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Kyle Ebersole
Continues Sundance Vacations Speedway Dominance
Mike Moyer, Jr. Stakes Claim in 4th Annual “Duct Tape 50”
By Gene Ostrowski
July 4, 2009
A gigantic fireworks display capped off Independence evening
Saturday at Sundance Vacations Speedway, but the fireworks on the
speedway were even more spectacular before the sun set for “Summer
RACEFEST”. Kyle Ebersole edged Bobby Jones to claim his third
Modified win in four starts this season and Mike Moyer, Jr. held off
his rivals to claim the Ed Makarewicz “Duct Tape 50” Factory Stock
Memorial. Mike Sweeney notched his first Late Model win of the
season and Matt Janisch pulled into victory lane for the second time
this season after winning the TQ Midget feature.
Twenty-two modifieds lined the pit are prior to the start of
Saturday’s events, which meant that a consolation race would be held
to determine the final five starters in the main event.
David Schneider sat on the pole position and was overtaken by Billy
Weichert when the green flag waved in the 40-lap event. The first
yellow flag flew after one lap of racing when Wayne Szerencsits, Lew
Hallock and Bobby Jones piled together on the backstretch. With the
exception Szerencsits, all of the drivers headed pit side with
damage and headed back onto the speedway before green flag racing
resumed.
Racing resumed and ninth place starter, Brian DeFebo, wasted no time
and took the race lead on the fifth circuit. With ten laps on the
scoreboard, Kyle Ebersole ran fifth, followed by Billy Weichert,
Rusty Smith and Andy Walko.
The next twenty laps were something out of a storybook for Jones, as
he jumped to the outside lane and began to work his way back into
contention. Meanwhile, Ebersole began to apply all sorts of pressure
to DeFebo, who was forced to play defense.
With ten laps remaining, DeFebo led over Ebersole, Jones, Smith and
Walko. The front pack ran side-by-side at full speed and either of
the drivers appeared to have the piece to win the main. Ebersole and
Jones tried repeatedly to blast by DeFebo, and the seasoned veteran
did what he could to stay in front.
That changed with a couple of laps remaining.
Ebersole got a great run on the leader in turn one and it appeared
that DeFebo did a slight brake check. The field stacked up for a
moment and someone got into DeFebo during the exchange, which moved
Ebersole into the lead. The damage forced DeFebo to retire from the
event after leading thirty-three laps.
Despite several quick cautions with two laps remaining, and despite
heavy pressure from the cluster of talent in his mirror, Ebersole
went on to pull off his third win in only his fourth start at the
speedway this season. Jones settled for second, followed by Walko,
Smith and either place starter, Barry Callavini.
“I had a blast out there”, exclaimed Ebersole, of Hummelstown, PA in
victory lane. He commented on being content running in the top three
early on by saying, “I was happy where we were at and before I knew
it I was leading and held them off for the win”.
Despite being involved in a wreck on the first lap, Jones was happy
with his second place effort. “For my guys (crew members) to get
back out- they’re the best”, said the division pint’s leader. Jones
said that he had a blast racing for the win and Walko, the third
place finisher summed up the event by saying, “Driving against most
of these guys is a dream come true. “I grew up idolizing many of
them and it feels great to finally be right there with them”.
Dave Schneider, Wayne Szerencsits and Billy Weichert were heat race
winners. Mike Speeney was victorious in the consi.
Factory Stock drivers came out to support the 4th annual
Ed Makarewicz “Duct Tape 50” Memorial. Makarewicz passed away late
in 2005 and the yearly event is very prestigious at the speedway for
the class of drivers. Along with the regular purse, the Mac Brothers
Racing team collected lap money and other gifts for the drivers that
participate.
After several blown engines and bad luck throughout the season,
Kevin Makarewicz led the field to the drop of the green flag in the
double-points paying race.
His bad luck appeared to diminish for his father’s memorial event,
as he was still leading the pack on lap eleven. Wayne Lowe was in
second at the time, followed by Mike Moyer, Jr, Bob Wink and Brian
Brown.
That changed on lap sixteen when Makarewicz was shown the black flag
due to leaking fluid on the speedway. Overheating was the problem
and it is possible that another engine has expired for the race
team.
The change of events gave the race lead to Lowe, who was heavily
pursued by Moyer. Moyer took the lead on lap 36 and Lowe tucked in
to second, followed by Brown, Nick Ross and Wink.
Ross began to challenge Brown for third and shortly after Brown’s
engine went up in smoke, which brought out the caution on lap 40.
Green flag racing resumed and with a great start Lowe retook the
lead. It was short-lived however, as Moyer challenged back to gain
the advantage.
Ross joined the mix with the front-runners and the three battled
door-to-door over the remaining laps. Ross and Lowe swapped paint on
multiple occasions and Moyer, of Hazleton, PA held on to take the
win.
