BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — With two laps to go in Saturday’s season-ending 100-lap 4/6-cylinder Enduro at Evergreen Raceway, a red flag was out and sitting third at the time in an overheating car was Long Island’s Michael Kowalski.
He was also alongside second place Ricky Vanwhy and going through his mind as he waited for the race to restart was, would his car make the final two tours.
Luckily for him he did refire and battled to the wire with Vanwhy as they both chased closely behind Eric Antich who took the checkers. However, during post-race inspection both Antich and Vanwhy failed tech due to a rule’s infraction, and the victory was awarded to Kowalski.
“On lap 98 the car went into limbo mode and she got a little hot and honestly I was just trying to chug along up to that point but I looked up and asked God to give me two more laps and He pulled through and answered,” said Kowalski, who collected his career first win.
Kowalski started 46th in the field of 70 who started the race and gradually bided his time before cracking into the top-5 by lap 49.
Starting at lap eight April Enduro winner Jason Birch was in command and at most times he stood far enough ahead from anyone who was second to him during the first half those trying were that of Michael Klotz, Micah Adams, Paul Mercante and Antich.
Ricky Collins Jr., then emerged as a contender blasting up to second spot at the halfway mark but just as all the others had tried to with leader Birch he was well ahead, but his hopes were dashed when on lap 57 he pitted for a right front flat.
Collins was now the new leader while second spot was a back-and-forth tussle between Kowalski and Antich.
The race was red-flagged with 10 laps to go and on the restart Collins saw his chances at winning slip away when he suffered the same fate as Birch with a right front flat. Over the final 10 tours Antich led while keeping Vanwhy and Kowalski at bay.
Taking third, Kowalski was more than pleased especially having to battle from deep in the pack amongst 70 entrants and with a car that was overheating near the end. But having a little luck didn’t hurt either.
“To be honest I didn’t know who was in front of me or who was behind me because I just went out there and drove my race and I’m grateful to Evergreen who has a good pick system because this was a hard-fought win,” said Kowalski, who is a regular in Enduro’s at Riverhead Raceway.
“I really love these Enduro’s here. I’ve been here three other times and did so-so but today this was a tremendous experience.”
Brian Halecki was runner-up with Robert Kramer third, 2026 Evergreen Novice champion Shane Elliott came from 62nd to an impressive fourth while veteran Tony Rispin completed the top five.
The day closed out with a novelty Trailer Race in which a truck and trailer circles the track and with cars also on track a competitor must attempt to drive onto the trailer and stay there for one complete lap.
Blake Barney from Jackson, NJ is no stranger to winning at Evergreen, doing so in a Tour Type Modified but on this day the 2023 track champion made history by becoming the very first winner of a Trailer Race. While several tried it would be Barney who successfully pulled off the very entertaining feat.
