RGeeProductions
10-24-2013, 09:17 PM
Mahoning Valley Speedway will put the punctuation mark on its 2013 season this Saturday, October 26 with the second Annual “Octoberfast 2013” Presented by Tom Ring’s Brown Daub KIA of Easton.
Last year freshman promoter Floyd Santee was looking for a way to close out his first year at the helm of the popular paved quarter mile oval in Lehighton and he hit an out of the park homerun when he devised the special three race event. Santee figured if the right amount of money is offered than the rest will take care of itself and he couldn’t have been more right.
With the biggest purse payout in track history being offered, racers responded from near and far as the pit area was filled with Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks and grandstand seating was at a premium. Putting it quite simply it was a packed house brimming with zest. And after all was said and done no one went away disappointed as all three features had close racing with nonstop excitement.
In the 130 lap Modified feature Matt Hirschman topped a stellar field which included his famous father, five-time NASCAR Modified champion Tony Hirschman, and won a track record $5000.
Hirschman became the sixth and final leader when he assumed the top spot under a lap 59 caution. He then drove the rest of the way with little opposition.
“This was unbelievable. To race in front of this size of a crowd in late October, it’s my favorite time of year,” said Hirschman.
The Late Model event was 75-laps and contested by three of the previous year’s division champions with Earl Paules just nipping Austin Kochenash while Paul Koehler Jr., stayed right on their rear bumpers.
“Every time I looked out my window he (Kochenash) was alongside me but we hung on and this was a great way to end our season,” said Paules, who has repeated as class champion. “He’s good and ran me clean. He could have taken me out. It was a tough battle out there that was for sure.”
TJ Gursky had just wrapped up his second straight Street Stock title and closed out the year by winning his very first career 100 lapper.
“This is the biggest win for me, especially here at Mahoning. It’s been a goal of ours to always win a race of this distance,” said Gursky.
This coming Saturday, with race time slated for 4:00 p.m., Octoberfast 2013 will begin and much of the same anticipation that led to last year’s becoming an instant classic will get underway. The purse has swelled to nearly $60,000.
The Modifieds will again run a 130 lap distance with $5000 going to the winner. This year, however, there will be a $1000 bonus to and Mahoning regular who finished in the top 15 in points and wins the race.
In the entire entry list will be a haven of pavement Modified talent that includes drivers from throughout tri-state region and Connecticut. No less than 30 cars are already pre-entered.
Aside from the Octoberfast cash, this will also be the final point race of the Mahoning Modified Madness Series (MMMS) making it a race within a race.
There is a $6000 purse to be divided amongst the top overall point finishers in the special five race series provide they ran each event. The champ will earn $2000 with $1500 to the runner-up, $1000 for 3rd, $700 for 4th, $500 for 5th and $300 to 6th plus all regular monies being paid for each night of racing in those respective shows. Zeiner won the inaugural MMMS.
Hirschman leads the MMMS by just three points over Beers. Zeiner sits third with John Markovic, George and Santee all in line for the money spots. Of interest is the fact that if Beers can pull off the Octoberfast win and claim the MMMS title he will walkway with over $8000 for the day’s work.
The Street Stocks will race for 25 less laps this year but earn more money as $2000 awaits the 75-lap winner.
2013 will go down as the most competitive in track history for the Streeters as 20 different drivers won features, shattering the old mark by five. It should come as no surprise either that number 21 will emerge on October 26.
Chip Wanamaker did win twice in the last month of racing and earned this year’s crown, eking ahead of Gursky by two points. Gursky was the only three-time winner this season but despite having five wins between them, there is no clear cut favorite for this race.
Weekly car counts exceeded 25 throughout 2013. Last year over 30 cars were registered to race for the season finale and at the present time there are over that many pre-entered. Indications are that as many as 40 cars will be vying for a coveted feature starting spot. For those who have not seen a race at Mahoning and attend this weekend, they will find out why the Street Stock class is one of the best support divisions anywhere with a unique brand of side-by-side racing.
