Cottone takes Steel City 100 checker at Motordrome
SMITHTON – Three-time track Champion Mark Cottone earned the biggest win of his Motordrome Speedway career on Friday, taking the checkered flag after the “Steel City 100” for NASCAR Subway Super Late Models. In other NASCAR Whelen All American Series action, defending Champion Adam Kostelnik won his first Wyotech Modified feature of the year, and former Champ Shawn Phillips won his first Napa Street Stock event of the season. Ron Eiford, III and Andrew Dutkewycz each won for the second time in the Pro Auto Supply Service Chargers and Coca Cola Super Compacts.
After teammates Bobby Henry and Garry Wiltrout set the two fastest times in qualifying for the NASCAR Subway Super Late Models’ “Steel City 100,” Wiltrout drew the pole starting spot in the top 12 lottery. Wiltrout grabbed the lead from Barry Awtey and maintained the position for ten laps.
Third place starter, Mark Poole took command of the event on lap eleven. Eighth place starter Mark Cottone advanced to second place on lap 15, and Cottone made a quick pass for the lead on lap 29. Cottone, Poole, and Neil Brown, driving a Bentz Motorsports entry, distanced themselves from the rest of the field, remaining in that order until after the midpoint of the race. Poole began to fade after a restart, and on lap 54, tenth place starter Bobby Henry climbed into third place, with Brown riding second to Cottone.
On lap 58, Henry moved into second position and at times gained on Cottone. With only two cautions in the entire 100-lap affair, Henry never had an opportunity to lineup alongside Cottone, and in the final laps, Henry gained significantly but was not able pull within four car lengths to challenge for the win. Cottone, a three-time Motordrome Champion, scored his first crown-jewel event win at his home track; his third victory of 2010 in the Auto Express Transportation/Mama Poppino’s Pizza/Baker Race Cars Chevrolet. Henry finished second, Brown was third, Wiltrout fourth, and previous week’s winner Steve Black was fifth.
A thrilling Wyotech Modified feature began with Bobby Shipp taking the lead in a borrowed Nicola Racing entry. On lap eight, sixth-place starter Adam Kostelnik took the lead. The defending Champion was soon forced to deal with pressure from Pat Hanley, the new rookie driver for Kostelnik’s former team. Although the duo touched several times while engaged in a three car battle for the win, third place finisher Hanley was quick to congratulate Kostelnik in victory lane, where Kostelnik celebrated his first win of the season. Bryan Shipp stole the second position on the final lap after all three cars had the fans cheering for the final 10 laps. Gary Scott was fourth, and previous week’s winner Lonnie Hoffman was fifth.
On opening night 2010, Shawn Phillips suffered an engine fire while practicing before racing officially began. The former Napa Street Stock Champion was forced to miss the first half of the season, and in his first two starts placed second (last week) and, first on Friday. Winning the 25-lap event after starting tenth, Phillips took the lead from veteran Tom Knight, Sr. on lap eleven and held off a hard charging Scott Aiello to the checkered flag. Points leader Aiello, crossed the line ahead of third place finisher Dink Colarusso, Knight in fourth, and Dustin Blank who started eighth and finished fifth.
The Pro Auto Supply Service Charger division feature was dominated by Ron Eiford, III who led all 15-laps in spite of starting in fourth position. The victory was Eiford’s second of 2010, and sixth-place starter Denny Keller finished second. Points leader Zane Ferrell started seventh and placed third, with the previous week’s winner Ed McConnell fourth and Chris Spadacene fifth; his best finish of the year.
In the 15-lap Coca Cola Super Compact feature, long time friends Paul Koffler, Jr. and Andrew Dutkewycz battled for the win. Both are new to paved track racing after years of dirt competition, and they made contact in turn four, coming for the white flag. After leading 10 laps, Koffler fell to third on the final circuit, as Dutkewycz grabbed his second Motordrome win.
Gene “Hillbilly” Zerfoss advanced to second position on the last lap after starting 14th. Points leader Bill Schwartz started 16th and finished fourth. Chris Knight placed fifth.
This week Motordrome Speedway celebrates the “first Friday” of the month with half price general admission ticket prices and a giant fireworks display after the races.