results Restart puts Matt Hirschman's modified in victory lane

April 18, 2005
by Gene Ostrowski

Opening day is officially in the books at Mountain Speedway, and
Northampton's Matt Hirschman was victorious in the modified 50-lap feature
event.

Brian Defebo started on the pole and held the top spot, with outside pole
sitter, Matt Hirschman running second.  By lap 19, Defebo's lead grew larger
and Pete Brittian in the 98 got around Hirschman for the second spot.

The caution flew on lap 23 when Tim Santee lost a motor entering turn one.
hen the green flew for the restart on lap 24, Defebo and Brittian were
side-by-side entering turn one.  For a brief moment, Hirschman saw an
opening under Defebo and ducked down into it and into the lead.  A few
circuits later, Defebo pulled to the infield, faced with mechanical
problems.

Once Hirschman took the lead, there was no looking back, as he notched the
victory over Pete Brittian.  Don Wagner made a late race charge to third,
and Rusty Smith and John Markovick rounded out the top five.

"I got a great run on that restart, saw the hole and it worked," exclaimed
Hirschman in victory lane.  "I just want to thank my dad and family for
their support.  It was a great day!"

Last week Joe Hoffman set fast time, thus earning him the pole position for
the 35-lap late model feature.  When the green waved, Larry Fisher tried to
challenge Hoffman for the point from the outside, but couldn't make it work.

The first caution flew on lap 13 for Jeff Searfoss and Brandon Stowell.  The
restart gave Fisher another shot at the top spot, but Hoffman wouldn't allow
it.

The caution waved again on lap 15 and 28, both times involving rookie
sensation, Mike Rodriguez, Jr.  In both mishaps Rodriguez was able to
continue.

When the green flag flew, Hoffman had a comfortable lead of Fisher in
second.  Jim Lamoreaux finished third, after working his way up from the
ninth starting spot.  Tommy Scales and Brandon Stowell rounded out the top
five.

The 30-lap street stock feature was filled with caution and excitement.
Hunlock Creek's Jim Yamelski started from the pole and jumped to the early
lead.  Over the first few circuits, Yamelski pulled away from the rest of
the field, but last year's street stock champion, Brad Kline was quietly
working his way up through the field.

The caution flew on lap six when Chip Wanamaker and Robert Fink got together
in turn three.  On the restart, Kline jumped out to the lead over Yamelski.

For a period of time, Kline distanced himself from the rest of the field,
but a late race caution on lap 23 tightened the field back up.  This gave
Yamelski the shot he wanted to overtake Kline.

Over the next six circuits, Yamelski pressured Kline and was glued to his
back bumper the last lap and a half.  Nearly side-by-side, Kline held off
Yamelski for the win.  Chip Wanamaker worked his way through the pack to
finish third, Scott Meckes and JR Roth rounded out the top five.

In the 20-lap thriller feature, Hackettstown's Richard Petey made it to
victory circle for his fist Mountain Speedway victory.

When the initial green flag flew for the start of the event, outside pole
sitter, Mark Paine took a shot at Petey.  However, the start was null, when
last years 4-cylinder champion, Pat Verwys brought out the caution for
leaking fluid.

When the green flag finally waved, Petey got the jump over Paine and 2004
champion, Sue Collins.  Slowly working his way into the top five was Speedo
Jager, but he would eventually eat up the right front and could not contend
for the lead.  Collins began working Paine for second, and by mid-race, did
so.

When the checkers flew, it was Richard "Uncle" Petey taking the win over
Collins, Paine, Bott and Jager respectively.  Paine's third place finish is
his career best so far at Mountain Speedway.

Chris Walk sat on the point when the green flag flew for the 20-lap 4
cylinder thriller feature event, but on lap two, outside pole sitter, Joe
Grocholski made an outside pass coming out of turn four stick to overtake
the top spot.

The only caution of the race occurred on lap number four, when David Sokol
Jr. spun in turn two.  Sokol was able to continue.

By lap 15, Grocholski's lead over Travis Fisher began to shrink, as Fisher
got closer and closer.  But, there weren't as many laps as Fisher would have
liked, and Grocholski took the checkers over Fisher.  Rounding out the top
five were pole sitter, Walk, Dale Shoemaker and Justin Nesbitt.

Mountain Speedway would like to congratulate 2005 'Ms. Mountain Speedway',
April Makarewicz, for winning the Ms. Mountain Speedway contest.  The judges
were last week's pole winners.

The second of seven Mountain Speedway Big Wheels Series races were held
prior to the day's events.  The winners were:  Billy Koch (2-4 year olds)
and Karalyn Vilcko (5-7 year olds), Josh Vilcko (8-10 year olds).

For 'Mountain Madness' winners (later this week), complete info, and point
standings, please visit www.mountainspeedway.com

Modified
Pos First Name Last Name
1 Matt Hirshman
2 Pete Brittian
3 Don Wagner
4 Rusty Smith
5 John Markovick
6 Jim Long
7 Cal Snyder
8 Mike Adams
9 Mark Washko
10 Matt Clemens
11 Richie Coy
12 Brian Defebo
13 Alan Decker
14 Tim Santee
15 Ken Vogel Jr
16 Wayne Szerencsits
17 Donny Hartzell
18 RJ Zacharias
Fast Time: Brian Defebo, Lap 4, 13.773 seconds

Late Model
Pos First Name Last Name
1 Joe Hoffman
2 Larry Fisher
3 Jim Lamoreaux
4 Thomas Scales, IV
5 Brandon Stowell
6 Jason Makarewicz
7 Chris Whitenight
8 Mike Rodriguez Jr
9 Mike Collins
10 Jeff Searfoss
Fast Time: Mike Rodriguez, Jr., Lap 6, 14.780 seconds

Street Stock
Pos First Name Last Name
1 Brad Kline
2 Jim Yamelski
3 Chip Wanamaker
4 Scott Meckes
5 JR Roth
6 Paul Frantz
7 Todd Ahner
8 Geary Rinehimer
9 Frank Katona
10 Rick Smith
11 Gary Myers
12 Robert Fink
13 Wayne Medlin
DQ Brian Labar
Fast Time: Jim Yamelski, Lap 27, 15.914 seconds

Thriller
Pos First Name Last Name
1 Richard Petey
2 Sue Collins
3 Mark Paine
4 Howie Bott
5 Speedo Jager
6 Marissa Nelmes
7 Josh Oswald
8 Bill Price
9 Steve Shultz
10 Steve Hoffman
11 Pat Verwys
Fast Time: Richard Petey, Lap 14, 17.952 seconds

4 Cyl. Thriller
Pos First Name Last Name
1 Joe Grocholski
2 Travis Fisher
3 Chris Walk
4 Dale Shoemaker
5 Justin Nesbitt
6 Jim White, Jr.
7 Dave Sokol
8 Peter Verwys
9 Chris Meeker
10 Brent Witner
Fast Time: Joe Grocholski, Lap 4, 19.556 seconds


Big Wheel Top 3
2-4 Year Olds
1.  Billy Koch
2.  Zane Stoute
3.  Kiena Vest

5-7 Year Olds
1.  Karalyn Vilcko
2.  Ricky Collins
3.  Owen Nesbitt

8-10 Year Olds
1.  Josh Vilcko
2.  Zach Culp
3.  Kayla Schwartz

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