10/16/2005

HANBURY, FISHER, CASCIOLI, PRICE AND GROCHOLSKI CROWNED "KING OF THE MOUNTAIN" CHAMPIONS AT MOUNTAIN SPEEDWAY

UPCOMING EVENTS: Saturday, October 22nd - The Walt DeMorris Memorial Challenge show includes the Late Model 100 and Street Stock 50.

St. Johns, PA – Gusty winds and chilling temperatures didn’t keep hundreds of race fans at home Sunday afternoon. Instead they all headed out to absorb the 6th running of Mountain Speedway’s annual ‘King of the Mountain’ season ending extravaganza. The fields for all divisions were based on Saturday’s time trials.

Brian DeFebo, the ’05 Balliet’s Country Corners Modified champion, led the twenty-one car field to the drop of the green flag for the 100-lap Modified feature. After taking the green, DeFebo slid up the track in turn one, which allowed C.J. Jones to jump out front from his third starting spot. Jones held the point over Glenn Tyler, Mike Andrews and Ken Heagy until lap eleven, when he spun in turn one and brought out the first caution. Mike Andrews was running second and inherited the lead.

A few quick cautions slowed the field over the following circuits. On lap twenty-four Andrews continued out front over a hard charging Anthony Sesely, DeFebo, Heagy and Tyler, but that all changed when Sesely grabbed the lead from Andrews on the thirty-first circuit.

Hungry for a win this season, Sesely held off charges by Andrews, DeFebo, Tommy Farrell and Kory Rabenold, who were the top 5 runners at the mid-race point.

Another caution waved on lap seventy when Tony Hanbury looped his machine in turn one. Earlier in the afternoon, many drivers were discussing whether or not they would pit for tires under caution. Many were obviously planning to, because all but three cars headed off the speedway and into the pits for quick service. Sesely, Andrews and Sapienza were the top three drivers in the race and the remained on the track. After the drivers who pitted re-entered the speedway, Hanbury came out first. He was scored in the fourth spot.

Things got wild a few laps after the restart. With Sesely still in command, DeFebo began to mount a charge toward the front. DeFebo got up along side Dan Jivanelli while making a bid for the top five. The two made contact and DeFebo’s day came to an end when he made hard contact with the turn four retaining fence. Sesely held the point over Andrews on the restart, but Earl Paules, Farrell and Tyler joined in the mix.

The final of nine cautions flew when Sesely spun coming out of turn two. After an extended caution, Andrews was back out front over Hanbury, Farrell, Sapienza and Paules.

With only nine laps remaining, Andrews was determined to fend off Hanbury who had pitted for tires earlier. Hanbury didn’t waste any time making a bid for the lead and completed the race-winning pass on the following circuit. Hanbury went on to take the checkers over Farrell, Paules, Andrews and Sapienza.

A surprised Hanbury said, “Man, this is great after the season we’ve had. To come out and win this thing after missing qualifying and having to run the consi is unbelievable”.

Kevin Kromer and Earl Paules were consi winners.

Twenty Late Models set the stage for the first feature of the afternoon. Late model champion, Larry Fisher, set fast time Saturday and led the field to the drop of the green flag. With only one lap scored, the caution flew when Jason Arthofer and Fisher made slight contact in turn one. Robbie Kutz, Jake Gualano, Barry Callavini and Peter Rotzi were collected as well. After several attempts for a caution-free first lap, Fisher retained the top spot over Mike Coll and Jim Lamoreaux.

With Fisher still out front, the caution flew once again for a turn four tangle involving Billy Balliet, Kutz, Roger Maynor, Arthofer and Earl Paules. When the race restarted, it was Fisher out front with the dominant performance.

Things got scary in turn one when Billy Balliet’s car slammed into the fence, then rolled onto its roof. During the same incident, Gualano lost his roof, which laid on the backstretch. After the rough ride, Balliet was uninjured and exited his car.

Fisher continued to hold the point over Paules in the caution-filled event, and went on to take the checkers. Coll finished third with Mike Sweeney fourth. Jason Makarewicz rounded out the top five.

“I don’t know how we won this thing,” noted Fisher. “The car was so loose after that first caution, and the race was so long, it’s unbelievable”.

The ’05 Street Stock champion Jim Yamelski started on the pole in the street stock feature, but Scott Meckes worked his way into the lead on lap four. Thirty circuits later, Meckes was forced to pit when smoke began flaming from his machine.

Dan Cascioli, who was running second, inherited the top spot. Cascioli, who seemed to be loose on cold tires, held the point over John Bennett, Brian Labar and Brad Barbush, but a turn one crash involving Labar and Barbush set up a one lap shootout.

Cascioli got loose on the restart and Bennett jumped into the lead. However, Bennett failed post race tech and Cascioli was declared the victor. It was the first win of the season for Cascioli.

Don Holland was the consi winner.

Thriller champ Richard Petey led the thriller field to the green from the pole. Bill Price took advantage of his second starting spot and motored into the lead before one lap was scored. Howie Bott worked his way under Petey for second and set his sights on Price. The two waged a terrific battle in the 40-lap event, but Bott was unable to make the pass for the lead.

