LongIslandJam
04-30-2011, 07:51 PM
By: Gene Ostrowski
April 30, 2011
St. Johns, PA- Following time trials two weeks ago, racers and fans alike came to Mountain Speedway on Saturday to enjoy some decent weather and finally, racing!! When it was all said and done, Bobby Jones of Palmerton went on to take his first ever opening day win in his Modified. Chip Wannamaker of Walnutport cruised to take the Street Stock victory and Harry O’Neill of Mountaintop notched his first career FWD victory.
Kyle Ebersole turned the fastest lap during time trials for the opening day 40-lap Modified Main event. He started from the pole and led the opening lap over Todd Baer, Earl Paules, Bobby Jones and Nick Pecko.
Jones moved to third when he overtook Paules on lap five. Ten laps later he overtook Baer and the lap 15 pass moved him to the second spot. Meanwhile, Rusty Smith, who started the race in the fourteenth spot, began to mount a charge toward the front.
A quick yellow waved on lap 20 when David Schneider spun his machine on the backstretch. Ebersole held the lead for the restart, followed by Jones, Smith, Paules and Barry Callavini.
Green flag racing resumed and it only took a few laps of outside racing for Jones to pull even with the leader. Jones completed the pass on lap 25.
With three laps remaining, Smith finally found a way around Ebersole to take second. With only three laps remaining and with a five or six car length advantage, Jones took the $1500 victory over Smith, Ebersole, Paules and Pecko.
“This awesome”, said Jones in victory lane. “This isn’t only our first opening day win, it’s our first opening day finish”!
CJ Jones won the Modified consi.
Chip Wanamaker timed quickest to win the pole position for the 25-lap Street Stock feature. He led the first circuit over Mitch Hawk, Mike Garris, Chris Burge and Kyle Curtis.
The top four remained the same in the early going and then Robert Fink got by Curtis to crack the top five. He then set his sights on Burge for Fourth.
The leaders began to mix with lapped traffic and Fink tried to take advantage of it. In an attempt to grab the fourth spot, he got into Burge, who then spun. Unfortunately, both drivers were sent to the rear of the field for the restart.
In cone racing style, the drivers were allowed to choose which lane (inside or outside) they wanted to use for the restart. Both Wanamaker and Hawk chose the inside and from out of nowhere came Steve Shultz, who chose the outside lane.
Green flag racing resumed and Shultz pressured the leader. Hawk continued to hold third with Garris in tow until Bill Verwys suffered a flat tire. With nowhere to go when he was trying to get by Verwys, who was going to the infield, Shultz made pretty heavy contact and was forced to pit for a new tire.
Wanamaker remained out front over the closing laps and went on to take the $500 victory over Hawk. Hawk failed post race inspection, which officially gave Burge the second spot. Garris ended up third, followed by Shultz and Curtis.
“This is a great win for the entire team”, said Wanamaker in victory lane. “I want to dedicate this one to my Uncle Butch”, who was a familiar racer at the former Dorney Park Speedway.
Eric Banashefski set fast time and start on the pole for the 20-lap FWD feature. He led the opening laps over Pete Verwys, Jay Skupski, John Smith and Harry O’Neill.
The first yellow flag waved when the car of Trevor Ahouse came to a stop on the backstretch. Green flag racing resumed and O’Neill began to make his presence known when he overtook Skupski for third. He then caught and passed Verwys for second on lap 8.
With Banashefski still in command, the final caution flag waved when Skupski and Justin Hughes tangled in turns one and two.
Green flag racing resumed and O’Neill wasted no time as he charged into the lead on lap 13. O’Neill went on to take his first career victory over Verwys, Banashefski, Jeff Biegley and Skupski.
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.
Modified (40-Laps) 1. BOBBY JONES 2. Rusty Smith 3. Earl Paules 4. Kyle Ebersole 5. Nick Pecko 6. John Markovic 7. Ken Vogel Jr 8. Andy Walko 9. Todd Baer 10. Chip Wanamaker 11. David Schneider 12. Allen Creveling 13. CJ Jones 14. Brian DeFebo 15. Terry Markovic 16. Tommy Flanagan III 17.Jarred Nace 18. Danielle Buchek 19. Barry Callavini 20. Mike Sweeney 21. Jimmy Zacharias
Street Stock (25-Laps) 1. CHIP WANAMAKER 2. Chris Burge 3. Mike Garris Sr 4. Steve Shultz 5. Kyle Curtis 6. Bernie Uphold 7. Dale Santee 8. Patrick Mahoney 9. Robert Fink 10. Joe D'Angelo 11. Sam Grow 12. Bill Verwys 13. Sam Danaher 14. Brian Brown DNS: Jeff McGrath DQ: Mitch Hawk
FWD (20-Laps) 1. HARRY O'NEILL 2. Peter Verwys 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Jeff Biegley 5. Jay Skupski 6. Dylan Hoffman 7. Cody Roth 8. John Smith 9. Charles Ruckle Jr 10. Trevor Ahouse 11. Justin Hughes DNS: Robert Fink DNS: Alex Doyle
April 30, 2011
St. Johns, PA- Following time trials two weeks ago, racers and fans alike came to Mountain Speedway on Saturday to enjoy some decent weather and finally, racing!! When it was all said and done, Bobby Jones of Palmerton went on to take his first ever opening day win in his Modified. Chip Wannamaker of Walnutport cruised to take the Street Stock victory and Harry O’Neill of Mountaintop notched his first career FWD victory.
