0
0
By DINO OBERTO
(Butler Township, PA 8-4-24): Lately it seems that whenever Jayden Harman and Paulie Hartwig III get together for a 602 Crate Modified race at Evergreen Raceway, it always evolves into a wild last lap go-for-broke affair and Sunday afternoon was just that.
After getting to second spot on lap eight, Hartwig was then hounding Harman lap after lap and much like they did in the race on May 25, the pair battled in that fashion until the white flag circuit. Entering the third corner, Hartwig made contact with Harman as he tried to get underneath him. That in turn sent the leader spinning and brought out a caution. Officials declared that for his actions Hartwig – albeit not in agreement – would be sent to the rear along with Harman.
Being in the right place at the right time was Steve Shultz of Drums, who was in third and now placed as the new leader. Then in a one lap shootout he was able to best point leader Brian Rygielski Jr., and Nick Shaffer for his first win with the division.
“We were in the right place at the right time. I just stayed on those guys and I could feel something was going to happen
We thrashed all week on the car, took some big swings at it and we feel we have it going in the right direction,” said Shultz, who collected his 37th career win but first with a 602 Crate Modified.
At the outset it was Deegen Underwood and Harman that would bring the field to the green. At the commencement Harman would get the jump on Underwood who forced low from oncoming traffic. Shultz went to second with Hartwig third.
That trio would then stayed glued to one another over the first half dozen laps. The next time around Hartwig went side-by-side with Shultz and then made the advancement to second on the ensuing go-around.
From then on it was a fierce battle between leader Harman and Hartwig while Shultz got a birds eye view from third. Hartwig was affixed to the rear bumper of Harman yet despite his relenting tries to get by, Harman held his ground. But as the laps wore on it was noticeable that Harman’s car was getting tight which gave Hartwig the chance to look to his inside as they worked the corners.
Finally on the last lap Hartwig sought to make his move. Heading down the back straight he began to look underneath Harman as they approached turn three. As they did that’s when the contact took place and in the process Harman suddenly spun. Unfortunately for Hartwig he was called out for the move and had to restart from the rear.
It was now a green-checker finish and when the action resumed Shultz was first over Rygielski. Firmly holding his line, Shultz safeguarded by putting his years of experience to the test and was able to stay the course and claim the victory.
As Shultz was crossing the line right behind him was a wild three-wide to the checkers with Rygielski fending off Nick Shaffer, Deegen Underwood and Paul Hartwig Jr., for the runner-up spot.
For Shultz he just played the waiting game after watching Harman and Hartwig for many laps going at it. His close observation of the intense battle ahead of him had him thinking about just how near he should ride behind them.
“I thought about it but really all I wanted to do was protect my front tires and I knew if I stayed glued to (Paulie) Hartwig I be okay so if something happen, and it did, I would be alright,” explained Shultz.
“The whole 602 Crate class, everyone is so equal and similar. The gaps close up that much faster and then it’s that much harder to get into a hole that opens up and it definitely makes it more challenging.”
The 602 Crate Modified win compliments his long list of division victories which includes Late Models, Sportsman Modifieds and Factory Stocks.
“This is still a new car to us and we only got into about a year and half ago. We have had our struggles and we’re happy to have finally got a win with the class,” he added.
“I can’t thank Arc Electric and The Wire Guys enough for all they do for us and not just for me but this facility and of course my team. It takes a small army to do this and without them we wouldn’t be here at all.”
In the Harry-U-Pull-It Street Stocks Mike Pollack of Freeland reeled of his record extending fourth consecutive win.
The current point leader chased down early leader Gordon Buchman Jr., by lap eight and once there began to turn up the pressure. When they began the 12th lap, it became a side-by-side duel for the lead. Using the inside lane, Pollack was able to just eke ahead as they completed the lap.
But as they charged into turn one afterwards, Buchman went in to hot in his attempt to stay with Pollack and alas wound up spinning and bringing out a caution.
The rest of the way there was no denying Pollack as he kept turning perfect laps. However, a very fast moving Geary Rinehimer Jr., was making a serious run at Pollack, turning faster laps in the process and closing in a hurry. Rinehimer was just within reach as the checkers waved and Pollack held on for win number four on the season.
