RGeeProductions
11-15-2012, 07:35 PM
Under the thirteenth 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.
The event was dedicated to Mountain Speedway family members, Tyson Wanamaker, Bruce Miglino and Robery Sones, who had passed away since the end of last season.
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 2012 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 2012 season and announce that everything is a go for what will hopefully be a successful 2013 run. 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 Nick Pecko of Vandling, PA was crowned as the Modified champion. In a fierce points battle with Todd Baer and Dave Brigati Pecko drove to 14 top ten finishes in an equal number of starts. With 12 top five finishes and three feature wins, he headed into the final event of the season with a small margin in the standings. Pecko remained cool in the season ending King of the Mountain event and a solid third place run helped him net his first open wheel asphalt Modified championship.
The remaining divisional champions were honored as well, including Dave Brigati of Calverton, NY, who notched his second straight Sport Modified title. 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 14 starts this year, Brigati finished in the top five every single time. He also netted six feature wins along the way, which was almost half of the features that he started.
Kyle Harvell of New York, NY scored his first championship in the Late Model division. Following his first career feature win last year, Harvell came into this season as one of the championship hopefuls. Although he made 13 starts in 14 attempts, Harvell’s 13 top tens and 12 top fives, mixed with four wins steered him to the crown.
In a dominating season, Chip Wanamaker of Walnutport, PA grabbed his first career Street Stock title. Wanamaker thanked everyone that helped him throughout his career, including his family. In 15 starts this season, Wanamaker had just one finish outside the top five and his eight victories would not deny him of the title.
Rich Paciotti of Kunkletown, PA clinched his first career Factory Stock title over teammates Mark Martini and Dan Pawlicki and Noah Fassman of Nescopeck, PA notched the Four Cylinder championship as a true rookie. Scott Hubler of Coplay, PA won his third career Legends championship and TJ Kapish of Mountaintop, PA claimed his third straight 6/8-Cylinder enduro championship. Tony Rispin won his second straight 4-Cylinder enduro title and Nick Harnage of Calverton, NY took top honors in the Bandolero division.
Sponsored by Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing LLC, mantle clocks were presented to the drivers present who ran the fastest feature lap of the season. The winners were Bobby Jones (Modified), Dave Brigati (Sport Modified), Austin Kochenash (Late Model), Chris Burge (Street Stock), (tie) Matt Schlenker and Matt Mattern, Jr. (Factory Stock) and Frank Hughes (Four Cylinder).
Sponsored by the Green family, Rookie of the Year winners were Brandon Oltra (Modified), Cam Ayers (Sport Modified), Stone Phillips (Late Model), Charlie Castiglione (Street Stock), Stephanie Moyer (Factory Stock) and Noah Fassman (Four Cylinder).
The Himmer Graphics Hard Chargers of the season were Nick Pecko (Modified), Jason Hearne (Sport Modified), Brad Brown (Late Model), Chip Wanamaker (Street Stock), Mark Martini (Factory Stock) and Eric Banashefski (Four Cylinder).
Sponsored by “The Gas Man”, Jerry Brighthaupt, the Most Improved Driver awards were presented to Paul Frantz (Sport Modified), Tony Hilliard (Street Stock), Dan Pawlicki (Factory Stock) and Larry Spencer III (Four Cylinder).
Cassagrande/Matter Racing presented a special “Fan of the Year” award to Michael Berta. Berta rarely missed an event this season at the track and enjoys keeping himself up to date with all of the racers in every single division.
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 YMI, a popular band from the Hazleton area took the stage to entertain the crowd with a variety of music.
Modified- 1. NICK PECKO 2. Todd Baer 3. Dave Brigati 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Ken Vogel, Jr. 6. Brian Sones 7. Brian DeFebo 8. Barry Callavini 9. Austin Kochenash 10. Alan Creveling
Sport Modified- 1. DAVE BRIGATI 2. Jason Hearne 3. Tommy Wanick III 4. Paul Frantz 5. Nick Pecko 6. Cam Ayers 7. Todd Baer 8. Scott Adams 9. Anthony Sesely 10. Pat Verwys
Late Model- 1. KYLE HARVELL 2. Stone Phillips 3. Mark Tyson 4. Larry Fisher 5. Austin Kochenash 6. Travis Fisher 7. Brad Brown 8. Mitch Hawk 9. Geno Steigerwalt 10. Lorin Arthofer
Street Stock- 1. CHIP WANAMAKER 2. Brian Wozniak 3. Kevin Higgins 4. Alan Schlenker 5. Chris Burge 6. Bernie Uphold 7. Tony Hilliard 8. Steve Shultz 9. Sam Danahar 10. Charlie Castiglione
Factory Stock- 1. RICH PACIOTTI 2. Mark Martini 3. Dan Pawlicki 4. Kendall Foulk 5. Keith Frankenfield 6. Stephanie Moyer 7. Trevor Ahouse 8. Paul Morgan, Jr. 9. Kenny Kleppinger 10. Matt Mattern, Jr.
Four Cylinder- 1. NOAH FASSMAN 2. Jay Skupski 3. Frank Hughes 4. John Smith 5. Larry Spencer III 6. Chris Burge, Jr. 7. Eric Banashefski 8. Cody Roth 9. Scott Adams 10. Harry O’Neill
INEX Legends- 1. SCOTT HUBLER 2. Brendon Bock 3. Raven Schrantz 4. Brad Lowmaster 5. Todd McCollum
Four Cylinder Enduro- 1. TONY RISPIN 2. Ken Harper 3. Larry Spencer III 4. Sam Ryan 5. Mike Harding
6/8-Cylinder Enduro- 1. TJ KAPISH 2. Steve Tito 3. Bill Schwenck 4. Scott Riggleman 5. Scott Sipe
Gene Ostrowski
The event was dedicated to Mountain Speedway family members, Tyson Wanamaker, Bruce Miglino and Robery Sones, who had passed away since the end of last season.