New to this year’s to the lineup are the Dirt Modifieds that have replaced the Late Models. The 60-lap race is paying a cool $3000 to win and is being run in honor of former track promoter Doug Hoffman who passed away on December 24, 2012.
Hoffman brought the Dirt Mods to the weekly Mahoning card in 2009 and they have steadily grown to be a fan favorite with their distinctive style of slinging the brute cars around the pavement.
Matter of fact Hoffman first introduced the class to the Mahoning faithful at the end of the 2005 season with a 50-lap race that brought star power to the track with drivers from virtually all over the Northeast converging on the quarter mile. In the end, however, Hoffman proved why he is one of the all-time greats as he drove to victory an exciting victory. Saturday’s lineup will be the largest field since that 2005 race.
In 2011 another 50 lapper was run that opened up the year and the winner that day was Keith Hoffman. Two-time track champion Kris Graver is the only other driver to win an extra distant Dirt Mod race when earlier this year he drove a Ricky Yetter owned car to a 40 lap verdict. He is entered in Saturday’s show.
With the $3000 being offered the track phone has been ringing with teams seeking info. Plus as a bonus, thanks to JGK Motorsports’ Joe Kaminski, the winner will be given a guaranteed starting spot for the season opening RoC Dirt Modified 358 race on Friday, March 14, 2014 at Selinsgrove Speedway.
There is even more accord going out. In cooperation with Wall Township Speedway, guaranteed starting spots for Turkey Derby XL on November 29-30 will go to the winners of all three features. Plus Wall personal has added cash as a lap sponsor. In return Mahoning Valley will do the same come Turkey Derby.
Friday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. hauler parking for anyone wishing to arrive and set-up for Saturday will take place. There is no on-track activity on Friday. Security will be in place throughout the night.
On Saturday pit gates open at 10:00 a.m. grandstands at noon. Grandstand admission is $25 (no discounts). Pit admission is $40.Practice will take place from noon to 3:00 p.m. Heats will start at 4:00 p.m. Keith Gerhart will be present to sing the National Anthem.
Running order of events is as follows: Modified heats, Street Stock heats, Dirt Mod heats. Intermission. SpeedSTR demo laps with Kenny Brightbill followed by presentation of 2013 heat Bear Heat Race Challenge winners and redraw top 12 from heats in each division at start/finish line then consi’s for all three classes.
With three distinct classes and all top quality teams, Octoberfast 2013 has all the makings of another definitive event.
Rain date will be Sunday, October 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Modified Payout
1. $5000.00 2. $3000.00 3. $2000.00 4. $1600.00 5. $1200.00 6. $1100.00 7. $1000.00 8. $800.00 9. $650.00 10. $500.00
11. $400.00 12. $400.00 13. $400.00 14. $400.00 15. $400.00 16. $350.00 17. $350.00 18. $350.00 19. $300.00 20. $300.00
21. $300.00 22. $300.00 23. $300.00 24. $300.00
Dirt Modified
1. $3000.00 2. $1800.00 3. $1200.00 4. $900.00 5. $700.00 6. $650.00 7. $550.00 8. $500.00 9. $450.00 10. $375.00 11. $300.00 12. $300.00 13. $300.00 14. $300.00 15. $300.00 16. $275.00 17. $275.00 18. $275.00 19. $250.00 20. $250.00 21. $250.00 22. $250.00 23. $250.00 24. $250.00
Street Stock Payout
1. $2000.00 2. $1100.00 3. $900.00 4. $700.00 5. $650.00 6. $550.00 7. $500.00 8. $450.00 9. $375.00 10. $325.00 11. $275.00 12. $275.00 13. $275.00 14. $275.00 15. $275.00 16. $225.00 17. $225.00 18. $225.00 19. $200.00 20. $200.00 21. $200.00 22. $200.00 23. $200.00 24. $200.00
24 cars to qualify for each feature. Depending on car counts B-mains will be held after the features with the Modified & Dirt Mods getting $500 to win, $300 to 2nd, $150 to 3rd, $50 to take green. Street Stocks will vie for $300 to win, $200 to 2nd, $100 to 3rd, $50 to take green.
