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Todd Baer Has
First Finish Outside the Top 10 at Sundance
(8/28/10)- In what
most would call the closest modified racing of the season at
Sundance Vacations Speedway, the Jersey Outlaw, “Pistol” Pete
Brittain held off Bobby Jones and company to score the $1800 cone
race win Saturday on the 1/3-mile oval. In hard charger form, Steve
Shultz of Drums came from the 13th starting spot to notch
his third Street Stock feature win of the season and Mike Kline of
Lancaster claimed his fourth FWD main event victory of the year.
Coplay’s Scott Hubler continued his winning ways and grabbed his
seventh P.A.L. Legends victory of the season.
Time trails and
then a redraw at intermission set the staring lineup for the 50-lap
Modified main event.
Pete Brittain time
trialed quickest with a lap of 13.619 seconds and picked the outside
pole for his starting spot. Barry Callavini drew the pole position.
The green flag flew
and Callavini led the opening lap over Brittain, Bobby Jones, Nick
Pecko and Earl Paules. Paules moved to the fourth spot a few laps
later and Kyle Ebersole joined the top five by lap 10.
Brittain hounded
Callavini and jumped to the outside to make a bid at the lead. His
outside pass was successful and he took the top spot on lap 17.
Several weeks prior
to the event, track officials announced that the race would be a
cone race, where drivers got to choose the inside or outside lanes
for restarts, which can really shake up the positions for restarts.
However, with 30 laps into the race and without a caution flag, it
appeared that the fans might be let down.
That changed when
Jim Bojohnny spun on the backstretch with 15 laps to go.
The drama was
expected to unfold, but the only driver in the top six who chose to
advance a position by taking the outside lane was Zane Zeiner, who
gave up his fifth spot to line up fourth, in the outside groove.
Green flag racing
resumed with Brittain in front over Jones, Ebersole, Zeiner and
Paules. The top five ran hot and heavy, door-to-door, and
wheel-to-wheel. The intensity rose as Jones continued to keep his
car on the high side with hopes of finding a lane around the leader.
The yellow flag
waved on lap 44 when Dave Schneider spun in turn one. While trying
to avoid the spin, Geary Rinehimer made contact with the outside
wall and retired from the event.
Most drivers chose
the inside line for the restart but not Pecko. Instead, Pecko chose
the outside and moved from seventh to fourth for the restart.
Despite several
attempts to take the race lead from both Jones and Ebersole over the
closing laps, Brittain went on to claim the victory for his first of
the season at the speedway. Jones was forced to settle for a
runner-up effort, followed by Ebersole, Pecko and Zeiner.
Modified
(50-laps) 1. PETE BRITTAIN 2. Bobby Jones 3. Kyle Ebersole 4. Nick
Pecko 5. Zane Zeiner 6. Earl Paules 7. Barry Callavini 8. Allen
Creveling 9. Marc Rogers 10. CJ Jones 11. David Schneider 12. Todd
Baer 13. Rich Parker 14. Keith Bachman 15. Jim Bojohnny 16. Geary
Rinehimer 17.Wayne Szerencsits 18. Ryan Russo
Baer
Nets 4th Place Sport Modified Finish
(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 front 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.
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
Todd Baer
Nets Another Top 5 in the Modified at Sundance
(8/14/10)-
Showcased by the popular annual Autograph and Camera night, fans
flocked out to witness great side-by-side racing at Sundance
vacations Speedway on Saturday. Earl Paules of Palmerton overtook
Kyle Ebersole with two laps remaining to take the checkered flag in
the Modified feature. In what most would call a dramatic finish, Joe
Barbush of Drums led the final 50 yards of the Street Stock feature
to take the win and Dave Freundt of Lehighton took the checkers in
the FWD main.
Tommy
Wanick III led the first circuit of the 40-lap Modified feature
before he was overtaken by Kyle Ebersole. However, Ebersole knew
that eventually he’d have to deal with Earl Paules, who is known as
a hard charger at the track.
Paules grabbed the fourth spot on lap five and then shot by Wanick
to take second three laps later.
The caution flag flew when Barry Callavini and Dave Schneider
tangled. Several drivers headed to the pits under the yellow,
including Todd Baer and Bobby Jones.
Green flag racing resumed and at Ebersole continued out front at
halfway, followed closely by Paules, Zane Zeiner and Nick Pecko.
Following some late race yellows and with ten laps remaining,
Paules nudged Ebersole, hoping to get him out of shape. Ebersole
held the lead but with two laps remaining Paules made the $1500 pass
stick and went on to take the checkered flag for his fifth Modified
win of the season.
Ebersole finished a strong second, followed by Zeiner, Pecko and
Baer.
Heat race wins went to Tommy Wanick III and Nick Pecko.
Modified
(40-laps) 1. Earl Paules 2. Kyle Ebersole 3. Zane Zeiner 4. Nick Pecko
5. Todd Baer 6. Barry Callavini 7. David Schneider 8. Allen
Creveling 9. Geary Rinehimer 10. Bobby Jones 11. Keith Bachman 12.
Jim Bojohnny 13. Tommy Wanick III 14. Tom Casagrande
Todd Baer earns 6th
Place Sport Modified Effort at Sundance
(8/7/2010)- Double
points, $900 to win and a 50-lap feature was the main focus for the
Late Model division on Weis Markets Night last Saturday at Sundance
Vacations Speedway. When it was all said and done, Zane Zeiner of
Bath, PA led flag to flag and took top honors. Ricky Ross, Jr. of
Mountaintop, PA endured many cautions to claim his second Sport
Modified feature win of the season and Paul Morgan, Jr. of
Mountaintop, PA earned his fifth Factory Stock victory of the year.
