 100-lapper. I want to thank the people from Wall Stadium for sending me here. I’ve been having a blast since I got here three weeks ago,” said Sesely.

In Late Model action defending champ Todd Stehle returned for just the second time this season, knowing that point leader Paul Koehler, Jr., was one win away from tying his win record of 34.

They did race close with one another but not for the win, that distinction went to Jim Thorpe’s Geno Steigerwalt.

After a few side-by-side laps, Steigerwalt made an inside pass on Rick Wallace with five laps in and then cruised to his first victory in two years. Wallace looked his best as he raced to a season high second.

The Koehler/Stehle clash ended with Koehler nailing down third. Shawn Sitarchyk, who remains in a very tight point ballet with Koehler, got by Stehle who ended his night fifth.
Jason Frey of Lehighton became the first three-time winner in Street Stocks but the road to this victory was a wild one from the get-go.

Paul Effrig was looking to win for the first time in a decade as he led the first half of the event.

Then came Jon Moser who eked his way to the front on lap 14. However, he wasn’t able to stay there past that lap as he got tangled with Effrig in turn three which prompted a caution.
On the restart point leader Randy Ahner, Jr., was the lead car with Dale Santee lined up alongside. When the first lap under green got scored it was Santee that had the point. The next time by Ahner then took command but he was immersed in some thick traffic. In a wild three-wide battle for the lead, Ahner was holding off Frey and Adam Santee while right behind them was Steve Hoffman and TJ Gursky who were also neck-and-neck.

On lap 18 the caution waved for a four car skirmish on the back straight. Three wide action again surfaced after the restart as the same trio went have-had-it with each other.
This time Frey got the upper hand as he moved inside of Ahner with four laps to go and held on for the win.

Santee, younger brother of Modified star Chip, had the best night of his aspiring career with his runner-up while Gursky held on for third.

Mike Brannigar of Pine Valley, NJ scored a rousing upset win in the Dirt Mod feature as the first time starter led every lap en route to the popular verdict.

Brannigar, who was in the Scott Hulmes No. 134 and racing for the first time on pavement, was followed closely by his teammate and most recent winner Bill Briggs with Jeff Parker third.

Kris Graver of Lehighton continued his dominance in the Pro4 Late Models as the 16-year phenomenon drover to third straight win and seventh on the season.

Chris Kuronya led lap one then it was Jeremy Miller taking over. Miller was then being double teamed by both Kris and Kevin Graver, Jr. Doing his best to hold onto to the lead, Miller finally gave in on lap seven to Kris Graver who then pulled away to five car length win over his uncle Kevin.

In the last season and a half the Gravers have accounted for a combined 18 wins.


Modified Feature Finish, 35 Laps: 1.Tom Flanagan 2.Chip Santee 3.Anthony Sesely 4.Don Wagner 5.John Bennett 6.Tyaler Haydt 7.Lonnie Behler 8.Rob Shultz 9.Brian DeFebo 10.Matt Higgins 11.Rich Kuilkem, Jr. 12.Ed Heim, Jr. 13.keith Mullineaux 14.Rick Reichenbach 15.Lou Strohl 16.Joe Mooney 17.Joe Mooney DNS: Andy Szapacs

Late Model Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1.Geno Steigerwalt 2.Rick Wallace 3.Paul Koehler, Jr. 4.Shawn Sitarchyk 5.Todd Stehle 6.Barry Christman, Sr. 7.Troy Bollinger 8.Cole Lenhart

Street Stock Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1.Jason Frey 2.Adam Santee 3.TJ Gursky 4.Steve Steigerwalt 5.Gene Bowers 6.Kristy Morone Arthofer 7.Todd Ahner 8.Autin Santee 9.Jillian Long 10.Josh Mooney 11.Brian Labar 12.Steve Hoffman 13.Devin Gibson 14.Randy Ahner, Jr. 15.Chris May 16.Dale Santee 17.Paul Effrig 18.Jon Moser 19.Justin Miller

Dirt Modified Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1.Mike Brannigar 2.Bill Briggs 3.Jeff Parker 4.Joe Stangle 5.Randy Thomas 6.Tom Cremer 7.Dave Thomas DNS: DJ Wagner

Pro4 Late Model Feature, 20 Laps: 1.Kris Graver 2.Kevin Graver, Jr. 3.Jeremy Miller 4.Jake Kibler 5.Mike Stofflet 6.Chris Kuronya 7.Kevin Stein 8.Arland Moyer, Jr. DNS: Aleia Geisler, Barry Christman, Jr.