LongIslandJam
04-10-2011, 10:52 PM
By: Gene Ostrowski
April 10, 2011
St. Johns, PA- Following Saturday’s time trials, both fans and drivers alike poured in to Mountain Speedway for the “B Program” Opening Weekend features. When it was all said and done, Rusty Smith of Oxford, NY cruised to the Sport Modified victory and Larry Fisher of Fern Glen, PA took his ill handling Late Model to victory lane. Matt Schlenker of Walnutport backed into the Factory Stock victory and Mike Alcaro of Newton, NJ brought home the first INEX Legends feature win of the season.
Rusty Smith timed the fastest in time trials and sat on the pole for the 40-lap Sport Modified feature. He led the opening lap over Dave Brigati, Todd Baer, Chris Orlando and Nick Pecko before the caution flew on the second circuit when Dan Speeney and Scott Adams tangled in turn three.
A cone was placed on the start finish line during the yellow and the drivers chose which land they wanted to restart in (inside or outside). Many drivers chose the preferred inside groove, but Orlando, who was riding in fourth before the caution, chose the outside and restarted in second.
Smith wasted no time pulling away from the field and in the meantime, Zane Zeiner, who started the feature in eleventh, got by both Baer and Pecko to overtake the fourth spot. He then went on to overtake Orlando for third on lap seven and shot by Brigati for second on lap 20.
Even though Zeiner had the fastest car in practice, Smith had a straightaway lead, which didn’t change much over the remaining caution free laps. Smith captured the win in dominating fashion over Zeiner, Brigati, Pecko and Orlando.
Smith commented on his win from the pole by saying, “I did what I could and raced as fast as I could”. When asked about winning from the pole, his only comment was, “It was easy”.
After running the quickest qualifying time on Saturday, Travis Fisher started from the pole position in the 30-lap Late Model feature. He led the first circuit over Mike Sweeney, Larry Fisher, Craig Lutz and Kyle Harvell.
Appearing to have one of the quickest cars, Lutz overtook L. Fisher on lap two and then shot under Sweeney for second on lap 12. Two quick Rick Smith spins slowed the event and with the cone out on the track, Austin Kochenash moved from sixth to second. However, he faded once green flag racing resumed.
With T. Fisher fending off Lutz, the yellow flag waved when Kochenash caught the apron in turn two and then shot into Sweeney. Both drivers headed to the pits and retired from the event.
Green flag racing resumed and Lutz hounded T. Fisher for the top spot. With only three laps remaining, Lutz got his nose underneath T. Fisher in turn three. T. Fisher tried to slam the door and the duo tangled, which gave the lead to L. Fisher. Harvell lined up second for the restart and Francis Gross III held third, followed by Lutz and Adam Cox.
Despite pressure from the competition behind him, L. Fisher fought his ill handling racecar to score his first Mountain feature win since 2007. Harvell settled for second, followed by Gross, Lutz and Cox.
“We uncovered the car at noon on Friday and here we are”, said a very surprised L. Fisher in victory lane. He commented on the car’s handling and said, “It was definitely a handful to drive”.
After running the quickest lap in Saturday’s time trials, Tom Cassagrande started from the pole and led the opening circuit of the 20-lap feature. Matt Schlenker tucked into the second spot, followed by Chris Parry, Kermit Jacoby and Jeff Searfoss.
Searfoss overtook Jacoby for the fourth spot and Brandon Oltra cracked the top five by lap eight.
After he crossed the strip for the victory in the caution-free event, it appeared that Cassagrande had won his first main event in years at the speedway, but that all went by the wayside when he failed post race inspection because of frame height.
Schlenker was awarded the victory, followed by Parry, Searfoss, Oltra and Jacoby.
Nineteen INEX Legend drivers took to the speedway with Kevin Nowak on the pole position for the 25-lap feature. Nowak led the opening lap over Mike Alcaro, Mark Tischler, Scott Hubler and Brandon DeBrakilmer.
Following a caution flag on lap three when Raven Schrantz went into a spin off the front bumper of Jason Sendlewski, green flag racing resumed and Nowak continued to lead the herd.
Alcaro made the pass on the leader stick on lap five when Nowak slid up the track in turn one. Hubler worked his way into third, with DeBrakilmer and Andrew Shotler in tow.
