Independence Enduros a Success at Evergreen Raceway
St. Johns, PA (7/3/2016)- Enduro racing has been a popular fixture at Evergreen Raceway this season and with the support of many seasoned drivers, mixed with a large amount of first timers, the Independence Enduros were another success on Sunday. Following six lead changes in the Four Cylinder Enduro, Pete Verwys of Marshall’s Creek, PA claimed his second Enduro victory of the season and TJ Kapish of Mountaintop, PA led flag to flag en route to the 6/8-Cylinder Enduro victory. Also from Mountaintop, Harry O’Neill led the final lap to score the Open Comp victory. With his fasted lap of 49 MPH in reverse, Nate Correll of Wind Gap, PA took the impressive Reverse Redneck Enduro win. An exhibition Kart event was also held and Chase Ezzyk went to victory in Youth Karts and Derek Berlitz took the checkers in the Adult Kart division.
Fifty six Four Cylinder drivers took the green flag in the 100-lap Enduro and Devin Schmidt grabbed the lead from Nate Correll before a lap was scored. His lead however was short-lived, as Pete Verwys led the opening circuit over Schmidt.
Bryan Kelly took command on lap nine and held the top spot for two more circuits before Verwys rose to the top once again. Kelly however wasn’t finished. He overtook Verwys once more, this time on lap 17 and he began to put some distance on second.
With 26 laps on the scoreboard, Kelly got caught up in lapped traffic and was tagged. Verwys jumped at the opportunity to retake the lead.
With 50 laps complete, Verwys continued to lead over Paul Mercante, Frank Petroski, Jr, Ed Wildes and Mark Hammer.
Despite some great racing in the late going, Verwys put on a clinic and with 12 laps remaining he was on a lap by himself. He took the win over Mercante, Kelly, Wildes and Dave Bentley, Jr.
Kory Stevens led the 6/8-Cylinder to the drop of the green flap in the 6/8-Cylinder portion of the show, but TJ Kapish quickly grabbed the race lead. Stevens dropped to second, followed by Dominic Ranieri, Nate Correll and Scott Sipe.
As Kapish began checking out from the field, the battle heated up in the top five. Bob Wink joined that mix, moved the third and battled hard with Ranieri for third. The pair got by Stevens and the after holding second for some time, Wink gave up the runner up spot to Ranieri.
After running in the top five early, Sipe’s day came to an end when he broke an axel in turn three.
Kapish was flawless over the reminder of the event and went on to score the win over Ranieri, Wink, Stevens and Correll.
The most entertaining racing of the day kicked off with a 5-lap “Reverse Redneck Enduro”. Drivers raced around the racetrack in the correct direction but they did it while driving in reverse.
With an impressive quickest lap at 49 MPH, N. Correll took the victory over Cindy Pinchotti, Frank Shetler, Harry O’Neill and Joe Warren.
The Open Comp division took to the track for a 30-lap contest. Scott Adams quickly grabbed the race lead and O’Neill jumped into second. Despite having a big advantage toward the end of the show, Adams’ car slowed and O’Neill rose to the lead on the final lap. He took the win over Neill Rutt, S. Adams, J. Adams and Luke Hoffner.
It was a surprise by many to see NASCAR legend, Red Farmer at the track. At nearly 84 years of age, famer recalled some of his younger days of racing with the well-known ‘Alabama Gang’ during an on track interview.
The next Evergreen Raceway event is slated for Sunday, Jul10 with the running of the Evergreen Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks and Four Cylinders. Kids Big Wheel Races will take place at intermission.
Grandstand admission is just $8. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free with a paying adult.
Evergreen Raceway is located minutes from Hazleton, PA, in between routes 93 and 309. For more information regarding Evergreen Raceway, including the entire season schedule, directions and divisional payouts, please visit www.evergreenracewaypark.com and don’t forget to like their Facebook page as well.
