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By Dino Oberto
(Butler Township, PA 6-16-24): Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning can add another notch to his long list of racing accomplishments as the four-time and defending Evergreen Raceway Late Model champion was awarded the victory in Sunday’s 50-lap feature.
It was the first race of the season for the class and Sweeney took the top honors after apparent winner Tyler Johnson did not pass all of the requirements during post-race inspection.
Johnson, who made the tow from Mooresville, NC, took the lead after a thrilling three-wide race for the lead when he dove underneath then leader Roger Maynor and Brian Sones.
A series of cautions took a toll on many of the front runners, including Sweeney who was sent to the rear for an incident on lap four while. But, due the attrition that was taking place, Sweeney had methodically worked his way back towards the front and by lap 11 was running second to Johnson.
But although he had a few opportunities on restarts to make a run past the leader, it was to no avail and he rode closely in second until the checkers.
“We were here for King of the Green in November but the car just didn’t have speed and we ended up wrecking but today we had this car so fast,” said Johnson.
“Mike (Sweeney) is great driver and he’s always clean and there may have been one time that he roughed me up but overall he ran me clean and once we got to green flag racing our car was set-up good.”
That indeed it was but unfortunately for Johnson his team was flagged at tech afterwards for an infraction that did not completely comply with the rules and he was then placed to the last car running on the lead lap in the final rundown in seventh and elevated Sweeney as the first place finisher.
“We don’t like to win them this way and hats off to Tyler (Johnson) and his guys, they beat us on speed today but it is what it is,” said Sweeney.
“The car came through pretty much in one piece. We had one incident early in the race and had to go to the rear and then worked our way back up front. Then at the finish we discovered we had a flat right rear which was probably a little bit of the ill-handling of today bit other than that the car was good.”
For Sweeney is was 77th overall win, 75 coming in a Late Model including 19 at Evergreen.
“We’ll move on from here, keep working and keep digging which is what our team is all about and we’ll come back faster next time,” he added.
As noted for Sweeney, his chances to get by Johnson came on restarts where he was able to run side-by-side but never more than a lap or two.
“I think if we could have got out front we may have been able to hold him off even with the flat near the end. The car was tight but it was still okay,” he explained.
“There was a stout field of cars here today and it’s a good thing what (division sponsor) Dennis Wenner is doing for us likewise with (track owner) Jason Makarewicz. I know myself and everyone else with the Late Models appreciates what they’re all doing here.”
Sones ran strong all race long and took second. Marc Aigeldinger who despite being caught in an early race scuffle, was third. Maynor came home fourth and running his first Late Model race at Evergreen it was 2022-23 Factory Stock champion rounding out the top five.
In the Street Stocks there was no denying the top running performance of winner Eric Kocher from Palmerton.
Starting from the pole it didn’t take long for Kocher to control the race as he went to the lead from the get-go. From then on it was smooth sailing for the veteran driver who distanced himself far enough ahead to make it a race for second.
By the time he reached the checkers Kocher was a straightaway to the good over runner-up Mike Pollack. It was also the third win this season for Kocher who also notched a pair of wins earlier this year at Mahoning Valley Speedway.
In the annals of eastern Pennsylvania short track asphalt racing the Wambold name stands out as one of the greats. From Dorney Park Speedway to Mahoning Valley Speedway the Wambold’s have won races and championships aplenty.
But when it came to Evergreen Raceway, try as they may they were always shunned from victory. That was until Sunday when heir apparent of the Wambold dynasty, BJ Wambold of Nazareth, led every lap of the Four Cylinder feature and can now check off the 1/3-mile oval as winning track for the storied family of racers.
Jay Kanor was second to Wambold but it wasn’t until the waning laps that he began to close in on him, however, he would run short of time in his effort.
The Rotten and Forgotten had their first feature of the season and after a very spirited battle for the lead, Noah Jensen of Wapwallopen raced by his brother, Dan Jensen, with seven laps to go and recorded his second straight Father’s Day win which he appropriately decided to his dad.
Savannah Romig of Allentown nailed her career first win by leading every lap of the Novice division and holding off fast closing Abby McNulty for the unforgettable victory.
Late Model feature finish (50 laps): 1. Mike Sweeney, 2. Brian Sones, 3. Marc Aigeldinger, 4. Roger Maynor, 5. Brandon Cook, 6. Brian Romig Jr., 7. Tyler Johnson, 8. Geno Steigerwalt, 9. Griffin Hendershot, 10. Seth VanFossen, 11. Brooks Smith 12. Nick Ross, 13. Dennis Wenner DNS: Brett Peters DQ: Evan Berretta
Street Stock feature finish (30 laps): 1. Eric Kocher, 2. Mike Pollack, 3. Bobby Kibler Jr., 4. Tommy Flanagan, 5. Gordon Buchman Jr., 6. Bobby Hunsicker, 7. Amber Knecht
Four Cylinder feature finish (25 laps): 1. BJ Wambold, 2. Jay Kanor, 3. Johnny bennett, 4. Maggie Wambold, 5. Jimmy Ayre, 6. Robert McNulty, 7. Rebecca Barbush, 8. Ralph Boger Jr., 9. Jared Frye, 10. Larry Spencer III, 11. Scott Adams, 12. Nicholas Kerstetter, 13. Lauren Skupski, 14. Brooklyn Peters, 15. Steve Tito, 16. Mallory Kutz
Rotten and Forgotten feature finish (25 laps): 1. Noah Jensen, 2. Tommy Dawson, 3. Dan Jensen, 4. Tom Jensen, 6. Hunter Sterner, 7. Vince Sterner, 8. Sarah Derr, 9. Sam Jensen
Novice feature finish (15 laps): 1. Savannah Kutz, 2. Abby McNulty, 3. Lexie Kutz, 4. Jeremy Henry, 5. Junior Merkel, 6. Sarabeth Mesko, 7. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 8. Connor Shotwell
