Mahoning Valley Speedway ready for Octoberfast 2015

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Mahoning Valley Speedway ready for Octoberfast 2015…Modifieds to race for 150 laps and $6000 top prize…Late Models and Street Stocks battle for $1500 payday

(LEHIGHTON, Pa. 10-11-15) Mahoning Valley Speedway’s premier event, Octoberfast 2015, is set to take place this coming Saturday, October 17. Race time is 4:00 p.m.

This year’s edition of Octoberfast will feature a three division program that will be headlined by the Modifieds racing for a track record distance and first place payout of 150-laps and $6000 to win.

It is also the final race of the 2015 Central States Modified Gamblers Series which offers the top card holder $2000.

Also on the card will be Late Models and Street Stocks with each respective winner taking home $1500 for the victory.

This will mark the fourth running of Octoberfast. In the previous trio the action was everything that was expected. Great car counts, great action and an enthusiastic crowd that always turns out for to see who will take home the coveted Octoberfast trophy and cash.

Matt Hirschman is the defending Octoberfast winner. He also won this event in 2012. In 2013 the victor was Zane Zeiner. He was also runner-up last year.

In each of those races the distance was 130 laps and $5000 to win. At the start of this season promoter Floyd Santee felt it was time to step it up by boosting the race length by 20 laps and tossing in an additional $1000. Never before has that type of payday been offered at Mahoning. Likewise this will be the most laps run, which obviously is well worth it.

While Hirschman and Zeiner have been the lucky ones to take Octoberfast wins, rest assured they had to beat out a field of Modified talent that are as good it gets, starting with the core of Mahoning regulars.

That group will be led by recently crowned track champion Earl Paules. He has not won a race since mid-June and will no doubt be a factor come next Saturday.

Also on that list is Austin Kochenash who is fresh off a 100 lap victory and has a load of momentum going his way to not only win but take the Gamblers Series money as well. He can ultimately pocket $8000.

And, while many seek to claim the Octoberfast victory, none may want it more than Eric Beers. In each of the three previous shows he finished third and in the last two led late into the event. Beers, who finished third in points and had a division high five feature wins, is tied with Hirschman for most Mahoning extra distance wins at 11. He’d like nothing better than to take sole possession of that mark by the time the checkers wave.

Kris Graver, Don Wagner, Chip Santee, Kyle Strohl, Kevin Rex Jr., John Markovic and Eric Kocher will be part of the host of other track combatants on hand.

As always the “outsiders” will be coming. Watch for New York standouts the Zacharias brothers, Jimmy and TJ. New Jersey’s Roger Coss has committed to the race as well. Matter of fact many of the New Jersey drivers have made it a point to enter and try to take the money back to the Garden State. Anthony Sesely, who had a top five here last year, is in.

The track has also received calls from a number of drivers from the Sunoco RoC Asphalt Tour and as far away as Connecticut.

The action doesn’t stop there either as Late Models and Street Stocks round off the program.

Paul Koehler Jr., has just won his track leading fourth division championship and will be one of the top cars to beat in 60-lap Late Model main. However, points runner-up Mike Sweeney, who has had a career season, winning nine times and has been the man to beat over the second half of the season, will be focused on taking his win total to double digits.

Zach Graver beat Randy Schlenker by one position on the final point race a week ago and earned this year’s Street Stock title. Graver will lead the always strong field of Street Stockers that are considered one of the best support classes in the country. This year saw an amazing 18 different winners in 23 races.

Saturday’s Street Stock feature will be contested over 75 laps. It is also race number five of the American Rental Street Stock Gamblers Series.

Pit gates for Octoberfast 2015 open at 11:00 a.m. Any teams that wish to run an early practice can do so from noon to 2:00 pm. Early paid practice is $25 per car.

Regular warm-ups will take place from 2:15 – 3:15. Heats begin at 4:00. All drivers will draw for heat starting spots. There will be a re-draw for feature starting positions.

Pit admission is $40. Modified registration fee is $75. Late Model and Street Stock registration fee is $40.

Grandstands open at 2:00. Admission is $25. Kids 10 and under are free. There are no discounts.

More information will be out later this week. Additional news can be found on the track’s official site at www.mahoningvalley-speedway.com or on Facebook at Mahoning Valley Speedway and on Twitter at twitter.com/MahoningSpeed.

Mahoning Valley Speedway is adjacent to the Mahoning Valley Farmers Market on PA Route 443 just a few miles west of Lehighton.

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