This years season review will consist of a wrap-up of last season, a section on career stats and a sneak peek at what’s coming next season.
The past season at Randy’s Raceway saw 28 racers compete in the Modified Class with around 20 on a regular basis. It was great having long time slot car racers Chad Favinger, Bill Rowley and Gary Hetrick making an appearance as well as Big T who made a few shows when his schedule permitted. We had seven racers make every show and 6 different feature winners. 15 drivers won at least 1 segment with Sheldon Hiester garnering the tops with 44 segment victories. We had 3 Rookies finish in the top ten of points.
Season Wrap-up
*The Fast Five*
Sheldon Hiester won the Point championship by a mere 6 points over his younger brother Shane in one of the closest seasons ever. Sheldon won 5 features including opening night, to go along with his season’s best 44 segment wins. Shane Hiester was second, also winning 5 features including the final show, and 35 segments. Third spot driving for car builder Sheldon Hiester was the defending point champion, Mark Williams. Williams won 2 features in one night on the short track, which were his first ever on that track. Mark also won 32 segments. Fourth went to Reading veteran and this seasons most improved driver Mike Feltenberger. Bear did not win a feature although he was a top five finisher 6 times. He did win a career best at Randy’s 20 segments. Rounding out the top five was a tie between another veteran and original Randy’s Raceway runner Jim Levan and Rookie Tyco racer Bryan Kisthart. Levan won a single feature and 15 segments and Kisthart who was Modified Rookie of the Year won 13 segments.
*The Top Ten*
Now 7th through 10th. Corey Bailey was seventh in points scoring 15 segment wins including a runner up on Feb. 5th. Eighth went to Master car builder Eric Beard. A long time racer who finally won his first Modified feature at Randy’s Raceway after many years of trying. Beard won 27 segments placing him 4th this season in segment wins. Ninth spot at the close of the season found veteran Billy Decker out of Glouldsboro, PA winner of a feature event in week four and 8 segments. Rounding out the top ten was the third Rookie Mike Fitzgerald from Exeter. Fitz had 7 segment wins along with 2 top five finishes.
*The Rest of the Racers*
11th- Toby Reinhard 6 segments, 12th-Bill Brenner 19 segments, 4 top five finishes, 13th-Brian Sponagle (R) with a segment win (career first), 14th-Tony Zappacosta, 15th-Cory Reinhard, 16th-Scott Bender 4 segments and 2 top fives, 17th-Brian Bean Palencar 1 segment win his career first, 18th-Bob Amore 6 segment wins, 19th-Brian Vanbuskirk, 20th-Ed Sojtore.
CAREER NUMBERS
Feature wins went to six drivers this year. Mark Williams scored wins 25 and 26 keeping him third on the all-time win list. Sheldon Hiester won 5 moving him up the list to a tie with Little T for 6th. Also winning 5 was Shane Hiester, he is now tied with Rich Pigeon and Sam Heller for 8th all-time. Jim Levan won 1 feature this year for his 8h career win. Single wins also went to Billy Decker, number 3 career and Eric Beard his first win ever at the Berk’s set of Ovals.
Active Drivers segment winners and ranking on the all time list.
Name / 2012-2013 wins / career segment wins / ranking
Mark Williams / 32 / 425 / 1st
Jim Levan / 15 / 173 / 4th
Bob Amore / 6 / 152 / 7th
Billy Decker / 8 / 147 / 8th
Shane Hiester / 35 / 164 / 5th
Sheldon Hiester / 44 / 121 / 9th
Scott Bender / 4 / 74 / 12th
Bill Brenner / 19 / 68 / 13th
Eric Beard / 27 / 59 / 16th
Toby Reinhard / 6 / 8 / 27th
Mike Feltenberger / 20 / 21 / 21st
Bryan Kisthart / 15 / 15 / 25th tie
Corey Bailey / 15 / 15 / 25th tie
Mike Fitzgerald / 7 / 7 / 30th
WHAT’S NEXT
Ok let’s get the rumors out of the way first. ONE – Randy Haydt will make Modifieds a regular race night for himself this season, True. TWO – Dave Richards may make a comeback, this is confirmed he is considering it and we would love to have the 4th winningest Modified driver back here each week. THREE – Scott Bender is retired. Not true, sorry. FOUR – Cory Reinhard will always stay in his race box, we can only hope.
A very cool schedule s in the works which will include a Cup race on the tub and zero races on the short track since Corey moved it.