Dino Oberto
Last year freshman promoter Floyd Santee was looking for a way to close out his first year at the helm of the popular paved quarter mile oval in Lehighton and he hit an out of the park homerun when he devised the special three race event. Santee figured if the right amount of money is offered than the rest will take care of itself and he couldn’t have been more right.
With the biggest purse payout in track history being offered, racers responded from near and far as the pit area was filled with Modifieds, Late Models and Street Stocks and grandstand seating was at a premium. Putting it quite simply it was a packed house brimming with zest. And after all was said and done no one went away disappointed as all three features had close racing with nonstop excitement.
In the 130 lap Modified feature Matt Hirschman topped a stellar field which included his famous father, five-time NASCAR Modified champion Tony Hirschman, and won a track record $5000.
Hirschman became the sixth and final leader when he assumed the top spot under a lap 59 caution. He then drove the rest of the way with little opposition.
“This was unbelievable. To race in front of this size of a crowd in late October, it’s my favorite time of year,” said Hirschman.
The Late Model event was 75-laps and contested by three of the previous year’s division champions with Earl Paules just nipping Austin Kochenash while Paul Koehler Jr., stayed right on their rear bumpers.
“Every time I looked out my window he (Kochenash) was alongside me but we hung on and this was a great way to end our season,” said Paules, who has repeated as class champion. “He’s good and ran me clean. He could have taken me out. It was a tough battle out there that was for sure.”
TJ Gursky had just wrapped up his second straight Street Stock title and closed out the year by winning his very first career 100 lapper.
“This is the biggest win for me, especially here at Mahoning. It’s been a goal of ours to always win a race of this distance,” said Gursky.
This coming Saturday, with race time slated for 4:00 p.m., Octoberfast 2013 will begin and much of the same anticipation that led to last year’s becoming an instant classic will get underway. The purse has swelled to nearly $60,000.
The Modifieds will again run a 130 lap distance with $5000 going to the winner. This year, however, there will be a $1000 bonus to and Mahoning regular who finished in the top 15 in points and wins the race.
In the entire entry list will be a haven of pavement Modified talent that includes drivers from throughout tri-state region and Connecticut. No less than 30 cars are already pre-entered.
Aside from the Octoberfast cash, this will also be the final point race of the Mahoning Modified Madness Series (MMMS) making it a race within a race.
There is a $6000 purse to be divided amongst the top overall point finishers in the special five race series provide they ran each event. The champ will earn $2000 with $1500 to the runner-up, $1000 for 3rd, $700 for 4th, $500 for 5th and $300 to 6th plus all regular monies being paid for each night of racing in those respective shows. Zeiner won the inaugural MMMS.
Hirschman leads the MMMS by just three points over Beers. Zeiner sits third with John Markovic, George and Santee all in line for the money spots. Of interest is the fact that if Beers can pull off the Octoberfast win and claim the MMMS title he will walkway with over $8000 for the day’s work.
The Street Stocks will race for 25 less laps this year but earn more money as $2000 awaits the 75-lap winner.
2013 will go down as the most competitive in track history for the Streeters as 20 different drivers won features, shattering the old mark by five. It should come as no surprise either that number 21 will emerge on October 26.
Chip Wanamaker did win twice in the last month of racing and earned this year’s crown, eking ahead of Gursky by two points. Gursky was the only three-time winner this season but despite having five wins between them, there is no clear cut favorite for this race.
Weekly car counts exceeded 25 throughout 2013. Last year over 30 cars were registered to race for the season finale and at the present time there are over that many pre-entered. Indications are that as many as 40 cars will be vying for a coveted feature starting spot. For those who have not seen a race at Mahoning and attend this weekend, they will find out why the Street Stock class is one of the best support divisions anywhere with a unique brand of side-by-side racing.
New to this year’s to the lineup are the Dirt Modifieds that have replaced the Late Models. The 60-lap race is paying a cool $3000 to win and is being run in honor of former track promoter Doug Hoffman who passed away on December 24, 2012.
