Nick Ross and Mike Sweeney Find Victory at Evergreen Raceway

Things heated up once again at Evergreen Raceway on Sunday and when the smoke cleared, “The Mountaintop Boss” Nick Ross scored his first career Late Model victory in the make up event from May 15. Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning was dominant in the second Late Model feature and cruised to the checkers. CJ Lehmann of Shirly, NY shined in the Pro Stock main and Charlie Castiglione of Freeland notched his second Street Stock win of the season. Steve Heckman too his first career Factory Stock victory, as did 12-year old Brayden Spencer of Shickshinny in Four Cylinder action.

Broc Brown led the Late Model field to the drop of the green flag in the 25-lap make up feature from May 15. He was overtaken by Travis Fisher for the top spot before a lap was scored. Nick Ross held second with Matt Wentz and Geno Steigerwalt in tow.

With Fisher still in command, Steve Shultz and Mike Sweeney moved into fourth and fifth respectively. However, the action slowed with a pair of lap eight yellows.

By that point Ross had climbed to second, followed by Shultz, Steigerwalt and Rick Smith.

The battle for the lead got heated following the restart and Ross pressured Fisher lap after lap. With the white flag in the air, Ross jumped under Fisher in turn three. Fisher attempted to block, got turned around and Ross crossed the stripe for his first career win over Shultz, Smith, Sweeney and Brown.

Mitch Hawk started from the pole and led the opening circuit of the regular 25-lap Late Model feature over Shultz, Brown, Smith and Sweeney.

With Hawk still showing the way, the yellow waved on lap three when Fisher attempted to make it three wide off of turn four. The end result was a tore up ride for Smith and Fisher also retired from the event with damage.

Sweeney got by Ross for third following the restart and then moved into second just before a quick lap five yellow.

Green flag racing resumed and Sweeney got by Hawk for the top spot. Shortly after, Brown tried to get by Hawk. The pair tangled and Raven Schrantz was also collected in the turn one and two incident.

The remainder of the event ran caution free and Sweeney checked out from his competition to notch his first Evergreen win of the season. Hawk ended up with a season best second, followed by Ross, Shultz and Steigerwalt.

Hawk and Brown were heat race winners.

Scott Adams led the Pro Stock field to the drop of the green flag in the 20-lap feature and was quickly overtaken by CJ Lehmann. Adams tucked into second, followed by Randy Schlenker, Mike Pollack and Blaine Barry.

With five laps complete, Barry got by Pollack for fourth and up front, Lehmann began to check out.

Lehmann went on to take the checkers for his third win in as many starts. Adams settled for second, followed by Barry and Schlenker. Noah Jensen crossed the stripe fifth in his Dirt Pro Stock.

Lehmann also scored the heat race victory.

Dan Pawlicki started from the pole in the 25-lap Street Stock feature but Bernie Uphold led the first circuit over Pawlicki, Charlie Castiglione, TJ Gursky and Scott Adams.

With a lap on the scoreboard, Castiglione climbed to second and set his sights on Uphold. Shortly after, Gursky and Adams overtook Pawlicki for third and fourth respectively.

Uphold continued to hold off Castiglione up front and with 10 laps in the books, Adams took third from Gursky.

Castiglione tried Uphold high and low for the lead and then saw his opportunity with four laps remaining. The pass stuck and Castiglione took the checkers for his second win of the season over Uphold, Adams, Todd Ahner and Gursky.

Adams was the heat race winner.

Stephanie Moyer led the Factory Stock field to the drop of the green flag in the 20-lap feature. She led the opening circuit over Steve Heckman, Justin Morgan, Moe Hunsinger and Tom Casagrande.

Hunsinger grabbed the second spot from Heckman, but then he battled back to retake the spot.

With Moyer still setting the pace in the latter stages of the show, Heckman closed on the leader. Despite Moyer’s efforts to hold him off with three laps remaining, Heckman made the pass to score his first Evergreen victory. Moyer crossed the stripe in second, followed by Hunsinger, Frank Katona and Casagrande.

Morgan was the heat winner and Harry O’Neill was the highest finishing Enduro car in the event. He received a trophy for his efforts.

Ron Heeter and Brayden Spencer shared the front row for the 20-lap Four Cylinder feature. Following the drop of the green, Spencer wasted no time and took the lead. O’Neill held third, followed by Jen Adams and Sam Danahar.

Following a lap three restart, O’Neill got by Heeter for second and began to reel in the leader.

O’Neill made several pass attempts on the twelve year old leader but had the door slammed on his moves time and time again. With his first career victory on his mind, Spencer made no mistakes and took the victory. O’Neill was the runner up, followed by Sam Ryan, Danahar and Heeter.

Edward Wildes was the highest finishing Enduro car in the event. He received a trophy for his efforts.

Ryan and Spencer notched heat race victories.

Coming up on Sunday, July 3, Evergreen Raceway will switch back to Enduro mode for the running of their “Independence Enduros”. The show will feature a 100-lap Enduro for the 4-cylinders and 6/8-cylinder vehicles. An Open Comp show is also on tap for the afternoon, along with a “Reverse Redneck Enduro”. Prior to the Enduro events, the speedway will be hosting two exhibition karting events as well.

A Pit Picnic will finish off the evening and all Evergreen racers, family and friends are invited to the event. Those who attend are asked to bring a covered dish. Entertainment will be provided by The Slow Surrender.

Grandstand admission is just $5. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted for free with a paying adult.

The pit gate will swing open at 10:00 AM and the pit entrance fee is $25. Racing will begin for the two kart classes at 12:30 PM and the first Enduro will kick off shortly after. The grandstand gates will open at 12:00 PM.

Evergreen Raceway is located minutes from Hazleton, PA, in between routes 93 and 309. For more information regarding Evergreen Raceway, including the entire season schedule, directions and divisional payouts, please visit www.evergreenracewaypark.com and don’t forget to like their Facebook page as well.

Evergreen Raceway PR