Sundance Vacations Speedway- Awesome Asphalt Racing in The Pocono Foothills

Jerry Hildebrand Wires Sundance Sport Modified Event

By: Gene Ostrowski

August 21, 2010

After starting off the season as a victor in the Late Model division, Jerry Hildebrand of Wapwallopen reached victory lane once again this season. However, this time as a rookie driver in the Sport Modified division when he took the checkered flag Saturday night at Sundance Vacations Speedway. Zane Zeiner of Bath took the Late Model lead in the early laps and dominated the event to win his second straight feature in the division and Paul Morgan, Jr. of Mountaintop continued his Factory Stock hot streak by taking his sixth win of the season.

Jerry Hildebrand started form the pole and led the opening circuit of the 40-lap Sport Modified main event. Brian Sones started second and kept his car on the outside in an attempt to get by the leader. Nick Pecko held third, followed by Dan Speeney and Jason Hearne.

Hearne overtook Speeney for fourth on the fifth lap.

Sones worked over Hildebrand for the race lead and the leader threw blocks as needed. While racing hard in turn three, Sones got a wheel underneath the leader. There was contact and the end result was a broken tie rod end for Sones, who was forced to the pit area on lap 10.

Green flag racing resumed with Hildebrand out fron over Pecko, Hearne, Speeney and Todd Baer.

The second and final yellow waved when Ricky Ross, Jr. spun in turns one and two. Will Schneider was collected as well. Unfortunately, Ross, who came into the day as the division points leader, could not continue.

With the green flag back out, Hearne and Pecko battled for the runner up spot and both held the position at one point. Eventually, Pecko climbed back into second and drove to the back bumper of the leader.

Unable to make the race winning pass, Pecko was forced to settle for second. Hearne, Baer and Barry Callavini completed the top five.

Although he’s driven in many divisions over the years, as a Sport Modified rookie, it was the first win in the division for Hildebrand.

Jerry Hildebrand and Nick Pecko took heat race victories.

Todd Geist started from the pole position and led the opening circuit of the 30-lap Late Model feature. Kyle Harvell held second with Geno Steigerwalt, Justin Onderko and Craig Lutz in tow.

Following two quick cautions, Harvell grabbed the lead on lap three. However, it was short-lived, as tenth place starter Zane Zeiner took command on the following circuit.

Harvell tucked into the second spot and Lorin Arthofer worked his way to third. Mike Sweeney held fourth and then everything broke loose on lap 12.

Sweeney received a flat tire and slowed on the speedway. Sweeney was nearly stopped on the backstretch and just as the yellow flag flew, Steigerwalt motored out of turn two and collided with Sweeney. With nowhere to go, Adam Cox then plowed into Steigerwalt. The initial hit with Sweeney was very intense and the damage to both vehicles was severe.

The red flag was displayed and the ambulance immediately headed on track.

At one point Sweeney’s car caught fire and he exited the vehicle and rolled on the speedway. Likewise, Steigerwalt exited his car and laid on the track. Despite very torn up racecars, neither driver received serious injury.

Green flag racing resumed after the extended red flag period and then the yellow waved again when Harvell spun in turn one. With the green back out, Joe Hoffman began to charge to the front and climbed to the second spot.

Arthofer held third on lap 19 with Onderko and Lutz in his mirror.

A quick yellow waved with two laps to go, which gave Hoffman the opportunity to have another shot at Zeiner. However, Hoffman’s car went up in smoke on the final lap and Zeiner drove away with his second straight victory over Arthofer, Onderko, Lutz and Harvell.

Zane Zeiner and Justin Onderko were heat race winners.

The 20-lap Factory Stock feature began with the legendary Dean Kline leading the opening lap over Brandon Oltra, Matt Schlenker, Kermit Jacoby and Paul Morgan, Jr.

Oltra got Kline out of shape and then drove underneath to take the race lead on lap four. Schlenker followed to take second and Morgan pulled through to grab third.

The yellow flag flew when Paul Hartwig, Jr. spun in turn two on the fifth lap. Green flag racing resumed and Morgan pulled off a stunning three-wide pass to grab the lead in turn one.

Despite several quick cautions through out the event, Morgan cruised to his sixth win of the season over Jacoby, Schlenker, Oltra and Eric Wink.

Heat race victories went to Matt Schlenker and Paul Morgan, Jr.

As long as they meet the program requirements, the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program winners were Kevin Ritchie and Francis Gross III.

Sport Modified (40-laps) 1. JERRY HILDEBRAND 2. Nick Pecko 3. Jason Hearne 4. Todd Baer 5. Barry Callavini 6. Dan Speeney 7. Kevin Ritchie 8. Gordan Buchman Jr 9. Pat Verwys 10. Ricky Ross Jr 11. William Schneider 12. Brian Sones DNS: Mike Speeney

Late Model (30-laps) 1. ZANE ZEINER 2. Lorin Arthofer 3. Justin Onderko 4. Craig Lutz 5. Kyle Harvell 6. Francis Gross III 7. Joe Hoffman 8. Todd Geist 9. Adam Cox 10. Rick Smith 11. Joe Polny 12. Mike Sweeney 13. Geno Steigerwalt 14. Kevin Metzger

Factory Stock (20-laps) 1. PAUL MORGAN, JR 2. Kermit Jacoby 3. Matt Schlenker 4. Brandon Oltra 5. Eric Wink 6. Dean Kline 7. Paul Hartwig Jr 8. Joe Barbush 9. Joe D'Angelo 10. Kendall Foulk