DeFebo gets 99th career win

Brian DeFebo wrapped up a great weekend, winning his second Modified feature in two days. Fresh off a Friday night verdict at Evergreen Raceway, DeFebo was able to continue on his winning ways Saturday evening at Mahoning Valley Speedway.

The seventh-starting DeFebo would make quick work of Joey Jarowicz in taking the lead on lap 15. From there on he remained smooth, as he held off Bobby Jones for his third win of the season and registered his 99th overall career win.

“We’re at 99 (wins) now and it’s exciting. I love racing here at Mahoning Valley. For years it was a struggle, but these past two years it’s been nothing but fun,” said DeFebo, who continues to maintain the class point lead and seeks a second straight championship.

“I can’t thank (crew chief) Gary Slusser enough. He’s the brains behind this deal. He spends countless hours and from that we have good race cars.”

At the onset Ron Haring Jr., jumped into the lead but had unceasing pressure coming from Jarowicz. Haring also had to contend with Jones, who was giving him much of the same opposition on his outside.

Up until Saturday, two-time and defending Late Model champion Mike Sweeney had led just a single feature lap and was winless in the process. With a big 50-lap race on tap, Sweeney was looking to turn the tides and did just that.

After a great lead battle with Frankie Althouse that began on lap 20, the Ford powered No. D11 of Sweeney was able to plant himself at the helm by the halfway mark, and from there on never looked back, scoring his first win of 2018 and 55th overall.

“First of all I have to thank my crew who work their tails off week in and week out to get this car right,” said Sweeney.

“Frankie has has been fast and we’ve been trying to catch him and there is bunch of other guys who are all coming on strong this year so we have to go and do our homework in order to win, and finally tonight it paid off.”

In the Winner’s Circle for the Sportsman Modified feature, it became a very emotionally-charged scene as 15-year-old Avery Arthofer had just notched her first win with the class and was greeted by her entire family with hugs and tears of joy.

Corey Edelman ran side-by-side with BJ Wambold over the first half dozen laps off the Street Stock main and then used the next lap to advance into the lead and go on to record his second win of the season.

In the Dirt Mods, point leader Mike Stofflet once again was the car to beat. Stofflet got by the continuously-improving Vince Fegley Jr., for the lead on lap four and then held off hard charging Billy Lowden Jr., for his fifth win in eight starts.

Al Arthofer needed just one lap to hustle the lead from Tad Snyder and then stayed strong to the finish in picking up his second Hobby Stock win of the year over a close-running Ryan Berger.

NOTES ... In both the Street Stock and Dirt Mod features, Indy Car star Sage Karam raced and held his own nicely, especially in the Dirt Mod show, where he was looking to secure a fourth-place spot before a cut tire relegated him to seventh in the final run down.

Modified Feature (35 Laps)

1. Brian DeFebo, 2. Bobby Jones, 3. Joey Jarowicz, 4. John Markovic, 5. Gene Bowers, 6. DJ Wagner, 7. Don Wagner, 8. Kyle Strohl, 9. Earl Paules, 10. Josh Scherer, 11. Kristy Arthofer, 12. Jesse Strohl, 13. Lou Strohl, 14. Nick Bear, 15. Ron Haring Jr.

Late Model Feature (50 Laps)

1. Mike Sweeny, 2. Jeremy Miller, 3. Paul Koehler Jr,, 4. Kenny Hein, 5. Brandon Turbush, 6. Samantha Osborn, 7. Rick Smith, 8. Dylan Osborn, 9. Nick Kerstetter, 10. Jacob Kerstetter, 11. Frankie Althouse, 12. Matt Wentz, 13. Lorin Arthofer

Street Stock Feature (30 Laps)

1. Corey Edelman, 2. Cody Geist, 3. Todd Ahner, 4. Josh Mooney, 5. Jared Ahner, 6. Jon Moser, 7. Jill Long, 8. Mark Deysher, 9. Stacey Brown, 10. Shayne Geist, 11. Rick Reichenbach, 12. Jamie Smith, 13. Randy Schlenker, 14. Matt Schlenker, 15. Matt Kocher, 16. Jeremy Schlenker, 17. Ken Erney III, 18. BJ Wambold, 19. Sage Karam, 20. Devin Schmidt

Dirt Modified Feature (25 Laps)

1. Mike Stofflet, 2. Billy Lowden Jr., 3. Jeff Parker, 4. Ricky Yetter, 5. Ray Deemer, 6. Vincent Fegley, 7. Sage Karam, 8. Bill Sittler, 9. Colton Perry, 10. Corey Edelman, 11. Paul Martin

Sportsman Modified Feature (25 Laps)

1. Avery Arthofer, 2. Earl Paules, 3. Austin Beers, 4. Blair Culhane, 5. Richard Lapolt, 6. Jacob Balliet, 7. Kassidy Arthofer, 8. BJ Wambold

Hobby Stock Feature (20 Laps)

1.Al Arthofer, 2. Ryan Berger, 3. Justin Merkel, 4. Michael Wambold, 5. Travis Solomon, 6. Peyton Arthofer, 7. Devin Schmidt, 8. Trisha Connolly, 9. Tad Snyder, 10. Todd Geist, 11. Rich Mutarelli, 12. Shawn Kistler, 13. Tyler Nemeth, 14. Lyndsay Buss, 15. Hunter Iatalese, 16. Peter Maier, 17. Colton Breiner, 18. Beau Drobot, 19. Arland Moyer Jr. DNS: Jesse Ehert