RGeeProductions
08-26-2012, 02:03 PM
With the racing season winding down, it’s not surprising that Saturday evening was a wild one at Mountain Speedway. After trying to find away around race leader, Barry Callavini in the closing laps, Nick Pecko of Vandling, drove underneath the leader in the final turns and the pair wrecked as Pecko took his second straight Modified victory. After coming close so many times, Kevin Higgins of Alden finally scored his first career Street Stock victory, which has eluded him for so many seasons and Larry Spencer III of Nanticoke, scored his first career Four Cylinder victory, becoming the first track announcer to win at the speedway. Jason Knox traveled from Ohio to compete in the weekends INEX Legends events and dominated to earn his first feature win at the speedway and Kyle Fratesi took top honors in INEX Bandolero action.
Brian Sones started from the pole position in the 40-lap Modified main event but Barry Callavini took command before a lap was scored. He led the first circuit over Sones, Todd Baer, Ken Vogel, Jr. and Nick Pecko.
With four laps complete and with Callavini still out front, Baer overtook Sones for second. Pecko tried to follow as well but Sones battled back. The pair raced hard and while trying to retake the spot, Sones spun in turn two. Callavini led over Baer, Pecko, Dave Brigati and Austin Kochenash for the lap seven restart.
After restating in third, Pecko completed the pass for second on Baer on lap eight and then Kochenash tried to get by Baer as well. Baer spun following contact and both drivers were forced to the rear of the field for the lap nine restart.
Callavini resumed command and held off Pecko in the early going. Brigati ran third at halfway, with Baer and Kochenash in tow.
Pecko made several attempts to overtake Callavini for the lead in the closing laps and Callavini shifted into defense mode. In a last chance effort, Pecko got under the leader in turn three on the final lap. The pair got tangled and neither lifted as the came out of turn four to take the checkers. Pecko took the victory and Callavini got a piece of the front stretch wall and ended up finishing in second. Kochenash crossed the stripe in third and was disqualified following a post race incident. Brigati, Baer and Vogel completed the top five.
Heat race victories went to Ken Vogel, Jr. and Todd Baer.
Kevin Higgins started from the pole position and led the opening circuit of the 25-lap Street Stock feature over Alan Schlenker, Chris Burge, Bernie Uphold and Justin Mooney.
The first of four yellows flew on lap four when Burge got into Schlenker and took him around in turn four. When green flag racing resumed, Higgins held the point over Mooney, Uphold, Chip Wanamaker and Aaron Higgins.
As Uphold began to slide backward, Nick Ross, who started the event in the fourteenth spot, snuck into the top five. He overtook A. Higgins for third on lap eight and then tried to reel in Mooney for second.
Following a quick lap 16 yellow and with K. Higgins still in command, Ross made the pass on Mooney stick and climbed to second. Ross made several attempts to take the race lead and Mooney was right there in the mix as well, but K. Higgins held his own and grabbed his first feature win. Ross settled for second, followed by Wanamaker, Mooney and Brian Wozniak.
Bernie Uphold and Kevin Higgins were heat race winners.
With double points on the line for the 30-lap Four Cylinder feature, Larry Spencer III started from the pole position and led the opening circuit over Jay Skupski, Noah Fassman, Harry O’Neill and Eric Banashefski.
Spencer opened up a fair advantage over Skupski, who appeared to be fighting an ill handling racecar. Several drivers tried to overtake Skupski for second, but they were unsuccessful until Fassman did so on lap 8. O’Neill followed through for third on the following lap.
Fassman reeled in Spencer and attempted to make the winning pass on several occasions. Each time, Spencer held him off. O’Neill continued to ride in third and with one lap remaining, Banashefski spun in turn four. Another lap 29 yellow slowed the pace once more when Frank Hughes and Skupski collected in turn four.
Despite having a double file restart to contend with, Spencer remained smooth on the final lap and drove off to his first career victory over O’Neill, Banashefski, Fassman and John Smith.