Brian Sones
started from the pole and led the opening lap of the Sport Modified
main event. Dan Speeney held the second spot in the early going,
followed by Geary Rinehimer, Jr., Nick Pecko and Ricky Ross, Jr.
Jerry Hildebrand
worked his way up to the fourth position and was overtaken by Ross
for the position on lap 10.
Nick Pecko worked
into the second spot. However, he was forced pit side with
mechanical issues during a lap 12 caution.
Up to that point
in the race, a slew of yellow flags slowed the event, which kept the
field of cars tight together restart after restart. Sones remained
out front with D. Speeney in second.
Following a lap 14
yellow, Ross, who held the third spot at the time, overtook D.
Speeney for second. Two laps later he shot by Sones and into the
lead.
Yellow flag after
yellow flag, Ross held his line and held on to the race lead.
Meanwhile, Mike Speeney cracked the top five, as did Todd Baer. M.
Speeney overtook Sones for second following a lap 24 restart.
The yellow flew on
lap 37 when Jerry Hildebrand slammed the front stretch wall.
Hildebrand was not injured, but his car was towed off the speedway
by the dreadful ‘double hook’. The drivers were told over the radio
that if the caution would come out before the end of the originally
scheduled 40-lap race, the checkered flag would be thrown. Indeed it
happened.
With two laps
remaining, D. Speeney and Will Schneider tangled and brought out the
yellow. Ross took the checkered flag for his second $1000 win of the
season over M. Speeney and Rinehimer. Mike Skarbowski started 14th
and finished fourth. Sones rounded out the top five.
Sport Modified
(38-laps) 1. RICKY ROSS, JR. 2. Mike Speeney 3. Geary Rinehimer 4. Mike
Skarbowski 5. Brian Sones 6. Todd Baer 7. Dan Speeney 8. Bill Lowden
Jr 9. William Schneider 10. Pat Verwys 11. Jason Hearne 12. Jerry
Hildebrand 13. Gordy Buchman Jr 14. Tom Wanick III 15. Mike Mangini
16. Nick Pecko
Baer Earns Another
Top 10 at Sundance
(July 31, 2010)- After time trialing seventh quickest to start off
the evening, Rusty Smith of Oxford, NY patiently made circles in his
Modified Saturday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. When the time came
to race hard and go for the $3000 victory in the 100-lap show, Smith
wasted no time and blasted to the victory. Steve Shultz of Drums
jumped from third to first in one lap to claim his second Street
Stock victory of the season and Eric Banashefski of Hanover edged
out Dave Freundt to notch his first FWD win of the season. Ian
Cumens got by Robin Johnston with a handful of laps remaining and
went on to take the TQ Midget feature victory.
Modified time trials were held to start off the afternoon and Matt
Hirschman set the quickest time. The top six drivers redrew for
position and CJ Jones picked the pole.
The green flag flew and Jones led the first lap before Earl Paules
overtook him for the race lead. Kyle Ebersole worked into second.
Jones ran third, followed by Pete Brittain and Dave Schneider.
The first caution flag waved on lap 25 when Jerry Hildebrand slowed
on the speedway. Only four laps of green flag racing took place
before the second yellow, in which Ebersole headed pit side for
service.
Nick Pecko lined up third for the restart and overtook both Jones
and Paules to move into the lead. However, it was short-lived, as
Paules regained the spot a lap later.
The yellow flew on lap 57 when Jones spun in turn two. Paules
continued out front with Pecko in tow. Bobby Jones held third,
followed by Ebersole and Allen Creveling for the restart. Several
drivers pitted under the yellow flag, including Brittain, Rusty
Smith and Barry Callavini.
Peck got by Paules and took control of the race on lap 58.
Twenty-two green flag laps ripped off before the yellow flew for
Paules, who spun on the backstretch. Paules pitted for a tire under
the caution period.
Ebersole lined up alongside Pecko for the restart, with Todd Baer
in third. Hirschman held fourth, followed by Jones.
Green flag racing resumed and Ebersole grabbed the race lead on lap
80. Meanwhile, Hirschman overtook Baer for third and set his sights
on Pecko. Brittain tried to squeeze by Baer to take a spot four
laps later. Contact was made, which sent Baer into a turn two spin
and brought out the yellow flag.
Green flag racing resumed and Smith overtook Paules for fifth on
lap 86. He got by Hirschman for third on lap 91 before passing Pecko
for second on lap 92. He snagged the lead from Ebersole on the
following circuit.
The yellow flag was displayed for the final time with three laps
remaining when Hirschman tried to overtake Pecko for third in turns
three and four. The contact sent Pecko into a spin and both drivers
were forced to restart from the tail end of the field.
The change of events moved Paules to third, followed by Jones and
Callavini.
Smith was flawless over the final laps and went on to take the
victory over Paules, Ebersole, Jones and Callavini.
Modified (100-laps) 1. RUSTY SMITH 2. Earl Paules 3. Kyle Ebersole
4. CJ Jones 5. Barry Callavini 6. Pete Brittain 7. Bobby Jones 8.
Todd Baer 9. Matt Hirschman 10. Nick Pecko 11. Allen Creveling 12.
William Schneider 13. Jerry Hildebrand 14. David Schneider DNS: Zane
Zeiner
Another Top 5 in the Sport
Modified for Baer at Sundance
(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.
