LongIslandJam
09-18-2011, 06:59 PM
By Dino Oberto
(LEHIGHTON, PA 9-17-11) In a matter of minutes Tommy Flanagan of Bethlehem blistered his way around the Mahoning Valley Speedway and dominated his way to victory in a nonstop 35-lap Modified feature.
Starting second in a field of 20, Flanagan went right to the front at the waving of Dick Brown’s race commencing green and thus began the fast and furious trek. Pole sitter Kevin Rex, Jr., tucked into second with Terry Markovic holding down third.
In a time of 5:53 Flanagan cruised to a solid 1.624-second margin of victory or nearly 10 car lengths.
“I couldn’t ask for a better car. I think anyone could have drove it was that good. It was like a Sunday drive,” said Flanagan a winner for the first time this season.
With no cautions it was a race of strength and no one had more power on this night then Flanagan.
“You always pray for these green to checker races, that way when you lead you don’t have to worry about no restarts,” noted Flanagan.
Restart or not in this case it may not have mattered as Flanagan was in his own league.
For Rex, he too had a domineering run. Although he could not keep pace with Flanagan, he still drove strong enough to keep a safe distance in front of everyone else and earned his career best finish in a Modified.
“The car was just slightly loose at the start but as the run went on it got much better. This was a blast to be able to race the way we did tonight. Tommy (Flanagan) was fast and he had us covered,” said Rex.
John Bennett was making headway near the end as he came from 10th to third with point leader Tyler Haydt fourth and Markovic notching a season best fifth.
Paul Skodacek of Nesquehoning scored his second Late Model win of the year which came in a fantastic dogfight with Mike VanFossen. Although Skodacek was scored as the leader with four laps to go, he and VanFossen ran virtually side-by-side right to the finish. The race was so close that the margin of victory came down to a mere .064-second.
Upstart Glen Slocum led the opening circuit and on the next tour VanFossen took command. Following very close was George Ramos who had been relentlessly pressuring him. Ramos then had the inside lane open up and he grabbed the lead on lap 11.
It was also on that same lap that point leader Austin Kochenash was trying to advance. While running under a blanket with Ramos, Paul Koehler, Jr., and VanFossen, Kochenash came upon Ramos and tagged him in turn three. Ramos then began to spin and collected Kochenash, Koehler and Paul Effrig. Only Ramos was able to continue.
VanFossen was back in the lead and had Skodacek all over him once the action resumed. Nearly dead even is how they would run the rest of the way with Skodacek having the slight advantage at the finish.
“This felt real good. I was actually waiting for the word to come over the radio as to which one of us won,” said Skodacek.
“Mike (VanFossen) ran me clean with plenty of room and to me it’s not worth winning if you have to wreck somebody. Two wins in my rookie year has been a real confidence booster and it feels great.”
Austin Santee of Coplay took the lead from Rich Moser on lap four and then held back a blitz of on comers in securing his second Street Stock win this year.
Starting second Santee shot to the top spot after Moser pulled off due to mechanical gremlins. Once in front it was lap after lap of hard fought racing for Santee who for the most part dueled against runner-up Steve Steigerwalt and last week’s winner Jason Frey.
Palmerton’s Dave Thomas was tops in the Dirt Mods for a fourth time this season as he cruised out-front for all 20 laps and in doing so kept his title hopes alive heading into the final two races.
Mike Stofflet got the nod for second over point leader Kris Graver as they crossed the finish line together.
It was night to remember for Barry Christman, Jr., as the ace from Northampton ensured himself the 2011 Pro4 Late Model title while also setting a class record for most wins in a single season.
Christman eked ahead of race long leader Jake Kibler by inches at the finish and notched his 12th win and fourth consecutive victory of the season.
Modified Feature Finish, 35 Laps: 1. Tommy Flanagan, 2. Kevin Rex, Jr., 3. John Bennett, 4. Tyler Haydt, 5. Terry Markovic, 6. Lonnie Behler, 7. John Markovic, 8. Chip Santee, 9. Earl Paules, 10. Joe Mooney, 11. Ed Brunnhoelzl, 12. Don Wagner, 13. Frankie Althouse, 14. Brian DeFebo, 15. Brian Romig, 16. Mike Carroll, 17. Rob Shultz, 18. Matt Higgins, 19. Matt Wentz, 20. Keith Mullineaux
Did not qualify: Ron Missmer
Late Model Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Pail Skodacek, 2. Mike VanFossen, 3. Geno Steigerwalt, 4. George Ramos, 5. Glenn Slocum, 6. Austin Kochenash, 7. Paul Koehler, Jr., 8. Paul Effrig
Street Stock Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Austin Santee, 2. Steve Steigerwalt, 3. Jason Frey, 4. Josh Mooney, 5. Jason Frey, 6. Gene Bowers, 7. Randy Ahner, Jr., 8. TJ Gursky, 9. Kevin Smith, 10. Adam Santee, 11. Jillian Long, 12. Bob Hunsicker, 13. Joe Roberts, 14. Shawn Sitarchyk, 15. Steve Hoffman 16. Rich Moser, 17. Todd Ahner, 18. Scott Kotran
Dirt Modified Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Dave Thomas, 2. Mike Stofflet, 3. Kris Graver, 4. DJ Wagner, 5. Joe Stangle, 6. Bill Sitler Did not start: Mark Levy
Pro4 Late Model Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Barry Christman, Jr., 2. Jake Kibler, 3. Jeremy Miller, 4. Aleia Geisler, 5. Tyler Stangle, 6. Ray Geisler, 7. Ron Johnson
(LEHIGHTON, PA 9-17-11) In a matter of minutes Tommy Flanagan of Bethlehem blistered his way around the Mahoning Valley Speedway and dominated his way to victory in a nonstop 35-lap Modified feature.
