LongIslandJam
11-13-2011, 09:11 PM
By: Gene Ostrowski
November 13, 2011
Hazleton, Pa- Under the twelfth season of operation with Hazleton’s Joe Callavini at the helm, Mountain Speedway held its annual awards banquet Saturday evening at Genetti’s Inn & Suites in Hazleton, PA.
Hundreds filled the banquet hall, including crew and friends and family members of racers that competed at the 1/3-mile asphalt oval in St. Johns, PA during the 2011 racing season. Along with the presentation of special awards, the end of the year celebration was held to recognize the top points finishers each of the track’s divisions.
Speedway Announcers Gene Ostrowski and Larry Spencer III were the emcees for the ceremony and spoke about the competitive 2011 season. They continued by thanking the drivers, families and crewmembers for not only supporting the speedway, but also for supporting short track racing in general.
The evening was highlighted when Bobby Jones of Palmerton was crowned as the Modified champion. In a dominating performance this season, Jones soared to 13 top ten finishes in an equal number of starts. With 11 top five finishes and four feature wins, he headed into the final event of the season with a large enough lead to not even start the race and still win the crown.
Jones thanked his sponsors and family before thanking his crewmember, many of which have been by his side through out his entire racing career.
The remaining divisional champions were also honored, including Dave Brigati of Long Island, who scored his first Sport Modified track championship. Like Jones, Brigati thanked everyone that helped him through out the season and promised that once again he would call Mountain Speedway his home next season. In 11 starts this year, Brigati only had one finish outside the top five. He also netted three feature wins along the way.
Also from Long Island, Craig Lutz scored his first championship in the Late Model division. In only his second year of competition, he set the bar high from the get-go. Lutz visited victory lane for the fist time this season and then followed up the feat with four more victories, including the season ending “King of the Mountain”.
In a tight points battle all season long, Steve Shultz of Drums grabbed the Street Stock title. Matt Schlenker of Walnutport clinched his first career Factory Stock title and Eric Banashefski of Ashley took his very first FWD division crown. Scott Hubler of Coplay won his second career INEX Legends championship. TJ Kapish of Mountaintop claimed his second straight 6/8-Cylinder enduro championship and Tony Rispin won the 4-Cylinder enduro title in the Mountain Madness Enduro Series.
Sponsored by Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing, wooden clocks were presented to the drivers present who ran the fastest feature lap of the season. The winners were CJ Jones (Modified), Dave Brigati (Sport Modified), Travis Fisher (Late Model), Chip Wanamaker (Street Stock), Keith Frankenfield (Factory Stock) and Dan Freundt (FWD).
Sponsored by the Green family, Rookie of the Year winners were Jarred Nace (Modified), Chip Wanamaker (Sport Modified), Francis Gross III (Late Model), Justin Mooney (Street Stock), Chris Parry (Factory Stock) and Cody Roth (FWD).
The Sager’s Racing Hard Chargers of the season were Kyle Ebersole (Modified), Zane Zeiner (Sport Modified), Craig Lutz (Late Model), Chip Wanamaker (Street Stock), Matt Schlenker (Factory Stock) and Pete Verwys (FWD).
Sponsored by “The Gas Man”, Jerry Brighthaupt, the Most Improved Driver awards were presented to Allen Creveling (Modified), Pat Verwys (Sport Modified), Rick Smith (Late Model), Jeff McGrath (Street Stock), Rich Paciotti (Factory Stock) and Justin Hughes (FWD).
The Printer’s Edge Most Popular Driver awards went to Kyle Ebersole (Modified), Chip Wanamaker (Sport Modified), Craig Lutz (Late Model), Bernie Uphold (Street Stock), Brandon Oltra (Factory Stock) and Eric Banashefski (FWD).
Ostrowski closed out the awards presentation by thanking the racers and the Callavini family for their continued support of short track racing in Northeast Pennsylvania Then A.D.D., a popular band from the Lehighton area took the stage to entertain the crowd with classic rock-n-roll tunes.