Hubler then overtook Nowak for the runner up spot, but it was short-lived, as the caution flag waved on lap 10 for a tangle between the two drivers.
Green flag racing resumed and with Alcaro still in command with a lap remaining, Zach Truesdall was spun in the middle of turns one and two. That collected several drivers, including Rob McCormick, Sendlewski and R. Schrantz.
With the green flag back in the air, Alcaro held off advance from eight-place starter, Tony Hanbury, Shotler, DeBrakilmer and Nowak to claim the victory.
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 entire 2011 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Sport Modifieds (40-Laps) 1. RUSTY SMITH 2. Zane Zeiner 3. Dave Brigati 4. Nick Pecko 5. Kevin Orlando 6. Dan Speeney 7. Todd Baer 8. Barry Callavini 9. Todd Geist 10. Scott Adams 11. CJ Lacatvia 12. Dean Ficarro 13. William Schneider 14. Mike Kline
Late Model (30-Laps) 1. LARRY FISHER 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Craig Lutz 4. Francis Gross III 5. Adam Cox 6. Travis Fisher 7. Austin Kochenash 8. Mike Sweeney 9. Rick Smith DNS: Jerry Tunney DNS: Brian Brown
Factory Stock (20-Laps) 1. MATT SCHLENKER 2. Chris Parry 3. Jeff Searfoss 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Kermit Jacoby 6. Richard Paciotti 7. Tom Szoke 8. Eric Banashefski 9. Ned Coolbaugh 10. Eric Boyer 11. Keith Frankenfield DQ: Tom Casagrande
INEX Legends (25-Laps) 1. MIKE ALCARO 2. Tony Hanbury 3. Andrew Shotler 4. Brandon DeBrakilmer 5. Kevin Nowak 6. Jason Sendlewski 7. Raven Schrantz 8. Carl Jones 9. Barry Schrantz 10. Scott Hubler 11. Bobby Rafferty 12. John Bacon 13. Robert Silver 14. Joe Fresco 15. Zach Truesdail 16. Rob McCormick 17.Mark Tischler 18. Stephen Qual 19. Stephan Hershey
April 10, 2011
St. Johns, PA- Following Saturday’s time trials, both fans and drivers alike poured in to Mountain Speedway for the “B Program” Opening Weekend features. When it was all said and done, Rusty Smith of Oxford, NY cruised to the Sport Modified victory and Larry Fisher of Fern Glen, PA took his ill handling Late Model to victory lane. Matt Schlenker of Walnutport backed into the Factory Stock victory and Mike Alcaro of Newton, NJ brought home the first INEX Legends feature win of the season.
Rusty Smith timed the fastest in time trials and sat on the pole for the 40-lap Sport Modified feature. He led the opening lap over Dave Brigati, Todd Baer, Chris Orlando and Nick Pecko before the caution flew on the second circuit when Dan Speeney and Scott Adams tangled in turn three.
A cone was placed on the start finish line during the yellow and the drivers chose which land they wanted to restart in (inside or outside). Many drivers chose the preferred inside groove, but Orlando, who was riding in fourth before the caution, chose the outside and restarted in second.
Smith wasted no time pulling away from the field and in the meantime, Zane Zeiner, who started the feature in eleventh, got by both Baer and Pecko to overtake the fourth spot. He then went on to overtake Orlando for third on lap seven and shot by Brigati for second on lap 20.
Even though Zeiner had the fastest car in practice, Smith had a straightaway lead, which didn’t change much over the remaining caution free laps. Smith captured the win in dominating fashion over Zeiner, Brigati, Pecko and Orlando.
Smith commented on his win from the pole by saying, “I did what I could and raced as fast as I could”. When asked about winning from the pole, his only comment was, “It was easy”.
After running the quickest qualifying time on Saturday, Travis Fisher started from the pole position in the 30-lap Late Model feature. He led the first circuit over Mike Sweeney, Larry Fisher, Craig Lutz and Kyle Harvell.
Appearing to have one of the quickest cars, Lutz overtook L. Fisher on lap two and then shot under Sweeney for second on lap 12. Two quick Rick Smith spins slowed the event and with the cone out on the track, Austin Kochenash moved from sixth to second. However, he faded once green flag racing resumed.