Spencer’s win marks the first time that a track announcer had won at the speedway in regular competition.
Heat race victories went to Harry O’Neill and Larry Spencer III.
Butch Boyle started from the pole in the 20-lap INEX Legends feature and quickly lost the race lead to Cole Fratesi before a lap was scored. With four laps complete, Jason Knox overtook the leader and began to distance himself from the field.
The first and only yellow flag of the event waved when Fratesi spun in turn two on lap 12. Green flag racing resumed and in no time at all, Fratesi was back up to second.
Knox dominated the second half of the event and took his first victory at the speedway over Fratesi and Wendell Napper.
Nick Harnage and Kyle Fratesi battled for the win in the 8-lap INEX Bandolero feature and each of them led laps until the caution flag waved when they tangled in turns one and two. Harnage had to be towed back to the pit area and Fratesi went to victory lane for the third time this season.
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 $12 for ages 11 and older. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free.
Please visit www.mountainspeedway.com for the entire 2012 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Modified (40-laps) 1. NICK PECKO 2. Barry Callavini 3. David Brigati 4. Todd Baer 5. Ken Vogel Jr 6. Brandon Oltra 7. Matt Kocher 8. Brian Sones 9. Tom Casagrande DQ: Austin Kochenash
Street Stock (25-laps) 1. KEVIN HIGGINS 2. Nick Ross 3. Chip Wanamaker 4. Justin Mooney 5. Brian Wozniak 6. Aaron Higgins 7. Charlie Castiglione 8. Tony Hilliard 9. Elliot Wohl 10. Bernie Uphold 11. Robert Fink 12. Alan Schlenker 13. Joe D'Angelo 14. Sam Danaher 15. Chris Burge 16. Barry Callavini
Four Cylinder (30-laps) 1. LARRY SPENCER III 2. Harry O'Neill 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Noah Fassman 5. John Smith 6. Frank Hughes 7. Jay Skupski 8. Scott Adams DNS: Chris Burge Jr.
INEX Legends (20-laps) 1. JASON KNOX 2. Cole Fratesi 3. Wendell Napper 4. Joseph McGrath 5. Steven Woytysiak
INEX Bandoleros (8-laps) 1. KYLE FRATESI 2. Nick Harnage
Gene Ostrowski
Brian Sones started from the pole position in the 40-lap Modified main event but Barry Callavini took command before a lap was scored. He led the first circuit over Sones, Todd Baer, Ken Vogel, Jr. and Nick Pecko.
With four laps complete and with Callavini still out front, Baer overtook Sones for second. Pecko tried to follow as well but Sones battled back. The pair raced hard and while trying to retake the spot, Sones spun in turn two. Callavini led over Baer, Pecko, Dave Brigati and Austin Kochenash for the lap seven restart.
After restating in third, Pecko completed the pass for second on Baer on lap eight and then Kochenash tried to get by Baer as well. Baer spun following contact and both drivers were forced to the rear of the field for the lap nine restart.
Callavini resumed command and held off Pecko in the early going. Brigati ran third at halfway, with Baer and Kochenash in tow.
Pecko made several attempts to overtake Callavini for the lead in the closing laps and Callavini shifted into defense mode. In a last chance effort, Pecko got under the leader in turn three on the final lap. The pair got tangled and neither lifted as the came out of turn four to take the checkers. Pecko took the victory and Callavini got a piece of the front stretch wall and ended up finishing in second. Kochenash crossed the stripe in third and was disqualified following a post race incident. Brigati, Baer and Vogel completed the top five.
Heat race victories went to Ken Vogel, Jr. and Todd Baer.
Kevin Higgins started from the pole position and led the opening circuit of the 25-lap Street Stock feature over Alan Schlenker, Chris Burge, Bernie Uphold and Justin Mooney.