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
Baer Earns Hard-Fought Top 5 at
Sundance
(July 17, 2010)-
Summer Racefest continued at Sundance Vacations Speedway Saturday
evening with 40-laps and double points on the line for the Street
Stock division. When it was all said and done, Scott Meckes of
Lehighton emerged as the victor. Barry Callavini of Harwood held off
several charges by Bobby Jones to claim his first Modified victory
since 2007 and Lehighton’s Dave Freundt earned his second FWD
feature win of the season. In only his seventh career start, Carl
Jones of Lehighton scored his first career P.A.L. Legends victory.
Nick Pecko started
from the pole and led the opening lap of the 40-lap Modified event
with Todd Baer, Barry Callavini, Bobby Jones and Kyle Ebersole in
hot pursuit.
Earl Paules
started sixth and got by Ebersole to take the fifth spot on lap two.
He then overtook Jones two laps later to claim fourth and shot by
Callavini for third on lap three. He overtook Baer and moved into
the runner up spot on lap six.
With tight racing
in the front running pack, the yellow flag was displayed on laps 10
and 11 for solo spins. By this point in the race, Jones had moved
into third, followed by Ebersole and Baer.
Pecko retained the
race lead and held off several charges from Paules. While trying to
hold the race lead, Pecko spun while coming off of turn four. Pecko
was forced to restart from the tail end of the field, as was Paules,
who was belived to be the cause of the incident.
The change of
events gave the top spot to Callavini. Jones lined up in second for
the restart, followed by Baer and Schneider.
With the green
flag back in the air, Callavini did all that he could to hold off
several charges from Jones. Meanwhile, Paules began to work back
toward the front and overtook the third spot with a handful of laps
remaining.
Despite having a
loose handling racecar, Callavini picked up the $1500 prize when he
held off Jones to notch his second career Modified main event win
and his first since 2007. Pecko rebounded to finish third, followed
by Ebersole and Baer.
After a successful
drive up through the pack, Paules was spun from the third position
while racing toward the checkered flag and finished in the ninth
spot.
Nick Pecko and
Kyle Ebersole were heat race winners.
Modified
(40-laps) 1. BARRY CALLAVINI 2. Bobby Jones 3. Nick Pecko 4. Kyle
Ebersole 5. Todd Baer 6. David Schneider 7. Brian Romig 8. Tommy
Wannick III 9. Earl Paules 10. Wayne Szerencsits 11. Tom Casagrande
Todd Baer Earns First Sundance
Sport Modified Victory
(July 11, 2010)-
Postponed from a weather threatened Saturday, drivers took to the
1/3-mile asphalt oval on Sunday at Sundance vacations Speedway. It
was a day of firsts, as all of the feature winners went to victory
lane for the very first time in their division. Without pitting for
tires, Todd Baer of New Tripoli grabbed the $1250 prize after
picking up his first career Sport Modified victory in the 75-lap
contest. Following a handful of runner up finishes this season,
Lorin Arthofer of Bethlehem went on to claim the $800 prize and his
first feature win in a Late Model at the speedway and Eric Wink of
Palm capitalized on a late race tangle to score his first career
Factory Stock feature win.
Seventy-five laps
of action set the stage for the $1250 to win Sport Modified main
event. Double points were also on the line, which made track
position even more important for the drivers when decision time came
for pit stops.
Will Schneider sat
on the pole position and was overtaken by Dan Speeney for the race
lead on lap one. Geary Rinehimer and Mike Speeney held positions in
the top five early on but the yellow flag waved when Rinehimer spun
in turn four on the twelfth circuit.
Green flag racing
resumed and Todd Baer, who had fought his way to second after
starting in the ninth spot, grabbed the race lead. Nick Pecko
climbed his way past D. Speeney and into second a few laps later,
with Barry Callavini and Jason Hearne entering the top five.
With Baer out
front at halfway, Callavini ran in the second spot, followed closely
by M. Speeney, Hearne and Ricky Ross, Jr.
The yellow flag
waved once more when Jerry Hildebrand tagged Pat Verwys on the
backstretch. Several of the top ten drivers pitted for rubber under
the caution, including Earl Paules, Rusty Smith and Pecko.
Green flag racing
resumed and with Smith right on his rear bumper, Paules began to
dispose of the competition left and right. He grabbed the fifth spot
from Ross on lap 57 and then took fourth from Hearne two laps later.
Smith followed the entire time. Paules then overtook M. Speeney for
third on lap 65 and then set sail for Callavini.
Meanwhile, Mike
Skarbowski snuck by Smith to take the fourth spot.
Baer never pitted
for tires, yet set a blistering pace over the final circuits to earn
his first career Sport Modified win over Callavini, Paules,
Skarbowski and Smith.
Baer said during
his victory lane interview that the team’s initial plan was to pit
for tires sometime past the halfway point. “We planned to pit, but
we were leading and couldn’t afford to give up the track position”,
he said.
The winning driver
also thanked Paules, who Baer had finished second to on multiple
occasions. “He (Paules) taught me a lot just by following him and
this time we got him”, said Baer.
Heat race
victories went to Mike Skarbowski, Jason Hearne and Dan Speeney.
Sport Modifieds
(75-Laps) 1. TODD BAER 2. Barry Callavini 3. Earl Paules 4. Mike
Skarbowski 5. Rusty Smith 6. Mike Speeney 7. Ricky Ross Jr 8. Jason
Hearne 9. Dan Speeney 10. Nick Pecko 11. CJ Lacatvia 12. Pat Verwys
13. William Schneider 14. Bill Lowden Jr 15. Frank Scimeca 16. Jerry
Hildebrand 17.Jim Zacharias 18. Dean Ficarro 19. Geary Rinehimer 20.
