results Eric Beers Snaps at Mountain ‘Big Dog' Modified Field

August 21, 2005
by Gene Ostrowski

ST. JOHNS, PA -- Northampton, PA's Eric Beers stormed up through the lead pack in the star studded modified field on multiple occasions enroot to his $3000 victory in the ‘Big Dog 100' Sunday at Mountain Speedway.

Earlier in the afternoon, Donny Hartzell (who married his longtime girlfriend, Lindsey the previous day), Pete Brittian and Eric Beers picked up heat wins. Later in the day, Leny Fischer picked up the consi victory. On the redraw for starting positions, Earl Paules drew the number one starting spot for the 100-lap feature event.

When the green flag waved Earl Paules leapt out front in his All Trade Construction #8 over John Markovic, Donny Hartzell and Eddie Brunnhoelzl III. Though 100 laps were on the card for the show, drivers were determined to make their way into the lead pack early on.

While hanging onto second, it seemed that Markovic slowed for a moment on the backstretch, just before entering turn three. As the drivers in toe got on the binders, the field bunched up and collided. This first caution period on lap six ended up taking contenders out of the race early. A total of nine machines were involved including Markovic, Hartzell, Brunnhoelzl, Eric Beers, Pete Brittian, Ryan Russo, Brian Defebo, Steven Reed, Larry Fisher and Andy Szapacs. Many drivers headed pit side for repairs. Fisher's machine headed back to the pits on a roll back. Markovic and Szapacs were also done for the day.

Paules wasted no time jumping back out front on the restart, but had his hands full when Zane Zeiner applied pressure for the top spot after starting sixth. Zeiner motored by Paules and into the lead on lap fifteen.

The stalled machine of Leny Fischer brought out a lap twenty-three yellow. At the same moment, Zeiner experienced problems with his ride and was assisted into the pits. Zeiner's day was done, as he did not return to the speedway.

With the lead back in hand, Paules jumped out front on the restart, but had to worry about the Sophie's Tiki Lounge #53 of Brian Defebo, who had worked his way into second after starting thirteenth. Only one lap ticked off since the restart and Defebo found himself atop the pack over the likes of Rusty Smith, Tyler Haydt, Eddie Brunnhoelzl and Eric Beers. Each driver in the top five was ready, willing and able to take advantage of another's misfortune, as the battle raged from second on back.

The field was slowed again on lap twenty-nine when Ernie Dengler spun, making very hard head-on contact with the front stretch wall. Although uninjured, Dengler's day was finished. An extended caution was necessary for corrective repairs to the front stretch retaining fence.

Defebo continued out front over several restarts and looked like he has the machine to beat, but Brunnhoelzl, driving the Blue Point Auto Body #8x was closing in on the leader in a hurry.

Another extended caution flew on lap sixty-seven for a Billy Swartz spin in turn two. Swartz was shaken after the spin. He was alert and escorted to the pits by ambulance. During the caution period, Beers hit the pits for fresh tires and rejoined the tail of the field.

Defebo continued out front when the green flew, but Brunnhoelzl was a man on a mission. He, along with Paules, Steven Reed and others mounted a terrific charge on Defebo, but a cut tire struck Brunnhoelzl in turn three on lap eighty-three.

The top spot was still held by Defebo, whose car wasn't working as well as the beginning of the event. Beers seemed to appear out of nowhere, and made the outside pass for the lead stick on lap eighty-six.

Over the remaining laps Defebo tried to hold off Beers, ‘Pistol Pete' Brittain and Paules, but had to settle for a fourth place finish.

When the Checkers flew, it was the Mountain ‘Big Dog', Eric Beers, pioloting his #9 Horwith Freightliner/Koehler Brothers Collision modified to the win over Pete Brittain, Brian Defebo and Tyler Haydt (who was the previous night's winner in the RoC race at Mahoning Valley Speedway).

“I just have to thank the guys on our team. We started the race on some older left side tires and saved the new ones for the end of the race. It was great running with these guys up front for the win, they're all clean racers,” exclaimed Beers in victory lane.

Mike Schadder led the street stock field to the drop of the green and jumped
out to the early lead in the 30-lap event.  A rough start involved contact
between Kevin Higgins and Paul Frantz.  With a badly damaged machine, Frantz
attempted repair, but was sidelined to the infield on the restart.

