(Joe Cutri photo)

ST. JOHNS, Pa. -- After opening the ’05 season with two straight DNF’s, and a runner-up finish, Berwick, PA’s Brian Defebo was back visiting victory lane Friday at Mountain Speedway, winning the Balliet’s Country Corners 30-lap modified feature.

Tim Santee started from the pole in the fifteen-car contest and sprung out into the early lead, but the Caution flew on lap four when Jason Arthofer spun entering turn four. On the restart, Defebo made his move, taking the top spot from Santee.

Current point leader, Rusty Smith, along with Dave Pecko, respectively, from their ninth and tenth starting spots, worked their way through traffic pursuing Defebo. Unfortunately for Pecko, he would bring out the caution on lap seventeen for a turn four spin.

On the restart, Jim Long Jr. mounted a ferocious charge on Smith for the runner up spot until the yellow flew once more on lap twenty-eight, involving Ryan Preece and Cal Snyder. Preece, a 14-year old rookie standout from Berlin, CT, tagged Snyder entering turn one. Both drivers were able to continue.

On the final restart, Defebo gained breathing room on Smith, taking the win in fashion over Smith, Long, Hartzell and Decker.

While in victory lane, Defebo noted, “We’ve had a rough start to the ’05 season, but it’s early. Hopefully we’ve had our bad luck now. The season is long and we’ve been down, but not out. We’ve also led a number of features, but the finishes just haven’t shown”.

Jason Arthofer and Tim Santee were heat winners.

Hazleton’s Mike Rodriguez Jr. jumped into the early lead in the 25-lap late model feature after starting from the pole. Third place starter, Joe Hoffman cautiously followed Rodriguez waiting to make his bid for the lead.

By the tenth lap, Hoffman was able to sneak underneath Rodriguez coming off of turn two. However, while racing side by side down the backstretch, the two touched and tangled. Rodriguez’s car slammed into the backstretch wall. Both drivers were unable to continue because of the severe damage.

Fern Glen’s, Larry Fisher, assumed the lead for the next restart, followed by Barry Callavini, who made his first start of the season.

Callavini looked as though he was a bit faster than Fisher, but taking the top spot was another story. On lap seventeen, Callavini was able to drive beneath Fisher entering turn one. When the gap closed, Callavini found himself in the infield grass, as Fisher retained the lead.

Rookie standout, Chris Whitenight found himself in the second spot for the next restart, but was overtaken by Earl Paules when the green flew once more.

Paules was not able to catch Fisher, as he cruised to his first feature win of the season over Paules, Whitenight, Makarewicz and Callavini.

Along with thanks to his crew and sponsors in victory lane, Fisher noted that he had no idea Callavini was making a move on him for the lead. “If I knew he was all the way there, I would have given him room”, exclaimed Fisher.

The heat winner was Mike Rodriguez, Jr.

Frank Katona led the street stock field to the green flag for their 20-lap feature. Katona jumped out front, holding off charges from Chip Wanamaker and Paul Frantz, when the caution flew on lap three.

On the restart, Katona retained his lead over Frantz, but the two time factory stock champion knew what he had to do, as Frantz worked his way inside of Katona on the backstretch. As the two battled, things got furious behind them. Frantz was tagged from behind and spun out of harms way into the infield. After pit work, Frantz returned to the speedway.

The next restart was clean, as Scott Meckes, Brad Kline, and Jim Yamelski battled three wide for the third spot. On lap seven, Kline and Meckes came together in turn four. Only Meckes was able to continue.

Yamelski, the current point leader, restarted in third. Once the green flew again, he sailed his way to the front, passing Katona with an outside move on lap eight.

Yamelski, from Hunlock’s Creek, PA, picked up his first feature win of the season, starting from the ninth spot, and holding off Ahner, Katona, Danyluk and Wanamaker.

Heat winners were Frank Katona and Paul Frantz

When the 20-lap thriller feature took the stage, it was Steve Hoffman at the point. Hoffman set the early pace, with Steve Shultz in toe.

The first of three cautions flew on lap two, when Jim White Jr. spun in turn one. Jimmy rejoined the tail end of the field.

Hoffman continued out front, but the latest thriller feature winner, Bill Price, was making his way up through the pack from his eighth starting spot. Meanwhile, Richard Petey, Howie Bott and Sue Collins were pressuring Speedo Jager for third, as each of them took a shot at getting by ‘dirt-track’ Jager.

While applying a lot of pressure, Price caught Hoffman. Trying a move going into turn three, Price got into Hoffman, spinning him around in the process. However, Hoffman continued, so the caution flag wasn’t thrown. This series of events put Price out front, with a cluster of cars behind him, as they tried to avoid Hoffman. Richard Petey also spun in the mix.

Bill Price went on to win his second straight thriller feature, followed by Howie Bott, who was seriously challenged by last year’s champion, Sue Collins. Jager and Nelmes were fourth and fifth respectively.

Steve Hoffman and Marissa Nelmes scored heat wins.

At intermission, Brant Quick from nearby, Berwick, PA entertained fans, playing a three-song set with his guitar and harmonica.

The next spectacular Friday night show at Mountain Speedway is May 20th. Scheduled to take the green flag are the modifieds, late models, street stock and 4 cyl. thrillers. Regular thrillers have the night off. Catch all the action at 7:30 PM sharp.

For this weeks ‘Mountain Madness’, and your complete guide to asphalt racing in the Pocono foothills, visit www.mountainspeedway.com.

RESULTS

MODIFIED

(30 Laps)
Brian Defebo, Rusty Smith, Jim Long, Donny Hartzell, Alan Decker, Earl Paules, Mike Adams, Cal Snyder, Ryan Preece, Tim Santee, Matt Higgins, Dave Pecko, Wayne Szerencsits, Ernie Dengler, Jason Arthofer

Fast Lap: Brian Defebo, 13.493, lap 5

LATE MODEL

(25 Laps)
Larry Fisher, Earl Paules, Chris Whitenight, Jason Makarewicz, Barry Callavini, Jason Arthofer, Billy Balliet, Mike Collins, Mike Rodriguez, Jr., Joe Hoffman

Fast Lap: Joe Hoffman, 14.901, lap 6

STREET STOCK

(20 Laps)
Jim Yamelski, Todd Ahner, Frank Katona, Eric Danyluk, Chip Wanamaker, Paul Frantz, Scott Meckes, Brian Labar, John Labadia, Geary Rinehimer, Wayne Medlin, Dan Casicioli, Brad Kline, Rich Smith, DNS: Dennis Buss

Fast Lap: Jim Yamelski, 15.979, lap 16

THRILLER

(20 Laps)
Bill Price, Howie Bott, Sue Collins, Speedo Jager, Marissa Nelmes, Josh Oswald, Richard Petey, Steve Hoffman, Steve Shultz, Jim White Jr., TJ Rentschler, Tony Hilliard, Steve Taylor, Pat Verwys, DNS: Mark Paine

Fast Lap: Speedo Jager, 16.334, lap 19