​Evergreen March Madness Enduros: Ackerman Avoids Madness, O’Neill Crushes Big Car Field

Evergreen Raceway has always been a place where families are able to bond and enjoy racing all at the same time. It was no different on Saturday March 10th as Evergreen Raceway honored Mark Spencer with the Mark Maddness enduro. Mark had a love for enduro racing which included sponsoring events and teams alike with his business, ABC Car Crushing. 

The first enduro event of the 2018 season certainly lived up to that title by offering tons of trials and tributes both on and off the track which would have Ackerman and O’Neill ending the night with the checkered flag. First on deck was the 4 Cyl. Division. Chris Elixson a native of New York, started on the pole and looked strong early on by leading the first five laps of the event before Harry O’Neill took over. The first red flag of the day was thrown on lap number ten for an incident involving Andrew Cook, Ed Wildes, Evan Gregory and Doug Tittle. Cook who got the short end of the stick in the incident, was shoved into the backstretch wall. That would end Cooks night due to heavy rear end damage however, Cook did his best to make it to the pit area with a car that was crab walking almost an entire lap of the track. Green flag racing resumed and O’Neill in true Harry fashion, begun his mission to check out but on lap 7twelve the car showed signs of heavy smoke and ended up pulling off one lap later with a broken7 radiator hose. Randy Getz Jr, would take over the top spot. Getz, who previously has only ever competed in Grandview Speedway was in the lead at this point with Ray Kochin running second. Thirteen laps later the second red flag of the day flew for Mark Rittenhouse who lost a right front tire and ended up slamming the backstretch wall. Coming back to green, Sam Rial had taken the lead over Getz. As the laps continued to click off things began to get very aggressive all over the track. John Rose on lap 22 was shoved to the edge of the infield and in an attempt to avoid traffic, Rose backed up onto a yuke tire where he ended up looking like a bird perched in its nest with all four wheels off the ground. As the race began to enter the later stages Jeff Ackermen began to show his hand in the mix by working his way up through the field and on lap 71, Ackerman would take control of the field in the top spot. Ackerman turned on cruise control and led the rest of the way earning his second Evergreen enduro win. Ackerman was followed to the line by Kevin Brown, Sam Rial, Randy Getz and Randy Ahner Jr, who was later disqualified in post race tech inspection handing 5th to Harry O’Neill who made up four laps to finish two laps behind the leader. On to the big cars! Harry O’Neill is a master when it comes to enduro racing and after the disappointment of the four cylinder event, O’Neill made his presence known in the six and eight cylinder event by crushing the competition and finishing on a lap of his own. Jimmy Ayre started on the pole but was over taken for the lead by lap eight by O’Neill who would lead the rest of the way to the checkered flag. There was only one red flag for this event which flew on lap twenty when Victor M Jr, slowed on the track coming to a complete stop. O’Neill was able to cruise to the victory over Jim Yamelski, Tony Rispin, Mike Musjce and Animal Baldwin, who was running his first ever event.

Four Cylinder Finish (123) 1. Ackerman 2. Brown 3. Rial 4. Getz Jr 5. O’Neill 6. Luke Hoffnar 7. Elixson 8. Tony Rispin 9. Ray Kennedy 10. Richard Petey 11. PJ Thomas 12. Don Rogers 13. Paul Mercante 14. Tim’s Towing 15. Eric Germuth 16. Brad Miletto 17. Sean Glennon 18. Mark Schwalm 19. Patrick McGay 20. Geno Snyder 21. David Sponenberg 22. Brian Halecki 23. Randy Parsons Jr. 24. Broc Brown 25. David Imler Jr 26.Shane Bly 27. Pete Verwys 28. Mikayla Mujsce 29. Ray Kochin 30. Michael Mujsce Jr. 31. Jason Bentzoni 32. John Rose 33.Mark Rittenhouse Jr 34. Mark Rittenhouse Sr 35. Dan Stein 36. Ed Wildes 37. Evan Gregory 38. Eli Dekorte 39. Noah Frazier 40. Andrew Cook 41. Doug Tittle 42. Bruce Long DQ- Randy Ahner Jr- Kevin Krucek.
6/8 Cylinder (50) 1. Harry O’Neill 2. Jim Yamelski 3. Tony Rispin 4. Mike Mujsce 5. Animal Baldwin 6. Jeff Gregor 7. Drew Fohrkolb 8. Mark Rittenhouse 9. Adam Kraus 10.Blake Snyder 11. Dan Stein 12. Kevin Schultz 13. Ricky VanWhy 14. Jimmy Ayer 15. Luke Hoffner 16. Victor M Jr. 17. Mitch Sponenberg 18. Hunter Iatalese.
May 27 th will be the next enduro and its release is pending. Our website or other social media can be monitored for further information.

Evergreen Raceway is proud to be associated with Fairway Motors, American Rental Equipment, Sponenberg’s exhaust, Scott Adams Designs, Sonny's Tree and Lawn Service, Barbush Auto Sales, Harry’s U pull it, S&D Bodyline, CK Auto and Race Fab, Evan’s Roadhouse Restaurant and Pub, Wheel’s Bar and Grill, Rock Auto, and A&R Building Supply.

Jason Makerwicz-Promoter
Jeff Owler- Director of Race Operations and General Manager
Release written primarily by Ted Grow