Hoffman brought the Dirt Mods to the weekly Mahoning card in 2009 and they have steadily grown to be a fan favorite with their distinctive style of slinging the brute cars around the pavement.
Matter of fact Hoffman first introduced the class to the Mahoning faithful at the end of the 2005 season with a 50-lap race that brought star power to the track with drivers from virtually all over the Northeast converging on the quarter mile. In the end, however, Hoffman proved why he is one of the all-time greats as he drove to victory an exciting victory. Saturday’s lineup will be the largest field since that 2005 race.
In 2011 another 50 lapper was run that opened up the year and the winner that day was Keith Hoffman. Two-time track champion Kris Graver is the only other driver to win an extra distant Dirt Mod race when earlier this year he drove a Ricky Yetter owned car to a 40 lap verdict. He is entered in Saturday’s show.
With the $3000 being offered the track phone has been ringing with teams seeking info. Plus as a bonus, thanks to JGK Motorsports’ Joe Kaminski, the winner will be given a guaranteed starting spot for the season opening RoC Dirt Modified 358 race on Friday, March 14, 2014 at Selinsgrove Speedway.
There is even more accord going out. In cooperation with Wall Township Speedway, guaranteed starting spots for Turkey Derby XL on November 29-30 will go to the winners of all three features. Plus Wall personal has added cash as a lap sponsor. In return Mahoning Valley will do the same come Turkey Derby.
Friday, October 25 at 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. hauler parking for anyone wishing to arrive and set-up for Saturday will take place. There is no on-track activity on Friday. Security will be in place throughout the night.
On Saturday pit gates open at 10:00 a.m. grandstands at noon. Grandstand admission is $25 (no discounts). Pit admission is $40.Practice will take place from noon to 3:00 p.m. Heats will start at 4:00 p.m. Keith Gerhart will be present to sing the National Anthem.
Running order of events is as follows: Modified heats, Street Stock heats, Dirt Mod heats. Intermission. SpeedSTR demo laps with Kenny Brightbill followed by presentation of 2013 heat Bear Heat Race Challenge winners and redraw top 12 from heats in each division at start/finish line then consi’s for all three classes.
With three distinct classes and all top quality teams, Octoberfast 2013 has all the makings of another definitive event.
Rain date will be Sunday, October 27 at 2:00 p.m.
Modified Payout
1. $5000.00 2. $3000.00 3. $2000.00 4. $1600.00 5. $1200.00 6. $1100.00 7. $1000.00 8. $800.00 9. $650.00 10. $500.00
11. $400.00 12. $400.00 13. $400.00 14. $400.00 15. $400.00 16. $350.00 17. $350.00 18. $350.00 19. $300.00 20. $300.00
21. $300.00 22. $300.00 23. $300.00 24. $300.00
Dirt Modified
1. $3000.00 2. $1800.00 3. $1200.00 4. $900.00 5. $700.00 6. $650.00 7. $550.00 8. $500.00 9. $450.00 10. $375.00 11. $300.00 12. $300.00 13. $300.00 14. $300.00 15. $300.00 16. $275.00 17. $275.00 18. $275.00 19. $250.00 20. $250.00 21. $250.00 22. $250.00 23. $250.00 24. $250.00
Street Stock Payout
1. $2000.00 2. $1100.00 3. $900.00 4. $700.00 5. $650.00 6. $550.00 7. $500.00 8. $450.00 9. $375.00 10. $325.00 11. $275.00 12. $275.00 13. $275.00 14. $275.00 15. $275.00 16. $225.00 17. $225.00 18. $225.00 19. $200.00 20. $200.00 21. $200.00 22. $200.00 23. $200.00 24. $200.00
24 cars to qualify for each feature. Depending on car counts B-mains will be held after the features with the Modified & Dirt Mods getting $500 to win, $300 to 2nd, $150 to 3rd, $50 to take green. Street Stocks will vie for $300 to win, $200 to 2nd, $100 to 3rd, $50 to take green.
Dino Oberto