Sundance Vacations Speedway- Awesome Asphalt Racing in The Pocono Foothills

Brian Sones Pulls of First Career Sundance Sport Modified Victory

By: Gene Ostrowski

May 30, 2010

After going a lap down and finishing his first Sport Modified Feature two weeks ago, Brian Sones of Sandy Valley asked his father to put his engine back in his Street Stock. Dad declined and Brian, a former two-time victor in the Street Stocks set out Sunday with hopes of earning a top ten finish at Sundance Vacations Speedway. To the surprise of many, Sones not only earned his first top ten, but also went on to capture the checkered flag, picking up his first career Sport Modified main event win. After weeks of frustration and disappointment, Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning threatened to cut up his Late Model if it wasn’t competitive in the feature. It appears that Sweeney’s car will remain intact because he notched his first feature win of the season. White Haven’s Jeff Searfoss held off Paul Morgan, Jr. and scored his first Factory Stock win in nearly 16 years and Scott Hubler of Coplay pulled the hat trick and scored his third consecutive Pennsylvania Asphalt Legends Series victory.

Brian Sones led the Sport Modified field to the drop of the green flag in the 40-lap main event. Todd Baer quickly tucked in behind the leader with Barry Callavini, Nick Pecko and Jason Hearne in tow.

Pecko slid back a few spots in the early going and Mike Skarbowski grabbed fifth before five laps were complete.

The first of four yellow flags waved when Pecko got turned around on the front stretch. Green flag racing resumed and from the outside line, Baer edged out Sones for the race lead on the following lap. However, Baer relinquished the lead to Sones and was also overtaken by Hearn for second.

A turn three spin by Scott Brannick brought out another caution on lap 21. Sones remained out front at that point in the event. Baer has since overtaken Hearne for second. Skarbowski quietly worked into the third spot with Hearn and Ricky Ross, Jr. in fifth.

The last 18 laps were run caution free and Sones, who had never scored a top ten finish while behind the wheel of a Sport Modified held off Baer to claim his first career open wheel victory. Skarbowski, Hearne and Ross rounded out the top five.

“We realized the other night that the car was badly bent in the rear”, said Kenny Sones who is Brian’s father. “We weren’t going to run today so we can get it fixed, but instead Gordy (Buchman) rented the track yesterday and allowed us to come up also”.

Along with straightening out the car and bolting on four fresh tires, the practice definitely paid off and helped the team earn the $1000 victory.

Brian Sones and Earl Paules were heat race winners.

As long as he meets the program requirements, CJ Lacatvia will pick up $50 because his finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.

Craig Lutz started from the pole position and led the Late Model field to the drop of the green flag for the 30-lap feature. Lutz lurched out to the early lead followed by Austin Kochenash, Kyle Harvell, Mike Sweeney and Joe Burns.

Sweeney quickly disposed of Harvell and Kochenash and then the caution flew for a racing incident in turn three. Both Todd Geist and Lorin Arthofer headed pit side with damage.

Green flag racing resumed and Sweeney quickly overtook Burns for the lead. However, another yellow flew when Jerry Hildebrand spun in turns one and two. Todd Stehle and Dave Macomber were also collected.

With the green flag back in the air, Justin Onderko climbed to second, followed by Kochenash, Lutz and Arthofer.

The final yellow of the afternoon flew when Mike Coll, who was obviously fighting a tight racecar, climbed the front stretch wall and rode it for at least half the straightaway. Amazingly, Coll hit the pits for a new right front tire and came back out on the speedway.

Unsuccessful, Onderko tried all that he could over the closing laps to catch the leader. Sweeney went on to pick up not only his first feature win of the season, but also the $800 payday for his efforts. Onderko was forced to settle for second, followed by Kochenash, Arthofer and Macomber.

Craig Lutz and Mike Sweeney were heat race winners.

As long as he meets the program requirements, Craig Lutz will pick up $50 because his finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.

From the pole position, Ken Kleppinger led the opening lap of the 20-lap Factory Stock feature over Eric Wink, Jeff Searfoss, Brandon Oltra and Keith Frankenfield.

Things began to get hairy for the leaders over the next few laps. While trying to hold on to an ill handling racecar and also to the race lead, Kleppinger got out of shape. Several drivers behind him checked up. Searfoss took advantage of the situation and peddled into second.

Searfoss made the pass for the lead stick on the fifth circuit.

With eight laps down, Kleppinger held the point over sixth place starter, Paul Morgan, Jr. Kleppinger ran third followed by Wink and Oltra.

Morgan reeled in the leader and the two crossed the strip side-by-side with Searfoss taking the victory in the caution-free contest. Oltra finished third, followed by Wink. Matt Schlenker overtook Kleppinger to complete the top five.

The win was momentous for Searfoss, who last won a feature event nearly 16 years ago. His last victory was on June 25, 1994.

Paul Morgan, Jr. and Brandon Oltra were heat race winners.

Brandon Oltra picked up $50 because his finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.

Carl Jones started from the pole position and led the fist seven laps over Scott Hubler in the 15-lap Pennsylvania Asphalt Legends Series feature. Jones got out of shape and that’s all Hubler needed to make a bid for the lead.

Hubler went on to take the victory and force Jones to finish as the runner-up. The win marks the third straight for Hubler, who is undefeated in the division so far this season.

Hubler also picked up $50 because his finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.

Sport Modifieds (40-Laps) 1. BRIAN SONES 2. Todd Baer 3. Mike Skarbowski 4. Jason Hearne 5. Ricky Ross Jr 6. Mike Speeney 7. Nick Pecko 8. Earl Paules 9. Barry Callavini 10. CJ Lacatvia 11. Rob Schultz 12. Paul Frantz 13. William Schneider 14. Scott Brannick 15. Pat Verwys DNS: Geary Rinehimer

Late Model (30-Laps ) 1. MIKE SWEENEY 2. Justin Onderko 3. Austin Kochenash 4. Lorin Arthofer 5. Dave Macomber 6. Craig Lutz 7. Joe Burns 8. Mike Coll 9. Todd Stehle 10. Kyle Harvell 11. Jerry Hildebrand 12. Adam Cox 13. Todd Geist DNS: Geno Steigerwalt

Factory Stock (20-Laps) 1. JEFF SEARFOSS 2. Paul Morgan Jr 3. Brandon Oltra 4. Eric Wink 5. Matt Schlenker 6. Ken Kleppinger 7. Keith Frankenfield 8. Kendall Foulk 9. Richard Paciotti DNS: Dean Kline

P.A.L. Legends (15-Laps) 1. Scott Hubler 2. Carl Jones