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View Full Version : Fitzgerald, Katona, Nowak and Ryan Take NEETS Victories at Sundance



LongIslandJam
12-01-2010, 09:36 PM
By: Gene Ostrowski
November 28, 2010

St. Johns, Pa- It’s been four full years since the North East Enduro Tour Series (NEETS) competed at Sundance Vacations Speedway. That changed on Sunday when the series returned to the speedway for the running of “The Gobbler” Open Competition enduro events. With very few rules in place for the open competition show, fans got the opportunity to see very quick enduro machines, one of which was piloted by “Fast Frank” Katona of Junedale, who brought home top honors in the 4-Cylinder event. Long Island’s Ray Fitzgerald steered clear of trouble and lapped the field twice in the process to take the win in the Savage 61 Dodge 6/8-Cylinder division. Also from Long Island, Kevin Nowak scored the TRUX victory and White Haven’s Sue Ryan took top honors in the Ladies Race.

Due to a handful of TRUX on hand, the class raced with the 4-Cylinder division in the 100-lap show. Chip Wanamaker sat on the pole position and led the opening lap over Jon Smith, Steve Wilson, Larry Spencer, Jr. and Pete Verwys.

Smith took the lead on the second circuit and Verwys climbed into the second spot and by lap seven, Dave Bentley, Jr. had grabbed third.

Verwys took the lead on lap eight and led for a few circuits before Smith overtook him. Meanwhile, Frank Katona began to move toward the front and held the fifth spot on lap 19. Just before halfway, Katona overtook Bentley for fourth and then powered by Verwys and Smith to take the race lead.

Ticking off laps quicker than the 6/8-cylinder cars run, Katona cruised to his first career 4-Cylinder enduro win over Bentley, Verwys, Wilson and Smith. Kevin Nowak was awarded the TRUX victory, as the TRUX were scored separately.

Kevin Nowak led the Savage 61 Dodge 6/8-Cylinder field to the drop of the green flag in the 100-lap enduro. However, Ray Fitzgerald came from his third starting spot and took the lead before a lap was complete. Nowak ran second when they crossed the stripe to complete lap one, followed by Rob McCormick, Steve Haegele and “Big Daddy” Chris Angstadt.

TJ Kapish cracked the top five and then overtook Haegele for fourth on lap nine. Even with a great run going, Fitzgerald was just too quick and smooth, as he lapped Kapish on lap 33.

With only two cars on the lead lap at halfway, Fitzgerald held the point over McCormick, Nowak, Kapish and Rob Longo. Shortly after transmission troubles struck Nowak and he retired from the event.

Fitzgerald put a lap on the entire field on lap 659 before he quickly lapped the entire field again with 16 laps remaining. He crossed the stripe to score the victory in what is his first enduro start this season. Longo finished as the runner up, followed by McCormick and Kapish. Howie Bott completed the top five.

Sue Ryan grabbed the early lead in the 15-lap Ladies Race and held on to take the victory over Tiffany Olejnik, Sue Collins, Breanna Lobach and Jen "Punchy" Schwager.

Gifts from Pepsi were distributed to some of the race fans, as were potato chips, which were courtesy of enduro enthusiasts Linda and Cory Student.

For more information in regards to NEETS, including the full list of results, please visit www.neetsracing.net and for information regarding Sundance Vacations Speedway, please visit www.sundancevacationsspeedway.com.