St.
Johns, PA- Tim Pauch and Larry Fisher, two Veteran drivers who
definitely know their way around many tracks across the eastern
seaboard claimed their first career ABC Car Crushing NEETS Holiday
Stock Car Series wins Saturday afternoon at Mountain Speedway in the
Gale Baglio Memorial, which was sponsored by Jim’s Busy Bee Pest
Control, Richard Petey and Joe Cooper.
First on the card were the Steel Seal four cylinders, where Scott
Ball started on the pole. At the drop of the green, Joe Sherman
shot out front, but within a few laps Harry Sager took the point.
By the thirteenth circuit Joe Heintzelman worked his way to the
front after starting 31st.
The worst of five red
flags was thrown on lap thirty-six when Gary Walls slammed into the
rear end of the stalled Chris Siegel machine. Both drivers were
uninjured. Heintzelman continued out front over late model veteran,
Larry Fisher and the third place car of Peter Rabaglia at the
halfway mark, but eighteen laps later Heintzelman hit the pits with
mechanical problems.
Coming all the way from the 62nd starting spot, Fisher
(Fern Glen, PA) led the remaining laps and claimed the checkers over
Jimmy White, Jr, Mike Mujsce, Jr, Joe Sherman and Bob Haeger for his
very first NEETS enduro victory.
After a short intermission and transponder switch in the
automobiles, the Cascioli Roofing 6/8 cyl. division took to the
track. From the pole position, Steve Tito jumped out front, but
Howie Bott took command two circuits later.
Shawn Gallucci mounted a strong challenge on Bott and finally took
command on lap thirteen. The two swapped the top spot three times
before Bott made some distance on the second place car. Meanwhile,
Dave Cascioli and Mark Spencer joined the top five and set sail on
the leaders. Bott continued to lead at mid race with Pauch in
second and Spencer third. Others entering the top ten were Joe
Jentile, Tom Moses, Richard Petey and Bob Wink.
Pauch held second and the battle from third on back was intense.
Pauch retook command with seventy-nine laps in the books. With
eleven to go, Bott hit the pits with a flat tire. Pauch looked like
he was in position for the win, but the red flag flew when Moses and
Spencer were involved in a front stretch tangle with lapped cars.
Spencer’s race ended early, but Moses continued with his battered
machine.
From
that point on, Pauch cruised to his first career NEETS win over
Shawn Gallucci, Joe Jentile, Richard Petey and Bob Wink. Even
though his brother Billy (Pauch) is a popular dirt driver, Tim has
been competing in enduros for years. In victory lane Pauch noted
that the car he won with was one that he used to race at the defunct
Flemington Speedway in New Jersey.
One
hundred and thirty-two racecars in both divisions combined took to
the track in remembrance of Gale Baglio who passed away in
February. Gale was the wife of NEETS driver, Richard Petey. Petey,
along with racer, Joe Cooper each sponsored the 43rd and
50th lap in each division, in which they paid out $100 to
the driver who was in first for the two laps. The second and third
place cars each received $75. The same three drivers were 1st
through 3rd in the Steel Seal four cyl. division. Joe
Heintzelman took the bonus for leading, with Larry Fisher second and
Pete Rabaglia third. Howie Bott led both of the sponsored laps in
the Cascioli Roofing 6/8 cyl. division. Tim Pauch was in the second
spot for both laps. Dave Cascioli won the cash for running third on
lap 43 and Mark Spencer took the cash for running third on lap 50.
Bill Price, Jr. sponsored $20 in each division to each driver who
was leading on lap 48.
The
NEETS charity of choice was the local ‘no kill’ animal shelter. One
dollar from each general admission will be donated to the cause.
The
next ABC Car Crushing NEETS Holiday Stock Car Series event is set
for Monday, May 29th. The Memorial Day event will pay
tribute to NEETS racer, ‘Racin Rich Johnson, who passed away on
April 1st. The event is co-sponsored by Constant
Performance. Along with the tribute, Joe Cooper has also put up a
lap money bonus as he did for the April 28th event. On
the card for the day are the Cascioli 6/8 cylinders, the Steel Seal
four cylinders and the Custom Classic ‘TRUX’. The NEETS charity of
choice for the event goes toard disabled veterans. One dollar fom
each general admission will be donated to the charity. For more
information, please visit
www.neetstour.net