Kyle Ebersole turned the fastest lap during time trials for the opening day 40-lap Modified Main event. He started from the pole and led the opening lap over Todd Baer, Earl Paules, Bobby Jones and Nick Pecko.
Jones moved to third when he overtook Paules on lap five. Ten laps later he overtook Baer and the lap 15 pass moved him to the second spot. Meanwhile, Rusty Smith, who started the race in the fourteenth spot, began to mount a charge toward the front.
A quick yellow waved on lap 20 when David Schneider spun his machine on the backstretch. Ebersole held the lead for the restart, followed by Jones, Smith, Paules and Barry Callavini.
Green flag racing resumed and it only took a few laps of outside racing for Jones to pull even with the leader. Jones completed the pass on lap 25.
With three laps remaining, Smith finally found a way around Ebersole to take second. With only three laps remaining and with a five or six car length advantage, Jones took the $1500 victory over Smith, Ebersole, Paules and Pecko.
“This awesome”, said Jones in victory lane. “This isn’t only our first opening day win, it’s our first opening day finish”!
CJ Jones won the Modified consi.
Chip Wanamaker timed quickest to win the pole position for the 25-lap Street Stock feature. He led the first circuit over Mitch Hawk, Mike Garris, Chris Burge and Kyle Curtis.
The top four remained the same in the early going and then Robert Fink got by Curtis to crack the top five. He then set his sights on Burge for Fourth.
The leaders began to mix with lapped traffic and Fink tried to take advantage of it. In an attempt to grab the fourth spot, he got into Burge, who then spun. Unfortunately, both drivers were sent to the rear of the field for the restart.
In cone racing style, the drivers were allowed to choose which lane (inside or outside) they wanted to use for the restart. Both Wanamaker and Hawk chose the inside and from out of nowhere came Steve Shultz, who chose the outside lane.
Green flag racing resumed and Shultz pressured the leader. Hawk continued to hold third with Garris in tow until Bill Verwys suffered a flat tire. With nowhere to go when he was trying to get by Verwys, who was going to the infield, Shultz made pretty heavy contact and was forced to pit for a new tire.
Wanamaker remained out front over the closing laps and went on to take the $500 victory over Hawk. Hawk failed post race inspection, which officially gave Burge the second spot. Garris ended up third, followed by Shultz and Curtis.
“This is a great win for the entire team”, said Wanamaker in victory lane. “I want to dedicate this one to my Uncle Butch”, who was a familiar racer at the former Dorney Park Speedway.
Eric Banashefski set fast time and start on the pole for the 20-lap FWD feature. He led the opening laps over Pete Verwys, Jay Skupski, John Smith and Harry O’Neill.
The first yellow flag waved when the car of Trevor Ahouse came to a stop on the backstretch. Green flag racing resumed and O’Neill began to make his presence known when he overtook Skupski for third. He then caught and passed Verwys for second on lap 8.
With Banashefski still in command, the final caution flag waved when Skupski and Justin Hughes tangled in turns one and two.
Green flag racing resumed and O’Neill wasted no time as he charged into the lead on lap 13. O’Neill went on to take his first career victory over Verwys, Banashefski, Jeff Biegley and Skupski.
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.
Modified (40-Laps) 1. BOBBY JONES 2. Rusty Smith 3. Earl Paules 4. Kyle Ebersole 5. Nick Pecko 6. John Markovic 7. Ken Vogel Jr 8. Andy Walko 9. Todd Baer 10. Chip Wanamaker 11. David Schneider 12. Allen Creveling 13. CJ Jones 14. Brian DeFebo 15. Terry Markovic 16. Tommy Flanagan III 17.Jarred Nace 18. Danielle Buchek 19. Barry Callavini 20. Mike Sweeney 21. Jimmy Zacharias
Street Stock (25-Laps) 1. CHIP WANAMAKER 2. Chris Burge 3. Mike Garris Sr 4. Steve Shultz 5. Kyle Curtis 6. Bernie Uphold 7. Dale Santee 8. Patrick Mahoney 9. Robert Fink 10. Joe D'Angelo 11. Sam Grow 12. Bill Verwys 13. Sam Danaher 14. Brian Brown DNS: Jeff McGrath DQ: Mitch Hawk
FWD (20-Laps) 1. HARRY O'NEILL 2. Peter Verwys 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Jeff Biegley 5. Jay Skupski 6. Dylan Hoffman 7. Cody Roth 8. John Smith 9. Charles Ruckle Jr 10. Trevor Ahouse 11. Justin Hughes DNS: Robert Fink DNS: Alex Doyle