LongIslandJam
06-26-2011, 12:19 PM
By: Gene Ostrowski
June 18, 2011
St. Johns, PA- It would be an understatement to say that the Sport Modified feature Saturday night at Mountain Speedway was interesting. In fact, the race itself became a battle of the fittest, and when it was all said and done, while piloting a Sport Modified that is usually driven by his brother William, David Schneider of Northport, NY brought home his first career win in the division. After coming away with his first Late Model victory two weeks earlier, Craig Lutz of Miller Place, NY scored his second straight verdict in the division and Chris Parry of Lehighton notched his first Factory Stock victory at the speedway.
Dean Ficarro led the Sport Modified field to the drop of the green flag in the 40-lap main before things heated up in a hurry. While fighting a loose condition, Ficarro got out of shape in turn two, which opened the door for several drivers to take the lead. Chip Wanamaker saw an opening, as did Todd Baer. The pair split Ficarro and when he finally spun out on the backstretch it collected not only the two drivers making a bid for the lead, but also Jim Bojohnny and Nick Pecko.
The red flag was thrown for the incident after both Wanamaker and Baer sustained heavy damage. It took a little time for Baer to climb from his car and aside from being shaken up and limping, he didn’t appear to be seriously injured.
Green flag racing resumed with Barry Callavini on the point over Paul Frantz, David Schneider, Dan Speeney and Mike Skarbowski. However, several cautions in the early going slowed the racing action, with the fifth one coming out for a Mike Kline spin on lap four.
Two laps following the restart, Schneider made a quick move on Callavini and grabbed the race lead. Schneider maintained the lead over Callavini with a third of the race complete and Frantz, Todd Geist and Dave Brigati were in tow.
A lap 15 tangle occurred when Callavini tried to get underneath Schneider for the lead in turn one. Several drivers behind the two were forced to check up, which caused Frantz and Pecko to collect near turn one.
Green flag racing resumed and Schneider had a mirror full of Brigati, who via helicopter, made an attempt to pull double duty between both Mountain Speedway and Riverhead Raceway on Long Island on the same day.
Brigati faded over the closing laps, which allowed eighth place starter Skarbowski to overtake him for second on lap 24. Despite efforts by Skarbowski to make the pass for the lead, Schneider held on to take not only his first career Sport Modified victory in his first start of the season, as he did it in style while driving his brother’s car. William Schneider, who usually pilots the ride, was away at a football camp.
Skarbowski ended up with a second place effort, followed by Brigati, Pecko and Geist.
Heat race victories went to Dave Brigati and Chip Wanamaker.
Rick Smith led the Late Model field to the drop of the green flag in the 30-lap main and continued out front over Francis Gross III, Craig Lutz, Paul Monkoski and Kyle Harvell with one lap in the books.
Lutz got by Gross for the second spot and then Harvell followed to take third before the yellow flag flew when the engine on Mike Sweeney’s car expired on the front stretch.
Lutz powered by Smith and into the lead on the lap four restart and then Harvell overtook Smith for the runner up spot on the following circuit. Meanwhile, in his first career Late Model start, Brian Sones wheeled his way into the top five. With 10 laps complete Lutz led over Harvell, Smith, Sones and Gross.
With Lutz and Harvell still out front, Sones worked on Smith for third. He grabbed the spot on lap 13 and tried to chase down the leaders.
Despite several attempts by Harvell to make the race winning pass stick, Lutz drove away to take the checkered flag for back-to-back victories over Harvell, Sones, Smith and Gross.
Heat race wins went to Craig Lutz and Kyle Harvell.
After starting on the pole position, Keith Frankenfield lost the lead to Chris Parry before a lap was complete in the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. Frankenfield maintained the second spot, followed by Jeff Searfoss, Brandon Oltra and Joey Barbush.
Matt Schlenker cracked the top five and then overtook Searfoss for third on lap two. He then tried to reel in Frankenfield. Meanwhile, Parry began to open up a sizable gap over the rest of the field.
With Parry still in his own zip code, Schlenker overtook Frankenfield for second on lap 10. Searfoss had moved back to third shortly after, followed by Frankenfield and Oltra.
