results Defebo’s 9th Mountain modified win helps clinch championship

September 11, 2005
by Gene Ostrowski

ST. JOHNS, PA -- Berwick, PA native, Brian Defebo not only took the checkered flag in Sunday's 30-lap Balliet's Country Corners modified feature at Mountain Speedway, he also clinched the '05 modified championship. It is his third consecutive feat.

Tim Santee led the nineteen car modified field to the green flag for the feature, but a lap two caution slowed the event when Ernie Dengler and Erik Kocher tangled in turn three. After only one green flag lap the caution waved again when Dengler, Amber Levandowski, Keith Bachman, Bobby Jones and Stephen Nederostek tangled in the same turn.

Santee held off charges from Ryan Preece after the restart, and the battle raged on from third and back between Steven Reed, Mike Bohn and Donny Hartzell.

By lap seventeen, Defebo worked his way into third from his tenth starting spot. While entering turn one, Defebo moved underneath Preece and Santee to take over the top spot.

Defebo never looked back after taking command and went on to win his ninth feature of the season in dominating fashion over Ryan Preece, Mike Bohn, Steven Reed and Tommy Flanagan.

During the victory lane celebration, Defebo noted on his ninth win, along with his third modified championship “It feels great to win a third modified championship before the season's out. I can't thank my team and sponsors enough, this is great! There's still a couple of these things left (races) to try to win”.

Brian Defebo and Tim Santee picked up heat wins.

Barry Callavini led the first four laps of the 25-lap late model feature after starting from the pole. The fight for the top spot began to heat up, and on the fourth lap Mike Rodriguez, Jr. got by Callavini and into the lead.

Larry Fisher, Joe Hoffman, Jerry Brighthaupt, and Mike Coll waged a terrific battle for the second spot. Fisher overtook Callavini for second and on the tenth circuit put the same move on Rodriguez for the top spot. Meanwhile, Callavini moved up a little too high on the track, which allowed Hoffman, Coll and Brighthaupt by.

When the checkers flew, it was the current late model point leader, Larry Fisher (Fern Glen, PA), earning his sixth feature win of the season over Rodriguez, Hoffman, Coll and Brighthaupt.

Joe Hoffman was the heat winner.

Shaun Burd's (Sciota, PA) biggest goal for the season while piloting the Cook's Touch Restaurant #77XS, formerly driven by his best friend (the late Mark Corbisiero) was to win the 77-lap Mark Corbisiero street stock memorial feature. The task seemed almost impossible earlier in the day, when Burd was forced to run the consi.

Paul Frantz led to field to the initial green and held the point from the get go. The caution flew on lap ten for a turn two spin involving Robert Fink and Burd. Both drivers had to rejoin the rear of the field.

Coming up from the third spot, Todd Barbush moved along side Frantz and the two waged a terrific battle for the lead. Barbush led lap fourteen when they crossed the stripe side-by-side. However, on the following lap, Barbush's day came to an end when he spun in turn two. While entering turn one, Burd tried to avoid Barbush, but made very hard contact.

Jim Yamelski took the lead from Frantz on lap eighteen, but problems on the second place runner in the standings forced him into the pits for repair. This handed the lead to Danny Cascioli.

At lap sixty, Cascioli still held the point with a hard charging Burd in second. With five laps to go Burd made the pass on Cascioli, who slowed on the speedway. It is believed he ran out of fuel.

After starting eighteenth, Burd came up through the street stock field, earning the win in the memorial. During the very emotional victory lane celebration, Burd dedicated the win to his long time friend who lost a battle with cancer in '03. Todd Ahner crossed the stripe in second, followed by Chip Wanamaker, Bob Kibler and Glenn Heckman.

Todd Ahner, Paul Frantz and Jim Yamelski won heat races. Brad Kline won the consi.

Marissa Nelmes led the thirteen thrillers to the drop of the green for their 20-lap feature. With Steve Shultz in toe, Nelmes held the point until lap four, when Schultz made the low-side pass for the lead in turn four.

Josh Oswald, Richard Petey and Bill Price, Jr. joined the battle for second and quickly disposed of Nelmes. Meanwhile, Randy Ahner joined the battle for the top five. Nelmes brought out the only caution of the event when she spun in turn two.

When the field came to the green for the lap seven restart, Price ducked underneath Shultz and into the lead. Price held the point for the remaining laps resisting pressure from Ahner.

