Sundance Vacations Speedway- Awesome Asphalt Racing in The Pocono Foothills

Mike Skarbowski Emerges with First Career Sport Modified Victory at Sundance

By: Gene Ostrowski

July 24, 2010

Unseasonably high temperatures didn’t stop the drivers and fans from coming out to support the 1/3-mile asphalt oval Saturday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. In a dominating performance, Mike Skarbowski of Upper Black Eddy emerged with his first career $1000 Sport Modified feature victory. Lorin Arthofer of Bethlehem went on to claim his second straight $800 prize and Paul Morgan, Jr. of Mountaintop extended his points lead with his fourth Factory Stock victory of the season.

Brian Sones started on the pole position and led the opening lap of the 40-lap Sport Modified feature event over Geary Rinehimer, Will Schneider, Mike Skarbowski and Jerry Hildebrand.

With one lap complete, Skarbowski disposed of Schneider and moved into the third spot and two laps later, Jason Hearne overtook Nick Pecko for fifth.

With Sones still out front, Skarbowski got by Rinehimer for the runner up position on lap eight and then set his sights on the leader.

Skarbowski reeled in Sones and jumped to the outside. The two dueled wheel-to-wheel for several laps before Skarbowski made the lead changing pass work on lap 17. Hildebrand had worked up to the third spot by this point in the race with Hearne and Todd Baer right behind.

The caution flag flew on lap 30 when Rinehimer and CJ Lacatvia tangled in turn three. Track officials noticed something leaking from Sones’ machine under the yellow flag and directed him into the pits to get checked out. He was forced to give up the second spot.

The change of events moved Jason Hearne up to second, followed by Hildebrand, Baer and Ricky Ross, Jr.

Despite pressure from Hearne following the restart, Skarbowski held on to claim his first career Sport Modified victory after nearly three seasons of trying. Hearne finished in the second spot, followed by Ross, Baer and Hildebrand.

Heat race victories went to Brian Sones and Nick Pecko.

From the pole position, Adam Cox led a hungry pack of Late Model racers to the drop of the green flag in the 30-lap feature. Heading into turn three, the top four drivers raced four wide and side-by-side for the lead. The fist to back out was Kyle Harvell and Craig Lutz jumped into the lead. Jim Lamoreaux climbed to second and Justin Onderko held fourth.

Lamoreaux wasted no time and took the lead from Lutz on lap one and then Onderko overtook Harvell for the second spot on lap four.

Fighting tooth and nail for position behind Lamoreaux on lap seven, Onderko held second, followed by Joe Hoffman, Mike Sweeney and Harvell.

The first yellow of the event waved on lap 13 when Onderko spun in turns three and four while racing door to door with the leader. The change of events moved Lorin Arthofer to the point. However, the caution waved again after the restart when Arthofer and Lamoreaux tangled on the backstretch. At one point Arthofer had only two wheels on the ground and the other two were on the Lamoreaux machine. Amazingly, both drivers continued following the incident.

The change of events gave the lead to Hoffman, who was making his first start of the season.

Hoffman led over Arthofer following the restart, but the second place driver made the race-winning pass on lap 22. Arthofer went on to take his second straight victory over Hoffman, Sweeney, Harvell and Lutz.

Heat race victories went to Justin Onderko and Jim Lamoreaux.

With double points on the line and an extended race distance of 30-laps, Matt Schlenker started from the pole position and led the opening lap of the Factory Stock feature over Joey Barbush, Paul Morgan, Jr, Brandon Oltra and Dean Kline.

Morgan got by Barbush for second on lap one and then worked his way toward the leader.

While working the outside line, Morgan overtook Schlenker in turn one on the fourth circuit before distancing himself from the rest of the field.

Schlenker continued to run in second, followed by Barbush, Oltra and Eric Wink.

The battle raged on for the third spot over the closing laps, which brought out a yellow flag with two laps remaining when Oltra and Barbush tangled in turns three and four.

Green flag racing resumed and Morgan remained unstoppable and cruised to his fourth win of the season. Schlenker finished a career-best second, followed by Wink, Oltra and Barbush.

Hest race victories went to Paul Morgan, Jr. and Eric Wink.

Ricky Ross, Jr. and Joe Hoffman each picked up $50 as part of the Sundance vacations Contingency Program.

Sport Modifieds (40-laps) 1. MIKE SKARBOWSKI 2. Jason Hearne 3. Ricky Ross Jr 4. Todd Baer 5. Jerry Hildebrand 6. Mike Speeney 7. Nick Pecko 8. Dan Speeney 9. Barry Callavini 10. Geary Rinehimer 11. Kevin Ritchie 12. William Schneider 13. Brian Sones 14. CJ Lacatvia

Late Models (30-laps) 1. LORIN ARTHOFER 2. Joe Hoffman 3. Mike Sweeney 4. Kyle Harvell 5. Craig Lutz 6. Jim Lamoreaux 7. Justin Onderko 8. Adam Cox 9. Todd Geist 10. Jerry Hildebrand 11. Frank Katona DNS: Zane Zeiner

Factory Stocks (30-laps) 1. PAUL MORGAN, JR. 2. Matt Schlenker 3. Eric Wink 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Joe Barbush 6. Dean Kline 7. Kermit Jacoby 8. Kendall Foulk 9. Keith Frankenfield