With no yellow flags throughout the event, Parry drove to his first Factory Stock victory at the speedway over Schlenker, Searfoss and Frankenfield. In his first start of the season, Paul Morgan, Sr. finished in the fifth spot.
Heat race victories went to Chris parry and Matt Schlenker.
Late Model driver Jennifer Kutz brought out Girl Scout Troop #833 to witness the action at the speedway for the first Autograph & Camera Night of the season. The girls seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds of auto racing, as they recently spent time at Jennifer’s garage while working on the racecar to earn their Car Care Badge.
It was the last event of the season for the Pit Stewart, Mike Odwazny. Odwazny first competed at the speedway in 2000, where he won the first annual Factory Stock “King of the Mountain”. During his tenure as a driver at the track, Odwazny scored six Factory Stock and two Street Stock victories before performing his week-to-week duties at the track, which began during the 2006 season. Odwazny is destined to do a great job at Bronson Speedway in Florida.
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 like Mountain Speedway on Facebook or visit www.mountainspeedway.com for the entire 2011 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Sport Modified (40-laps) 1. David Schneider 2. Mike Skarbowski 3. Dave Brigati 4. Nick Pecko 5. Todd Geist 6. Barry Callavini 7. Pat Verwys 8. Paul Frantz 9. Jim Bojonny 10. Dan Speeney 11. Geary Rinehimer 12. Mike Kline 13. Dean Ficarro 14. Todd Baer 15. Chip Wanamaker DNS: Shawn Speeney
Late Model (30-laps) 1. Craig Lutz 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Brian Sones 4. Rick Smith 5. Francis Gross III 6. Jennifer Kutz 7. Paul Monkoski 8. Adam Cox 9. Mike Sweeney DNS: Jerry Tunney
Factory Stock (20-laps) 1. Chris Parry 2. Matt Schlenker 3. Jeff Searfoss 4. Keith Frankenfield 5. Paul Morgan Sr 6. Brandon Oltra 7. Joe Barbush 8. Kermit Jacoby 9. Richard Paciotti 10. Eric Boyer 11. Dean Kline
June 18, 2011
St. Johns, PA- It would be an understatement to say that the Sport Modified feature Saturday night at Mountain Speedway was interesting. In fact, the race itself became a battle of the fittest, and when it was all said and done, while piloting a Sport Modified that is usually driven by his brother William, David Schneider of Northport, NY brought home his first career win in the division. After coming away with his first Late Model victory two weeks earlier, Craig Lutz of Miller Place, NY scored his second straight verdict in the division and Chris Parry of Lehighton notched his first Factory Stock victory at the speedway.
Dean Ficarro led the Sport Modified field to the drop of the green flag in the 40-lap main before things heated up in a hurry. While fighting a loose condition, Ficarro got out of shape in turn two, which opened the door for several drivers to take the lead. Chip Wanamaker saw an opening, as did Todd Baer. The pair split Ficarro and when he finally spun out on the backstretch it collected not only the two drivers making a bid for the lead, but also Jim Bojohnny and Nick Pecko.
The red flag was thrown for the incident after both Wanamaker and Baer sustained heavy damage. It took a little time for Baer to climb from his car and aside from being shaken up and limping, he didn’t appear to be seriously injured.
Green flag racing resumed with Barry Callavini on the point over Paul Frantz, David Schneider, Dan Speeney and Mike Skarbowski. However, several cautions in the early going slowed the racing action, with the fifth one coming out for a Mike Kline spin on lap four.
Two laps following the restart, Schneider made a quick move on Callavini and grabbed the race lead. Schneider maintained the lead over Callavini with a third of the race complete and Frantz, Todd Geist and Dave Brigati were in tow.
A lap 15 tangle occurred when Callavini tried to get underneath Schneider for the lead in turn one. Several drivers behind the two were forced to check up, which caused Frantz and Pecko to collect near turn one.
Green flag racing resumed and Schneider had a mirror full of Brigati, who via helicopter, made an attempt to pull double duty between both Mountain Speedway and Riverhead Raceway on Long Island on the same day.