Four Cylinder (100-laps)
Place Car No. Name
1 12 Pete Verwys
2 438 Paul Mercante
3 1 Bryan Kelly
4 17 Edward Wildes
5 5 Dave Bentley Jr
6 8 Frank Petroski Jr
7 20 Mark Hammer
8 10 Richard Wolfe
9 81 Kenny Wallace
10 R19 Bill Rice
11 33 Jimmy Ayre
12 18 Frank Shetler
13 444 Shayne Geist
14 15 Joe Warren
15 88 Devin Schimdt
16 51 Dustin Pietrak
17 23 Pete Dewey
18 6 Mitchel Sponenberg
19 14B Broc Brown
20 24 Fred Gimbi
21 26 John Schmidt
22 77 Danny Martinez
23 5 Robbie McCormick
24 69 Ray Kennedy
25 38 Shannon Holland
26 1738 Zach Fitzgerald
27 01c Charles Lauble
28 37 Titus Sheets
29 42 Brian Halecki
30 9 Brandon Brown
31 71 Steve Tito
32 45 Dave Mayls
33 4 Sho Stroker Ace
34 520 Tom Stevens
35 69 Justin Nesbitt
36 16 Jeff Dauberman
37 97F Luke Hoffner
38 19w Robert Polashenski
39 12 Nate Correll
40 29 Dave Imler Jr
41 42x Danny Cascioli
42 14L Cindi Pinchotti
43 31 CJ Zukowski
44 0 Ian Goodard
45 MOO Dave Imler
46 679 Austin Fitzgerald
47 14 Kevin Kruczek
48 9 Ray Stavish
49 51 David Wolfe
50 0 Josh Tomsic
51 9 Jay Kanor
52 2 Thrisa Connolly
53 94 1/2 Greg Moore
54 57 Cliff Holland
55 51w Marlin Whitcome
56 34 Tony Rispin
6/8-Cylinder (100-laps)
Place Car No. Name
1 33 TJ Kapish
2 21 Dominic Ranieri
3 14 Bob Wink
4 20K Kory Stevens
5 12 Nate Correll
6 44 Mike Parisi
7 8 Steven Brooks
8 4 Lindsay Michel
9 26 John Schmidt
10 T5 Theo Highland
11 71 Derek Anthony
12 27 Kevin Behler
13 42x Danny Cascioli
14 69 Matt Goodard
15 693 Patrick Caesar
16 54 Jerry VanHorn
17 7 Jesse Ehret
18 66 Brandon Esposito
19 69 Ray Kennedy
20 88s Scott Sipe
21 64 Chris Angstadt
Open Comp (30-laps)
Place Car No. Name
1 126 Harry O’Neill
2 15 Neil Rutt
3 68 Scott Adams
4 27 Jenn Adams
5 97f Luke Hoffner
6 828 Gary Landis
7 Karma Kelly Prantz
Reverse Redneck Enduro (5-laps)
Place Car No. Name
1 12 Nate Correll
2 14L Cindi Pinchotti
3 18 Frank Shetler
4 126 Harry O’Neill
5 15 Joe Warren
6 01c Charles Lauble
7 8 Frank Petroski, Jr.
8 20 Mark Hammer
9 88 Devin Schmidt
10 828 Gary Landis
Youth Karts
Place Car No. Name
1 9 Chase Ezzyk
2 21 Taylor Noss
3 16 Prestyn Brown
4 99 Emily Alford
Adult Karts
Place Car No. Name
1 19 Derek Berlitz
2 71 Moe Hunsinger
3 31 Curtis McCormick
4 4s Shawn Schrader
5 24 Dustin Roberts
6 5 Levi Kerstetter
7 82 Justin Ezzyk
8 16 Prestyn Brown
9 28 Gabe Ezzyk
10 51 Richie Spaide
Upcoming Shows:
Sunday, July 10- Evergreen Modifieds, Late Models, Street Stocks, Factory Stocks, Four Cylinders & Kids Big Wheel Races at Intermission
Sources: Gene Ostrowski/Evergreen Raceway PR