Zane Zeiner and Nevin George pick up winning hands in Mahoning Modified Gamblers Series races
Zane Zeiner and Nevin George pick up winning hands in Mahoning Modified Gamblers Series races
By DINO OBERTO
(LEHIGHTON, Pa. 8-1-15) Zane Zeiner and Nevin George took victories in the Central States Modified Gamblers Series (CSMGS) Twin 50s Saturday night at Mahoning Valley Speedway.
Zeiner, of Bath, has not been a point racer for a number of years. George, from Kunkletown, has also stepped back from the grind of title chasing this season. Both look instead to the big shows thus they have made it a must on their calendar to be part of the high-dollar CSMGS. And while the field of weekly regulars is as tough as it gets, both veteran wheelmen proved their worth by turning in solid performances against a stout field.
In the first 50, the line-up was determined after heats and a redraw. To begin the race the front row was made up of 15-year old Kyle Strohl and Eric Kocher. Strohl wasted no time in taking command while Bobby Jones quickly slipped into second. Fifth starting Zeiner was third.
Under a blanket, the trio provided a thrilling display of close-knit action. Strohl was being heavily challenged by Jones while Zeiner stalked, ready to strike at any moment.
After a lap nine restart Jones was able to take the lead but Strohl was not letting him gain ground as he stayed alongside. In an extended stretch of green flag laps, the battle for the lead became edge of the seat racing. Jones was showing the way but insistently Strohl was keeping stride and likewise Zeiner was hot on their heels.
After laps of pressure, Strohl regained the top spot with an outside pass of lap 28. Two laps later Jones came back to the front. By this time Zeiner was no longer laying back and began his surge. He went around Strohl on lap 33 and then set sight on Jones. Zeiner was in the process to go underneath for the lead when the caution waved for debris. It would be on that restart which he would then use to make the race wining move.
Strohl took second with 10 laps to go and two laps later Eric Beers joined in the battle. It was quite amazing too, watching young Strohl show no signs of intimidation while racing between a pair of well-seasoned veterans and two former Race of Champions 200 winners.
“We’ll take this. We’ve been having good cars all year but just haven’t had Lady Luck on our side and I had said that once it breaks it will be a good thing and tonight it was,” said Zeiner.
“We travel around to the big shows but I like to call Mahoning our home track and to come here and win is a wonderful feeling. Kyle (Strohl) drove a heck of race and Bobby (Jones) you could see that his car was tightening up but with his experience he made it work. We all had some side-by-side and a little rubbing but that’s what the fans come out for.”
An invert of 11 was used to line-up the second 50 and George and Kocher shared front row honors. When the green waved to start the race George took the early lead while Kevin Rex Jr., moved to second. On the third circuit Austin Kochenash powered into third.
Maintaining himself and able to control the pace, George was showing that he was going to be tough. Meanwhile Rex and Kochenash were in a dogfight for second. 14 laps in and Kochenash would finally win that battle.
Afterwards Kochenash was on the rear bumper of the race leading No. 3 but despite a well-founded effort, George was the car to beat.
Matt Hirschman, came into sight by lap 33, taking third but would not be able to match up with George and Kochenash as they sped to the checkers nose-to-tail.
“Our focus is on these big shows here and the guys have done a great job getting us prepared,” said George, who was making just his fourth start of the season.
“There’s a handful of cars that when you see them pull up alongside you have to be on your game and Austin (Kochenash) is one of those top guys here.
In a great battle of title contenders, Nesquehoning’s Mike Sweeney out-dueled Paul Koehler Jr., for his third consecutive win and fifth of the year.
The much improved Jacob Kerstetter would set the early pace, doing a nice job of holding back George Ramos and then Koehler. However, his fine run at the lead was ended on lap seven when Koehler went to the topside and whizzed to the lead.
Kerstetter was still keeping close, but unfortunately he saw a good finish slip away when he got nipped from behind and spun with 10 laps to go.
Mike Sweeney was then second and immediately went after Koehler. Side-by-side they ran and on lap 19 he would power through for the lead. It was then on to Victory Lane. In 12 races this year he and Koehler have won 10 of them.