Brian Sones
Good Run Goes South for Todd Baer
(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.
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
Double Features Produce Strong
Run For Baer At Sundance
(June
26, 2010)- Due to being postponed from two weeks earlier, the Sport
Modified and Late Model drivers ran double features on a hot and
muggy Saturday evening at Sundance Vacations Speedway. In dominating
fashion, Earl Paules of Palmerton stormed to the Sport Modified make
up win and he followed it up later that night with another feature
victory. Mike Coll of Long Island and Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning
split the Late Model main events and Brandon Oltra of Alden notched
his first career Factory Stock victory. After a last lap pass, Bob
Wink of Palm found victory in the Father’s Day Factory Stock race
and Scott Hubler of Coplay scored his fifth straight PA Asphalt
Legends feature win of the season.
Paul Frantz led
the Sport Modified drivers to the drop of the green flag in the
40-lap make up feature from June 12 and was quickly overtaken by
Todd Baer for the top position. Nick Pecko had worked his way into
the second spot by the fifth lap and Frantz, Jason Hearne and Pat
Verwys raced closely behind the leaders.
Contact between
Frantz and Hearne brought out a lap nine caution. Several others
were involved in the turn one and two incident, including Ricky
Ross, Jr., Verwys and Mike Speeney.
Green flag racing
resumed with Baer in front, followed by Pecko, Mike Skarbowski and
Earl Paules. Paules, the seventeenth place starter wasted no time
and began to claw further toward the top and two laps later he got
by Pecko for second.
Paules drove to
the inside of Baer in turn four on lap 15. The final yellow flew
with seven laps remaining when Skarbowski and Baer tangled on a
restart.
With the green
back out, Paules never looked back as he took the checkered flag and
$1000 payday over Jason Hearne, Ross, Pecko and M. Speeney.
Paul Frantz and
Todd Baer won qualifiers for the event on June 12.
CJ Lacatvia led
the Sport Modified field to the drop of the green in the regularly
scheduled 40-lap feature. Paul Frantz quickly took command with Todd
Baer in tow.
Baer and Frantz
battled side by side for the lead on lap four and then Earl Paules
joined the mix for a three-wide battle into turn one. The end result
was a spinning Frantz and the yellow flag waved.
Baer inherited the
race lead with Paules, who started in tenth, in second. Nick Pecko,
Mike Skarbowski and Brian Sones followed.
The following laps
were caution filled and excitement driven. First, Mike Skarbowski
experienced a small fire from underneath his hood on lap 11 and was
forced to pit.
With six laps
remaining and while battling for fourth, Pecko and Sones tangled in
turn two and set up the final restart.
Untouched, Paules
drove off to his second $1000 feature win of the day and third
overall this season in the division. Baer finished second, followed
by Hearne, Skarbowski and Geary Rinehimer.
Mike Skarbowski
and Nick Pecko were heat race winners.
Sport Modified
Make Up from 6/13 (40-laps)
1. EARL PAULES 2.
Jason Hearne 3. Ricky Ross Jr 4. Nick Pecko 5. Mike Speeney 6. Paul
Frantz 7. Scott Adams 8. CJ Lacatvia 9. Todd Baer 10. Dan Speeney
11. Dennis Krupski 12. Brian Sones 13. Dean Ficarro 14. Geary
Rinehimer 15. Mike Skarbowski 16. Pat Verwys 17.Frank Scimeca
Sport Modified
(40-laps) 1. EARL PAULES 2. Todd Baer 3. Jason Hearne 4. Mike
Skarbowski 5. Geary Rinehimer 6. Mike Speeney 7. Nick Pecko 8. Ricky
Ross Jr 9. Dennis Krupski 10. CJ Lacatvia 11. Paul Frantz 12. Dean
Ficarro 13. Brian Sones 14. Dan Speeney 15. Frank Scimeca 16. Pat
Verwys
Baer Earns Another
Top 5 Finish at Sundance
By: Mike Odwazny
(June 19, 2010)- After a fifth place finish at Spencer Speedway in
an RoC event on Friday night, Tour Type Modified points leader Earl
Paules of Palmerton, PA. towed into Sundance Vacations Speedway on
Saturday with his favorite race car and proceeded to drive away to
the $1500 top prize. Chip Wanamaker of Walnutport, PA. would lead
all 25 circuits of the exciting Street Stock caution free feature
event. And Dave Freundt of Lehighton, PA. would edge Robert Fink by
.006 at the line for the thrilling FWD feature win.
In
the Modified feature, Tom Wanick III would start from the pole
position and lead early. Meanwhile, Earl Paules began rocketing
toward the front from his 7th place starting spot. By lap 7, Paules
would move into the 4th spot. The caution flag would wave on lap 8,
for the #19A of Dave Schneider. The restart would see the #1w of Tom
Wanick III, not get up to speed and after the field bottled up,
several cars would be scattered in turn one including Schneider, Jim
Bojohnny, and Pete Brittain, who would receive the most damage and
end up in the turn 1 foam. Wayne Szerencsits would begin to mount a
charge and enter the top five by lap 14, as the caution flew once
again for Schneider and "Nitro" Nick Pecko, who were tangled
together and would take a brief delay to separate them, with help
from the track welder. A few more single cars spins would plague the
Modified feature, but Earl Paules would prove to be dynamite on
restarts and power his way to the top spot. Earl commanded the lead
over the last half of the event, as Bobby Jones was his only threat.
