Pocono Mountain Speedway 2000-06-03

St. Johns, PA . . . . . . . .The lights were on at Pocono Mountain Speedway but the stars were out. Eric Beers, Bruce Long, Barry Gommer and Jim Ciampi were all repeat winners in their division. Also racing for the first time at the track was Dale Earnhardt's NASCAR Modified Driver, Bruce Driver. Also in attendance was NASCAR Modified champion Tony Hirshman. The track has changed the Modified rules to be the same as the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Tour rules with the exception of the heads. Many drivers have commented they are working on putting their car together to race at Pocono Mountain Speedway when there is no conflict with the Tour. Jim Ciampi of Exeter, PA now is a five-feature winner in the Factory Stock Division. Ciampi started off the night winning the first ever Factory Stock Heat Race delegating him to start third in the feature. Jim Ciampi took over the lead on lap five and took it in to victory lane followed by Steve Distler, Paul Monkoski, Mark Dispirito and Andy Zvorsky Brian Davis of Berwick PA won the battle in the Pro Stock Feature. Joe Hoffman who endured a green flag accident went to the rear and worked his way up to a well-deserved second place finish. Brian Davis started the race on the pole but Blaine Barry quickly went to the front and held it until lap 7 when Davis made his move. Davis had the lead from laps 7 thru 25 and held off Joe Hoffman, Shawn Gallucci, Frank Greco and Alan Decker. Great run for the 97 Alan Decker who had to overcome two early race problems to grab a top five finish. Bruce Long's stay away from victory lane was short lived. Long who did not visit victory lane last week quickly made up for that by winning his heat, start 4th in the feature and by lap three grab the lead and drive into the Fairway Chevrolet Victory Lane. Donny Hartzell and last week's winner Rich Spaide Jr. tried but could not catch the fast flying number 97 Street Stock. Instead of worrying about proms or graduations, eighteen year old Barry Gommer was busy winning his fourth Late Model feature of the season. Gommer started the race in second and by the end of lap one had moved into the top position. Two cautions slowed the race but that was not enough to hold back Gommer. Larry Fisher made the fans get off their seats as he made a late race charge on the sleek looking black #58, but Gommer held off Fisher, Todd Cooper, Barry Callavini and Dean Kline. Northampton, PA's NASCAR Modified Driver Eric Beers had a three-week layoff but he proved he still remembers how to get to Pocono Mountain Speedway's victory lane capturing his fifth feature win of the year. Beers started the race in the 14th position and by lap 15 was in the lead. Chris Ammon brought the field to the green fag and held the lead until a lap three caution for # 81 Bruce Driver. Young Gun Brian DeFebo, who looks to have gotten back into competitive form after a tough start to the 2000 season, took over the lead and held it until Beers came along on lap 15. Beers held off the young gun, DeFebo, Tim Santee, Steve Mooney, John Markovic and Jim Hauser Jr. Bruce Driver recovered from his early race spin to finish 7th. Chuck Schartzer won his heat race and as he was exiting the track after posing for a photo had a mechanical failure with his rear gears. A request was made to the Beers Motorsports camp asking if he could take the Beers Horwith Racing team #9 Modified out for the feature. The teams made their deal and Schartzer was in the #9. After starting in the scratch position for changing cars and a spin at half way, Schartzer brought the familiar Beers K-CEE Distributing, Wynn's Oil, Brown Daub, Horwith Frieghtliner #9 Modified mount to a 10th place finish and more importantly did not lose any points in the race for the track championship. The short track-racing program is back next Saturday night at 6:00 P.M. for the Modifieds, Street Stocks, Late Models, Factory Stocks and Pro Stocks. The action also continues next Sunday as the Microsprints, Go-karts and Slingshots invade Pocono Mountain for the Summer Heat Racing Series. The action begins at 2:00 P.M. Kids get ready for the Big Wheel Races on Saturday, June 24th. The kids will be spilt into 5 and under, 6 thru 8 and 9 thru 11. So get those Big Wheels ready. Pocono Mountain Speedway is conveniently located for fans and competitors from Exit 39 (Route 309 / Mountaintop) off Route 80 in the scenic Pocono area. For additional information, contact the track at 570-788-7544 or visit Pocono Mountain Speedway on the web at www.poconomountainspeedway.com. FACTORY STOCKS Heat Winner Heat # 1 Jim Ciampi

FEATURE FINISH: Jim Ciampi (Exeter, PA), Steve Distler, Paul Monkoski, Mark Dispirito, Andy Zvorsky, Jim Buzinski, Mark Corbisiero

PRO STOCKS Heat Winners Heat #1: Frank Greco Heat #2: Blaine Barry

FEATURE FINISH: Brian Davis (Berwick, PA), Joe Hoffman, Shawn Gallucci, Frank Greco, Alan Decker, Eileen Weaver, Jerry Brightaupt, Bradley Brown, Blaine Barry, Bob Nensteil, Frank Hughes, Mike Higgins, David Whitenight

LATE MODELS Heat Winner Heat #1: Larry Fisher

FEATURE FINISH: Barry Gommer (Hunlock Creek, PA), Larry Fisher, Todd Cooper, Barry Callavini, Dean Kline, Mike Schwab, Dwayne Mory, Mike Radocha, John Cool

STREET STOCKS Heat Winner Heat #1 Bruce Long

FEATURE FINISH: Bruce Long (Hunlock Creek, PA), Donny Hartzell, Rich Spaide Jr., Chris Burge, Greg Galena, Michael Kowalczyk, John Tombasco MODIFIED Heat Winners Heat #1: Chuck Schartzer Heat #2: Russ Frantz Heat #3: Brian DeFebo

FEATURE FINISH: Eric Beers (Northampton, PA), Brian DeFebo, Tim Santee, Steve Mooney, John Markovic, Jim Hauser, Jr., Bruce Driver, Chris Ammon, Ed Rehrig, Chuck Schartzer, C.J. Jones, Mike Adams, Russ Frantz, Sean Kehley, Ike Iddings, Chris Clemens, Barry Baran, Cal Snyder (DNS)