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Rusty Smith Holds Off Matt Hirschman for Mountain Mod Champ Series
Verdict
By:
Gene
Ostrowski
June
1, 2008
Because of thunderstorms throughout the area, Mountain Speedway’s
originally scheduled Saturday evening show was made up on Sunday
afternoon. Rusty Smith notched his first modified victory of the season
in the 75-lap contest, as did Mike Sweeney in the 50-lap late model
showdown. Steve Shultz grabbed his first career street stock feature
win and Scott Adams notched his fourth thriller win of the season.
The 75-lap PA Asphalt Modified Championship Series feature began with
Todd Baer on the pole after the top nine starters redrew for the feature
line-up. Baer jumped out to the early lead over Rusty Smith in the
event, which was the second event of the seven race series this season.
Smith grabbed the top spot from Baer on lap six and Matt Hirschman
followed in pursuit. John Markovic held fourth with Kyle Ebersole
fifth.
The first of eleven yellows flew when Geary Rinehimer spun off of turn
one. The incident collected Tommy Wanick III and Steve Tooker. All
drivers were able to continue.
Fifteen laps in, Ebersole, who was running fifth, looped his car in turn
two. Several drivers had nowhere to go and were collected in the mix,
including Brian DeFebo, Johnny Bush, Chris Whitenight, Barry Callavini,
Rinehimer and Tooker. DeFebo received the most damage and required the
dreaded “double hook” from the track towing crew.
Slowly, Earl Paules began to work his way into the mix after starting
from the ninth spot. While battling for fourth, Paules and Baer touched
wheels, which sent Paules for a ride toward the turn one fence. That
brought out the lap sixteen yellow.
Just past halfway, Smith continued out front, holding off Hirschman.
Markovic remained third with Andy Walko, who started seventeenth in
fourth with Tommy Flanagan completing the top five.
Things began to heat up for the seventh spot. Paules, who pitted during
an earlier caution, began to work back towards the front. While
battling for the seventh spot with Bush, Paules spun in turn three. He
restarted from the tail end of the field and with only a handful of laps
remaining; Paules began to put cars in his rearview mirror.
Hirschman closed in on Smith on numerous occasions, but didn’t have
enough to overtake the Oxford, NY resident. When it was all said and
done, Smith held off Hirschman to pick up his first Mountain win of the
season. Hirschman crossed the stripe with a solid second place effort.
Markovic finished a strong third, as did Walko in fourth. Paules
completed the top five.
“The car was hooked up today”, said Smith in victory lane. “I really
want to thank the fans who come out and support the speedway”.
“Speaking for many of the drivers, we don’t want to come out here and
race in front of empty grandstands”, he said.
“Hirschman was just as pleased as the runner-up. “The car was good
today and it’s the first time we’ve had it out this season for the
entire feature”, he said. Hirschman received a flat tire last time out
with that car and could not get it replaced in time for the next
restart.
“I drove really hard, but we just didn’t have enough for Rusty today”,
he said.
Chris Whitenight, Rusty Smith and Brian DeFebo were heat race winners.
With a distance of fifty laps and with double points on the line, the
late models took to the speedway with rookie of the year contender,
Ricky Ross, Jr. on the pole. Ross shot into the lead with Joe Brown,
Joe Hoffman, Earl Paules and Mike Radocha, Jr. in tow.
While battling for position, Hoffman and Brown made contact in turn two,
which brought out the first caution. Both drivers headed to the rear of
the field for the restart.
With ten laps complete, Ross held the lead over Paules, Mike Sweeney,
Jim Lamoreaux and Radocha. Then the yellow flag flew three laps later
when Rob Koller spun in turn four.
The green came back out for the restart and both Sweeney and Paules
split Ross down the front stretch. The trio drag raced into turn one
and Sweeney came out as the leader. Paules held second, Ross was third
with Radocha fourth. The top four remained the same and by lap
twenty-five, Roger Heffelfinger, Jr. cracked the top five.
Lamoreaux grabbed third from Ross on lap thirty-six and set his focus
towards Paules for second. The two battled as the laps wound down,
which brought out the caution on lap forty-five, when Paules spun in
turn two for the final yellow flag of the race.