With T. Fisher fending off Lutz, the yellow flag waved when Kochenash caught the apron in turn two and then shot into Sweeney. Both drivers headed to the pits and retired from the event.
Green flag racing resumed and Lutz hounded T. Fisher for the top spot. With only three laps remaining, Lutz got his nose underneath T. Fisher in turn three. T. Fisher tried to slam the door and the duo tangled, which gave the lead to L. Fisher. Harvell lined up second for the restart and Francis Gross III held third, followed by Lutz and Adam Cox.
Despite pressure from the competition behind him, L. Fisher fought his ill handling racecar to score his first Mountain feature win since 2007. Harvell settled for second, followed by Gross, Lutz and Cox.
“We uncovered the car at noon on Friday and here we are”, said a very surprised L. Fisher in victory lane. He commented on the car’s handling and said, “It was definitely a handful to drive”.
After running the quickest lap in Saturday’s time trials, Tom Cassagrande started from the pole and led the opening circuit of the 20-lap feature. Matt Schlenker tucked into the second spot, followed by Chris Parry, Kermit Jacoby and Jeff Searfoss.
Searfoss overtook Jacoby for the fourth spot and Brandon Oltra cracked the top five by lap eight.
After he crossed the strip for the victory in the caution-free event, it appeared that Cassagrande had won his first main event in years at the speedway, but that all went by the wayside when he failed post race inspection because of frame height.
Schlenker was awarded the victory, followed by Parry, Searfoss, Oltra and Jacoby.
Nineteen INEX Legend drivers took to the speedway with Kevin Nowak on the pole position for the 25-lap feature. Nowak led the opening lap over Mike Alcaro, Mark Tischler, Scott Hubler and Brandon DeBrakilmer.
Following a caution flag on lap three when Raven Schrantz went into a spin off the front bumper of Jason Sendlewski, green flag racing resumed and Nowak continued to lead the herd.
Alcaro made the pass on the leader stick on lap five when Nowak slid up the track in turn one. Hubler worked his way into third, with DeBrakilmer and Andrew Shotler in tow.
Hubler then overtook Nowak for the runner up spot, but it was short-lived, as the caution flag waved on lap 10 for a tangle between the two drivers.
Green flag racing resumed and with Alcaro still in command with a lap remaining, Zach Truesdall was spun in the middle of turns one and two. That collected several drivers, including Rob McCormick, Sendlewski and R. Schrantz.
With the green flag back in the air, Alcaro held off advance from eight-place starter, Tony Hanbury, Shotler, DeBrakilmer and Nowak to claim the victory.
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 entire 2011 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Sport Modifieds (40-Laps) 1. RUSTY SMITH 2. Zane Zeiner 3. Dave Brigati 4. Nick Pecko 5. Kevin Orlando 6. Dan Speeney 7. Todd Baer 8. Barry Callavini 9. Todd Geist 10. Scott Adams 11. CJ Lacatvia 12. Dean Ficarro 13. William Schneider 14. Mike Kline
Late Model (30-Laps) 1. LARRY FISHER 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Craig Lutz 4. Francis Gross III 5. Adam Cox 6. Travis Fisher 7. Austin Kochenash 8. Mike Sweeney 9. Rick Smith DNS: Jerry Tunney DNS: Brian Brown
Factory Stock (20-Laps) 1. MATT SCHLENKER 2. Chris Parry 3. Jeff Searfoss 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Kermit Jacoby 6. Richard Paciotti 7. Tom Szoke 8. Eric Banashefski 9. Ned Coolbaugh 10. Eric Boyer 11. Keith Frankenfield DQ: Tom Casagrande
INEX Legends (25-Laps) 1. MIKE ALCARO 2. Tony Hanbury 3. Andrew Shotler 4. Brandon DeBrakilmer 5. Kevin Nowak 6. Jason Sendlewski 7. Raven Schrantz 8. Carl Jones 9. Barry Schrantz 10. Scott Hubler 11. Bobby Rafferty 12. John Bacon 13. Robert Silver 14. Joe Fresco 15. Zach Truesdail 16. Rob McCormick 17.Mark Tischler 18. Stephen Qual 19. Stephan Hershey