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Todd Baer Wins First Career Modified Main Event
By: Gene Ostrowski
August 1, 2009
He’s held the checkered flag many times after winning heat races yet
a feature event has eluded him. That changed Saturday night at
Sundance Vacations Speedway when Todd Baer overtook Bobby Jones with
five laps remaining to score his first career Modified main event.
Zane Zeiner grabbed the race lead from Jerry Hildebrand and never
looked back to capture the Late Model feature and Bob Wink endured
the competition to notch his first career Factory Stock feature
victory. Robin Johnston held off Ian Cumens and visited victory lane
in the TQ Midget main.
Wayne Szerencsits started on the pole and took an early lead in the
40-lap Modified main event. With one lap completed, Nick Pecko held
second, followed by Harry Buchman, Allan Creveling and Pete
Brittain.
Pecko overtook Szerencsits for the race lead on a lap six restart
and the two swapped the top spot several times over the next few
circuits, then Pecko retook command on lap eight. Brittain moved
into third with Kyle Ebersole and Brian DeFebo in pursuit.
Brittain fought Szerencsits for second and attempted to take the
race lead from Pecko in turn four on lap 11. Pecko spun and was
forced to restart from the tail end of the field. Track officials
felt that there was contact from Brittain that played part in the
incident and he was sent to the rear of the field as well. The
change of events moved DeFebo into the race lead.
DeFebo seemed untouchable as he held off Szerencsits, Bobby Jones,
Todd Baer and Barry Callavini. However, his great run went sour when
he spun in turn two on lap 28 due to a flat right rear tire. DeFebo
headed to the pits and the lead went back to Szerencsits.
While feeling
pressure from Jones, Szerencsits fell off of the pace on lap 33.
However, Jones’ lead over Baer at that point was short-lived and
Baer, of New
Tripoli, PA
took the race lead with five laps remaining to notch his first ever
Modified victory over Jones. Brittain made a charge through the
field to finish third, followed by Ebersole and Callavini.
Todd Baer and Nick Pecko were heat race winners.
Mitch Hawk paced the field of Late Models to the drop of the green
flag in the double-points 50-lap feature event. Hawk lurched out
from the gate with the race lead and held the top spot until lap
six, when Jerry Hildebrand overtook him.
Zane Zeiner raced into the second spot, dropping Hawk to third and
Joe Hoffman and Mike Sweeney followed closely.
The first of only two caution periods came when Jason Zastko spun in
turn two on lap 12. Green flag racing resumed with Hildebrand
leading over Zeiner, Hoffman, Sweeney and Hawk.
Time and time again, Zeiner tried to find a line that would get him
by Hildebrand. Hildebrand slid up the track a bit on lap 28 and
Zeiner pounced on the opportunity and took command of the event.
The yellow flag flew five laps later when Joe Burns spun after very
intense racing with Hawk in turn one. Hoffman was running in the top
five at the time and headed to the pits. He rejoined the field
before green flag racing resumed.
Zeiner, of Bath, PA was untouchable over the remaining laps and
cruised to his second straight Late Model victory of the season over
Hildebrand, Sweeney, Kevin Metzger and Hoffman.
Heat race wins went to Mitch Hawk and Joe Hoffman.
Heading into turn one in the 20-lap Factory Stock feature. Eric Wink
drove to the bottom side of polesitter, Kendal Faulk. The two made
contact and Faulk shot up the speedway.
Unfortunately, points leader, Mike Moyer, Jr. happened to be in the
wrong place at the wrong time. Faulk’s car slammed into Moyers,
which sent him into the retaining wall. With a broken axle, Moyer
was towed to the pits and out of contention for the race win.
O’Byrne inherited the top spot for the complete restart with Jay
Gould in second. Gould tried to overtake the leader on the second
circuit and the two spun while coming off of turn two. The yellow
flag flew and Bob Wink moved from third into the race lead.
Despite two restarts following quick cautions, B. Wink, of Palm, PA
held off Kermit Jacoby, E. Wink, Gould and O’Byrne to score his
first career Factory Stock feature win.
Looking to score his second TQ Midget main event win of the season,
Robin Johnston started from the pole position in the Typhoon Digital
Studio Lighting 25-lap feature.
Johnston shot out to the early lead over Bing Metz, Kyle Gardner,
Mike Roselli, Jr. and Ian Cumens.
The top ten drivers sliced and diced their way through traffic early
on until the first and only yellow flag of the event waved on lap 15
for Steve Craig. Green flag racing resumed and Johnston continued to
lead.
Cumens pulled a daring move, which moved him by Frank Fischer and
Metz and into second following the restart.
Cumens began to reel in Johnston, but ran out of time. Johnston went
on to win his second race of the speedway. Cumens finished a
career-best second, followed by Matt Janisch, Tim Behmer and Bing
Metz.
Heat race victories went to Robin Johnston and Ian Cumens.
Modified
(40-Laps)
1. TODD BAER 2. Bobby Jones 3. Pete Brittain 4.
Kyle Ebersole 5. Barry Callavini 6. Lewis Hallock 7. Brian DeFebo 8.
Nick Pecko 9. Jerry Woody 10. Amber Levandowski 11. Allan Creveling
12. Jim Bojohnny 13. Wayne Szerencsits 14. Harry Buchman 15. Geary
Rinehimer Jr. 16. Mike Quinn 17.Tom Casagrande
Late Model (50-Laps) 1. ZANE ZEINER 2. Jerry Hildebrand 3. Mike
Sweeney 4. Kevin Metzger 5. Joe Hoffman 6. Mitch Hawk 7. Joseph
Burns 8. Kyle Harvell 9. Jennifer Kutz 10. Jason Zastko
Factory
Stock (20-Laps)
1. BOB WINK 2. Kermit Jacoby 3. Eric Wink 4. Jason Gould 5. Mike
O'Byrne 6. Kendal Foulk 7. Mike Moyer Jr.
TQ
Midgets (25-Laps)
1. ROBIN JOHNSTON 2. Ian Cummens 3. Matt Janisch 4. Tim Behmer 5.
Bing Metz 6. Alison Cummens 7. Austin Fehr 8. Frank Fischer 9. Paul
Lotier Jr 10. Matthew Roselli 11. Kyle Gardner 12. Rudy Botticher
13. Jeff Kot 14. Steve Craig 15. Mike Roselli Jr 16. Howard Boss
17.Mark Janisch 18. Mike Tidaback
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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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