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 2012 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 2012 season and announce that everything is a go for what will hopefully be a successful 2013 run. 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 Nick Pecko of Vandling, PA was crowned as the Modified champion. In a fierce points battle with Todd Baer and Dave Brigati Pecko drove to 14 top ten finishes in an equal number of starts. With 12 top five finishes and three feature wins, he headed into the final event of the season with a small margin in the standings. Pecko remained cool in the season ending King of the Mountain event and a solid third place run helped him net his first open wheel asphalt Modified championship.
The remaining divisional champions were honored as well, including Dave Brigati of Calverton, NY, who notched his second straight Sport Modified title. 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 14 starts this year, Brigati finished in the top five every single time. He also netted six feature wins along the way, which was almost half of the features that he started.
Kyle Harvell of New York, NY scored his first championship in the Late Model division. Following his first career feature win last year, Harvell came into this season as one of the championship hopefuls. Although he made 13 starts in 14 attempts, Harvell’s 13 top tens and 12 top fives, mixed with four wins steered him to the crown.
In a dominating season, Chip Wanamaker of Walnutport, PA grabbed his first career Street Stock title. Wanamaker thanked everyone that helped him throughout his career, including his family. In 15 starts this season, Wanamaker had just one finish outside the top five and his eight victories would not deny him of the title.
Rich Paciotti of Kunkletown, PA clinched his first career Factory Stock title over teammates Mark Martini and Dan Pawlicki and Noah Fassman of Nescopeck, PA notched the Four Cylinder championship as a true rookie. Scott Hubler of Coplay, PA won his third career Legends championship and TJ Kapish of Mountaintop, PA claimed his third straight 6/8-Cylinder enduro championship. Tony Rispin won his second straight 4-Cylinder enduro title and Nick Harnage of Calverton, NY took top honors in the Bandolero division.
Sponsored by Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing LLC, mantle clocks were presented to the drivers present who ran the fastest feature lap of the season. The winners were Bobby Jones (Modified), Dave Brigati (Sport Modified), Austin Kochenash (Late Model), Chris Burge (Street Stock), (tie) Matt Schlenker and Matt Mattern, Jr. (Factory Stock) and Frank Hughes (Four Cylinder).
Sponsored by the Green family, Rookie of the Year winners were Brandon Oltra (Modified), Cam Ayers (Sport Modified), Stone Phillips (Late Model), Charlie Castiglione (Street Stock), Stephanie Moyer (Factory Stock) and Noah Fassman (Four Cylinder).
The Himmer Graphics Hard Chargers of the season were Nick Pecko (Modified), Jason Hearne (Sport Modified), Brad Brown (Late Model), Chip Wanamaker (Street Stock), Mark Martini (Factory Stock) and Eric Banashefski (Four Cylinder).
Sponsored by “The Gas Man”, Jerry Brighthaupt, the Most Improved Driver awards were presented to Paul Frantz (Sport Modified), Tony Hilliard (Street Stock), Dan Pawlicki (Factory Stock) and Larry Spencer III (Four Cylinder).
Cassagrande/Matter Racing presented a special “Fan of the Year” award to Michael Berta. Berta rarely missed an event this season at the track and enjoys keeping himself up to date with all of the racers in every single division.
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 YMI, a popular band from the Hazleton area took the stage to entertain the crowd with a variety of music.
Modified- 1. NICK PECKO 2. Todd Baer 3. Dave Brigati 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Ken Vogel, Jr. 6. Brian Sones 7. Brian DeFebo 8. Barry Callavini 9. Austin Kochenash 10. Alan Creveling
Sport Modified- 1. DAVE BRIGATI 2. Jason Hearne 3. Tommy Wanick III 4. Paul Frantz 5. Nick Pecko 6. Cam Ayers 7. Todd Baer 8. Scott Adams 9. Anthony Sesely 10. Pat Verwys
Late Model- 1. KYLE HARVELL 2. Stone Phillips 3. Mark Tyson 4. Larry Fisher 5. Austin Kochenash 6. Travis Fisher 7. Brad Brown 8. Mitch Hawk 9. Geno Steigerwalt 10. Lorin Arthofer
Street Stock- 1. CHIP WANAMAKER 2. Brian Wozniak 3. Kevin Higgins 4. Alan Schlenker 5. Chris Burge 6. Bernie Uphold 7. Tony Hilliard 8. Steve Shultz 9. Sam Danahar 10. Charlie Castiglione
Factory Stock- 1. RICH PACIOTTI 2. Mark Martini 3. Dan Pawlicki 4. Kendall Foulk 5. Keith Frankenfield 6. Stephanie Moyer 7. Trevor Ahouse 8. Paul Morgan, Jr. 9. Kenny Kleppinger 10. Matt Mattern, Jr.
Four Cylinder- 1. NOAH FASSMAN 2. Jay Skupski 3. Frank Hughes 4. John Smith 5. Larry Spencer III 6. Chris Burge, Jr. 7. Eric Banashefski 8. Cody Roth 9. Scott Adams 10. Harry O’Neill
INEX Legends- 1. SCOTT HUBLER 2. Brendon Bock 3. Raven Schrantz 4. Brad Lowmaster 5. Todd McCollum
Four Cylinder Enduro- 1. TONY RISPIN 2. Ken Harper 3. Larry Spencer III 4. Sam Ryan 5. Mike Harding
6/8-Cylinder Enduro- 1. TJ KAPISH 2. Steve Tito 3. Bill Schwenck 4. Scott Riggleman 5. Scott Sipe
Gene Ostrowski