Second Try for Tyler Haydt Gets the Job Done in Mahoning Modified Action
(LEHIGHTON, PA 6-5-10)When Tyler Haydt of Kunkletown drove in relief of Bill Teel three weeks ago, he powered through the field and battled alongside John Bennett, nearly pulling off a win.
Haydt was back in the seat of the Future Homes #16 Saturday night at Mahoning Valley Speedway and once again found himself dueling at the front with Bennett as well as previous week winner Rick Reichenbach and this time he was able to pilot his way to victory.
Haydt has been nothing short of electrifying in his two starts thus far in the way he weaved around his competition in his frontward drive.
Starting 11th, Haydt was hooked up in a tight battle with Bennett starting at lap 20. Leading at the time was Reichenbach. Haydt and Bennett were running side-by-side while Reichenbach led by a narrow margin.
Haydt shook off Bennett with eight laps to go and then set sight on the leader. Reichenbach, however, was looking to make it two straight wins and being very defensive in protecting his spot.
With five laps to go, however, Haydt went to the top side of Reichenbach and came off turn four with the lead.
It became a fight for second from there as Haydt was not to be denied victory. Reichenbach had to fend off Bennett over the final tours for the runner-up spot. Zane Zeiner and Lou Strohl completed the top five.
“It feels great to be back winning here,” said Haydt who had not run at the track since 2005, the year of his last win. During that lapse he was competing in 600cc Modifieds.
“Bill gave me the chance to run his car and I can’t thank him enough. It has been very strong and I know there’s even more we can get out of it.”
The front fight was as good as can be. Reichenbach has been on top of his game of late and did his best to stay in front while holding back Haydt and Bennett. The trio provided fans with an excellent race.
“Johnny (Bennett) is the man to beat here and he’s as good as it gets when you come to Mahoning. Rick (Reichenbach) is one of the smoothest and cleanest drivers too and it he made me work for this,” added Haydt.
His win was number 26 at the speedway and fourth in a Modified. He is a past Late Model and Pro4 Late Model champion.
For Teel, giving up his ride to Haydt turned into the decisive choice when he looked for a replacement due to a sprain on his right hand.
“Putting Tyler in the car has been the right thing to do. He’s very talented and has the ability to do much better things than I can and I’m very proud of what he did,” said Teel.
Austin Kochenash from Danielsville clearly brought his A-game to the track this night as the 14-year old blistered the Late Model field in a dominating performance as he led each lap with no one in pursuit.
While Kochenash was running away with the race second place was a tight battle between Shawn Sitarchyk, Paul Koehler and Jason Zatsko. At the finish Sitarchyk registered his fourth runner up of the season.
It may sound like a cliché but the Street Stock features at Mahoning Valley continue to be non-stop, action-packed from start to finish each week but the fact of the matter is that was once again that the case.
The record will show that Eric Danyluk of Lehighton led all 25 laps but that is deceiving as all race long he was in a torrid two-wide dogfight with the likes of Steve Hoffman and then Joe Mooney.
For most of the race Danyluk and Hoffman put on an outstanding duel. Likewise the majority of the pack went around the quarter mile in the same formation.
Somehow Mooney was able sneak past Hoffman with four laps to go but Danyluk was not
about to give up his spot. Indeed, he remained in focus and claimed the hard fought win, his first since 2002.
Jeff Parker of Havertown is quickly establishing himself as one of the top dogs this season in the Dirt Modifieds on asphalt. After an excitingly close nip and tuck duel with early leader Randy Thomas, Parker made his race winning pass with an inside power move off turn three and pulled away to his second straight win and fourth of the year.
Randy Thomas held off his brother Dave Thomas by inches for second.
Lehighton’s Kevin Graver, Jr., picked up his second Por4 Late Model win of 2010. Graver was all over Barry Christman for the lead and seized the moment when on lap five Christman bobbled off turn two and Graver darted into first place.
Soon afterwards point leader Kris Graver turned the race into a three way tussle. He and Christman ran side-by-side directly behind Kevin Graver. By the time the trio reached the finish it was Kevin Graver holding Kris Graver with Christman settling for third.
Bob Wagner of Rockaway, NJ held off Brian Correll in a race-long battle to win his second Micro Stock feature if the season.
Modified Feature Finish, 35 Laps: 1.Tyler Haydt 2.Rick Reichenbach 3.John Bennett 4.Zane Zeiner 5.Lou Strohl 6.Don Wagner 7.Matt Wentz 8.Chip Santee 9.Stacey Brown 10.Lonnie Behler 11.Jarred Nace 12.Andy Szapacs 13.Brent Wentz 14.Matt Higgins 15.Brian DeFebo 16.Tommy Flanagan
Late Model Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1.Austin Kochenash 2.Shawn Sitarchyk 3.Paul Koehler, Jr. 4.Jason Zatsko 5.Pat Hargan 6.Geno Steigerwalt
Street Stock Feature Finish, 25 Laps: 1.Eric Danyluk 2.Joe Mooney 3.Steve Hoffman 4.Gene Bowers 5.Kristy Morone Arthofer 6.Devin Gibson 7.Randy Ahner, Jr. 8.Brian Labar 9.Steven Steigerwalt 10.Jon Moser 11.TJ Gursky 12.Adam Santee 13.Jillian Long 14.Bernie Uphold 15.Jason Frey 16.Dale Santee 17.Jamie Smith 18.Chris May 19.Paul Effrig 20.Ethan Rutherford 21.Todd Ahner 22.Josh Mooney Did not start: Matt May, Austin Santee
Dirt Modified Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1.Jeff Parker 2.Randy Thomas 3.Dave Thomas 4.Don Hildebrandt Bill Sitler 6.Joe Stangle
Pro4 Late Model Make-up Feature 20 Laps: 1.Kevin Graver, Jr. 2.Kris Graver 3.Barry Christman, Jr. 4.Mike Stofflet 5.Jeremy Miller 6.Chris Kuronya 7.Jake Kibler 8.Duane Eidem 9.Arland Moyer, Jr.
Micro Stock Feature Finish, 15 Laps: 1.Bob Wagner 2.Brian Correll 3.Roger Snyder 4.Pete Bayles 5.John Racos 6.Wayne Kren 7.DJ Wagner 8.Bill Darling 9.Calvin Carroll 10.Dave Allen 11.Susie Carroll 12.Joe Carroll
