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By DINO OBERTO
(Butler Township, Pa. 2-22-25) Evergreen Raceway began its 2025 season on Saturday afternoon with a pair of Enduro events for the 4/6-cylinder cars and the 8-cylinder cars.
And aside from the brisk temperatures that hovered in the mid-30s, nevertheless racers and fans alike came out to ring in the new season at the 1/3-mile paved oval in what turned out to be an enjoyable afternoon which was especially true for winners TJ Kapish and Elliot Wohl.
For Kapish, no matter if it’s a regular Four Cylinder division race or in this case the 4/6-Cylinder Gut-N-Go Enduro, the Mountain Top driver has made either class his personal playground. Last year he won four of six starts in the weekly Four Cylinders and when it came to Enduro’s he won twice and was second in the other.
Not surprising Kapish once again was the star in 100-lap Gut-n-Go Enduro. Starting from 19th, he needed less than 10 laps to hustle his way into the top five and by lap 13 he was setting up his race winning pass over his teammate, John Ayre.
Steadily he then set sail, passing cars at ease and by lap 27 his No. 33 was lapping into the top-5. Kapish wasn’t done yet as he continued to make haste as he effortlessly weaved in and out of traffic and by lap 62 had once again caught Ayre and when he went by him now had lapped the entire field.
From there on it was just a matter of hitting his marks and dodging any obstacles that could have hampered an otherwise perfect day.
By taking the checkers, it was the second straight season opening win for Kapish and 39th overall win in his career.
Ayre would hold on for second, but in the process was having to fend off Tony Rispin in doing so. The same could be said for fourth place finisher Bob McNulty who held back the challenges of AJ Light in rounding out the top five.
In the Outlaw Enduro 8-Cylinder feature, there may have only been three cars that showed up but they proved that you only need two to make a race and that’s just what took place between the cars of Wohl and Scott Sipe.
Sipe grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and remained in control until two laps to go when Wohl made his race winning move and won for the first time here since 2016.
Wohl, who hails from Beechwood, NJ, bided his time while staying behind Sipe. Then with the laps winding down he began to reel in the leader and blasted past him with a lap and half remaining. To make matters worse for Sipe, he then spun and gave up second to Wohl’s teammate, Scott Riggleman.
4/6-Cylinder Enduro finish (100-laps): 1. TJ Kapish, 2. John Ayre, 3. Tony Rispin, 4. Robert McNulty, 5. AJ Light, 6. Kenny Henja, 7. Mitch Sharpe, 8. Ray Kochin, 9. Adam Buteau, 10. Johnny Bennett, 11. Tony Hilliard, 12. Mark Spencer, 13. Scott Adams, 14. Justin Reigel, 15. Dylan Sheeler, 16. Daniell Baker, 17. Eric Platt, 18. David Baker, 19. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 20. Steve Tito, 21. Eoughan Hayward, 22. Bo Sheeler
Outlaw Enduro finish (35-laps): 1. Elliot Wohl, 2. Scott Riggleman, 3. Scott Sipe
