Jones wins thrilling Octoberfast Mahoning Modified
Mahoning Valley Speedway’s Octoberfast 2017 will be an event long talked about as the 200-lap feature went right down to the wire in an electrifying finish.
Bobby Jones won in a three-wide battle to the checkers and nipped Gene Bowers by just .007-seconds with Zane Zeiner right there as well.
There was much anticipation in the lead up to the race, being the longest distance in track history for the headline class and awarding the highest payout ever at $6,000 to win.
As expected, the first half of the race was a steady pace, most of it being headed by newly-crowned track champion Brian DeFebo. It would not be until a lap 127 caution when DeFebo would take his No. 53 pit side for a change of American Racer tires. Things got interesting from that point.
That calculated move to the pits by DeFebo was followed by those who were in the chase, including Earl Paules, Zeiner, Eric Beers, Jones and Bowers.
Todd Baer would assume the lead under the caution with Jack Ely and James Pritchard Jr., second and third. Ely, who had yet to pit, was leading within seven laps and looking strong in the process.
With 50 circuits to go, Zeiner motored up to second and made use of the inside lane for a lead pass six laps later. At the same time, a caution was out and Ely would duck to the pits for fresh rubber.
That put Beers to second, but Jones was able to unseat him within a few tours. Beers then had to make an unscheduled pit while under a caution at lap 165.
When the action resumed, the stage was set for the shootout to the finish, with Zeiner leading over Jones, DeFebo and Bowers.
The battle went into overdrive when Jones and Zener went side-by-side for several laps. Jones finally squeezed his way on the inside of turn three with 27 laps to go in gaining the top spot. Bowers and DeFebo where in their own double wide tussle.
With 15 laps left, Ely was back in the fold, making it anyone’s guess who would emerge the winner.
With the top two back in a neck-and-neck battle, Bowers hovered closely in their tire tracks. When chief starter Bob Stull waved the white flag, it was still anyone’s race. Jones was pushing Zeiner to the topside in order to protect his spot. Bowers quickly seized the opening as they entered turn three.
As the trio flat-footed out of the final corner, Bowers was barely ahead, but by the time they reached the checkers, Jones had just enough momentum to eke forward for the victory.
“I really thought I was in trouble near the end because my right rear (tire) was shaking badly. I didn’t know if I was losing the tire or grip or what. But I stayed with it and figured if I’m going to go out, it will be in a blaze of glory,” said Jones on the win.
“There was a lot of respect out there, even in those final laps,” he said. “It was for a win and $6,000 and we did what we had to do. It was a great race, and I was very happy with how my guys set up the car. This was for them.”
Ely and DeFebo rounded out the top five. Paules was making his first start of the season and never missed a beat. He was sixth at the end. John Markovic, Baer, Beers and Don Wagner completed the top 10.
For Bowers, his dejection was understandable as he sat in his car trying to collect his thoughts afterward.
“I’m good with it. I came second to Bobby (Jones) and he’s a good guy and to finish behind him, I’ll take it,” said Bowers, who collected $3,000 for his hard-fought effort.
“I knew that I could run the car as hard as anyone else. If I could have gotten out front, I feel that we I could have pulled away, but Bobby and Zane where just so hard to pass, they were very fast – what a race.”
Zeiner noted afterward that trying to get around Jones was a tough deal as his car became tight.
“I just couldn’t get back ahead of him (Jones) in those final laps. We were both tight, but I wasn’t able to keep him down in order to make a pass,” said Zeiner.
“It was just hard clean racing. We leaned on each other, but we still gave each other room coming off the turns. That last lap was amazing.”
MAHONING VALLEY RESULTS
Modified Feature (200 Laps)
1. Bobby Jones, 2. Gene Bowers, 3. Zane Zeiner, 4. Jack Ely, 5. Brian DeFebo, 6. Earl Paules, 7. John Markovic, 8. Todd Baer, 9. Lou Strohl, 10. Eric Beers, 11. Don Wagner, 12. James Pritchard Jr., 13. Nick Baer, 14. Joey Jarowicz, 15. DJ Wagner, 16. Kevin Rex Jr., 17. Matt Wentz, 18. Josh Scherer, 19. Kyle Strohl
Late Model Feature (60 Laps)
1. Lorin Arthofer II, 2. Frankie Althouse, 3. Geno Steigerwalt, 4. Austin Santee, 5. Jeremy Miller, 6. Jacob Kerstetter, 7. George Ramos, 8. Brandon Turbush, 9. Mike Sweeney, 10. Dylan Osborn, 11. Kenny Hein, 12. Broc Brown
Street Stock Feature (75 Laps)
1. Todd Ahner, 2. Mark Deysher, 3. Shayne Geist, 4. Aaron Kromer, 5. Stacey Brown, 6. Alan Schlenker, 7. Jared Ahner, 8. Rick Reichenbach, 9. Corey Edelman, 10. Zach Graver, 11. Josh Mooney, 12. BJ Wambold, 13. Jamie Smith, 14. Ken Erney III, 15. Cody Geist, 16. Jillian Long, 17. Kevin Smith
Hobby Stock Feature (50 Laps)
1. Todd Geist, 2. Jacob Gustafson, 3. Shawn Kistler, 4. Michael Wambold, 5. Austin Beers, 6. Justin Merkel, 7. Jack Ely, 8. Avery Arthofer, 9. Ryan Berger, 10. Ken Reeder, 11. Travis Solomon, 12. Al Arthofer, 13. Lyndsay Buss, 14. Colton Breiner, 15. Jeremy Guerra, 16. Cody Geist, 17. Rich Mutarelli, 18. Beau Drobot, 19. Corey Edelman, 20. Tucker Muffley, 21. Samantha Osborn, 22. Shaye Geist DNQ: Kevin Kruczek, Arland Moyer Jr.
