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Carrig, Miranda, Hopkinson, Ervin and Vassilatos Victorious at Mountain
Speedway
By: Gene Ostrowski
July 19, 2008
A slew of Wall Township Speedway racers, mixed with others throughout
the tri state area showcased their talent Sunday at Mountain Speedway.
It wasn’t only hot and humid in the area, but on the race track as
well. Shaun Carrig notched his second win of the season in the sport
modifieds and Greg Miranda notched his first victory at the speedway in
the nail biting, caution free super stock main. Derek Hopkinson bested
the twenty-eight-car strong legend field and Tom Ervin took the micro
stock win.
For the first time this season, the sport modifieds had the entire field
filled for the start of the 30-lap feature. Scott Riggleman shot by
polesitter, Mike Speeney to get into the early lead after the drop of
the green flag.
A few quick cautions took place and Riggleman remain out front. With
five laps in the books, Shaun Carrig moved into second, flowed by Jason
Hearne, Robert Sutphin and Rick Zacharias.
Zacharias pressured Sutphin for third for a few circuits until Sutphin
spun on lap eight in turns three and four. Anthony Sesely joined the
top five for the restart and began to make a run to the front.
Zacharias slipped back a couple of positions and by lap fifteen,
Riggleman remained in front over Carrig Hearne and Sesely. That all
changed when Sesely tried to maneuver under Hearne for third. The two
tangled and brought out the yellow flag. Both drivers rejoined the tail
end of the field.
The exchange moved Mike Skarbowski and Matt Kurejewski into the top five
and also gave Carrig the restart that he had needed to take the race
lead.
After green flag racing resumed, Riggleman washed up the speedway
slightly in turn three. That’s all that Carrig needed to complete the
lap twenty-three pass for the top spot. Shortly after, Zacharias
slipped into second, dropping Riggleman to third.
Carrig led the remainder of the event and drove off to his second
feature win of the season, followed by Zacharias, Riggleman, Matt
Kurzejewski and Tommy Farrell.
Scott Riggleman, Jason Hearne and Robert Sutphin were heat race winners.
The 25-lap super stock feature took to the stage for lap after lap of
non-stop action.
Gregg Miranda sat on the pole and retained the race lead from the drop
of the green flag. With one lap in the books, Elliott Wohl grabbed
second, followed by Nick Gargiulo, Chip Wanamaker and Rob Gargiulo.
Wanamaker disposed of Wohl for second on lap six and Frank Reakes, who
started the race in last, began to work the outside line toward the
front of the field.
Lap after lap, Wanamaker searched for a line around Miranda, but also
had to contend with Reakes, who had taken third from Billy Cole on lap
twenty-one. Only three laps later, Reakes powered to second and set his
sights on Miranda.
Making the outside grove work, Reakes caught the leader and made a bid
for the top spot on the last lap. The attempt failed, as Reakes slid up
in the high groove of the speedway in turn two. Wanamaker retook second
and Cole slipped by for third. Rob Gargiulo passed Reakes as well to
take fourth.
Miranda went on to take his first super stock victory at the speedway in
the most action-packed super stock feature event to date.
Heat race wins went to Chip Wanamaker and Gregg Miranda.
A total of twenty-eight legend car drivers fought for position in the
start of the 20-lap feature. Malcom Campbell started from the pole and
was quickly overtaken by Matt Maring after one lap was completed.
The first yellow flag waved when Casey Robicheau, with a little help
from behind, spun in turn one. Green flag racing resumed and Karl
Heisler grabbed the race lead. Kevin Nowak moved to second and
Campbell, Derek Hopkinson and Mike Alcaro completed the top five with
five laps complete.
After a quick lap six caution, Hopkinson, who had worked his way into
the second spot, took the race lead from Heisler off of turn number
two. Nowak pressured Heisler for the second spot and got into the
driver on lap six as they raced in turns three and four. The result was
a spin by Heisler. Drew Weisser, Mike Gervais, AJ Wright, Campbell,
Mark Tischler among others were collected in the turn four pile up.
Some drivers hit the pits for repairs and others were unable to
continue.
Alcaro moved into the second spot by mid race and began to reel in
Hopkinson. Roger Coss held third, followed by Joey Mattis and Steve
Stull.
With seven laps remaining, Alcaro took the race lead, but it was short
lived. On a lap fifteen restart, Hopkinson regained the point and never
looked back.
Hopkinson took the checkers for his first Mountain win, followed by
Coss, Alcaro, Stull and Mattis.
Derek Hopkinson, Matt Maring and Joey Mattis were heat race winners.
Chris Wramage took the consi victory.
After winning the heat race earlier in the afternoon, Tom Ervin cruised
to the 15-lap micro stock verdict over Denny Hiddemen, Brian Braddock,
Bill Kreigner, Jr. and John Paulsen.
Robert Vassilatos, Jr. was the lone Bandolarro driver and competed with
the micro stocks.
Results:
Sport Modifieds (30-laps) 1. SHAUN CARRIG 2. Rick Zacharias 3. Scott
Riggleman 4. Matt Kurzejewski 5. Tommy Farrell 6. Mike Skarbowski 7.
Anthony Sesely 8. Adam Lacicero 9. Robert Sutphin 10. Jason Hearne 11.
Randy MacConnell 12. Bobby Richards 13. Mike Speeney 14. Tony Aquilino
15. Scott Adams 16. Dan Kurzejewski 17.Jason Willet 18. Donnie Hartzell
19. Ryan Flores DNS: Tom Kearns
Super Stocks (25-laps) 1. GREGG MIRANDA 2. Chip Wanamaker 3. Billy Cole
4. Rob Gargiulo 5. Frank Reakes 6. Elliot Wohl 7. Rick Kopf 8. William
Vanderveen 9. Nick Gargiulo 10. Ron Frees 11. Chris Halstead 12. Jerry
Stanzione 13. Michelle Moormann
Legends (20-laps) 1. DEREK HOPKINSON 2. Roger Coss 3. Mike Alcaro 4.
Steven Stull 5. Joey Mattis 6. Michael Gervais 7. Kevin Nowak 8. John
Beatty 9. Chris Wramage 10. Mark Tischler 11. Don Neuls 12. Glenn
Maningo 13. Bobby Baltera 14. Casey Robicheau 15. Vinny Troia 16. AJ
Wright 17.Malcom Campbell 18. Matt Mescera 19. Francis Cottreu 20.
Justin Alicchio 21. Steve Gaul 22.Greg Rittenhouse 23. Ryan Flores 24.
Drew Weisser 25. Matt Kurzejewski 26. Katrine Lotti 27. Karl Heisler 28.
Matt Maring
Micro Stocks (15-laps) 1. TOM ERVIN 2. Denny Hiddemen 3. Brian Braddock
4. Bill Kreinger, Jr. 5. John Paulsen 6. Jim VanDine 7. Andy Hiddemen 8.
Nick Cattone
Bandolarros (ran with Micro Stocks): Robert Vassilatos, Jr.
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