Jentile, Fisher and
Cozza Grab Monday’s
NEETS Enduro Honors
Joe Jentile came into Monday’s ABC
Car Crushing NEETS Holiday Stock Cars Series event with a record eleven
wins since the inception of the series. That changed to twelve when
Jentile went on to take the checkers in the 100-lap contest for the
Cascioli Roofing 6/8-cylinder division. Late model sensation, Larry
Fisher, cruised to the win in the 100-lap Steel Seal 4 cylinder
division, and John Cozza beat Rob McCormick by a bumper in the NEETS
Custom Classic TRUX 50-lap event.
From the pole position, Ray Rothfuss led thirty-nine well-prepared
Cascioli Roofing six and eight cylinder enduro machines to the green
flag for the 100-lap contest. Rothfuss immediately plunged out front,
but with only seven laps into the event, Richard Petey took control. Tim
Pauch, who headed into the event as the series points leader followed in
third.
With thirteen laps in the books, Pauch made the pass for the top
spot on Petey, but Petey grabbed the lead back four circuits later. At
this point, Shawn Gallucci grabbed third with Rothfuss and Joe Kmetz
completing the top five.
Problems struck Pauch with forty laps into the event when he lost a
wheel from his machine. Although he headed to the pits, his day came to
an early end. Only one lap later, Joe Jentile, who started nearly last,
caught and passed Petey for the lead. The two drivers swapped the top
spot a few times before Petey settled into second.
With only two drivers finishing on the lead lap in the red flag free
event, Jentile (Bedminster, PA) cruised to his twelfth NEETS win over
Petey, Steve Haegele, Gallucci and Bob Wink.
A total of fifty-seven Steel Seal four cylinders took to the
speedway for 100-laps of enduro action. “Fluffy” White started on the
pole and set the early pace until the red flag flew with three laps in
when Kayla Kovach spun off of turn two. Once her car came to a stop,
Scott Rhodes, who had nowhere to go, drilled her from behind. After
exiting her vehicle, Kovach was taken to a nearby hospital by the Butler
Township Ambulance for evaluation.
The race restarted with Fisher taking command. Steve Wilson tucked
into second, with Harry Sager running third. Shortly after a lap
eighteen red flag, Wilson caught and passed Fisher for the top spot on
lap twenty-thee. Then Sager took control of the event only three
circuits later. At times Sager held a strong lead over Fisher, Wilson,
Shawn Wanat and Robin Vollmoeller, but little by little Fisher began
reeling the leader back in. Trouble struck Wilson on lap forty-four when
he made hard contact with the retaining wall in turns three and four.
Fisher caught and passed Sager with fifty-nine laps in the books.
Second place, Sager, began to drop positions and took his vehicle to the
pits shortly after. At this point in the event, division point’s leader,
Joe Grocholski, battled with Bob Hagar for second. After overtaking
Hager, Grocholski set his sights on Fisher.
Fisher (Fern Glen, PA) stayed out of trouble over the closing laps
and went on to win his second NEETS enduro event of the season over
Grocholski, Matt Guida, Bob Haeger and Robin Vollmoeller. All five
drivers finished on the lead lap.
With Randy Parsons at the point, a total of twenty-one Custom
Classic NEETS TRUX hit the speedway for a fifty-lap truck enduro. Before
a single lap was complete, Rob McCormick took command and began top pull
away from the field.
With only four laps in the books, John Cozza grabbed the lead.
Meanwhile, Harry Sager began to put the pressure on McCormick for
second. By mid race, all three trucks began to distance themselves from
Terry Stiles and James Batalano.
With only a handful of laps remaining, Cozza caught McCormick and
began to apply pressure. The two were side-by-side as they approached a
lapped truck in turn four on the final lap. McCormick and the lapped
truck of Katona got together as Cozza tried to squeeze by. When it was
all said and done, Cozza (Medford, NY) was awarded the win over
McCormick.
The NEETS charity of choice for the event was the Jerry Lewis
Foundation. One Dollar from each general admission will be donated to
the cause.
The next ABC Car Crushing NEETS Holiday Stock Car Series event is
the “Fem-DURO”, which is a non-points, female/male tag team enduro. The
date’s set for Saturday, September 30th. On the card for the day are the
Cascioli Roofing 6/8 cylinders, along with the Steel Seal four cylinders
and also two special “Over 50/50” enduro for drivers who are at least 50
years old will be run. All the action will begin at 2 PM. Grandstand
admission pricing is $7 for ages seven and older. Children six and
younger are admitted for free. The NEETS charity of choice will be
announced at a later date. For all information regarding the NEETS
series, please visit their website at
www.neetstour.net.
Source: Geno
Ostrowski/NEETS PR
Posted:
September 4, 2006