Modified- 1. BOBBY JONES 2. Todd Baer 3. Nick Pecko 4. Kyle Ebersole 5. Allen Creveling 6. Ken Vogel, Jr. 7. Tommy Wanick III 8. Brian DeFebo 9. Earl Paules 10. Barry Callavini
Sport Modified- 1. DAVE BRIGATI 2. Nick Pecko 3. Barry Callavini 4. Todd Geist 5. Todd Baer 6. Chip Wanamaker 7. Jason Hearne 8. Pat Verwys 9. Zane Zeiner 10. Rusty Smith
Late Model- 1. CRAIG LUTZ 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Rick Smith 4. Francis Gross III 5. Adam Cox 6. Travis Fisher 7. Austin Kochenash 8. Mike Sweeney 9. Paul Monkoski 10. Zane Zeiner
Street Stock- 1. STEVE SHULTZ 2. Chip Wanamaker 3. Mike Garris, Sr. 4. Chris Burge 5. Dale Santee 6. Jeff McGrath 7. Bernie Uphold 8. Justin Mooney 9. Sam Grow 10. Brian Wozniak
Factory Stock- 1. MATT SCHLENKER 2. Chris Parry 3. Rich Paciotti 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Keith Frankenfield 6. Kermit Jacoby 7. Joey Barbush 8. Joey Helburg 9. Paul Morgan, Sr. 10. Paul Morgan, Jr.
FWD- 1. ERIC BANASHEFSKI 2. Cody Roth 3. Pete Verwys 4. Justin Hughes 5. Trevor Ahouse 6. Dylan Hoffman 7. John Smith 8. Jay Skupski 9. Alex Doyle 10. Dan Freundt
INEX Legends- 1. SCOTT HUBLER 2. Raven Schrantz 3. Kevin Nowak 4. Carl Jones 5. Brandon DeBrakeleer
MMES 4 Cyl.- 1. TONY RISPIN 2. Robert Fink 3. Bruce Miller 4. Ken Harper 5. Sam Ryan
MMES 6/8 Cyl.- 1. TJ KAPISH 2. Tom Szoke 3. Bill Schwenck 4. Mike Parisi 5. Scott Sipe
November 13, 2011
Hazleton, Pa- Under the twelfth season of operation with Hazleton’s Joe Callavini at the helm, Mountain Speedway held its annual awards banquet Saturday evening at Genetti’s Inn & Suites in Hazleton, PA.
Hundreds filled the banquet hall, including crew and friends and family members of racers that competed at the 1/3-mile asphalt oval in St. Johns, PA during the 2011 racing season. Along with the presentation of special awards, the end of the year celebration was held to recognize the top points finishers each of the track’s divisions.
Speedway Announcers Gene Ostrowski and Larry Spencer III were the emcees for the ceremony and spoke about the competitive 2011 season. They continued by thanking the drivers, families and crewmembers for not only supporting the speedway, but also for supporting short track racing in general.
The evening was highlighted when Bobby Jones of Palmerton was crowned as the Modified champion. In a dominating performance this season, Jones soared to 13 top ten finishes in an equal number of starts. With 11 top five finishes and four feature wins, he headed into the final event of the season with a large enough lead to not even start the race and still win the crown.
Jones thanked his sponsors and family before thanking his crewmember, many of which have been by his side through out his entire racing career.
The remaining divisional champions were also honored, including Dave Brigati of Long Island, who scored his first Sport Modified track championship. Like Jones, Brigati thanked everyone that helped him through out the season and promised that once again he would call Mountain Speedway his home next season. In 11 starts this year, Brigati only had one finish outside the top five. He also netted three feature wins along the way.
Also from Long Island, Craig Lutz scored his first championship in the Late Model division. In only his second year of competition, he set the bar high from the get-go. Lutz visited victory lane for the fist time this season and then followed up the feat with four more victories, including the season ending “King of the Mountain”.
In a tight points battle all season long, Steve Shultz of Drums grabbed the Street Stock title. Matt Schlenker of Walnutport clinched his first career Factory Stock title and Eric Banashefski of Ashley took his very first FWD division crown. Scott Hubler of Coplay won his second career INEX Legends championship. TJ Kapish of Mountaintop claimed his second straight 6/8-Cylinder enduro championship and Tony Rispin won the 4-Cylinder enduro title in the Mountain Madness Enduro Series.