Bobby Jones trailed Earl Paules at the line by just a car length,
and continued his string of solid runs, despite no practice after an
oil leak was discovered upon arrival at the speedway. Hazleton,
PA.'s Tom Wanick would have a career best 3rd place finish, followed
by Todd Baer, and Wayne Szerencsits at the checkered. Heat race
winners were Baer and Paules in the Modifieds, Hawk and Wanamaker in
the Street Stocks, and Fink and Freundt in the FWDS. Contingency
winners were Josh Oswald, Mike Kline, and Todd Baer.
Modified (40-laps) 1. Earl Paules 2. Bobby Jones 3. 1W Tommy Wanick
III 4. Todd Baer 5. Wayne Szerencsits 6. Allen Creveling 7. CJ Jones
8. Harry Buchman 9. Nick Pecko 10. Travis Fisher 11. David Schneider
12. Pete Brittain 13. Jim Bojohnny 14. Wayne Kocher
Baer Remains
Consistent at Sundance With 4th Place Finish
(June 5, 2010) In
conjunction with the third annual Evergreen Raceway Reunion and
after finishing as the runner up in his last outing, Bobby Jones of
Lehighton wheeled his Modified to his first feature win of the
season Saturday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. Steve Shultz of
Drums notched his first Street Stock victory of the season and East
Stroudsburg’s Bill Verwys, Jr. scored his second main event win of
the year. Robin Johnston held off his fellow ATQMRA competitors to
notch his first win of the year at the speedway.
Alan
Creveling started from the pole and led the field to the drop of the
green flag in the 40-lap Modified main event. Dave Schneider took
command before a lap was complete and with one lap in the books and
from his fourth starting spot, Bobby Jones took the top spot.
Jones began to
drive away from the field during the opening laps and Schneider
retained the second spot. Nick Pecko ran third with Kyle Ebersole
and Earl Paules in tow.
Ebersole overtook
Pecko for the third position on lap five and then Paules took fourth
from Pecko three laps later.
With Jones still
in command and with Schneider in second, Ebersole and Paules ran
door to door for third. Eventually Paules completed the third place
pass on lap 17 and then moved by Schneider for second four circuits
later.
The first of two
caution flags waved on lap 25 when Wayne Szerencsits spun in turns
one and two. Jones had a stellar lead prior to the yellow flag and
knew that he’d have his hands full with Paules on the restart.
Ebersole lined up third, followed by Schneider and Todd Baer.
Green flag racing
resumed and Jones took off like a rocket. Meanwhile, Ebersole and
Paules battled for second.
After finishing
second to Paules two weeks ago, Jones cruised on to take the
checkered flag and the $1500 prize for his first win of the second
over Paules, Ebersole, Baer and Pecko.
Modified (40-laps)
1. BOBBY JONES 2. Earl Paules 3. Kyle Ebersole 4. Todd Baer 5. Nick
Pecko 6. David Schneider 7. Alan Creveling 8. Harry Buchman 9. Tommy
Wannick III 10. Tom Casagrande 11. Wayne Szerencsits
Todd Baer Nearly Wins Sport Mod
Feature at Sundance
(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 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.
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
Todd Baer
Earns Top Five in “Drive for Five” Victory at Sundance
(May 23, 2010)-
While competing with several of the top Modified drivers in the
Northeast, along with “Jon Boy” Brown, one of the stars of Madhouse
in competition, Earl Paules of Palmerton hit the pits for a right
rear tire with 20 laps remaining and came back to take the $5000
“Drive for Five” victory Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway.
Harry Sager of Hanover Twp. Notched this first career Street Stock
victory and Mike Kline of Lancaster scored his second-straight 4 Cyl.
FWD main event win.
Zane Zeiner
ran the fastest lap of the day in time trials and the top eight
qualifiers redrew for starting positions prior to the start of the
100-lap Modified main event. Coming off two straight victories at
the speedway, Kyle Ebersole ran the sixth fastest qualifying time
and pulled number one for his starting spot.
Dave Schneider
lined up along side of Ebersole and the green flag waved. With one
lap complete, Paules had worked into the second spot, followed by
Zeiner, Schneider and Bobby Jones.
Matt Hirschman
cracked the top five and took the fourth spot from Jones on lap 13.
Not long after he overtook Zeiner for third.
The caution flag
waved on lap 28 when Anthony Sesely slowed on the track. Green flag
racing resumed and Paules edged out Ebersole for the race lead.
A Nick Pecko spin
on lap 39 brought out another yellow and Ebersole headed to the
pits. Paules stayed on the racetrack and retained the lead.
Hirschman held second with Zeiner, Jones and John Fortin in tow.
A lap 44 yellow
slowed the field and following the restart, Hirschman took advantage
of Paules’ fading car and took the lead on lap 48. Zeiner followed
into second. Paules slipped to third, followed by Jones. Ebersole
worked back to fifth by mid race.
Hirschman
surrendered the lead to Zeiner when he pitted for rubber during a
lap 52 yellow. Several others hit the pits as well, including Rusty
Smith, Pete Brittain, Paules, Larry Fisher and Danny Sammons. Jones
moved up to the runner up spot when the others pitted. Todd Baer
held third, followed by Alan Creveling and Ebersole.
Meanwhile,
Ebersole and Paules began to charge toward the top five. They both
got by Baer to take third and fourth respectively on lap 63. The
following lap they overtook Jones for second and third and then
Ebersole got by Zeiner for the race lead on lap 70.
A caution flew a
lap 80 when Brittain spun in turn four while challenging for the
third position. Paules was the only driver to pit under the yellow.
