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Smith, Frees, Moyer, Biegley and Tidman Wear Sunday “King of the
Mountain” Crowns
Rusty Smith wins 150-lap modified main and also wears
championship crown
By: Gene Ostrowski
October 5, 2008
Over one hundred race cars lined filled the pit area for the running of
the 9th annual “King of the Mountain” event Sunday at
Mountain Speedway. With a worst finish of third this season, Rusty
Smith of Oxford, NY not only went on to win the main event, he also won
the division title. Ron Frees of Brick, NJ grabbed the super stock
verdict, as did Mike Moyer, Jr. in the thriller division. Jeff Biegley
won the four cylinder FWD main and the season championship as well and
Donnie Adams was victorious in the TD midget feature event.
Thirty full-blown modifieds ran time trials to take up the top fifteen
qualifying spots for the 150-lap King of the Mountain main event. Not
only was it the championship deciding race in the regular modified
division- it was also the championship-deciding event for the PA Asphalt
Modified Championship Series at the speedway.
Justin Gumley set fast time by running a lap of 13.259 (90.414 MPH).
The top seven drivers were inverted following a number pull by the fast
timer and Billy Pauch, Jr., who set the seventh quickest time started
from the pole.
The green flag waved and drivers wasted no time by going single file for the first handful of laps. Pauch led followed by Earl Paules, Kyle Ebersole, Larry Fisher and Rusty Smith. Paules glued himself to Pauch’s rear bumper, and then took the race lead on lap twenty-six. With fifty laps complete, Paules continued to lead, but this time over Kyle Ebersole, who had worked his way into second. Smith was third with Dave Sapienza and Gumley in tow. The caution flew on lap sixty-three when Zane Zeiner slowed on the backstretch. Smith gave up his track position and headed pit side for fresh rubber. He restarted as the final car on the lead lap and worked his way into the thirteenth spot before the competition yellow on lap seventy-five. Several of the front-runners pitted under the yellow flag, including Paules, Ebersole, John Fortin and Fisher. Fortin, who had a strong run into the top three, elected to stay out and when green flag racing resumed he led over Anthony Sesely, Gumley, Brian DeFebo and Dan Jivanelli. Fisher, who was the first car out of the pit area restarted the race and quickly went to work on the front-runners. First he got by Smith. Next he overtook Jivanelli and then DeFebo for fourth. On lap eighty-six he got by Gumley for second and set sail for Fortin. Fortin needed to pit for tires and never had the opportunity. First Fisher passed him for the lead on lap ninety. Then Smith went by for second. Fortin spun out of turn two on lap ninety-three and due to the lack of sight because of tire smoke, Kyle Ebersole and Todd Baer were collected. Fortin headed back to the pits on the dreaded double hook. With 116 laps complete, Smith over took fisher and turned on the cruise control. Smith crossed the strip for the $4000 win ahead of Fisher, Paules, Sesely and Jivanelli. Smith dedicated the win to a dear friend that the team lost a few weeks ago. The victory helped Smith clinch his very first Mountain Speedway track title in the modifieds and he was also declared the champion of the PA Asphalt Modified Championship Series at the speedway. Smith also earned a guaranteed starting spot in next months North/South Shootout in Concord, NC and he also won a trip to FL for Speedweeks early next season. The trip was courtesy of Sundance Vacations in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Aside from all of that, Smith will also be presented with a championship ring at the annual awards banquet, which is courtesy of the Golden Carat Jewelry Store. In a hard-fought