Joe Barbush III of Drums picked up his first Himmer Graphics Four Cylinder feature win in five years and it could be considered the one that got away as the previous week he was in a torrid battle with eventual winner TJ Kapish, only to come up one spot short.
Starting seventh and just as he did in last week’s race, Barbush made haste in climbing frontward and was running with the top five by lap 10.
Out-front was a very strong running Ryan Petro who started from the pole and set the early pace. In doing so he was handily fending off the likes of Rob McNulty and Maggie Wambold. By lap 15 point leader BJ Wambold and Barbush where getting in on the action.
Barbush began to make things quite thrilling when he went to the topside and hustled his was to third while also going neck-and neck with McNulty. Not done yet he, as well as McNulty, they zeroed in on Petro on lap 17. The three wide fight did not bode well for Petro though who lost control and spun heading into turn one and forced the yellow to wave.
When the field was reset it was now Barbush at the helm and there he would stay to the finish picking up a long overdue win and with the same car that his sister, Rebecca Barbush, won with a few weeks earlier.
Maggie Wambold, BJ Wambold, McNulty and Jared Frye rounded out the top five.
Conner Shotwell of Schnecksville collected his second McNulty Funeral Home Novice class win of the season. Taking the lead from the get-go, Shotwell stayed out front the entire distance. The always improving Sarabeth Mesko notched a season best second while point leader Caitlyn Makarewicz was third.
The INEX Legends raced in a 25-lap main and for the second time in three starts it was Kevin Nowak picking up the win.
Chris Piasecki would jump out to the early lead before Brad Lowmaster took control on lap three. Hot on his heels was Nowak who bided his time before making his race winning move with and inside pass through turns one and two on lap 11.
He then was able to pull to a two car length lead the rest of the way and go on to earn his 15th win at Evergreen. Lowmaster settled for second with Brayton Malbeuf third.
John Alaimo from Miller Place, Long Island, NY, won the Bandolero feature. He led for most of the race but spun out late in the going, handing the lead over to Tori Miller who, with just a few circuits to go, also spun and back to the front and on to the win went Alaimo.
602 Crate Modified feature finish (30 laps): 1. Steve Shultz, 2. Brian Rygielski Jr., 3. Nick Schaffer, 4. Deegen Underwood, 5. Paul Hartwig Jr., 6. Rick Smith, 7. Micah Adams, 8. Jayden Harman, 9. Paulie Hartwig III, 10. Joe Schmutz, 11. Kenzie Adams
Street Stock feature finish (30 laps): 1. Mike Pollack, 2. Geary Rinehimer Jr., 3. Bob Hunsicker Jr., 4. Tommy Flanagan, 5. Abe Romanik, 6. Amber Knecht
Four Cylinder feature finish (25 laps): 1. Joe Barbush, 2. Maggie Wambold, 3. BJ Wambold, 4. Robert McNulty, 5. Jared Frye, 6. Tyler Skordensky, 7. Shayne Geist, 8. Harry O’Neill, 9. Jacob Knittle, 10. Don Bauder, 11. Ralph Borger Jr., 12. Ryan Petro, 13. Tony Hirschman III, 14. Brooklyn Peters15. Lauren Skupski, 16. Johnny Bennett DNS: Scott Adams
Novice feature finish (12 laps): 1. Connor Shotwell, 2. Sarabeth Mesko, 3. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 4. Abby McNulty, 5. Savannah Romig, 6. Lexus Kutz
INEX Legends feature finish (20 laps): 1. Kevin Nowak, 2. Brad Lowmaster, 3. Brayton Malbeuf, 4. Tanner Jones, 5. Chris Piasecki, 6. Devin Thorton, 7. Austin Bellemare, 8. Philip Alima V, 9. Charlie Hodge, 10. Nick Hodge, 11. Cliff Shaw Jr.
Bandolero feature finish (12 laps): 1. John Alaimo, 2. Aria Ligon, 3. Tori Miller