With only 12 laps
remaining and while running in the runner up spot, Hirschman tried
to make an inside pass work in turn three. The cars touched and
Ebersole spun around. Zeiner was also collected and all three
drivers were sent to the rear of the field for the restart. Fortin
inherited the race lead, followed by Fisher, Jones, Pecko and
Paules.
While racing hard
in the top five, Pecko spun in turn two to bring out a lap 92
yellow. With a great restart, Jones overtook Fortin and appeared to
be on his way to what would have been the best win of his career.
However, the cards changed with the yellow waved with five laps
remaining when Fortin and Fisher tangled in turns one and two.
With only with
laps remaining following the restart, Paules overtook Jones and
drove away with the $5,000 victory.
Pitting with 20
laps to go was risky for the winner, yet he proved that it was the
right decision. “We didn’t have the best car today”, he said. “With
20 to go I called down to the guys to see if we had any tires. They
said yeah, so I came in and they threw on one the right rear”.
Jones was forced
to settle for a second place effort. Smith, Zeiner and Baer
completed the top five. “Jon Boy” Brown fought a tight racecar all
day and settled for a 13th place effort in the Wanick
Motorsports #1w.
Modified (100-Laps) 1. EARL PAULES 2. Bobby Jones 3. Rusty Smith 4.
Zane Zeiner 5. Todd Baer 6. Matt Hirschman 7. Kyle Ebersole 8. Nick
Pecko 9. Barry Callavini 10. John Fortin 11. David Schneider 12.
Nick Gargiulo 13. Jonathan Brown 14. Lew Hallock 15. Larry Fisher
16. Alan Creveling 17.Pete Brittain 18. Anthony Sesely 19. Danny
Sammons 20. Marissa Niederauer 21. Harry Buchman 22.Frank Russo 23.
Tommy Wanick
Todd Baer Earns Another Top 10 at
Sundance
(May 16, 2010)-
Perfect racing conditions from Mother Nature set the stage for close
door to door racing Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. After
taking the race lead from Paul Frantz early in the Sport Modified
feature, Ricky Ross, Jr. of Mountaintop held off Nick Pecko to score
his first feature win of the season. Jerry Hildebrand of Wapwallopen
held off Lorin Arthofer to notch his first Late Model victory of
year and Mountaintop’s Wayne Lowe visited victory lane for the fist
time the season in Factory Stock competition. Ian Cumens of Lyndell
took top honors in the ATQRMA main event and Scott Hubler of Coplay
found victory lane in the P.A.L. Legend main.
Will Schneider
started in the pole and led the field to the drop of the green flag.
Paul Frantz grabbed the top spot before a lap was complete and Nick
Pecko scooted into second.
Jason Hearne got
by Todd Baer for fifth on lap five and found himself running third
behind Pecko two laps later.
The yellow flag
waved on lap seven when Rob Schultz spun in turn three. Green flag
racing resumed and with help from the double file restart, Pecko
overtook Frantz for the lead on lap eight.
With the green
flag back out, Hearne overtook Frantz for second on lap 10 and Ross
followed by Frantz for the third position a lap later. Baer held the
fifth spot until lap 14 when Mike Skarbowski overtook him.
The caution flew
on lap 28 when Schneider and Gordy Buchman tangled in turn three.
With Pecko still in command on the restart, Ross took an opportunity
and got by Hearn for second.
After several
attempts to make a bid for the lead, Ross overtook Pecko and took
control of the event on lap 33.
The yellow flag
flew with four laps remaining when Skarbowski attempted to get
underneath Hearn for third in turn two. Neither driver spun, but the
slowed up in a hurry, which clustered the field up behind them.
Frantz was one of those drivers and his car sustained enough damage
to force him to settle for a DNF.
Ross was flawless
on the final restart and drove off to claim the $1000 prize and his
first win of the season. Pecko finished a career-best second,
followed by Hearne, Skarbowski, and Schultz.
Heat race wins
went to Paul Frantz and Jason Hearne. As long as he meets the
program requirements, Will Schneider will pick up $50 because his
finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the Sundance
Vacations Contingency Program.
Sport Modified
(40-laps) 1. RICKY ROSS, JR 2. Nick Pecko 3. Jason Hearne 4. Mike
Skarbowski 5. Rob Schultz 6. Todd Baer 7. Scott Brannick 8. William
Schneider 9. Gordan Buchman 10. Paul Frantz 11. Brian Sones 12.
Frank Scimeca 13. Barry Callavini 14. CJ Lacatvia
Baer Wins
Modified Heat and Posts Strong Top 5 Finish at Sundance
(May 9, 2010) After crashing out of the opening day feature last
month at Sundance Vacations Speedway, Kyle Ebersole of Hummelstown,
PA rebounded with a feature win. He doubled that feat again on
Mother’s Day when he beat Earl Paules to the checkers to score his
second straight Modified feature win. Joe Barbush of Drums started
ninth in the Street Stock main and drove off to score his first
victory of the season and 14-year old Mike Kline of Lancaster, PA
picked up his first career victory in the 4 Cyl. FWD feature.
Allen Creveling started from the pole position and was overtaken
for the race lead by Bobby Jones following the initial start of the
40-lap Modified main event. Barry Callavini held third, followed by
Earl Paules and Kyle Ebersole.
Callavini overtook Creveling for second and both Paules and
Ebersole followed. Paules shot by Callavini and into the second spot
on lap four. Ebersole grabbed the third spot from Callavini two laps
later. Meanwhile, after started back in the eighth spot, Zane Zeiner
cracked the top five.
