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By Dino Oberto
(Butler Township, Pa. 10-4-26) It was Championship Sunday at Evergreen Raceway with division titles up for grabs in six of the seven classes in action and, after a delayed start due to a passing afternoon drizzle, the chase was on.
In the 602 Crate Modifieds it was a three car battle for the crown being played out between Micah Adams, Brian Sones and Steve Shultz.
Following a second try at the initial start, Adams, who hails from Lake Areil, took command over Shultz. From that point on they raced nose-to-tail and did so for 30 caution-free laps.
Despite Shultz’s ongoing, relentless pressure, Adams never wavered as he held his line with precision accuracy that enabled him to not only score a division leading fourth win of the season but more so earn himself the coveted class championship, which was his third such at Evergreen, the other two coming in the Four Cylinders.
Sones followed in third marking every race run with either a second, third or fourth place finish.
Rounding out the top five were Avery Arthofer and Marty Noll, both registering season bests.
The Late Model race not only was the finale for points but served as the tune-up to the highly anticipated DW Machine and Fabricating Co., King of the Green 100 and showing that he will be a key factor was Nesquehoning’s Mike Sweeney who roared to his 89th overall triumph.
Sweeney zipped by early leader Evan Berretta on lap four and from there on he was unchallenged in what was an authoritative display of speed and power.
While Sweeney was cruising out front Berretta and Dennis Wenner were fighting closely for second. Berretta repeatedly turned back the challenges of Wenner and nearly gave in as they crossed the finish line side-by-side and the nod going to Berretta.
With a fourth place tally Nick Ross of White Haven collected his fifth Late Model title, tying him for most in class with Sweeney.
The Harry’s U-Pull-It Street Stock feature was a thriller from start to finish. Eric Kocher of Whitehall was able to pull off a late race pass over Paul Frantz in getting the win.
Frantz started on the pole and jumped out front, although it quickly became a three car battle as lap after lap he, Kocher and Mike Pollack raced under a blanket. Frantz clung to the lead while Kocher and Pollack traded second spot and did so directly behind the leader.
Kocher had moved back to second with six laps to go and then zeroed in on Frantz, getting by him with two laps remaining as too did Pollack who got second.
By virtue of taking the green flag in his heat, Freeland’s Pollack scored a record fourth Street Stock championship.
Robert McMulty of Freeland came into the day with a shot at the Himmer Graphics Four Cylinder class championship, although he would need a good bit of luck to realistically make that happen.
A seventh place finish by Weatherly’s Jared Frye would give him the title, but for McNulty, he came away just as happy as he authored a dominating performance that saw him lead every lap and win his career first feature.
Likewise, runner-up Jacob Knittle scored a career best second as he kept several takers at bay all race long and would then hold off fast closing TJ Kapish at the checkers.
Jordon Young of Berwick continued his supremacy in the Rotten-and-Forgotten as he raced to his sixth win in seven starts.
Young took the lead from John Cool nine laps into the run and as has been the case made it a race for second from there on. Cool battled against Vince Corter in securing second place.
What was even more gratifying for Young was his son, Jordon, took top honors as the track champ.
In the McNulty Funeral Home Novice Four Cylinders, Lehighton’s Justin Merkel Jr., notched his second win of the season but despite the verdict it was not enough to get him the championship which went to Upper Lehigh’s Shane Elliot who finished second.
Caitlyn Makarewicz of Freeland picked up her second straight win and third of the season with the Rookie 602 Crate Modifieds.
Makarewicz made the race winning pass over Sarabeth Mesko at the race’s halfway mark and then held off first time starter Zach Hummel for the victory.
602 Crate Modified finish (30 laps): 1. Micah Adams, 2. Steve Shulz, 3. Brian Sones, 4. Avery Arthofer, 5. Marty Noll, 6. Scott Adams, 7. Bobby Jones, 8. Peyton Arthofer
Late Model finish (30 laps): 1. Mike Sweeney, 2. Evan Berretta, 3. Dennis Wenner, 4. Nick Ross, 5. Jared Barclay, 6. Brain Romig Jr., 7. Roger Maynor, 8. Marc Aigeldinger, 9. Brett Peters, 10. Ryan Rochelle, DNS: Cody Kohler
Street Stock finish (25 laps): 1. Eric Kocher, 2. Mike Pollack, 3. Paul Frantz, 4. Peyton Arthofer, 5. Cory Derr, 6. Kenzi Adams, 7. Dennis Buss, 8. Mallory Kutz, 9. Lyndsay Wambold
Four Cylinder Finish (20 laps): 1. Robert McNulty, 2. Jacob Knittle, 3. TJ Kapish, 4. Joe Barbush, 5. Tyler Skordensky, 6. Gavin Higgins, 8. 18. Dan Marsh III, 19. Harry O’Neill
Rotten-and-Forgotten finish (20 laps): 1. Josh Young, 2. John Cool, 3. Vince Corter, 4. Dan Jensen, 5. Jordon Young, 6. Sam Jensen, 7. Danile “Poppy” Jensen, 8. Brice Jensen DNS: Pat McCabe
Novice finish (15 laps): 1. Justin Merkel Jr., 2. Shane Elliot, 3. AJ Frantz, 4. Sabrina Bogert, 5. Jacob Bartuski
Rookie 602 Crate Modified finish (10 laps): 1. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 2. Zach Hummel, 3. Sarabeth Mesko
