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LongIslandJam
01-09-2011, 07:11 AM
Officer Szoke Out Duels Villains to Claim First Enduro Victory at Sundance Vacations Speedway
Sam Ryan Takes Competitive Four Cylinder Event and Kevin Nowak Lands Truck Victory

By: Gene Ostrowski
January 8, 2011

St. Johns, Pa- The name of Sundance Vacations Speedway’s winter enduro held true this season, as both enduro racers and fans came out Saturday to witness the 6th annual “Frostbite” events. With a snow on the racing surface, several drivers attempted to slide their way to victory lane. When it was all said and done and in dominating fashion, police officer Tom Szoke, of White Haven took his first career 6/8-cylinder enduro victory. Admitting that he secretly “borrowed” the tires from his wife’s everyday vehicle, Sam Ryan went on to take the 4-cylinder victory. A handful of trucks ran with the 6/8-cylinder division and Kevin Nowak of Long Island was scored as the highest finishing truck.

Shawn Gallucci started from the pole and was quickly overtaken by Kevin Nowak to start off the 100-lap 6/8-cylinder enduro. Nowak’s lead was short, as Bill Schwenk raced into the top spot on lap one. On the same lap, TJ Kapish took his turn with the lead and with four laps in he held the spot over Schwenk, Tom Szoke, Scott Sipe and Nowak.

The top three battled like cops and robbers before Szoke, a White Haven police officer, made a bold three-wide move stick and took the lead on lap eight.

It was obvious that the track was very slick and most of the rear wheeled cars began to make their own groove at the bottom of the track as they went through the corners. What began as a 1/3-mile asphalt speedway quickly became what the track announcers called a 1/4-mile “dasphalt” race, as the drivers ran on the icy dirt through the corners before jumping back to the pavement on the front and backstretch.

In a league of his own that afternoon, Szoke lapped the second place driver twice to secure his first career win. Kapish finished second, followed by Nowak, Frank Katona and Schwenk.

The 4-cylinder race kicked off with Robert Fink starting on the pole. However, Tony Rispin took the race lead and held the spot over Fink, Rob Pyle, Bruce Miller and Sam Ryan. It didn’t take for Ryan to move into third.

With most cars running down low, Fink rode the high line around the speedway and began to reel in the leader. He completed the pass for the lead on lap 32. With Fink out front, Rispin and Ryan dueled for second. The three drivers raced side by side and nose to tail nonstop.

Like Fink, several drivers began to run the high line around the track before Rispin took the race lead on lap 43. The lead was short-lived, as Fink regained the position seven circuits later. Ryan took his turn at the lead seven laps after that and began to put distance between him and the competition.

In what was a great start to the 2011 season, Ryan went on to take the victory over Rispin, Pyle, Fink and Miller. Ryan joked in victory lane and said that he had to get the tired back on his wife’s vehicle. Ryan “borrowed” the fresh tread from his wife’s everyday driver.

Courtesy of Evan’s Roadhouse, a $25 gift certificate was given to the best Elvis impersonator and Cory Student gave several ice scrapers out to the race fans.

The speedway will be revert back to the name of Mountain Speedway following January. Mountain Speedway is just minutes from Hazleton, Pa, located on St. John’s Road, between Routes 93 and 309. Grandstand admission for all regular events is just $10 for ages 11 and older. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free.

Please visit www.mountainspeedway.com for the upcoming 2011 schedule and happenings.


"Frostbite 6"
Round No. 1 of the Mountain Madness Enduro Series at Sundance Vacations Speedway

6/8-Cylinders (100-laps)
Pos No. Name
1 50 Tom Szoke
2 33 TJ Kapish
3 53 Kevin Nowak *Truck Winner
4 27 Frank Katona *
5 13X Bill Schwenck
6 88 Scott Sipe
7 88X Costas Efantis
8 17x Rob McCormick *
9 23G Shawn Gallucci
10 2 Ned Coolbaugh *
11 410 Steve Tito
12 43 Paul Harding
13 44 Mike Parisi

* Denotes truck

4-Cylinders (100-laps)
Pos No. Name
1 7 Sam Ryan
2 34 Tony Rispin
3 29B Rob Pyle
4 78 Robert Fink
5 88 Bruce Miller
6 0 Michael Cafiero
7 17 Art Kulik
8 308 Ken Harper
9 31 Dave Bartuski
10 88X Costas Efantis
11 13 Larry Spencer Jr
12 12 Peter Verwys
13 71 Jimmy Zacharias
14 F19 Bill Rice
15 51 Larry Spencer III
16 81 Anthony Pizzo