Zeiner overtook Callavini for fourth on lap eight. Meanwhile,
Paules tried to find a line around Jones. While working the outside
in turn four, Paules push up the speedway, which allowed Ebersole,
Zeiner and Callavini to get by. The caution flag flew a lap later
when Dave Schneider spun in turn three and Paules headed to the pits
for adjustments.
Green flag racing resumed and Ebersole hung on the outside of
Jones. The pair battled for a couple of laps before Ebersole took
command of the event. Meanwhile, Zeiner attempted to overtake Jones
and contact between the two on lap 18 brought out a yellow flag and
both drivers had to restart at the tail end of the field.
With Ebersole in the lead, Callavini held third, followed by Nick
Pecko, Harry Buchman and Todd Baer.
Peck got by Callavini to grab the second spot following the restart
and Baer slipped into third. While racing hard for the runner up
spot on lap 26, the pair touched wheels and Pecko went around. The
turn one incident brought out another yellow flag. Paules, who had
pitted earlier found himself in second for the restart, with Jones,
Zeiner and Buchman in tow.
It appeared that Paules didn’t have anything to challenge Ebersole
for the $1500 win over the closing laps. The win is Ebersole’s
second straight of the season. Paules settled for second, followed
by Zeiner, Jones and Baer.
Heat
race wins went to Zane Zeiner and Todd Baer. As long as he meets the
program requirements, Bobby Jones will pick up $50 because his
finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the Sundance
Vacations Contingency Program.
Modified
(40-laps) 1. KYLE EBERSOLE 2. Earl Paules 3. Zane Zeiner 4. Bobby
Jones 5. Todd Baer 6. Allen Creveling 7. David Schneider 8. Harry
Buchman 9. Lew Hallock 10. Nick Pecko 11. Barry Callavini 12. Tom
Casagrande 13. Jim Bojohnny 14. Tommy Wanick III
Todd Baer Led Half of the Feature
Before a Finishing 9th at Sundance Vacations Speedway
(May 2, 2010) After
being caught up in a pile up on the second lap of the Sport Modified
feature, Earl Paules of Palmerton, PA stormed through the field to
take the checkers Sunday at Sundance vacations Speedway. Dave
Macomber of Long Island, NY scored his first Late Model victory at
the speedway and following an early race skirmish, Paul Morgan, Jr.
of Mountaintop, PA raced up from the back of the field to win his
second straight Factory Stock feature.
Todd Baer started from the pole and led the opening circuit of the
40-lap Sport Modified feature over Jason Hearne, Ricky Ross, Jr.,
Nick Pecko and Will Schneider.
Paul Frantz began to mount a challenge for the fifth position and
while battling on the outside of Schneider, Frantz was squeezed into
the front stretch wall as the pair of drivers exited turn four.
Several cars were collected in the lap two melee, including Barry
Callavini and Earl Paules. Frantz needed the double hook to the pit
area and many laps down, Callavini did rejoin the field in the
latter stages.
Green flag racing resumed and Ross overtook Hearne for second and
after restarting at the tail end of the field, Paules grabbed the
fifth spot on lap five.
Hearne retook the second spot after the restart and began to apply
pressure to Baer. Baer tried to block an inside pass in turn one and
the top two drivers touched wheels, which sent Baer around. Both
drivers were forced to the tail end of the field and Paules
inherited the race lead under the lap eight caution.
Paules continued to hold the lead on lap 19 with Ross, Mike
Speeney, Pecko and Anthony Sesely in tow.
Sesely spun and brought out the caution with eight laps remaining,
but Paules was flawless on the restart, as he went on to take the
$1,000 prize for his first Sport Modified feature win of the season
over Ross, Hearne, Speeney and Pecko.
Heat
race wins went to Todd Baer and Barry Callavini. Callavini picked up
$50 when his finishing position was pulled in victory lane for the
Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.
Sport Modified
(40-laps) 1. EARL PAULES 2. Ricky Ross Jr 3. Jason Hearne 4. Mike
Speeney 5. Nick Pecko 6. Anthony Sesely 7. Joe Wielgosz 8. Kevin
Ritchie 9. Todd Baer 10. William Schneider 11. Barry Callavini 12.
Brian Sones 13. Dennis Krupski 14. Amanda Sesely 15. Paul Frantz 16.
Mike Mangini
Flat Tire Forces an 8th Place
Effort for Todd Baer at Sundance Vacations Speedway
(May 1, 2010) Kyle Ebersole of Hummelstown, PA overtook Bobby Jones
for the race lead in the Modified feature and never looked back, as
he claimed the checkers for his first win of the season at Sundance
Vacations Speedway. Richie DiMarco completed a last lap pass on
Scott Meckes to claim his first points paying Street Stock win since
2008 and Robert Fink notched his first victory of the season in the
Four Cylinder FWD division.
Jim Bojohnny started on the pole and led the opening lap of the
40-lap Modified main event. Jones tucked into the second spot with
Allan Creveling, Ebersole and Harry Buchman in tow.
Jones overtook the leader on the second circuit and then Ebersole
followed to take the runner-up position. Meanwhile, Barry Callavini
got by Creveling to take fourth.
Ebersole quickly found his way around Jones and overtook the leader
on lap five. Not long after, tenth place starter, Earl Paules
cracked the top five and then passed Bojohnny for the fourth spot.
The first yellow flag waved when Todd Baer got into Buchman on the
backstretch. Both drivers were forced to restart from the tail end
of the field.
Green flag racing resumed and Paules wasted no time, as he overtook
Callavini for third on lap 14 and then shot by Jones for second five
laps later.
By halfway, Marissa Niederauer grabbed fifth and began to battle
with Callavini for the fourth position.
