Sundance Vacations Speedway- Awesome Asphalt Racing in The Pocono Foothills

Earl Paules Unstoppable At Sundance Vacations Speedway

By: Gene Ostrowski

July 3, 2010

After winning the Modified main event two weeks early and following it up a week later with two-straight Sport Modified features, it appears that Earl Paules of Palmerton is on a mission. Paules took the lead in the Modified feature on lap eight and cruised to his fourth victory of the season in the division Saturday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. Lehighton’s Scott Meckes extended his points lead by notching his first Street Stock victory of the year and Mike Kline of Lancaster scored his third FWD win of the season in the 30-lap, double-points event. Scott Hubler of Coplay notched his sixth-straight victory of the season in the Pennsylvania Asphalt Legends event.

Tommy Wanick III led the Modified field to the drop of the green flag in the 40-lap main event. With Wanick in command after a lap, Harry Buchman held the second spot, followed by Nick Pecko, Todd Baer and Earl Paules.

Buchman took the lead early on and with five laps in, Paules worked by Baer to take third. Only three laps later, he overtook Pecko for second before passing Buchman and moving to the race lead.

Paules set a blistering pace from the onset and the battle for second heated up. Buchman retained the runner up spot at halfway and tried to hold off advances from Bobby Jones, Kyle Ebersole and Baer.

Jones tried to work the outside groove around Buchman for second, yet he seemed relentless to give up the spot.

With only a handful of laps remaining and with Jones working the outside, Ebersole got underneath Buchman and moved into the second spot. However, contact was made and it became obvious that Ebersole had cut a rear tire.

The only yellow flag of the event waved when Ebersole spun from contention with three laps remaining. Green flag racing resumed with Paules in command over Buchman, Jones, Baer and Pecko.

Jones overtook Buchman for second on the restart and Paules cruised on to his fourth straight victory and second-straight in the division over Jones. Buchman was disqualified in post race tech, which gave the third position to Barry Callavini. Wayne Szerencsits and Pecko completed the top five.

Heat race victories went to Earl Paules and Nick Pecko.

Richie DiMarco started from the pole and led the opening lap of the 25-lap Street Stock feature. With one lap complete, Brian Wozniak held second, followed by Mitch Hawk, Brad Barbush and Scott Meckes.

Meckes began to pick off the competition and overtook Hawk for the second spot on lap four. Hawk began to slide back and Joe Barbush, Steve Shultz and Chip Wanamaker joined the top five.

Meckes saw an opening underneath DiMarco on lap seven and made the pass for the lead stick. Not long after, J. Barbush followed for second with Shultz and Wanamaker in tow.

J. Barbush reeled in the leader and stayed right with him over the closing laps. With the white flag in the air and with two corners remaining, J. Barbush tried a last-ditch effort to steal the victory and was not successful. Meckes went on to take the checkers in the caution-free event for his first win of the season over J. Barbush, Shultz, Wanamaker and DiMarco.

Heat race wins went to Chip Wanamaker and Scott Meckes.

Mitch Hawk picked up $50 when his finishing position was pulled in victory lane as part of the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.

As part as “Summer Racefest” at the speedway, the FWD division hit the track to run 30-laps for double points. Eric Banashefski sat on the pole and led the opening circuit with Brain Kunkel in second, followed by Robert Fink, Dave Freundt and Mike Kline.

Fink got by Kunkel on lap three and set his sights on the leader. It didn’t take long for Fink to overtake Banashefski and move into the top spot.

Meanwhile, Kline got underneath Banashefski for second on lap seven and set his sights on Fink, who had began to drive away from the rest of the field. Freundt moved to third with Kunkel and Banashefski in his mirror.

Kline reeled in the leader and took command on lap 18. Problems struck Fink shortly after and his car slowed on the track. He was forced to the infield with mechanical woes.

Untouched over the remaining laps of the caution-free show, Kline rolled on to take his third victory of the season. Freundt settled for second, followed by Kunkel, Bill Verwys, Jr. and Banashefski.

Eric Banashefski and Dave Freundt took heat race victories.

The Pennsylvania Asphalt Legends took to the speedway with a standstill start. Scott Hubler quickly jumped out to the early lead. Carl Jones experienced mechanical problems, which helped lead Hubler to his sixth-straight victory of the season.

Modified (40-laps) 1. EARL PAULES 2. Bobby Jones 3. Barry Callavini 4. Wayne Szerencsits 5. Nick Pecko 6. Tommy Wanick III 7. Kyle Ebersole 8. Todd Baer 9. Tom Casagrande 10. Ken Vogel Jr 11. Jim Bojohnny DQ: Harry Buchman

Street Stock (25-laps) 1. SCOTT MECKES 2. Joe Barbush 3. Steve Shultz 4. Chip Wanamaker 5. Rich DiMarco 6. Brad Barbush 7. Mitch Hawk 8. Kevin Higgins 9. Brian Wozniak 10. Nick Ross 11. Mike Garris Sr 12. Robert Fink 13. Brian Brown 14. Robert Haueisen 15. Jeff McGrath 16. Shaun Burd DNS: Josh Oswald

FWD (30-laps) 1. MIKE KLINE 2. Dave Freundt 3. Brian Kunkel 4. Bill Verwys 5. Eric Banashefski 6. Jay Skupski 7. John Smith 8. Joe Katona 9. Robert Fink 10. Frank Katona

P.A.L. Legends 1. SCOTT HUBLER 2. Carl Jones