results ‘Pistol’ Pete Brittain Out Duels Earl Paules in Mountain SST Modified Victory

July 29, 2005
by Gene Ostrowski

ST. JOHNS, Pa. -- With seventy-five laps of SST modified racing action on the card for the evening, along with the Street Stock Shootout qualifier, thrillers and four cylinder thrillers, many fans flocked to Mountain Speedway on Friday the 29 th .

Joe Mongeau guided the field to the green flag for the SST modified feature and led the pack until a brief caution on lap fourteen when Bob Wilson had a solo spin in turn two. When green flag racing resumed, it was still Mongeau with a great jump out front over the rest of the field.

Heat winner, Zane Ziener worked his way into the fifth slot on the tenth circuit, but his day ended six laps later when he took his mount to the pit area with problems.

On the twenty-first circuit, Pete Brittain moved into second, while Earl Paules, who had started near last, took over third. Jason Trinchere, who also won a heat race, entered the top five.

The caution waved once more for fluid on the speedway. The dampness was laid down by no other than the leader, Mongeau, who was shown the black flag. Mongeau has to relinquish the lead, but after a quick visit to his pit he rejoined the rear of the field.

The ‘big one', which took out ¾ of the field, happened off turn two when Richard Thomas and Richie Vanderpool made contact on the thirty-eighth circuit. With nowhere to go, many drivers stacked up behind the two on the backstretch. Drivers such as Rich Petrucco, Ricky Knapp, Chuck Frisbee, Bob Wilson and JT Witkowski got a piece of the mayhem. Thomas, Frisbee and Knapp were done for the day.

The final twenty-five laps had the fans literally standing on their feet, as Paules tried to work the high side around Brittain. The two dueled side by side without incident for nearly twenty circuits, which allowed Trinchere and Markovic to catch up. A few laps later, Trinchere got a little high off of the turn and allowed Markovic and Mongeau to sneak by.

Paules continued to hunt Brittain, but in the end it was ‘Pistol Pete', taking the win over Paules, Markovic, Mongeau and Trinchere.

It was recently announced that the winner of the 20-lap street stock feature would automatically qualify for the Sunday, August 7 th 100-lap Street Stock Shootout at Mountain Speedway.

From the pole position, Barry Gommer led the twenty-two-car street stock field to the drop of the green flag. Erick Danyluk and Robert Fink immediately set sail for Gommer.

Able to bypass Fink, Danyluk pressured Gommer, and at one point even got into him entering turn one. Gommer was able to retain control of the car, but Danyluk took over the lead.

Paul Frantz, Brad Barbush and Brad Kline battled their way into the top five, but a Fink spin in turn two, not only collected Kline, it brought out the first and only caution of the event.

With a great restart, Danyluk began to distance himself from the field, as Jim Yamelski, Todd Ahner and thirteenth place starter, Donny Hartzell tried to crack the top five.

By the time the checkers flew, there was no doubt that Danyluk would pick up his first feature win of the season, as he did over Gommer, Frantz, B. Barbush and Yamelski.

Jim Yamelski, Barry Gommer and Brad Kline were heat race winners.

Steve Shultz led the thriller feature to the drop of the green after starting from the pole, but by the time one lap clicked off, it was Marissa Nelmes, who was in command.

On the following trip around the speedway, Richard Petey raced by Nelmes and into the top slot, bringing Pat Verwys and Bill Price, Jr. with him. While leading, Petey got loose and looped his machine while entering turn four on the fifth lap. The incident caused a yellow flag condition.

Price assumed command for the restart, but the following lap was never scored because of another yellow flag for a Petey and Nelmes tangle in turn four. Another try for the restart was also unsuccessful, when Shultz, who was trying for second, made contact with Pat Verwys in turn two.

Price showed the way over the remaining circuits over Shultz, while Verwys worked his way back to third. Steve Hoffman and Petey rounded out the top five. It was the sixth feature win of the season for Price.

