LongIslandJam
10-30-2011, 08:34 PM
(SCHECKSVILLE, PA 10-30-11) The 2011 Mahoning Valley Speedway divisional champions where officially recognized on Sunday afternoon during the track’s Awards Celebration held at the Schnecksville Fire Company in Schnecksville under a very relaxed and casual atmosphere setting.
Tyler Haydt, Austin Kochenash, TJ Gursky, Kris Graver and Barry Christman, Jr., had the spotlight as champions of the Modified, Late Model, Street Stock, Dirt Mod and Pro4 Late Model classes respectively.
For 26-year old Haydt from Kunkletown it marked his first Modified title, third overall at Mahoning and fourth in his career. His previous came in the Late Model and Pro4’s.
Driving for track legend Bill Teel, Haydt notched four feature wins including a Poker Series 100-lapper. He racked up 12 top five finishes in 15 starts in earning the crown over Don Wagner and outgoing champion John Bennett.
For Kochenash winning a title is nothing new. The 15-year old from Danielsville, prior to moving into stock cars, had amassed several national Quarter Midget crowns while amassing 100’s of wins.
This season saw Kochenash open up the year with a victory and the points lead and from there on he would never relinquish it. For a second year in a row he had a class high number of feature wins, five this season, and only failed twice in finishing outside the top five. He now joins his grandfather and uncle, Roger Heffelfinger, Sr., & Jr., as Mahoning track champions.
Graver, of Lehighton, entered the Dirt Mod division this season never having raced such a car. You never would have guessed, however, as all season long he raced like a seasoned veteran. Only once did he fail to finish in the top five. His seven feature wins, nine heat wins and 119 laps doubled that of the competition. Plus he set a new speed record of 10.437-seconds on May 7.
This was also the second straight track title for Graver who was last year’s top honoree in the Pro4 Late Models.
Gursky of Palmerton had a hard fought year in wheeling Mike and Sheila Krempansky’s #19 Monte Carlo Street Stock to this year’s top place in points.
That’s because it was another close season of tight competition which has become the mainstay with the class. Gursky was part of a very equally matched group of racers but his focus, hard work and determination could best describe the effort put forth in winning over all others.
Two wins, plus the consistency of top ten finishes was the key in securing his fourth career title. He has three Factory Stock number one trophies also.
Domination. There is no better way to define the championship season for Christman. In attaining his first career title the Northampton ace went on a record setting run winning 12 features which is a single season class best and also reeled off five straight which is also a Pro4 mark. Last year he became the fastest driver in the division when he toured the quarter mile oval at 11.337-seconds.
Linda Pollack received the Checkered Flag Fan Club Service Appreciation Award. Karen Bortz was honored with the Woman of the Year Award for her dynamic work as the kids events coordinator.
Best Appearing Car winners where John Bennett, Modified, Paul Koehler, Jr., Late Model, Gursky, Street Stock, Mike Stofflet, Dirt Mod and Aleia Geisler, Pro4 Late Model.
Rookie of the Year recipients included Frankie Althouse, Paul Skodacek, Kevin Smith, Graver and Taya Wentz in the Modified, Late Model, Street Stock, Dirt Mod and Pro4 Late Model classes correspondingly.
Promoter Doug Hoffman addressed the gathering by thanking everyone for their support, great racing and making Mahoning Valley Speedway one of the country’s best action short tracks.
Mahoning Valley still has one more day of racing to run before the year is out. The Modified Poker Series Hand 5 is slated for Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. The race has twice been postponed due to inclement weather.
A 100-lap, $3000-to-win feature for the Modifieds will be the highlight of the day. Late Models, Street Stocks, Dirt Mods and Pro4 Late Models are also on the card.
Pits gates will open at 10:00 a.m. with practice running from noon - 2:00. Time trials for the Modifieds and heats for the other classes will begin immediately after.
The Modified Poker Series carries a $5000 purse divided three ways among the top three card holders at the conclusion of the specially run five race series. $2500 goes to the winner, $1500 for runner-up and $1000 for third best hand. This year there is a $1000 bonus added for the eligible driver with the worst poker hand.
With no other area tracks in action that day a full pit area of race cars is expected, the Modifieds especially.
Mahoning Valley Speedway, run under the direction of the husband and wife team of Doug and Gena Hoffman, is located on PA route 443, two miles west of Lehighton.
