Sundance Vacations Speedway- Awesome Asphalt Racing in The Pocono Foothills

Earl Paules Snags Modified Event at Sundance Vacations Speedway

By: Gene Ostrowski

April 11, 2010

As the old saying goes, ‘the fastest car doesn’t always win the race’. That was definitely the case Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway when Earl Paules of Palmerton walked away as the winner in the Modified feature event after the fastest car, Kyle Ebersole crashed out of the event. Always a nail biter to the finish, Joe Barbush of Drums edged out Richie DiMarco to take the Street Stock verdict and Bill Verwys, Jr. of Stroudsburg overtook his brother Pete to notch the 4-cyl. FWD victory. Matt Janisch took no mercy on the Wingless Micro Sprint field and drove away in a dominating performance.

Kyle Ebersole ran the quickest lap during time trials on Saturday and had to roll the dice, which decided the invert for the feature lineup. Ebersole rolled a nine, which put Jimmy Zacharias on the pole for the 40-lap main event.

Zacharias led the opening lap over Brian DeFebo, Andy Walko, Earl Paules and Rusty Smith before the yellow flag waved for a pair of lap four cautions. Green flag racing resumed and Walko overtook Zacharias for the race lead.

Another pair of yellows came next when Pete Brittain encountered problems and slowed on the speedway and another followed when Dave Schneider spun in turn three.

The lap seven restart gave DeFebo the opportunity that he needed, and he overtook Walko for the lead on lap eight.

Larry Fisher started the race in seventh and quickly cracked the top five, as he ran behind DeFebo as the runner up on lap 11, with Walko, Ebersole and Paules in tow.

It was evident that DeFebo didn’t have the quickest car mid race, yet the three time Modified champion continued to hold off his competition. That changed when Ebersole and Paules overtook Walko for second and third with ten laps remaining.

Both Ebersole and Fisher appeared to be driving rockets and began to challenge for the lead. Paules was right in the mix as well, sitting in fourth. With only five laps remaining and while trying to block the two behind him off of turn 2, the three cars tangled. When it was all said and done, both Fisher and DeFebo were forced to restart from the rear off the field, while Ebersole’s car was delivered back to the pit area by two tow trucks.

Paules inherited the race lead and never looked back as he took the opening day victory over Walko. Todd Baer pitted earlier in the event and drove toward the front to finish third, followed by Darren Scherer and Nick Pecko.

Pete Brittain won the consi.

Chip Wanamaker ran the fastest Street Stock qualifying lap on Saturday and the rolled a four for the invert, which put Scott Meckes on the pole for the 25-lap Street Stock feature. Meckes held the lead for two circuits before Richie DiMarco overtook him.

The first of two cautions flew on lap eight when Jim Yamelski received a flat tire. Green flag racing resumed and Joe Barbush got by Meckes for the runner up spot.

Chip Wanamaker moved to third following a lap 11 restart and Steve Shultz worked into fifth, just behind Meckes.

It appeared that Barbush had a faster car, yet drove patiently behind the leader. Barbush began to set up a pass with two laps remaining and drover up alongside DiMarco on the white flag lap.

Not knowing what to expect through the final two corners, the two drivers crossed the finish line side-by-side and Barbush came out with the victory. DiMarco finished a very close second, followed by Wanamaker, Meckes and Shultz.

Dave Freundt ran the quickest 4 cyl. FWD lap on Saturday and rolled a three for the field invert in the 20-lap main. Eric Banashefski started on the pole with Mike Kline in tow. Following a quick caution, Kline attempted to overtake the leader in turn three and spun out, which forced him to join the rear of the field for the restart. Freundt took the race lead.

Bill Verwys, Jr. moved to the second spot and began to put pressure on the leader. Verwys tagged Freundt in turns one and two, which brought out a lap four yellow. Both drivers joined the back of the field and Robert Fink became the new race leader.

The restart got ugly for Freundt when both he and Joe Katona crashed while coming out of turn 4. Both drivers were forced to retire with significant damage to their race cars.

Fink led at halfway, followed by Pete Verwys, Banashefski, Nikki Sage and Kline, yet there was a new leader on the following lap when racing contact between the top two brought out a lap 11 yellow.

P. Verwys continued out front and then the yellow waved for the final time when Kline and Sager tangled in turns three and four. The turn of events put Banashefski back into second, followed by B. Verwys.

B. Verwys overtook Banashefski for second and then set his sights on his brother, Pete. P. Verwys attempted to block B. Verwys when the duo headed down the backstretch on the final lap. The two touched and P. Verwys headed toward the infield. He drove back on to the surface to challenge for the lead.

The two crossed the strip side-by-side with Bill taking the victory over Pete. Banashefski held on to finish third, followed by Harry O’Neill and Fink.

A handful of Wingless Micro Sprints came out to the speedway for a 20-lap feature. Mainly run on dirt through out the area, the wingless cars have several shows scheduled at the speedway this season.

Matt Janisch took the race lead early and was uncontested, as he cruised to the victory over Ed Wilberg and Mark Janisch.

The Wingless Micro Sprints will be back in action on Sunday, April 18.

Modified (40-Laps) 1. EARL PAULES 2. Andy Walko 3. Todd Baer 4. Daren Scherer 5. Nick Pecko 6. Larry Fisher 7. Jimmy Zacharias 8. Tommy Wanick III 9. Brian DeFebo 10. Mike Speeney 11. Marissa Niederauer 12. David Schneider 13. Barry Callavini 14. Kyle Ebersole 15. Harry Buchman 16. Lew Hallock 17.Rich Parker 18. Rusty Smith 19. Pete Brittain 20. Bobby Jones DNQ: Jim Bojohnny, Allan Creveling

Street Stock (25-Laps) 1. JOE BARBUSH 2. Rich DiMarco 3. Chip Wanamaker 4. Scott Meckes 5. Steve Shultz 6. Robert Fink 7. Mitch Hawk 8. Kevin Higgins 9. Jim Yamelski 10. Jeff McGrath 11. Mike Garris Sr 12. Darryl Schwarz 13. Josh Oswald 14. Brian Brown 15. Robert Haueisen

4 Cyl FWD (20-Laps) 1. BILL VERWYS, JR 2. Peter Verwys 3. Eric Banashefski 4. Harry O'Neill 5. Robert Fink 6. Mike Kline 7. Justin Hughes 8. Nikki Sager 9. Jay Skupski 10. John Smith 11. Curtis McCormick 12. Joe Katona 13. Dave Freundt

Wingless Micro Sprints (20-Laps) 1. MATT JANISCH 2. Edward Wilberg 3. Mark Janisch