Heat winners were Bill Price, Jr. and Steve Hoffman

Jimmy White, Jr. led the first lap in the four-cylinder thriller feature after starting on the pole, but the caution quickly waved for a tangle between Chris Walk and Nick Adams. Joe Heintzelman and Chris Meeker were also involved in the turn two incident.

When the green waved, Joe Grocholski quickly came from his third place starting position to challenge for the lead, bringing Dale Shoemaker with him.

By lap five, fifth place starter, Pete Verwys, brought his machine around Grocholski and into the lead. Grocholski continued to hang with Verwys, as the two fought hard and long over the number one spot. Meanwhile, Heintzelman mounted a charge toward the front. Later, Grocholski got a great run on Verwys and retook command on the eighth circuit.

The final caution flew on lap nine when Chris Meeker spun in turn three. The quick yellow allowed the field to bunch up right behind the leaders, who at this point had checked out on the field.

Over the remaining laps, Grocholski held off Verwys for his second feature win of the season over Heintzelman, Shoemaker and Bill Verwys, Sr.

Pete Verwys was later disqualified, which allowed White to finish fifth.

The heat winner was Joe Grocholski.

The next Mountain Speedway show is Friday, August 5 th . On the card are the Balliet's Country Corners modifieds, late models, thrillers and four cylinder thrillers. The street stocks have the night off so they can prepare for the 100-lap Street Stock Shootout on Sunday, August 7 th .

Friday, August 12 th will feature the modified 50, which will consist of two 25-lap features, where the winners will automatically qualify for the star-studded ‘Big Dog 100'. The Big Dog is scheduled for Sunday, August 21 st , and by far is an event that will go down in the record books as a who's-who of asphalt modified racing. Many modified stars are planning to strut their stuff, while others will be out trying to make a name for themselves.

For all info on Mountain Speedway events, including the Street Stock Shootout and Big Dog 100, please visit www.mountainspeedway.com

SST Modifieds (75-laps) 1. Pete Brittain 2. Earl Paules 3. John Markovic 4. Joe Mangeau 5. Jason Trinchere 6. Wayne Lent 7. Richie Vanderpool 8. Rich Petrucco 9. Bob Wilson 10. JT Witkowski 11. Richard Thomas 12. Chuck Frisbee 13. Richie Knapp 14. Zane Ziener

Street Stock (20-laps) 1. Eric Danyluk 2. Barry Gommer 3. Paul Frantz 4. Brad Barbush 5. Jim Yamelski 6. Donny Hartzell 7. Brad Kline 8. Todd Ahner 9. Ron Babula 10. Scott Meckes 11. Chip Wanamaker 12. JR Roth 13. Todd Barbush 14. Rodney Gruber 15. Mark Deysher 16. Robert Fink 17.Kevin Higgins 18. Rich Dimarco 19. John Labadia 20. Carl Altemose 21. Mike Schadder 22.Bob Hunsicker

Fast Lap: Donny Hartzell, Lap 8, 16.010

Hard Charger: Todd Ahner, 9 positions

Thriller (20-laps) 1. Bill Price 2. Steve Shultz 3. Pat Verwys 4. Steve Hoffman 5. Richard Petey 6. Howie Bott 7. Matt Lesher 8. Mark Paine 9. Marissa Nelmes 10. Jeff Owler 11. Derek Kline

Fast Lap: Richard Petey, Lap 4, 17.448

Hard Charger: Bill Price, Jr, 7 positions

4 Cyl Thriller (20-laps) 1. Joe Grocholski 2. Joe Heintzelman 3. Dale Shoemaker 4. Bill Verwys Sr. 5. Jimmy White, Jr. 6. Chris Meeker 7. Erik Nobel 8. Justin Nesbitt 9. Chris Walk 10. Travis Fisher DQ: Pete Verwys, Nick Adams

Fast Lap: Joe Grocholski, Lap 13, 18.441

Hard Charger, Joe Heintzelman, 6 positions

results archive