Joe Mooney of Lehighton took the checkers in the Street Stock main, which was his first win of the season. Taking the lead on lap 10, Mooney was soon in his own zone, easily pulling away from the rest of the pack.
His younger brother, Josh Mooney, was in second and only got close during late race cautions. None-the less Joe Mooney was undeniably the car to beat, claiming the verdict and becoming the 12th different winner in 13 races this season.
Aleia Geisler of Easton finally found the speed she so desperately sought throughout the season. Authoring a dominating performance, Geisler, who started second, needed only four laps to pass Scott Adams and from there on it would be no stopping her as she went on to a three-plus second margin of victory over Dave Gorbatuk.
In the Pro 4’s New Tripoli’s Nick Bear took the lead on lap one and never looked back, taking his second win of the season.
Also winning for a second time this season was Easton Rich Mutarelli, scoring top honors in the Hobby Stocks.
1st Modified Feature Finish (50 Laps): 1. Zane Zeiner, 2. Kyle Strohl, 3. Eric Beers, 4. Don Wagner, 5. Austin Kochenash, 6. Brian DeFebo, 7. Bobby Jones, 8. Kris Graver, 9. Kevin Rex Jr., 10. Eric Kocher, 11. Nevin George, 12. Todd Baer, 13. John Markovic, 14. Matt Higgins, 15. Matt Hirschman, 16. Lou Strohl, 17. Chip Santee, 18. Terry Markovic, 19. Earl Paules, 20. Calvin Carrol, 21. Paul Frantz
2nd Modified Feature Finish (50 Laps): 1. George, 2. Kochenash, 3. Hirschman, 4. Paules, 5. Kocher, 6. Baer, 7. Rex Jr., 8. Wagner, 9. Santee, 10. John Markovic, 11. Strohl, 12. Carrol, 13. Frantz, 14. Beers, 15. Terry Markovic, 16. Zeiner, 17. Strohl, 18. Jones, 19. Higgins, 20. Graver, 21. DeFebo
Late Model Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Mike Sweeney, 2. Paul Koehler Jr., 3. George Ramos, 4. Broc Brown, 5. Pat Hargan, 6. Tony Hilliard, 7. Jacob Kerstetter, 8. Jeremy Miller, 9. Kenny Hein, 10. Francis Gross III, 11. Franke Althouse, 12. Josh Oswald
Street Stock Feature Finish (30 Laps): 1. Joe Mooney, 2. Josh Mooney, 3. Stacey Brown, 4. Randy Ahner Jr., 5. Lonnie Behler, 6. Jonathan Tracey, 7. Aaron Kromer, 8. Kristy Arthofer, 9. Randy Schlenker, 10. Jillian Long, 11. Todd Ahner, 12. TJ Gursky, 13. Jason Frey, 14. Jared Ahner, 15. Brian Labar, 16. Gene Bowers, 17. Jason Kuhn, 18. Jamie Smith, 19. Zach Graver, 20. Corey Edelman, 21. George Ramos
DNQ: Joe Stangle, Bernie Uphold, Logan Boyer, Steve Hoffman
Dirt Mod Feature Finish (25 Laps): 1. Aleia Geisler, 2. Dave Gorbatuk, 3. Lorin Arthofer II, 4. Scott Adams, 5. Ray Deemer, 6. Steve Shultz, 7. Billy Lasko, 8. Bill Sittler Jr., 9. Jack Ely, 10. Ricky Yetter, 11. JP Curry, 12. Mike Stofflet
Pro 4 Feature Finish (35 Laps): 1. Nick Baer, 2. Cody Kohler, 3. Bobby Kibler Sr., 4. Jake Kibler, 5. Kailyn Beers, 6. Shawn Kistler, 7. Johnny Bennet, 8. Bobby Kibler Jr.
Hobby Stock Feature Finish (15 Laps): 1. Rich Mutarelli, 2. Cody geist, 3. Daniel Hargan, 4. Bob Azarowitz, 5. Ken Reeder, 6. Devin Schmidt, 7. Seth VanFossen, 8. Kyle Scisco, 9. Shayne Geist, 10. Lyndsay Buss, 11. Ron Heeter, 12. Tiffany Wambold, 13. Kyle Krempasky, 14. Eddie Reeder
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