Starting second in a field of 20, Flanagan went right to the front at the waving of Dick Brown’s race commencing green and thus began the fast and furious trek. Pole sitter Kevin Rex, Jr., tucked into second with Terry Markovic holding down third.
In a time of 5:53 Flanagan cruised to a solid 1.624-second margin of victory or nearly 10 car lengths.
“I couldn’t ask for a better car. I think anyone could have drove it was that good. It was like a Sunday drive,” said Flanagan a winner for the first time this season.
With no cautions it was a race of strength and no one had more power on this night then Flanagan.
“You always pray for these green to checker races, that way when you lead you don’t have to worry about no restarts,” noted Flanagan.
Restart or not in this case it may not have mattered as Flanagan was in his own league.
For Rex, he too had a domineering run. Although he could not keep pace with Flanagan, he still drove strong enough to keep a safe distance in front of everyone else and earned his career best finish in a Modified.
“The car was just slightly loose at the start but as the run went on it got much better. This was a blast to be able to race the way we did tonight. Tommy (Flanagan) was fast and he had us covered,” said Rex.
John Bennett was making headway near the end as he came from 10th to third with point leader Tyler Haydt fourth and Markovic notching a season best fifth.
Paul Skodacek of Nesquehoning scored his second Late Model win of the year which came in a fantastic dogfight with Mike VanFossen. Although Skodacek was scored as the leader with four laps to go, he and VanFossen ran virtually side-by-side right to the finish. The race was so close that the margin of victory came down to a mere .064-second.
Upstart Glen Slocum led the opening circuit and on the next tour VanFossen took command. Following very close was George Ramos who had been relentlessly pressuring him. Ramos then had the inside lane open up and he grabbed the lead on lap 11.
It was also on that same lap that point leader Austin Kochenash was trying to advance. While running under a blanket with Ramos, Paul Koehler, Jr., and VanFossen, Kochenash came upon Ramos and tagged him in turn three. Ramos then began to spin and collected Kochenash, Koehler and Paul Effrig. Only Ramos was able to continue.
VanFossen was back in the lead and had Skodacek all over him once the action resumed. Nearly dead even is how they would run the rest of the way with Skodacek having the slight advantage at the finish.
“This felt real good. I was actually waiting for the word to come over the radio as to which one of us won,” said Skodacek.
“Mike (VanFossen) ran me clean with plenty of room and to me it’s not worth winning if you have to wreck somebody. Two wins in my rookie year has been a real confidence booster and it feels great.”
Austin Santee of Coplay took the lead from Rich Moser on lap four and then held back a blitz of on comers in securing his second Street Stock win this year.
Starting second Santee shot to the top spot after Moser pulled off due to mechanical gremlins. Once in front it was lap after lap of hard fought racing for Santee who for the most part dueled against runner-up Steve Steigerwalt and last week’s winner Jason Frey.
Palmerton’s Dave Thomas was tops in the Dirt Mods for a fourth time this season as he cruised out-front for all 20 laps and in doing so kept his title hopes alive heading into the final two races.
Mike Stofflet got the nod for second over point leader Kris Graver as they crossed the finish line together.
It was night to remember for Barry Christman, Jr., as the ace from Northampton ensured himself the 2011 Pro4 Late Model title while also setting a class record for most wins in a single season.
Christman eked ahead of race long leader Jake Kibler by inches at the finish and notched his 12th win and fourth consecutive victory of the season.
Modified Feature Finish, 35 Laps: 1. Tommy Flanagan, 2. Kevin Rex, Jr., 3. John Bennett, 4. Tyler Haydt, 5. Terry Markovic, 6. Lonnie Behler, 7. John Markovic, 8. Chip Santee, 9. Earl Paules, 10. Joe Mooney, 11. Ed Brunnhoelzl, 12. Don Wagner, 13. Frankie Althouse, 14. Brian DeFebo, 15. Brian Romig, 16. Mike Carroll, 17. Rob Shultz, 18. Matt Higgins, 19. Matt Wentz, 20. Keith Mullineaux
Did not qualify: Ron Missmer
Late Model Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Pail Skodacek, 2. Mike VanFossen, 3. Geno Steigerwalt, 4. George Ramos, 5. Glenn Slocum, 6. Austin Kochenash, 7. Paul Koehler, Jr., 8. Paul Effrig
Street Stock Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1. Austin Santee, 2. Steve Steigerwalt, 3. Jason Frey, 4. Josh Mooney, 5. Jason Frey, 6. Gene Bowers, 7. Randy Ahner, Jr., 8. TJ Gursky, 9. Kevin Smith, 10. Adam Santee, 11. Jillian Long, 12. Bob Hunsicker, 13. Joe Roberts, 14. Shawn Sitarchyk, 15. Steve Hoffman 16. Rich Moser, 17. Todd Ahner, 18. Scott Kotran
Dirt Modified Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Dave Thomas, 2. Mike Stofflet, 3. Kris Graver, 4. DJ Wagner, 5. Joe Stangle, 6. Bill Sitler Did not start: Mark Levy
Pro4 Late Model Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1. Barry Christman, Jr., 2. Jake Kibler, 3. Jeremy Miller, 4. Aleia Geisler, 5. Tyler Stangle, 6. Ray Geisler, 7. Ron Johnson