Hunlock Creek's Jim Yamelski worked his way past Schadder for the top spot
on the second circuit and distanced himself from the torrid battle between
Todd Ahner, Chip Wanamaker, Brad Kline and Brad Barbush.

The caution flew on lap eleven when Kline and Ahner made contact in turn
two.  The two were battling for the second position.

On the final lap it was Jim Yamelski taking his third feature win of the
season over Brad Barbush, Todd Ahner, Chip Wanamaker and Mike Schadder.

Jim Yamelski, Mike Schadder and Bob Hunsicker were heat winners.  


Warrior Run's Derek Kline brought the thriller feature to the drop of the
green flag after starting from the pole position.  With Kline out front, the
caution flew when Mike Bugarwicz and Steve Hoffman made contact in turn two
with only one lap complete.

The second lap displayed the second yellow, as Marissa Nelmes, Todd Geist,
Steve Shultz and Brian Hughes all had a piece of the turn four incident.
Although repairs were attempted, Nelmes had to retire from the event.

Bill Price Jr. came up from his fourth starting spot and passed Kline for
the top spot on lap three.  Meanwhile, a great battle was shaping up between
Randy Ahner, Howie Bott,  Brad Kline and Brian Hughes for the second and
third spots.

Price carried on with his winning ways in '05, as he took the close margin
of victory over Ahner, Kline, Bott and Hughes.

Steve Hoffman and Steve Schultz were both heat winners.

Results

Modified (100-laps)

1. ERIC BEERS, Northampton, PA

2. Pete Brittian, Allentown, NJ

3. Earl Paules, Kunkletown, PA

4. Brian Defebo, Berwick, PA

5. Tyler Haydt, Kunkletown, PA

6. Donny Hartzell, Hunlocks Creek, PA

7. Eddie Brunnhoelzl III, Levittown, NY

8. Steven Reed, Howell, NJ

9. Kory Rabenold, Slatington, PA

10. Matt Clemmens, Salisbury, PA

11. Marisa Niederauer, Levittown, NY

12. Ken Vogel Jr., Ronkkonkoma, NY

13. Ryan Preece, Berlin, CT

14. Kevin Kromer, Walnetport, PA

15. Rusty Smith, Oxford, NY

16. Billy Swartz, Lehighton, PA

17.Ryan Russo, Lonaka Harbor, NJ

18. Ernie Dengler, Kempton, PA

19. Leny Fischer, Medford, NY

20. Zane Zeiner, Bath, PA

21. John Markovic, Bethlehem, PA

22.Andy Szapacs, Slatington, PA

23. Larry Fisher, Fern Glen, PA

DNS: Tim Santee, Palmerton, PA

Lap Leaders: 1-14 Paules, 15-22 Zeiner, 23-37 Paules, 38-85 Defebo, 86-100 Beers

Hard Charger(s): Kory Rabenold and Marisa Niederauer, 13 positions

Fast Lap: Eric Beers, lap 88 (13.727)

Street Stock (30-laps) 1. JIM YAMELSKI 2. Brad Barbush 3. Todd Ahner 4. Chip Wanamaker 5. Mike Shadder 6. JR Roth 7. Robert Geibel 8. Mark Deysher 9. Bob Hunsicker 10. Kevin Higgins 11. John Labadia 12. Jennifer Kutz 13. Todd Barbush 14. Scott Meckes 15. Dan Casicioli 16. Brad Kline 17.Rich Dimarco 18. Paul Frantz DQ: Robert Fink

Hard Charger: Chip Wanamaker, 13 positions

Thriller (20-laps) 1. BILL PRICE JR. 2. Randy Ahner, Jr. 3. Derek Kline 4. Howie Bott 5. Brian Hughes 6. Steve Hoffman 7. Todd Geist 8. Jeff Drofich 9. Richard Petey 10. Duane Eidem 11. Mark Paine 12. Steve Shultz 13. Tom Cassagrande 14. Jeff Owler 15. Josh Oswald 16. Marissa Nelmes 17.Mike Bugarewicz

Hard Charger(s): Richard Petey and Duane Eidem, 7 positions

results archive