Uncontested over the second half of the event, Ebersole cruised to
his first win of the season and a $1500 payday over Paules, Jones,
Callavini and Niederauer.
Kyle Ebersole and Allan Creveling scored heat race wins and Harry
Buchman picked up $50 when his finishing position was pulled in
victory lane for the Sundance Vacations Contingency Program.
Modified (40-Laps) 1. KYLE EBERSOLE 2. Earl Paules 3. Bobby Jones 4.
Barry Callavini 5. Marissa Niederauer 6. Allan Creveling 7. Tommy
Wanick III 8. Todd Baer 9. Harry Buchman 10. Jim Bojohnny 11. David
Schneider 12. Nick Pecko 13. Brian Sones 14. Joe Wielgosz
Baer Salvages 8th
Place Finish in Sport Modified Debut
(April 18, 2010) Despite the threat of rain showers in the area,
drivers and fans made the trip to Sundance Vacations Speedway on
Sunday to witnessed history in the making when Barry Callavini of
Harwood, Pa notched his first career Sport Modified feature victory.
Todd Baer pitted several times during the caution filled event and
salvaged an 8th place finish.
Scott Brannick ran the quickest lap during time trials on Saturday
and had to roll the dice, which decided the invert for the feature
lineup. Brannick rolled a nine, which put Nick Pecko on the pole for
the 40-lap main.
Paul Frantz shot by Joe Wielgosz and Pecko and into the race lead at
the drop of the green flag. Pecko held second with one lap complete,
followed by Jason Hearne, Jimmy Zacharias and Brian Sones. Frantz
pulled out to a sizeable advantage before Hearn got by Pecko for
second on lap four.
Several cautions plagued the event early on and following a lap six
restart, Ricky Ross, Jr. overtook Zacharias for third. The twelfth
place starter, Barry Callavini, overtook Ross for the spot two laps
later.
The yellow flag waved on lap 11 when Sones spun to the infield.
Hearne gave up his second place position to head pit side and
Callavini suddenly found himself behind the leader.
Green flag racing resumed and Callavini tried high and low to get
around Frantz until the caution flag waved on lap 19 when Will
Schneider made contact with Sones entering turn three. The contact
caused a brake line to come disconnected on Sones’ car, which
prevented him from stopping. His car slammed into, and then climbed
the turn three fence. He was not injured and his car was sidelined
with substantial damage.
Green flag racing resumed and with only four laps remaining,
Callavini finally got Frantz out of shape enough to drive into the
lead. Crossing the stripe, he earned his first career Sport Modified
victory. Frantz settled for second, which is his best career finish
in the division and Ross, Zacharias and Pecko completed the top
five.
Sport Modified
(40-Laps) 1. BARRY CALLAVINI 2. Paul Frantz 3. Ricky Ross Jr 4. Jim
Zacharias 5. Nick Pecko 6. Jason Hearne 7. William Schneider 8. Todd
Baer 9. Joe Wielgosz 10. Scott Brannick 11. CJ Lacatvia 12. Gordan
Buchman 13. Frank Scimeca 14. Brian Sones
Baer Rebounds From Early Pit
Stop to Finish Third at Sundance
(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.
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OLDER NEWS
Baer Finishes Third in Sundance Final Points
(11/14/09) Todd Baer accepted his trophy and check for
his third place overall points finish for the season at
the 10th annual Sundance Vacations Speedway awards
ceremony.
Todd Baer Wins First Career Modified Main Event
(8/1/09) He’s held the checkered flag many times after
winning heat races yet a feature event has eluded him.
That changed Saturday night at Sundance Vacations
Speedway when Todd Baer overtook Bobby Jones with five
laps remaining to score his first career Modified main
event.
Wayne Szerencsits started on the pole and took an early
lead in the 40-lap Modified main event. With one lap
completed, Nick Pecko held second, followed by Harry
Buchman, Allan Creveling and Pete Brittain.
Pecko overtook Szerencsits for the race lead on a lap
six restart and the two swapped the top spot several
times over the next few circuits, then Pecko retook
command on lap eight. Brittain moved into third with
Kyle Ebersole and Brian DeFebo in pursuit.
Brittain fought Szerencsits for second and attempted to
take the race lead from Pecko in turn four on lap 11.
Pecko spun and was forced to restart from the tail end
of the field. Track officials felt that there was
contact from Brittain that played part in the incident
and he was sent to the rear of the field as well. The
change of events moved DeFebo into the race lead.
DeFebo seemed untouchable as he held off Szerencsits,
Bobby Jones, Todd Baer and Barry Callavini. However, his
great run went sour when he spun in turn two on lap 28
due to a flat right rear tire. DeFebo headed to the pits
and the lead went back to Szerencsits.
While feeling pressure from Jones, Szerencsits fell off
of the pace on lap 33. However, Jones’ lead over Baer at
that point was short-lived and Baer, of New Tripoli, PA
took the race lead with five laps remaining to notch his
first ever Modified victory over Jones. Brittain made a
charge through the field to finish third, followed by
Ebersole and Callavini.
Todd Baer and Nick Pecko were heat race winners.
Modified (40-Laps)
1. TODD BAER 2. Bobby Jones
3. Pete Brittain 4. Kyle Ebersole 5. Barry Callavini 6.
Lewis Hallock 7. Brian DeFebo 8. Nick Pecko 9. Jerry
Woody 10. Amber Levandowski 11. Allan Creveling 12. Jim
Bojohnny 13. Wayne Szerencsits 14. Harry Buchman 15.
Geary Rinehimer Jr. 16. Mike Quinn 17.Tom Casagrande |
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