Pocono Mountain Speedway 2000-08-26

RUSS FRANTZ POWERS TO WIN; TRACK MANAGER TAKES A RIDE IN THE STREET STOCK DIVISION

The Modifieds were back at the speedway this Saturday, August 26 after having a week off in the scheduled program. Rookie contender Matt Hirshman, son of NASCAR modified champion Tony Hirshman brought the field around for the green. As the green flag flew Cal Snyder of Drums moved quickly into the lead but was taken over on lap the by the #48 of Sean Kehley. Kehley who opened up a 2-car length lead on Snyder would soon be challenge on lap 7 by current point's leader Russ Frantz. The caution flew on lap 9 for the spinning car of Cal Snyder. On the restart it was Kehley followed by Frantz and John Markovic until caution flew only one lap later for the spinning car of Greg Edelman. When the green flag flew again Frantz move into the lead over Kehley and Chuck Schartzer. Frantz would soon be challenged as Schartzer driving the Vreeland Harley Davidson sponsored car moved into second. Caution flew again on lap 22 for the spinning car of Matt Hirshman. When racing resumed Schartzer tried all he could to get around Frantz but came up a little short at the finish as Frantz went on to take the win over Schartzer, Ike Iddings, Mike Adams, and Jerry Hildebrand rounded out the top 5. Edelman, Snyder, and Kehley won heat races. Ed Eckert brought the always exciting Factory Stock field around to the green. Eckert moved out to an early lead but soon would be taken over by the 77 of Mark Corbisiero. As Corbisiero continued to lead ex- enduro racer Jim Buzinski moved into second followed by Eckert. Caution flew on lap 5 for a turn 2 crash involving Eckert, Mark Dispirito, and Barbush. When racing resumed it was Corbisiero followed by Wilson Reakes and Shaun Bird. Corbisiero did all he could to hold of the challenge by Reakes but would soon lose the lead on lap 8. With Reakes out in front it was a race for second to the line as Reakes went on to take the victory followed by Shaun Bird, Paul Frantz, Mark Corbisiero and, Jim Ciampi rounded out the top 5. Buzinski and Frantz won heat races. It was a father son start in the Late Model field as Mike Radocha Jr. and Sr. brought the field around for the green. Jr. moved into the lead over Sr. as He has done before in the past in the Street Stock class at Big Diamond Raceway. Radocha Jr. moved into an impressive lead over the rest of the field until caution flew on lap 10 for the spinning car of Doug Yanders. On the Restart current points leader Barry Gommer quickly moved into the lead over Radocha Jr. and Dean Kline. Larry Fisher of Fern Glen worked his way threw traffic into second place on lap 17 and set his sites on Gommer. Caution flew once again on lap 21 for an accident involving Yanders and Kline; Kline would retire from the race. Green flag racing continued as Gommer went on to take the victory followed by Fisher, Callavini, Radocha Jr. and Radocha Sr. rounded out the top 5. Gommer won the heat race. Dave Babula fresh off of a very impressive run last week brought the Street Stock field to the green. Rookie contender Donny Hartzell jumped out in the lead on the first lap over Steve Koleck and Bruce Long. Long and Koleck battled door to door for second place followed by Steve Meckes and Dave Babula. Rich Spaide who started 9th in the field worked his way threw traffic and soon would be challenging for 5th place on lap 10. Caution flew on lap 19 for the spinning car of Koleck closing up the field, as the field lined up to take the green I found myself (Kevin Balliet) in fifth place. On the restart it was Hartzell in the lead followed by Meckes, Spaide, Babula, and Balliet. Donny Hartzell in the Vincent's Amusement sponsored ride went on to take his first ever Street Stock victory. Long and Chris Burge won heat races. Notes: I found out that the Street Stock class is a very competitive field and that these are some of the finest and cleanest drivers at the speedway, I would also like to thank Barry Callavini for giving me the opportunity to drive the D&B Towing #4 Street Stock. Runner up in the Pro Stock points Mike Higgins brought the field around for the green. Higgins moved out into the lead and seemed to be well on his way to his first win of the season. With Higgins out in the lead it was a battle for second place between Alan Decker and Albert Kerns. Joe Hoffman of Drums, who started 7th in the field worked his way threw traffic and soon was challenging Decker on lap 4 for second place. As Decker and Hoffman battled for second Joe Solt moved into 4th and began to challenge Hoffman and Decker. Caution flew on lap 21 for the leader Higgins breaking an axle entering turn 3 giving the lead to Decker. When racing resumed it was Decker followed by Hoffman, Solt, Kerns, and Bradley Brown. Alan Decker of Wapwallopen driving the Peters Bottled gas mount went on to take his second win of the season followed by Hoffman, Solt, Kerns, and Brown. Higgins and Solt won heat races. Jim Ayer of MountainTop won the min-cup race, Carrie Lynn Snyder of Drums won the Street Stock powder puff.

Modifieds

Frantz, Schartzer, Iddings, Adams, Hildebrand, Snyder, Kehley, Ammon, Marcello, T. Markovic, Szapacs, Hirshman, DeFebo, J. Markovic, Santos, Edelman, Santee, Wentz {dns}

Late Models

Gommer, Fisher, Callavini, Radocha Jr., Radocha Sr., Cooper, Yanders, Mory, Kline

Pro Stocks

Decker, Hoffman, Solt, Kerns, Brown, Greco, Higgins, Weaver, Hughes, Nenstiel

Street Stocks

Hartzell, Meckes, Spaide, D. Babula, Balliet, Koleck, Long, Kowalczyk, Kutz, Swerdon, Varzal, Kresge, Burge

Factory Stocks

Reakes, Burd, Frantz, Corbisiero, Ciampi, Monkoski, Hefflefinger, Dispirito, Distler, Buzinski, Sweeney, Eckert, Barbush