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Scott Adams nips Mike Pollack in Larry Danko Memorial for Street Stocks; New Hampshire invader Carlos Grenier upset winner in Four Cylinder Summer Classic
By Dino Oberto
(Butler Township, Pa. 8-30-26) Evergreen Raceway hosted a thrilling day of full-fender-style racing, with every division delivering close, exciting action.
Brian Romig Jr., from Schnecksville picked up his first win of the season with the Late Models, Lake Ariel’s Scott Adams outdueled Mike Pollack to win the Larry Danko Memorial for Street Stocks, from Charlestown, NH Carlos Grenier made the five-hour tow worth his while by winning the “Summer Classic” for Four Cylinders, Josh Young of Berwick racked up another victory with the Rotten-and-Forgotten, Reily O’Keefe from Manorville, NY kept his win streak going with the East Coast Legends and Manchester NJ’s Scott Riggleman took top honors with the Northeast Factory Stocks.
In the Late Model feature Brett Peters led the opening lap but the next time by Evan Berretta took control and soon had point leader Nick Ross on his tail and that immediately began a fierce battle.
Each lap Berretta was continuingly holding back the onslaught attack of Ross who tried repeatedly to get past but each time the effort was turned away. Ross also had his chances on restarts, but again Berretta held strong and fired off quickly to maintain the lead. As Berretta and Ross battled closely, Romig remained within striking distance in third.
At the end of the 12th lap, Berretta and Ross exited the fourth corner side by side. Ross, who was on the inside, then tried to squeeze underneath Berretta. However, as they headed into Turn 1, the two collided and both spun out to bring out the caution.
The lead was now in the hands of Romig with his teammate, Ryan Rochelle, alongside and when the race resumed they too, just as Berretta and Ross had done, began running side-by-side.
As Romig was fighting hard to keep Rochelle at bay, Ross, who had pitted after his spin, blasted up to third with seven laps to go and with just four tours remaining he unseated Rochelle and homed in on Romig.
On the final lap, Ross attempted to dive beneath Romig as they raced toward the finish line, but Romig remained steady and never flinched, holding on for a well-earned victory.
The Larry Danko Memorial was held for the Harry’s U-Pull-It Street Stocks, and the 40-lap contest was a great race between the division’s top two drivers, Mike Pollack and Scott Adams.
At the start Paul Frantz took control and had Adams all over him and by lap eight Pollack joined the fight. Frantz was showing excellent speed and control despite having Adams and Pollack coming at him from both sides.
But with a dozen laps completed Adams was finally able to get under Frantz exiting Turn 2 and when the lap was concluded the lead was in his hands. One lap later Pollack raced to second and from there on it was nose-to-tail between them. Keeping close tabs in third was Brandon Oltra.
To protect the lead, Adams had to hold his line and deny Pollack any opening. Despite Pollack’s repeated challenges, Adams remained composed and held him off to the checkered flag, securing his third win of the season, and 43rd overall at Evergreen.
The “Summer Classic” Presented by Himmer Graphics was held for the Four Cylinders and the 40-lap feature brought out a solid 22 cars who all had their eyes on the $800 top prize.
But even though there was a great field of cars, none could match the performance turned in by New Hampshire invader Carlos Greiner who, in just his second start, captured the big win.
Grenier started third but by the time the first lapped was scored he was leading over Maggie Wambold.
The field then reeled off the next 37 laps caution free and in the process Grenier was making it his race as he continued to sweep past lapped traffic with ease and pulled far ahead in his lead over Wambold. By the halfway point Grenier was not only well ahead of second place M. Wambold but had a commanding half-lap lead on third place BJ Wambold.
But with just three laps to go the caution waved and set up a dramatic finish. Greiner had Jay Kanor lined up next to him and BJ Wambold right behind and when the green returned Wambold darted by Kanor and was all over the tail of Grenier. But after leading all those laps Grenier wasn’t about to let the most important one slip away as he withstood all that Wambold threw at him and held on for the remarkable victory.
In the Rotten-and-Forgotten there just doesn’t seem to be any stopping Josh Young who for the fifth time in six races took the win.
In this week’s win Young had to fight hard to gain the lead from Sam Jensen, which he would do at the start of lap 11. Once in front though it was the same as before with everyone else battling for second on back while he cruised on.
Second was indeed a tussle as Jordon Young nipped Vince Corter at the finish line to make if a father and son one-two finish.
In the East Coast Legends there doesn’t seem to be any stopping Reily O’Keefe who has yet to lose this year at Evergreen. There was even a bounty put up by Kresge Auto Service to anyone who could beat him and provided he starts last.
O’Keefe was up the challenge and by lap 13 of 20 he was making his race winning move on Landon Herring. For O’Keefe it was another sweep of the weekend too, having won the night prior at Riverhead Raceway.
Also on the card was the Northeast Factory Stocks who raced in a 25-lap feature sponsored by Murphy Lumber of White Haven.
Scott Riggleman was leading from the outset but was having plenty to deal with from Ryan Casagrande. Then it became a down to the wire battle all thanks to a late race caution.
When Joe Kunkel spun with six laps remaining it set up a close battle to the checkers. On the restart Blaine Barry slipped past Casagrande and then stayed glued to the back of Riggleman who held on for his first victory here since an Enduro win in 2013.
Late Model finish (30 laps): 1. Brian Romig Jr., 2. Nick Ross, 3. Ryan Rochelle, 4. Roger Maynor, 5. Brett Peters, 6. Evan Berretta, 7. Micheal Klotz, 8. Joe Galada, 9. Steve Adams
Street Stock finish (40 laps): 1. Scott Adams, 2. Mike Pollack, 3. Brandon Oltra, 4. Paul Frantz, 5. Geray Rinehimer Jr., 6. Peyton Arthofer, 7. Thomas Flanagan IV, 8. Dennis Buss, 9. JR Murns, 10. Mallory Kutz, 11. Josh LaBatch, 12. Eric Kocher
Four Cylinder finish (40 laps): 1. Carlos Grenier, 2. BJ Wambold, 3. Shayne Giest, 4. Jay Kanor, 5. TJ Kapsih, 6. David Carney, 7. Cody Geist, 8. Tyler Skordensky, 9. Nick Scheaffer, 10. Justin Merkel Jr., 11. Gavin Higgins, 12. Jared Frye, 13. Jacob Knittle, 14. Colton Hull, 15. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 16. Jay Skuski, 17. Lauren Skupski, 18. Sabrina Bogert, 19. Maggie Wambold, 20. Sam Ryan, 21. Jacob Bartuski, 22. Robert McNulty
Rotten-and-Forgotten finish (25 laps): 1. Josh Young, 2. Jordon Young, 3. Vince Corter, 4. Dan Jensen, 5. John Cool, 6. Sam Jensen, 7. Josh Conklin, 8. Brice Jensen
Legends finish (20 laps): 1. Riely O’Keefe, 2. Chris Sinatro, 3. Jeffery Farrugia, 4. Landen Herring, 5. Devin Thorton, 6. Chris Piasecki, 7. Patrick Moore, 8. Cliff Shaw Jr.