Richard Petey (Hackettstown, NJ) finished third in the feature, but won the race in the tech area after the top two finishers were disqualified. Oswald went home with his best finish of the season (second),  Howie Bott,  Pat Verwys and Jeff Owler rounded out the top five.

Marissa Nelmes and Tom Casagrande were heat winners.

Travis Fisher led the four-cylinder thriller field to the green flag for the 20-lap feature event. Fisher shot out front over Jimmy White, but found himself sitting second after leading the first two laps.

Pete Verwys took control of the event on the following circuit and brought Joe Grocholski, Joe Heintzelman and Scott Adams with him, into the top five. Grocholski got a run on Verwys entering turn four and took over the lead, but Verwys came back with a similar move four laps later.

Verwys (East Stroudsburg, PA) went on to take the checkers over Grocholski, Heintzelman, White and Chris Meeker for his fifth win of the season.

Pete Verwys and Joe Grocholski were heat winners.

Kiena Vest, Owen Nesbitt and Austin Rabenold were victorious in the Mountain Speedway Big Wheel Series events.

The next race on the schedule at Mountain Speedway is Sunday, September 25 th . On the card for the day are the modifieds, late models, street stocks, thrillers 4 cyl. Thrillers and powder puff races (lady ‘regulars' are not allowed to compete). Double points are on the line for all drivers in competition. All the action begins with heat races at 2:00 PM.

For more info on Mountain Speedway, please visit: www.mountainspeedway.com

Modified (30-Laps) 1. BRIAN DEFEBO 2. Ryan Preece 3. Mike Bohn 4. Steven Reed 5. Tommy Flanagan 6. Tim Santee 7. CJ Jones 8. Amber Levandowski 9. Keith Bachman 10. Stephen Nederostek 11. Kory Rabenold 12. Donny Hartzell 13. Warren Jefferson 14. Andy Szapacs 15. Matt Higgins 16. Alan Decker 17.Ernie Dengler 18. Bobby Jones 19. Erik Kocher

Hard Charger: Amber Levandowski, 11 positions

Fast Lap: Brian Defebo, lap 23, 13.953

Street Stock (77-Laps) 1. SHAUN BURD 2. Todd Ahner 3. Chip Wanamaker 4. Bob Kibler 5. Glen Heckman 6. Rodney Gruber 7. Mike Shadder 8. Henry Brown 9. Paul Frantz 10. Dan Casicioli 11. John Labadia 12. Mike Odwazny 13. Jim Yamelski 14. Brad Kline 15. Bob Hunsicker 16. Don Holland 17.Scott Meckes 18. Rich Dimarco 19. Chris Smith 20. Geary Rinehamer 21. Frank Katona 22.Todd Barbush 23. Ron Bubala 24. Dean Kline 25. Brad Barbush DQ: Robert Fink

Hard Charger: Shaun Burd and Mike Schadder, 17 positions

Fast Lap: Jim Yamelski, lap 52, 16.025

Late Model (25-laps) 1. LARRY FISHER 2. Mike Rodriguez, Jr. 3. Joe Hoffman 4. Mike Coll 5. Jerry Brighthaupt 6. Barry Callavini 7. Jason Makarewicz 8. Joseph Cerabino 9. Jake Gualano 10. Jackie Ziegler 11. Don Holland

Hard Charger: Larry Fisher, 4 positions

Fast Lap: Larry Fisher, Lap 22, 14.972

Thriller (20-laps) 1. RICHARD PETEY 2. Josh Oswald 3. Howie Bott 4. Pat Verwys 5. Jeff Owler 6. Tom Cassagrande 7. Mark Paine 8. Jim White Jr. 9. Marissa Nelmes 10. Diane Mensinger 11. Steve Shultz DQ: Bill Price, Randy Ahner

Hard Charger: Pat Verwys and Tom Casagrande, 7 positions

Fast Lap: Tom Casagrande, lap 17, 17.270

4 Cyl. Thriller (20-laps) 1. PETE VERWYS 2. Joe Grocholski 3. Joe Heintzelman 4. Jimmy White, Jr. 5. Chris Meeker 6. Justin Nesbitt 7. Scott Adams 8. Harry Sager 9. Joe Sherman 10. Jamie Damon 11. Marc Seltzer 12. Bob Drevnak 13. Dale Shoemaker 14. Travis Fisher

Hard Charger: Pete Verwys, 8 positions

Fast Lap: Pete Verwys, lap 6, 18.229

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