Race #6 for the ABC Auto Parts and Car Crushing Mountain
Madness Enduro Series took place this past Saturday, at Mountain
Speedway in St. Johns, PA. The $1,500 to win event for both four
cylinder and 6/8 cylinder junk cars, took to the wet speedway on
a cool, fall afternoon. This particular event was dubbed the
“Halloween Screamer” and the intense action on the speedway,
delighted the good crowd on hand. Luke Colleran of Mountaintop,
PA would take home the big prize in the four cylinder division,
with Manorville, NY’s Ray Fitzgerald capturing the checkered
flag in the six/eight cylinder division.
Spectator one-on-one drag racing would be cancelled due to
the wet racing surface; however, all Mountain Madness enduros
run rain or shine. The four cylinders would take to the speedway
first, which was still damp from the heavy rain which covered
the speedway until an hour before start time. Thirty three cars
would see the green flag fly, to start the 150 lap race. The #6
of John Saccomandi would grab the early lead, but Larry Spencer
in the #24 would pressure the #6 of Saccomandi until the #62 of
Luke Colleran would work past both drivers to grab the top spot
on lap 11. Colleran would work through the lapped traffic like a
hot knife through butter, leaving only three cars on the lead
lap by lap 60. The top five would be Colleran, Dave Bentley, Bob
Coco, Mike Ventura and Robin Schweire, at the halfway mark. The
red flag would fly at lap 101, for the #67 of Larry Spencer III,
who had stopped against the wall in turn 4. When the green came
back out, the #99 of Schweire would begin a charge toward the
front, as the track began to dry out. The only other red flag
would fly on lap 128, for debris in turn 2. As the race wound
down, Schweire would erase the sizeable lead that Colleran had
built; however, the #99 of Schweire would come up two car
lengths short as the checkered fell. Colleran would pick up his
third win of the season, in the Sager’s Automotive #62. By
virtue of his 8th place finish, Mark Spencer Jr. would be
crowned the 2007 four cylinder points champion.
The 6/8 cylinders would take to the now dry pavement next. 46
cars would take the green flag, with the #11 of Scott Graham
stalling on the front stretch, before the race even started. In
true enduro fashion, the #11 would remain on the speedway, as an
obstacle. Many cars would spin in the first several laps, as
some drivers seemed overly aggressive, with the big money on the
line. The first red would come at lap 14, for the #74 of Jaime
Pressley, who had stopped against the wall in turn 4. Robin
Schweire, who had finished 2nd earlier in the 4 cylinder race,
would lead the first 30 laps, until he was collected by a spun
car on the frontstretch. By lap 40, Mark Spencer Jr. in the #124
would find himself in the lead, with the #31X of Jeff Walls hot
on his trail. #16 Ray Fitzgerald, #41 Joe Jentile, and the #410
of Steve Tito completed the top five. The #83 of John Anzalone
Jr. would make his way into the top five, after an early spin,
at lap 50. The red flag would fly on lap 63, for the #29R of
Rich Paciotti, which was now disabled on the frontstretch. By
the halfway mark, Fitzgerald, who is a multi-time winner of
enduros across the Northeast, would power to the top spot and
open a commanding lead. Mark Spencer would spin on lap 86, but
would not fall out of the top five. At the 100 lap mark, the top
five would be Fitzgerald, Anzalone, Spencer, Jentile, and now
Jimmy White Jr., in the #01. The red flag would fly again at lap
121, for the #911 of Sam Detweiler losing a wheel. Around this
time, Jentile would be forced to make a pit stop and Jeff Walls
would move back into the top five. The red flag would fly for
the final time at lap 147, for the #61M of Luke New. Fitzgerald
would stay out of trouble for the final three circuits, and grab
the checkered flag. The #124 of Mark Spencer would be 2nd, with
#83 of John Anzalone Jr. finishing 3rd, followed by the #31X of
Jeff Walls, and the #01 of Jimmy White Jr., rounding out the top
five. Walls would be crowned the 2007 6/8 cylinder points
champion with his 4th place effort.
A big thank you goes out to all drivers who competed in the
fun, affordable racing series for 2007. Don’t forget to mark
your calendars now for Saturday, January 5, 2008 as the
Frostbite II enduro is scheduled to take place, to begin the
2008 enduro season. Racing in January…only at Mountain Speedway!
Source: Mike Odwazny/Mountain
Speedway PR
Posted:
October 28, 2007
