Baer Earns King of the
Mountain Victory; Brigati Championship
St. Johns, Pa- With double points and
divisional championships on the line, plenty of racers and fans
alike came out to Mountain Speedway on Saturday afternoon for
the first day of the 12th annual “King of the Mountain” (KoTM)
event. In a perfect ending to what he would call a disappointing
season so far, Todd Baer of New Tripoli, PA held off Rusty Smith
to score the $2,000 prize for his first Sport Modified win of
the season. With the Late Model championship on the line, Craig
Lutz of Miller Place, NY not only took the victory, but also his
first career championship in the division. Paul Morgan, Jr. of
Mountaintop, PA took his first Factory Stock victory of the
season and Matt Janisch not only took the TQ Midget feature win,
but he also clinched the championship at the speedway.
Anthony Sesely timed the quickest in Sport Modified time trials
and following the redraw, Barry Callavini led the field to the
drop of the green flag in the 100-lap event.
Callavini led the first lap over Jason Hearne, Dave Brigati,
Rusty Smith and Todd Baer. Smith didn’t waste any time and took
the third spot from Brigati on the first lap. He then climbed to
the second spot and overtook Callavini for the lead on lap 16.
The first yellow flag waved when Matt Kurzejewski got out of
shape. While gathering his car back up he got into Anthony
Sesely, who had nowhere to go. Sesely, a former King of the
Mountain winner, was forced to retire from the event.
With the green flag back out, Baer began to climb toward the
front. First, he passed Callavini for third on lap 21 and then
he overtook Hearne for the second spot on lap 31.
Several of the front-runners pitted for fresh rubber following a
Todd Geist spin on lap 48. Smith ducked into the pits, as did
Baer, Zane Zeiner and Shawna Ingraham. The pit stops gave the
lead to Mike Skarbowski. Callavini lined up in second, followed
by Kurzejewski, Chas Okerson and Nick Pecko.
Like a freight train, both Smith and Baer started to climb back
to the front over the next twenty laps. With forty laps
remaining and with Skarbowski still in command over Okerson,
Smith held third with Baer in tow.
Smith climbed to second and Baer followed through to third. Baer
worked on Smith for the second spot and he finally completed the
pass on lap 67. Six laps later Baer overtook the leader (Skarbowski),
who did not pit for tires.
Despite several yellows over the closing laps, Baer held off a
late race charge by Smith to claim his first career KoTM event.
Smith settled for second, followed by Callavini and Hearne.
Brigati finished fifth, which helped him earn the 2011 Sport
Modified track championship. Ingraham finished in the tenth
position and was presented a trophy for being the highest
finishing car using a “crate” engine.
Travis Fisher turned the quickest lap during Late Model time
trials and following the redraw, Craig Lutz started from the
pole in the 50-lap event. Lutz led the opening lap over Kevin
Metzger, Fisher, Joe Burns and Rob Ormsbee.
The yellow flag waved on lap 9 when Fisher and Metzger tangled
while the duo battled for second. With the green back out,
Austin Kochenash climbed into second, followed by Ormsbee, Kyle
Harvell and Jim Lamoreaux.
Kochenash had his turn at the lead, as he ran side-by-side with
Lutz. He crossed the strip first on lap 10, but the lead was
short-lived, as Lutz regained the top spot on the following
circuit.
Ormsbee rode in the third spot and mounted a charge on Kochenash.
Following a great battle behind race leader, Lutz, Ormsbee
snagged the second spot on lap 21.
A slew of yellows for several solo spins plagued the second half
of the event and Lutz was flawless on each and every restart.
With 10 laps remaining, he continued to lead over Ormsbee,
Harvell, Francis Gross III and Burns.
While on a mission to win his first Late Model championship,
Lutz pulled off his fifth and biggest win of his career, as he
can now add his name to the record book as a KoTM Victor and
Late Model champion.
Brandon Oltra started from the pole and led the opening circuit
of the 40-lap Factory Stock feature over Paul Morgan, Jr., Chris
Parry, Matt Schlenker and Joey Helburg.
Parry battled with Morgan for the second spot and finally made
the pass stick. He then pulled up alongside Oltra and challenged
for the lead. In typical Factory Stock fashion, the pair swapped
some paint, yet never skipped a beat. Parry did lead lap number
seven, but Oltra came back to lead lap number nine.
The yellow flag waved on lap 17 when Rich Paciotti caught the
apron of the track and then got a shot from behind before
sliding up the speedway and collecting Keith Frankenfield. With
minimal damage, both drivers were able to continue.