battle until the end, Ron Frees overtook Frank Reakes on lap thirty-three and went on to claim his fourth win of the season in the 50-lap super stock feature. Richie DiMarco, Rick Kopf and Billy Cole completed the top five. Scott Adams went into the 40-lap thriller main event with a one-point advantage over Nick Ross in the championship standings. The race began and Mike Moyer, Jr. took the lead. Ross worked into the second spot just past halfway and appeared to have the title wrapped up, as Adams began to lose positions due to an ill handling car. However, that changed following a lap thirty-eight caution. With two laps remaining, Ross’ car did not get up to speed and Adams closed in quickly. With Moyer still in command, the focus was on the championship contenders, as they swapped for position. Moyer took the checkered flag for his first King of the Mountain victory over Nick Shaw, Howie Bott and Bob Wink. Not far behind, Ross and Adams were sideways and swapping paint out of turn four, Ross edged Adams by a bumper, which is all that he needed to secure the championship during his rookie campaign. Nick Ross is the brother of last season’s thriller champion, Ricky Ross, Jr. The feat marks the first time in track history that two brothers won a championship back-to-back in a division. Donnie Adams started thirteenth on the 25-lap TQ main event and took the race lead from Ryan Tidman on a lap twenty-two restart. He never looked back and went on to claim the checkers over Tidman, Paul Lotier, Jr, Jeff Kot and Zach Martini. Following his runner-up effort, Tidman was declared the series champion. Jeff Biegley overcame problems that he experienced early on and went on to take the win in the 30-lap four-cylinder FWD main event over Ken Kleppinger, Eric Banashefski, Jess McGlynn and Bill Verwys, Sr. Biegley also won the division title over Kleppinger. Although many division champions were crowned over the weekend, championships for the sport modifieds, super stocks and legend drivers will be decided after their next race date on Sunday, October 12. Modifieds (150-laps) 1. RUSTY SMITH 2. Larry Fisher 3. Earl Paules 4. Anthony Sesely 5. Dan Jivanelli 6. Justin Gumley 7. Kyle Ebersole 8. Chuck Steuer 9. Brian Defebo 10. Mike Andrews 11. Todd Baer 12. Dave Roys Jr 13. Donny Wagner 14. Lewis Hallock 15. Barry Callavini 16. Billy Pauch Jr 17.John Fortin 18. Eric Kocher 19. Dave Sapienza 20. Zane Zeiner 21. Johnny Bush 22.Andy Walko DNS: Tommy Wanick DNQ: Sal Accardi, Mike Rodriguez, Jr, Steve Tooker, Paul Skodachek, Billy Weichert, Danielle Buchek, Lenny Fischer Super Stocks (50-laps) 1. RON FREES 2. Frank Reakes 3. Rich DiMarco 4. Rick Kopf 5. Billy Cole 6. Chip Wanamaker 7. Nick Gargiulo 8. Ralph Gargiulo 9. Eric Gerchak 10. Steve Hoffman 11. William Vanderveen 12. CJ Lehmann 13. Elliott Wohl 14. Jim McLaughlin Jr 15. Brian Wozniak 16. Scott Reagan 17.Gregg Miranda 18. Jason Arthoefer 19. Jerry Stanzione 20. Michelle Moormann Thrillers (40-laps) 1. MIKE MOYER, JR. Jr 2. Nick Shaw 3. Howie Bott 4. Bob Wink 5. Nick Ross 6. Scott Adams 7. Mike Moyer Sr 8. Paul Morgan Jr 9. Richard Petey 10. Nick Adams 11. Cody Geist 12. Jimmy White Jr 13. Caesar Cunaccia 14. Jeff Searfoss 15. Pat Verwys 16. Keith Emmons 4 Cyl. FWD (30-laps) 1. JEFF BIEGLEY 2. Ken Kleppinger 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Jess McGlynn 5. Bill Verwys Sr 6. Tony Rispin 7. Jake Oswald 8. Justin Hughes TQ Midgets (25-laps) 1. DONNIE ADAMS 2. Ryan Tidman 3. Paul Lotier Jr 4. Jeff Kot 5. Zack Martini 6. Alison Cummens 7. Mike Tidaback 8. Matthew Janisch 9. Frank Fischer 10. Matthew Roselli 11. Ian Cummens 12. Lucas Smith 13. Richie Coy 14. Joey Paine III 15. Rudy Botticher 16. Daniel Boir 17.Robin Johnston DNS: Tim Behmer, JR Fitzpatrick, Scott Campbell
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