Ross ended up as the runner-up, followed by Lowe, Scott Adams and
Bob Wink.
Along with the race trophy, lap money and purse, Moyer also won a
leather Hoosier Racing jacket.
Heat race winners were Kevin Makarewicz and Wayne Lowe.
Will Schneider led the late model field to the drop of the green
flag in the 30-lap feature. Mitch Hawk used his outside front row
starting spot and powered into the race lead before a lap was
complete.
Hawk crossed the strip and led the first lap over Joe Hoffman, Mike
Sweeney, Schneider and Jerry Hildebrand.
Hoffman got by Hawk and took the race lead on lap two.
Hildebrand attempted to get by Schneider and made contact, which
sent Schneider into a spin on the backstretch. The lap five incident
forced both drivers restarted at the rear of the field.
Sweeney had moved into the runner-up spot by this point and overtook
Hoffman for the race lead on the restart.
Things didn’t get better for Hildebrand as the race went on. After
winning the main event in his last outing, he was forced pit side
with heavy damage on lap seven after collecting with Joe Burns in
turns three and four.
Sweeney, of Nesquehoning, PA was unchallenged over the closing laps
and went on to score his first win of the season over Hoffman. After
battling side-by-side with Hawk earlier in the event, Kyle Harvell
finished third, followed by Kevin Metzger and Will Schneider.
Joe Hoffman and Mike Sweeney won heat races.
Mike Tidaback led sixteen of his competitors to the start of the
25-lap TQ Midget main event. Tidaback led early on with Chris
Deritis, Austin Fehr and Tim Behmer in tow.
The caution flew on lap seven when Dave Williams lost a wheel on the
backstretch.
Green flag racing got back underway and on lap twelve Robin Johnston
took the lead. Matt Janisch had moved into the third spot and
Allison and Ian Cumens held fourth and fifth.
Trouble struck Johnston on lap eighteen and he was forced to
relinquish the lead and pull to the infield with mechanical woes.
The change of events put Tidaback back in command, but it was
short-lived. Janisch shot by and took command.
Janisch held on for the win, which was his second of the season at
the speedway. Tidaback finished second, followed by Alison Cumens,
Ian Cumens and Chris Deritis.
Robin Johnston and Austin Fehr were heat race winners.
Modified
(40-laps) 1. KYLE EBERSOLE 2. Bobby Jones 3. Andy Walko 4. Rusty Smith
5. Barry Callavini 6. Eric Kocher 7. Harry Buchman 8. Allan
Creveling 9. Mike Speeney 10. Mike Skarbowski 11. David Schneider
12. Lewis Hallock 13. Troy Bollinger 14. Billy Weichert 15. Nick
Pecko 16. Wayne Kocher 17.Brian DeFebo 18. Geary Rinehimer Sr 19.
Todd Baer 20. Wayne Szerencsits DNQ: Jim Bojohnny, Robert Fink
Ed Makarewicz
“Duct Tape 50” Factory Stock Memorial (50-laps)
1. MIKE MOYER, JR
2. Nick Ross 3. Wayne Lowe 4. Scott Adams 5. Bob Wink 6. Jeff
Searfoss 7. Jason Gould 8. Mike O'Byrne 9. Kendal Faulk 10. Brian
Brown 11. Eric Wink 12. Josh Oswald 13. Kevin Makarewicz
Late Model
(30-laps) 1. MIKE SWEENEY 2. Joe Hoffman 3. Kyle Harvell 4. Kevin
Metzger 5. William Schneider 6. Mitch Hawk 7. Jennifer Kutz 8. Rob
Koller 9. Jerry Hildebrand 10. Joseph Burns
TQ Midgets
(25-laps) 1. MATT JANISCH 2. Mike Tidaback 3. Alison Cummens 4. Ian
Cummens 5. Chris Deritis 6. Tim Behmer 7. Matthew Roselli 8. Paul
Lotier Jr 9. Jeff Kot 10. Austin Fehr 11. Tim Procter 12. Rudy
Botticher 13. Kyle Gardner 14. Frank Fischer 15. Dan Lane 16. Robin
Johnston 17.Dave Williams
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Speedway
Info
Sundance Vacations Speedway is a 1/3 mile asphalt oval located in the beautiful
mountains of northeast Pennsylvania. The speedway hosts exciting stock
car racing every weekend from April to October, making it one of NEPA's
premier entertainment attractions.
read more
Sundance Vacations Speedway
Mill Mountain Road
St Johns, PA 18247
full
directions & map
(570) 788-7544
Sundance Vacations
Speedway
is available to rent
to any team interested in testing their cars. To
schedule a date and time please call
the track office at (570)
788-7544.
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