Parry lined up alongside Oltra for the restart and took the lead
when the green waved. Looking for his first career championship,
Schlenker held third, followed by Morgan and Helburg.
Morgan got by Schlenker for third on lap 14 and then set his
sights on Oltra. Following a fierce battle, Morgan grabbed
second.
Heartbreak struck Parry on lap 20 when fluid began to spew from
his car. He was forced pit side and Morgan assumed the race lead
for the restart. With the green out once again, Oltra battled
hard and led lap 21, but Morgan retook the top spot.
Morgan held the advantage over Oltra and Schlenker, as the
battled side-by-side. Schlenker came out with the second spot on
lap 27, but never mounted a serious charge on Morgan, who picked
up his first KoTM victory. With his second place effort,
Schlenker claimed the 2011 Factory Stock Crown. Oltra, Helburg
and Paciotti completed the top five.
Paul Morgan, Jr. and Brandon Oltra were heat race winners.
Jeff Kot led the TQ Midgets to the drop of the green flag in the
25-lap event. He led the opening circuit over Frank Fischer and
Zack Martini before the yellow flag waved for a slowed vehicle
on lap four.
Green flag racing resumed and Matt Janisch climbed his way into
the third spot. He battled with Fischer for second and the pair
touched wheels in turn three. Fischer spun and Janisch retained
the second spot in the lap nine incident. Robin Johnston, who
appeared to have one of the fastest cars of the evening, spun to
avoid contact, but he was forced to the rear of the field for
the restart.
Green flag racing resumed and Janisch overtook Kot for the race
lead on lap 13. Ryan Tidman rocketed his way to third and then
he got by Kot for second.
Johnston made a late-race charge back toward the front, and took
third from Kot on lap 19, but he ran out of time, as Janisch
took the KoTM victory over Tidman. With the victory, Janisch
also clinched the ATQMRA Mountain Speedway championship.
Johnston, Alison Cumens and Mike Tidaback completed the top
five.
Heat race victories went to Robin Johnston and Jeff Kot.
Mountain Speedway is just minutes from Hazleton, PA, located on
St. John’s Road, between Routes 93 and 309. Grandstand admission
for all regular events is just $10 for ages 11 and older.
Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free.
More information, including the full KoTM payout, can be viewed
by visiting www.mountainspeedway.com. Mountain Speedway is just
minutes from Hazleton, PA, located on St. John’s Road, between
Routes 93 and 309.
Sport Modified (100-laps) 1. TODD BAER 2. Rusty Smith 3. Barry
Callavini 4. Jason Hearne 5. Dave Brigati 6. Nick Pecko 7. Zane
Zeiner 8. Todd Geist 9. Matt Kurzejewski 10. Shawna Ingraham 11.
Brian Sones 12. Mike Skarbowski 13. Anderew Krause 14. Chas
Okerson 15. Pat Verwys 16. Adam Lacicero 17.Anthony Sesely
Late Model (50-laps) 1. CRAIG LUTZ 2. Rob Ormsbee 3. Kyle
Harvell 4. Joe Burns 5. Francis Gross III 6. Rick Smith 7.
Jennifer Kutz 8. Geno Steigerwalt 9. Adam Cox 10. Kevin Metzger
11. Raven Schrantz 12. Jim Lamoreaux 13. Austin Kochenash 14.
Glenn Slocum 15. Travis Fisher 16. Beau Drobot
Factory Stock (40-laps) 1. PAUL MORGAN, JR 2. Matt Schlenker 3.
Brandon Oltra 4. Joe Helberg 5. Richard Paciotti 6. Del Morgan
7. Kermit Jacoby 8. Greg Concert 9. Keith Frankenfield 10. Chris
Parry 11. Todd Gadoury DNS: Robert Bader Jr
TQ Midgets (25-laps) 1. MATT JANISCH 2. Ryan Tidman 3. Robin
Johnston 4. Alison Cumens 5. Mike Tidaback 6. Jeff Kot 7. Zach
Martini 8. Buddy Sload 9. Matthew Roselli 10. Austin Fehr 11.
Tim Behmer 12. Frank Fischer 13. Dan Lane 14. Marc Rogers 15. AJ
Fudge 16. Arik McGurder 17.Joe Carrol DNS: Camden Barber
Source:
Geno Ostrowski/Mountain Speedway PR
Posted: October 9, 2011
