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Andy Walko Scores Career Modified Win at Mountain Speedway
By:
Gene Ostrowski
May
24, 2008
Following a
rain out last weekend, Mountain Speedway was back in action Saturday
night. In his fourth full season of open wheel modified racing,
Flemington’s Andy Walko finally found victory lane. Scott Meckes
notched his first street stock verdict of the season, as did Chris
Deritis in the TQ midgets. Scott Adams notched his third thriller
victory in the thrillers and Nikki Wachs mirrored that feat in the 4
cyl. FWD division.
After winning a heat race earlier in the afternoon, Andy Walko started
from the pole in the 40-lap modified main event. The young driver shot
out front early with Barry Callavini and Tommy Wanick III in tow.
Walko had a bad start and nearly looped the car in turn one. Without a
caution, he got back onto the race track and rejoined the field. In his
favor, the caution flew before a lap was scored when Robert Fink spun in
turn one. That situation forced a complete restart.
Brian DeFebo started fifth and overtook Earl Paules and Wanick for third
on lap three. Paules followed DeFebo past Wanick and grabbed fourth.
With Walko still out front and Callavini in second, Paules worked DeFebo
for the third position and finally completed the pass thirteen laps into
the event.
Problems struck DeFebo and he entered the pits under a lap twenty
caution. His bad luck continued, as he cut down a right rear tire the
following lap.
Despite several attempts by Callavini and Paules, Walko held on over the
remaining laps to win his first career modified feature race. Callavini
settled for second and Paules, Chris Whitenight and Kyle Ebersole
completed the top five.
“It’s about time, we’ve been overdue for a while”, said Walko in victory
lane. “It was all about strategy tonight. “Even though we started on
the pole, you just don’t want to go run away, you have to conserve”, he
said.
Andy Walko and Geary Rinehimer were heat race winners.
Twenty-Two TQ midgets took to the speedway with Paul Lotier leading the
field to the drop of the green for the 25-lap feature.
Blu Metz started third and tried to make a hard run into turn one for
the lead. Judging from the tire smoke, it was evident that Metz was
hard on the binders, but his car slid up the race track and collected
Richie Coy. Austin Fehr got a piece of the action as well, and his car
ended up on its side.
Chris Deritis took command after the restart and on the fifth circuit he
held the lead over Matt Janisch, Mike Tidaback, Don Adams and Robin
Johnston and the top five were literally glued to each other through out
the first have of the race.
Looking for his first TQ win, Deritis continued to hold off challenges
from Janisch and Tidaback over the closing laps and went on to take the
win. Janisch finished in the runner-up spot, followed by Tidaback and
Johnston. Ryan Tidman slipped by Adams near the end of the race and
finished fifth.
Robin Johnston, Chris Deritis and Blu Metz were heat race winners.
After winning the street stock heat race earlier in the day, Scott
Meckes led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap
feature.
With a good jump, Meckes held the top spot with Paul Franz, Richie
DiMarco, Brian Wozniak and Brad Barbush chasing him.
With five laps complete, DiMarco grabbed second from Frantz and was in
hot pursuit of Meckes. The caution flew the following lap when Steve
Shultz and Elliot Wohl collected in turns one and two.
Meckes was flawless on the restart and DiMarco searched the race track
for a line around the two-time track champion but couldn’t complete the
pass for the lead.
Meckes went on to take the checkers for his first win of the season,
followed by DiMarco, Frantz, Wozniak and Barbush.
Wayne Lowe and Bill Price, Jr. shared the front row for the start of the
20-lap thriller main. Price took command at the drop of the green flag
over Lowe, Mike Moyer, Jr, Scott Adams and Mike Moyer, Sr.
The caution flag waved when Moyer, Jr. and Lowe collected in turn one.
Unable to continue, Moyer, Jr. headed pit side.
Price continued out front after the restart, but Adams began to close
the gap. Adams moved to second on lap six with Moyer right behind in
third. Nick Shaw and Rob Schutter rounded out the top five.
Adams began to work the high side around the speedway, and also around
Price. Adams led by a fender on lap fourteen, and then the caution flag
flew when Lowe looped his car in turn three. Price jumped the next two
restarts and was sent to the rear of the field.
Adams was flawless over the remaining circuits and cruised to his third
win of the season. Shaw edged Moyer for second, as they crossed the
stripe side by side. Ross and Schutter rounded out the top five.
Wayne Lowe and Mike Moyer, Jr. were heat race winners.
Ken Kleppinger and Bill Verwys, Sr. shared the front row for the start
of the 20-lap 4 cyl FWD feature. Kleppinger got out of shape in turn
one after taking the green flag, then spun in front of the field off or
turn two. The incident collected Eric Banashefski and Verwys. With the
exception of Kleppinger, all of the drivers continued.
Verwys inherited the lead for the complete restart and held the top
spot. However, a tire rub, which was caused from the opening lap
incident, began to worsen and he began to slide back in the running
order.
First, Banashefski grabbed the lead. Three laps later Nikki Wachs took
command.
With eleven laps complete, Jeff Biegley grabbed second from Banashefski
and began to run down Wachs. Only a car length or two separated the
front-runners over the closing laps and Wachs came out with the
victory. Biegley settled for second, followed by Banashefski, Jessica
McGlynn and Verwys.
Billy Rice
barely edged Zane Regan for the kids big wheel victory.
For all of the latest news, photos, results and Mountain Speedway
happenings, please visit the official track website at
www.mountainspeedway.com.
Modified (40-laps) 1. ANDY WALKO 2. Barry Callavini 3. Earl Paules 4.
Chris Whitenight 5. Kyle Ebersole 6. Geary Rinehimer 7. Tommy Wanick III
8. Brian Defebo 9. Robert Fink 10. Jason Makarewicz
TQ Midgets (25-laps) 1. CHRIS DERITIS 2. Matt Janisch 3. Mike Tidaback
4. Donnie Adams 5. Ryan Tidman 6. Robin Johnston 7. Tim Behmer 8. Paul
Lotier 9. Frank Fischer 10. Jeff Kot 11. Lew Ingalls 12. Richie Coy 13.
Austin Fehr 14. Scott Campbell 15. Matthew Roselli 16. Ian Cuming
17.Alison Cumens 18. Phill DiMario 19. Mark Janisch 20. Bill Courtright
21. Rudy Botticher 22.Blu Metz
Street Stock (25-laps) 1. SCOTT MECKES 2. Rich Dimarco 3. Paul Frantz 4.
Brian Wozniak 5. Brad Barbush 6. Elliot Wohl 7. Josh Oswald 8. Steve
Shultz 9. Keith St Clair
Thriller (20-laps) 1. SCOTT ADAMS 2. Nick Shaw 3. Mike Moyer Sr 4. Nick
Ross 5. Rob Schutter 6. Wayne Lowe 7. Marissa Makarewicz 8. Eric Wink 9.
Mike Moyer Jr DQ: Bill Price Jr DNS: Kyle Heckman
4 Cyl. FWD (20-laps)
1. NIKKI WACHS
2. Jeff Biegley 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Jess McGlynn 5. Bill Verwys Sr 6.
Ken Kleppinger
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