Brigati faded over the closing laps, which allowed eighth place starter Skarbowski to overtake him for second on lap 24. Despite efforts by Skarbowski to make the pass for the lead, Schneider held on to take not only his first career Sport Modified victory in his first start of the season, as he did it in style while driving his brother’s car. William Schneider, who usually pilots the ride, was away at a football camp.
Skarbowski ended up with a second place effort, followed by Brigati, Pecko and Geist.
Heat race victories went to Dave Brigati and Chip Wanamaker.
Rick Smith led the Late Model field to the drop of the green flag in the 30-lap main and continued out front over Francis Gross III, Craig Lutz, Paul Monkoski and Kyle Harvell with one lap in the books.
Lutz got by Gross for the second spot and then Harvell followed to take third before the yellow flag flew when the engine on Mike Sweeney’s car expired on the front stretch.
Lutz powered by Smith and into the lead on the lap four restart and then Harvell overtook Smith for the runner up spot on the following circuit. Meanwhile, in his first career Late Model start, Brian Sones wheeled his way into the top five. With 10 laps complete Lutz led over Harvell, Smith, Sones and Gross.
With Lutz and Harvell still out front, Sones worked on Smith for third. He grabbed the spot on lap 13 and tried to chase down the leaders.
Despite several attempts by Harvell to make the race winning pass stick, Lutz drove away to take the checkered flag for back-to-back victories over Harvell, Sones, Smith and Gross.
Heat race wins went to Craig Lutz and Kyle Harvell.
After starting on the pole position, Keith Frankenfield lost the lead to Chris Parry before a lap was complete in the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. Frankenfield maintained the second spot, followed by Jeff Searfoss, Brandon Oltra and Joey Barbush.
Matt Schlenker cracked the top five and then overtook Searfoss for third on lap two. He then tried to reel in Frankenfield. Meanwhile, Parry began to open up a sizable gap over the rest of the field.
With Parry still in his own zip code, Schlenker overtook Frankenfield for second on lap 10. Searfoss had moved back to third shortly after, followed by Frankenfield and Oltra.
With no yellow flags throughout the event, Parry drove to his first Factory Stock victory at the speedway over Schlenker, Searfoss and Frankenfield. In his first start of the season, Paul Morgan, Sr. finished in the fifth spot.
Heat race victories went to Chris parry and Matt Schlenker.
Late Model driver Jennifer Kutz brought out Girl Scout Troop #833 to witness the action at the speedway for the first Autograph & Camera Night of the season. The girls seemed to enjoy the sights and sounds of auto racing, as they recently spent time at Jennifer’s garage while working on the racecar to earn their Car Care Badge.
It was the last event of the season for the Pit Stewart, Mike Odwazny. Odwazny first competed at the speedway in 2000, where he won the first annual Factory Stock “King of the Mountain”. During his tenure as a driver at the track, Odwazny scored six Factory Stock and two Street Stock victories before performing his week-to-week duties at the track, which began during the 2006 season. Odwazny is destined to do a great job at Bronson Speedway in Florida.
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 like Mountain Speedway on Facebook or visit www.mountainspeedway.com for the entire 2011 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Sport Modified (40-laps) 1. David Schneider 2. Mike Skarbowski 3. Dave Brigati 4. Nick Pecko 5. Todd Geist 6. Barry Callavini 7. Pat Verwys 8. Paul Frantz 9. Jim Bojonny 10. Dan Speeney 11. Geary Rinehimer 12. Mike Kline 13. Dean Ficarro 14. Todd Baer 15. Chip Wanamaker DNS: Shawn Speeney
Late Model (30-laps) 1. Craig Lutz 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Brian Sones 4. Rick Smith 5. Francis Gross III 6. Jennifer Kutz 7. Paul Monkoski 8. Adam Cox 9. Mike Sweeney DNS: Jerry Tunney
Factory Stock (20-laps) 1. Chris Parry 2. Matt Schlenker 3. Jeff Searfoss 4. Keith Frankenfield 5. Paul Morgan Sr 6. Brandon Oltra 7. Joe Barbush 8. Kermit Jacoby 9. Richard Paciotti 10. Eric Boyer 11. Dean Kline