Sponsored by Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing, wooden clocks were presented to the drivers present who ran the fastest feature lap of the season. The winners were CJ Jones (Modified), Dave Brigati (Sport Modified), Travis Fisher (Late Model), Chip Wanamaker (Street Stock), Keith Frankenfield (Factory Stock) and Dan Freundt (FWD).
Sponsored by the Green family, Rookie of the Year winners were Jarred Nace (Modified), Chip Wanamaker (Sport Modified), Francis Gross III (Late Model), Justin Mooney (Street Stock), Chris Parry (Factory Stock) and Cody Roth (FWD).
The Sager’s Racing Hard Chargers of the season were Kyle Ebersole (Modified), Zane Zeiner (Sport Modified), Craig Lutz (Late Model), Chip Wanamaker (Street Stock), Matt Schlenker (Factory Stock) and Pete Verwys (FWD).
Sponsored by “The Gas Man”, Jerry Brighthaupt, the Most Improved Driver awards were presented to Allen Creveling (Modified), Pat Verwys (Sport Modified), Rick Smith (Late Model), Jeff McGrath (Street Stock), Rich Paciotti (Factory Stock) and Justin Hughes (FWD).
The Printer’s Edge Most Popular Driver awards went to Kyle Ebersole (Modified), Chip Wanamaker (Sport Modified), Craig Lutz (Late Model), Bernie Uphold (Street Stock), Brandon Oltra (Factory Stock) and Eric Banashefski (FWD).
Ostrowski closed out the awards presentation by thanking the racers and the Callavini family for their continued support of short track racing in Northeast Pennsylvania Then A.D.D., a popular band from the Lehighton area took the stage to entertain the crowd with classic rock-n-roll tunes.
Modified- 1. BOBBY JONES 2. Todd Baer 3. Nick Pecko 4. Kyle Ebersole 5. Allen Creveling 6. Ken Vogel, Jr. 7. Tommy Wanick III 8. Brian DeFebo 9. Earl Paules 10. Barry Callavini
Sport Modified- 1. DAVE BRIGATI 2. Nick Pecko 3. Barry Callavini 4. Todd Geist 5. Todd Baer 6. Chip Wanamaker 7. Jason Hearne 8. Pat Verwys 9. Zane Zeiner 10. Rusty Smith
Late Model- 1. CRAIG LUTZ 2. Kyle Harvell 3. Rick Smith 4. Francis Gross III 5. Adam Cox 6. Travis Fisher 7. Austin Kochenash 8. Mike Sweeney 9. Paul Monkoski 10. Zane Zeiner
Street Stock- 1. STEVE SHULTZ 2. Chip Wanamaker 3. Mike Garris, Sr. 4. Chris Burge 5. Dale Santee 6. Jeff McGrath 7. Bernie Uphold 8. Justin Mooney 9. Sam Grow 10. Brian Wozniak
Factory Stock- 1. MATT SCHLENKER 2. Chris Parry 3. Rich Paciotti 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Keith Frankenfield 6. Kermit Jacoby 7. Joey Barbush 8. Joey Helburg 9. Paul Morgan, Sr. 10. Paul Morgan, Jr.
FWD- 1. ERIC BANASHEFSKI 2. Cody Roth 3. Pete Verwys 4. Justin Hughes 5. Trevor Ahouse 6. Dylan Hoffman 7. John Smith 8. Jay Skupski 9. Alex Doyle 10. Dan Freundt
INEX Legends- 1. SCOTT HUBLER 2. Raven Schrantz 3. Kevin Nowak 4. Carl Jones 5. Brandon DeBrakeleer
MMES 4 Cyl.- 1. TONY RISPIN 2. Robert Fink 3. Bruce Miller 4. Ken Harper 5. Sam Ryan
MMES 6/8 Cyl.- 1. TJ KAPISH 2. Tom Szoke 3. Bill Schwenck 4. Mike Parisi 5. Scott Sipe