Despite Lamoreaux closing in over the final laps, Sweeney held on to
notch his first late model victory of the season over Lamoreaux. Ross
finished a career best of third in the division. Radocha and
Heffelfinger rounded out the top five.
Along with the regular speedway purse, Sweeney also picked up a $200
bonus, which was courtesy of Dale and Cindy Fey- owners of Wheel’s Bar
and Grill.
Earl Paules and Ricky Ross, Jr. were heat race winners.
The street stocks hit the stage for the 25-lap feature with Steve Shultz
and Brian Wozniak sharing the front row. Brad Barbush tucked into
second behind Shultz after the green flag was thrown, with Brian Sones
and Wozniak running side-by-side for third.
Chip Wanamaker moved into the top five and attempted to take the third
spot from Sones. With an exchange of paint, Sones spun on lap five and
brought out the caution.
Brad Barbush and Shultz ran side-by-side after the restart and Barbush
took command after a lap seven pass. Shultz followed in second, with
Wozniak, Wanamaker and Todd Barbush completing the top five.
A change of events took place after a late race caution. With three
laps remaining, Shultz and Brad Barbush ran side-by-side for the lead.
The two rubbed fenders for some time before Shultz came out with the
race lead.
Shultz held on for his first career street stock win over Brad Barbush,
Wozniak, Wanamaker and Todd Barbush.
Steve Shultz and Rich DiMarco were heat race winners.
Nick Shaw led the thriller field to the drop of the green flag in the
20-lap feature event. Immediately after the start, Nick Ross and Scott
Adams tried to split the leader and the caution was thrown when Ross
received a flat tire.
Mike Moyer, Jr. assumed the race lead and Ross rejoined the field for
the restart.
Moyer held the point at halfway with Adams running a close second. Ross
moved to third with Wayne Lowe and Shaw fourth and fifth respectively.
Multiple times, Adams tried to power by Moyer, but could not prevail.
That was until lap seventeen.
After several laps of fender to fender racing, Adams grabbed the race
lead and crossed the stripe for his fourth feature win of the season.
Moyer and Ross crossed the line side-by-side, with Moyer finishing
second. Lowe and Shaw competed the top five.
Scott Adams was the heat race winner.
The sport modifieds have been added to the race schedule on Saturday,
June 11. The street stocks and super stock fields will be mixed
together for a 25-lap feature. Also on the card will be the ATQMRA
midgets and the 4 cyl FWDs. The kid’s big wheel races will also be in
action, courtesy of Barbush Racing, in memory of Frank Barbush.
For all the up to date news, results and happenings at Mountain
Speedway, please logon to www.mountainspeedway.com.
Results
Modified (75-laps) 1. RUSTY SMITH 2. Matt Hirschman 3. John Markovic 4.
Andy Walko 5. Earl Paules 6. Todd Baer 7. Tommy Wanick III 8. Steve
Tooker 9. Tommy Flanagan 10. Johnny Bush 11. Geary Rinehimer 12. Barry
Callavini 13. Matt Clemens 14. Lewis Hallock 15. Chris Whitenight 16.
Kyle Ebersole 17.Brian DeFebo 18. Paul Skodacek
Late Model (50-laps) 1. MIKE SWEENEY 2. Jim Lamoreaux 3. Ricky Ross Jr
4. Mike Radocha Jr 5. Roger Heffelfinger 6. Brian Defebo 7. Joe Brown 8.
Dave Luff 9. Earl Paules 10. Joseph Burns 11. Frank Hughes 12. Dan
Berlitz 13. Joe Hoffman 14. Mike Coll 15. Tom Flanagan 16. Rob Koller
17.Paul Koehler
Street Stock (25-laps) 1. STEVE SHULTZ 2. Brad Barbush 3. Brian Wozniak
4. Chip Wanamaker 5. Todd Barbush 6. Brian Sones 7. Robert Fink 8. CJ
Lehmann 9. Keith St Clair 10. Jennifer Kutz 11. Rich Dimarco 12. Josh
Oswald 13. Dan Cascioli
Thriller (20-laps) 1. SCOTT ADAMS 2. Mike Moyer Jr 3. Nick Ross 4. Wayne
Lowe 5. Nick Shaw 6. Kyle Heckman DNS: Mike Moyer Sr.
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