For additional updates and information log onto www.mahoningspeedway.com or call the track office at 570-386-4900. You can also follow news on Facebook.
Tyler Haydt, Austin Kochenash, TJ Gursky, Kris Graver and Barry Christman, Jr., had the spotlight as champions of the Modified, Late Model, Street Stock, Dirt Mod and Pro4 Late Model classes respectively.
For 26-year old Haydt from Kunkletown it marked his first Modified title, third overall at Mahoning and fourth in his career. His previous came in the Late Model and Pro4’s.
Driving for track legend Bill Teel, Haydt notched four feature wins including a Poker Series 100-lapper. He racked up 12 top five finishes in 15 starts in earning the crown over Don Wagner and outgoing champion John Bennett.
For Kochenash winning a title is nothing new. The 15-year old from Danielsville, prior to moving into stock cars, had amassed several national Quarter Midget crowns while amassing 100’s of wins.
This season saw Kochenash open up the year with a victory and the points lead and from there on he would never relinquish it. For a second year in a row he had a class high number of feature wins, five this season, and only failed twice in finishing outside the top five. He now joins his grandfather and uncle, Roger Heffelfinger, Sr., & Jr., as Mahoning track champions.
Graver, of Lehighton, entered the Dirt Mod division this season never having raced such a car. You never would have guessed, however, as all season long he raced like a seasoned veteran. Only once did he fail to finish in the top five. His seven feature wins, nine heat wins and 119 laps doubled that of the competition. Plus he set a new speed record of 10.437-seconds on May 7.
This was also the second straight track title for Graver who was last year’s top honoree in the Pro4 Late Models.
Gursky of Palmerton had a hard fought year in wheeling Mike and Sheila Krempansky’s #19 Monte Carlo Street Stock to this year’s top place in points.
That’s because it was another close season of tight competition which has become the mainstay with the class. Gursky was part of a very equally matched group of racers but his focus, hard work and determination could best describe the effort put forth in winning over all others.
Two wins, plus the consistency of top ten finishes was the key in securing his fourth career title. He has three Factory Stock number one trophies also.
Domination. There is no better way to define the championship season for Christman. In attaining his first career title the Northampton ace went on a record setting run winning 12 features which is a single season class best and also reeled off five straight which is also a Pro4 mark. Last year he became the fastest driver in the division when he toured the quarter mile oval at 11.337-seconds.
Linda Pollack received the Checkered Flag Fan Club Service Appreciation Award. Karen Bortz was honored with the Woman of the Year Award for her dynamic work as the kids events coordinator.
Best Appearing Car winners where John Bennett, Modified, Paul Koehler, Jr., Late Model, Gursky, Street Stock, Mike Stofflet, Dirt Mod and Aleia Geisler, Pro4 Late Model.
Rookie of the Year recipients included Frankie Althouse, Paul Skodacek, Kevin Smith, Graver and Taya Wentz in the Modified, Late Model, Street Stock, Dirt Mod and Pro4 Late Model classes correspondingly.
Promoter Doug Hoffman addressed the gathering by thanking everyone for their support, great racing and making Mahoning Valley Speedway one of the country’s best action short tracks.
Mahoning Valley still has one more day of racing to run before the year is out. The Modified Poker Series Hand 5 is slated for Sunday, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. The race has twice been postponed due to inclement weather.
A 100-lap, $3000-to-win feature for the Modifieds will be the highlight of the day. Late Models, Street Stocks, Dirt Mods and Pro4 Late Models are also on the card.
Pits gates will open at 10:00 a.m. with practice running from noon - 2:00. Time trials for the Modifieds and heats for the other classes will begin immediately after.
The Modified Poker Series carries a $5000 purse divided three ways among the top three card holders at the conclusion of the specially run five race series. $2500 goes to the winner, $1500 for runner-up and $1000 for third best hand. This year there is a $1000 bonus added for the eligible driver with the worst poker hand.
With no other area tracks in action that day a full pit area of race cars is expected, the Modifieds especially.
Mahoning Valley Speedway, run under the direction of the husband and wife team of Doug and Gena Hoffman, is located on PA route 443, two miles west of Lehighton.
For additional updates and information log onto www.mahoningspeedway.com or call the track office at 570-386-4900. You can also follow news on Facebook.