Price took the checkers over Bott, Petey, Pat Verwys and Marissa Nelmes.

Joe Grocholski who is also the 4 cyl. Thriller champion led the field to the green for an exciting 30-lap feature. Joe Heintzelman immediately lurched out front after starting second.

Heintzelman held the point over Grocholski and Jimmy White, but the division champ came back to grab the top spot on lap sixteen.

Grocholski cruised to the win over Heintzelman, Chris Meeker, Harry Sager and Dale Shoemaker.

The next event at Mountain Speedway is Saturday, October 22nd. It is the Walt DeMorris Memorial Challenge, featuring a 100-lap race for the Late Models and a 50-lapper for the Street Stocks.

Walt DeMorris was a Riverhead Raceway Late Model competitor who last competed at the ’04 ‘King of the Mountain’ before his passing. With $2000 for the Late Model winner, along with lap money and a hefty purse from second on back, this could be the Northeast’s biggest Late Model race. The Street Stock winner will receive $750, and that purse is large from second on back as well. For race schedule, race times and more info, please visit [Walt DeMorris Memorial Challenge].

For complete Mountain Speedway results, commentary and standings from the 2005 season, please visit [Mountain Speedway].

MODIFIED Finish (100 laps):

1. TONY HANBURY
2. Tommy Farrell
3. Earl Paules
4. Mike Andrews
5. Dave Sapienza
6. Glenn Tyler
7. John Markovic
8. Kory Rabenold
9. Ken Heagy
10. Dan Jivanelli
11. Lenny Fischer
12. Andy Walko
13. Anthony Sesely
14. Brian DeFebo
15. Marissa Neiderauer
16. Wes Swartout
17. David Roys
18. Eddie Brunnhoelzl, III
19. C.J. Jones
20. Lou Strohl
21. Kevin Kromer

DNQ:
Donny Hartzell
Matt Higgins
Steven Nederostek
Tommy Flanagan
Rich Reichenbach
Bill Eastman, Jr.
Matt Clemens
Bobby Jones

King of the Mountain pole winner: Brian DeFebo, 13.778 seconds

Lap leaders: C.J. Jones 1-10, Mike Andrews 11-31, Anthony Sesely 32-85, Mike Andrews 86-92, Tony Hanbury 93-100.

LATE MODEL Finish (75 laps):

1. LARRY FISHER
2. Earl Paules
3. Mike Coll
4. Mike Sweeney
5. Jason Makarewicz
6. Barry Callavini
7. Geno Steigerwalt
8. Mike Radocha
9. Roger Maynor
10. Billy Ray Pruitt
11. Joe Barbush
12. Tony Volpe
13. Jake Gualano
14. Beau Drobot
15. Robbie Kutz
16. Jason Arthofer
17. Bill Balliet
18. Jim Lamoreaux
19. Greg Steigerwalt
20. Peter Rotzi

King of the Mountain pole winner: Larry Fisher, 14.728 seconds

Lap leaders: Larry Fisher 1-75.

STREET STOCK Finish (50 laps):

1. DAN CASCIOLI
2. Chip Wanamaker
3. Adam Lacicero
4. Dan Marsh
5. Rodney Gruber
6. Brian Labar
7. Brad Barbush
8. Paul Frantz
9. Ron Babula
10. Scott Meckes
11. Robert Fink
12. Mike Schadder
13. Jim Yamelski
14. Don Holland
15. Bill Vanderveen
16. J.R. Roth
17. Todd Ahner

DQ:
John Bennett
Brad Kline
Robert Geibel

DNQ:
Scott Lehmann
Jennifer Kutz
Frank Katona
David Pituch
Dennis Buss
John Labadia

King of the Mountain pole winner: Jim Yamelski, 15.725 seconds

Lap leaders: Jim Yamelski 1-4, Scott Meckes 5-34, Dan Cascioli 35-50.

THRILLER Finish (40 laps):

1. BILL PRICE
2. Howie Bott
3. Richard Petey
4. Pat Verwys
5. Marissa Nelmes
6. Kevin Makarewicz
7. Steve Shultz
8. Duane Eidem
9. Caesar Cunaccia
10. Mark Paine
11. Jimmy White
12. Steve Hoffman
13. Josh Oswald

King of the Mountain pole winner: Richard Petey, 17.616 seconds

Lap leaders: Bill Price 1-40.

4 CYL. THRILLER Finish (30 laps):

1. JOE GROCHOLSKI
2. Joe Heintzelman
3. Chris Meeker
4. Harry Sager
5. Dale Shoemaker
6. Jamie Damon
7. Brent Witner
8. Jimmy White
9. Bill Verwys, Sr.
10. Marc Seltzer
11. Luke Colleran

DQ: Pete Verwys

King of the Mountain pole winner: Joe Grocholski, 18.321 seconds

Lap leaders: 1-16 Joe Heintzelman, 17-30 Joe Grocholski.

Source: Gene Ostrowski/Mountain Speedway PR
Posted: October 17, 2005