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By DINO OBERTO
(Butler Township, Pa. 10-5-25) After an impressive season in which he never finished lower than second, Nick Ross of White Haven put together another stellar performance as he won his fourth Late Model feature of the year and in doing so claimed the 2025 championship on Sunday afternoon at Evergreen Raceway.
For Ross it marked his fourth title at the 1/3-mile paved oval and his 40th overall career win.
“This one is very special for us, two weeks ago, we lost my uncle Fred, and he was always a part of this team and loved coming here with us and this one his for him,” said Ross.
Ross initially remained a minor presence in the race, enabling Brian Romig Jr. to maintain the lead. By lap eight, however, he had advanced to third place and was closely trailing Mike Sweeney, who was also actively challenging Romig for the top spot.
Sweeney and Ross then bared down on Romig, sandwiching him between them as they worked lap 11. With Ross on the outside the trio came off Turn 4 and before the lap could be completed, Sweeney got spun after contact from Romig.
After the field was reset, Ross took command and remained ahead to the finish, with Dennis Wenner close behind and challenging him all the way. The win would secure his fourth Evergreen Raceway championship and sixth overall.
“I try not think about points because that can get hectic but in the back of your mind it’s always there and at any time something bad can happen but today everyone raced clean and the car was really hooked up, probably the best I’ve ever had it, especially running on the outside,” noted Ross.
Wenner’s second was a good indication that his time is nearing for a win. Following his spin Sweeney rebounded to take third while Roger Maynor and Romig Jr. rounded out the top five.
There’s always thrilling action when the Rotten-and-Forgotten are in the house and once again they produced a close battle during their 25-lap feature.
In the race Vince Corter of Wapwallopen was able to keep at bay his teammate and confidant Danny Jensen, which earned his second win of 2025.
Corter moved to the front passing Dylan Starr as the second lap was completed and by midrace Jensen took over the runner-up spot and kept close tabs on the leader but could never find the needed speed to make a pass.
By settling for second, which was his fourth consecutive, Jensen wrapped up the final day of points as the class champion.
An Open Comp Four Cylinder race took place with a 25-lap feature that saw a combination of front-wheel and rear-wheel drive cars in action and for the longest time it looked as though Corey Edelman was going to clean up, holding a commanding lead until five laps to go when all that changed.
It was a red flag situation and due to the fact that Edleman did not immediately heed the call to stop, he was placed back two spots for the restart. Under the stoppage though, Edelman lost power and had to head pit side before returning.
From there the lead went to Lehighton’s Bobby Kibler Jr., who then had to fend off TJ Kapish over the final circuits, which he did but by only by a slim margin as they finished nearly side-by-side. For Kibler it was his second straight win in the past 24 hours, having won the night before at Mahoning Valley Speedway.
The McNulty Funeral Home Novice division ran their portion of the King of the Green presented by Niagara Bottling and taking both the win, and season long championship was Gavin Higgins of Nanticoke.
Snagging the lead on lap two from TJ Rex, he then kept full focus on the mission at hand by staying two car lengths ahead of Justin Merkel Jr., en route to his third victory of the year and gaining the championship.
The East Coast Legends Series were back at Evergreen and for the first time in over a decade, veteran Brad Lowmaster of Califon, NJ returned to Fairway Chevrolet Victory Lane.
Lowmaster started the race from third and went by early leader Chris Pisecki on the second go-around. It then became a torrid battle at the front as Lowmaster was under constant pressure from Joel Hall and Tanner Jones who continuously ganged up on him.
But remaining steadfast Lowmaster was able to protect his line and even though he was under immense pressure he crossed under the checkers by a slim margin which was his first time as a winner here since 2012.
The race also served as a two-fold day of celebration for Chris Sinatro of West Hempstead, NY who, after his sixth-place tally, secured the championship at both Evergreen and the East Coast Legends Series Asphalt title.
Late Model feature (30 laps): 1. Nick Ross, 2. Dennis Wenner, 3. Mike Sweeney, 4. Roger Maynor, 5. Brian Romig Jr., 6. Marc Aigledinger, 7. Brian Romig Sr., 8. Evan Beretta, 9. Scott Adams, 10. Paul Frantz
Rotten-and-Forgotten feature (25 laps): 1. Vince Corter, 2. Dan Jensen, 3. John Cool, 4. Sam Jensen, 5. Jake Jones, 6. Dylan Starr, 7. Jordan Young, 8. Josh Young
Open Comp Four Cylinder feature (25 laps): 1. Bobby Kibler Jr., 2. TJ Kapish, 3. Jared Frye, 4. Tyler Sordensky, 5. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 6. Steve Tito, 7. Corey Edelman, 8. Kadie Pursell
Novice feature (20 laps): 1. Gavin Higgins, 2. Justin Merkel Jr., 3. Jeremy Henry, 4. Jeff Engler, 5. Sarabeth Mesko, 6. AJ Frantz, 7. TJ Rex
Legends feature (20 laps): 1. Brad Lowmaster, 2. Joel Hall, 3. Tanner Jones, 4. Chevy Rommeney, 5. William Sipala, 6. Chris Sinatro, 7. Jayden Glennerster, 8. Jeffery Farrugia, 9. Chris Piasecki, 10. Jeff Stephens, 11. Jaden Hall, 12. Lars Wilson, 13. Darren Lucas, 14. Cliff Shaw