The first of four yellows flew on lap four when Burge got into Schlenker and took him around in turn four. When green flag racing resumed, Higgins held the point over Mooney, Uphold, Chip Wanamaker and Aaron Higgins.
As Uphold began to slide backward, Nick Ross, who started the event in the fourteenth spot, snuck into the top five. He overtook A. Higgins for third on lap eight and then tried to reel in Mooney for second.
Following a quick lap 16 yellow and with K. Higgins still in command, Ross made the pass on Mooney stick and climbed to second. Ross made several attempts to take the race lead and Mooney was right there in the mix as well, but K. Higgins held his own and grabbed his first feature win. Ross settled for second, followed by Wanamaker, Mooney and Brian Wozniak.
Bernie Uphold and Kevin Higgins were heat race winners.
With double points on the line for the 30-lap Four Cylinder feature, Larry Spencer III started from the pole position and led the opening circuit over Jay Skupski, Noah Fassman, Harry O’Neill and Eric Banashefski.
Spencer opened up a fair advantage over Skupski, who appeared to be fighting an ill handling racecar. Several drivers tried to overtake Skupski for second, but they were unsuccessful until Fassman did so on lap 8. O’Neill followed through for third on the following lap.
Fassman reeled in Spencer and attempted to make the winning pass on several occasions. Each time, Spencer held him off. O’Neill continued to ride in third and with one lap remaining, Banashefski spun in turn four. Another lap 29 yellow slowed the pace once more when Frank Hughes and Skupski collected in turn four.
Despite having a double file restart to contend with, Spencer remained smooth on the final lap and drove off to his first career victory over O’Neill, Banashefski, Fassman and John Smith.
Spencer’s win marks the first time that a track announcer had won at the speedway in regular competition.
Heat race victories went to Harry O’Neill and Larry Spencer III.
Butch Boyle started from the pole in the 20-lap INEX Legends feature and quickly lost the race lead to Cole Fratesi before a lap was scored. With four laps complete, Jason Knox overtook the leader and began to distance himself from the field.
The first and only yellow flag of the event waved when Fratesi spun in turn two on lap 12. Green flag racing resumed and in no time at all, Fratesi was back up to second.
Knox dominated the second half of the event and took his first victory at the speedway over Fratesi and Wendell Napper.
Nick Harnage and Kyle Fratesi battled for the win in the 8-lap INEX Bandolero feature and each of them led laps until the caution flag waved when they tangled in turns one and two. Harnage had to be towed back to the pit area and Fratesi went to victory lane for the third time this season.
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 $12 for ages 11 and older. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free.
Please visit www.mountainspeedway.com for the entire 2012 schedule, point standings and up to date news and information.
Modified (40-laps) 1. NICK PECKO 2. Barry Callavini 3. David Brigati 4. Todd Baer 5. Ken Vogel Jr 6. Brandon Oltra 7. Matt Kocher 8. Brian Sones 9. Tom Casagrande DQ: Austin Kochenash
Street Stock (25-laps) 1. KEVIN HIGGINS 2. Nick Ross 3. Chip Wanamaker 4. Justin Mooney 5. Brian Wozniak 6. Aaron Higgins 7. Charlie Castiglione 8. Tony Hilliard 9. Elliot Wohl 10. Bernie Uphold 11. Robert Fink 12. Alan Schlenker 13. Joe D'Angelo 14. Sam Danaher 15. Chris Burge 16. Barry Callavini
Four Cylinder (30-laps) 1. LARRY SPENCER III 2. Harry O'Neill 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Noah Fassman 5. John Smith 6. Frank Hughes 7. Jay Skupski 8. Scott Adams DNS: Chris Burge Jr.
INEX Legends (20-laps) 1. JASON KNOX 2. Cole Fratesi 3. Wendell Napper 4. Joseph McGrath 5. Steven Woytysiak
INEX Bandoleros (8-laps) 1. KYLE FRATESI 2. Nick Harnage
Gene Ostrowski