BUTLER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Lately it seems that whenever Jayden Harman and Paulie Hartwig III get together for a 602 Crate Modified race at Evergreen Raceway, it always evolves into a wild last lap go-for-broke affair, and Sunday afternoon was just that.
After getting to second spot on lap 8, Hartwig was then hounding Harman lap after lap and much like they did in the race on May 25, the pair battled in that fashion until the white flag circuit. Entering the third corner, Hartwig made contact with Harman as he tried to get underneath him. That in turn sent the leader spinning and brought out a caution. Officials declared that for his actions Hartwig – albeit not in agreement – would be sent to the rear along with Harman.
Being in the right place at the right time was Steve Shultz, who was in third and now placed as the new leader. Then in a one-lap shootout, he was able to best point leader Brian Rygielski Jr. and Nick Shaffer for his first win with the division.
“We were in the right place at the right time. I just stayed on those guys and I could feel something was going to happen. We thrashed all week on the car, took some big swings at it and we feel we have it going in the right direction,” said Shultz, who collected his 37th career win but first with a 602 Crate Modified.
At the outset, it was Deegen Underwood and Harman who would bring the field to the green. At the commencement, Harman would get the jump on Underwood who forced low from oncoming traffic. Shultz went to second with Hartwig third.
That trio would then stay glued to one another over the first half dozen laps. The next time around Hartwig went side-by-side with Shultz and then made the advancement to second on the ensuing go-around.
From then on it was a fierce battle between leader Harman and Hartwig while Shultz got a bird’s eye view from third. Hartwig was affixed to the rear bumper of Harman yet despite his relenting tries to get by, Harman held his ground. But as the laps wore on it was noticeable that Harman’s car was getting tight which gave Hartwig the chance to look to his inside as they worked the corners.
Finally, on the last lap, Hartwig sought to make his move. Heading down the back straight he began to look underneath Harman as they approached turn 3. As they did, that’s when the contact took place, and in the process, Harman suddenly spun. Unfortunately for Hartwig, he was called out for the move and had to restart from the rear.
It was now a green-checkered finish, and when the action resumed, Shultz was first over Rygielski. Firmly holding his line, Shultz safeguarded by putting his years of experience to the test and was able to stay the course and claim the victory.
As Shultz was crossing the line, right behind him was a wild three-wide to the checkers with Rygielski fending off Shaffer, Underwood and Hartwig for the runner-up spot.
For Shultz, he just played the waiting game after watching Harman and Hartwig for many laps going at it. His close observation of the intense battle ahead of him had him thinking about just how near he should ride behind them.
“I thought about it but really all I wanted to do was protect my front tires and I knew if I stayed glued to (Paulie) Hartwig, I’d be OK so if something happen, and it did, I would be alright,” explained Shultz.
“The whole 602 Crate class, everyone is so equal and similar. The gaps close up that much faster and then it’s that much harder to get into a hole that opens up and it definitely makes it more challenging.”
The 602 Crate Modified win compliments his long list of division victories which includes Late Models, Sportsman Modifieds and Factory Stocks.
“This is still a new car to us and we only got into about a year and half ago. We have had our struggles and we’re happy to have finally got a win with the class,” he added.
“I can’t thank Arc Electric and The Wire Guys enough for all they do for us and not just for me but this facility and of course my team. It takes a small army to do this and without them we wouldn’t be here at all.”
In the Harry-U-Pull-It Street Stocks, Mike Pollack reeled off his record-extending fourth consecutive win.
The current point leader chased down early leader Gordon Buchman Jr. by lap 8, and once there, began to turn up the pressure. When they began the 12th lap, it became a side-by-side duel for the lead. Using the inside lane, Pollack was able to just eke ahead as they completed the lap.
But as they charged into turn 1 afterward, Buchman went in too hot in his attempt to stay with Pollack and alas wound up spinning and bringing out a caution.
The rest of the way there was no denying Pollack as he kept turning perfect laps. However, a very fast-moving Geary Rinehimer Jr. was making a serious run at Pollack, turning faster laps in the process and closing in a hurry. Rinehimer was just within reach as the checkers waved and Pollack held on for win number four on the season.
Joe Barbush III picked up his first Himmer Graphics Four Cylinder feature win in five years and it could be considered the one that got away as the previous week he was in a torrid battle with eventual winner TJ Kapish, only to come up one spot short.
Starting seventh and just as he did in last week’s race, Barbush made haste in climbing frontward and was running with the top five by lap 10.
Out front was a very strong running Ryan Petro, who started from the pole and set the early pace. In doing so he was handily fending off the likes of Rob McNulty and Maggie Wambold. By lap 15, points leader B.J. Wambold and Barbush were getting in on the action.
Barbush began to make things quite thrilling when he went to the topside and hustled his way to third while also going neck-and-neck with McNulty. Not done yet, he and McNulty zeroed in on Petro on lap 17. The three-wide fight did not bode well for Petro, who lost control and spun heading into turn 1 and forced the yellow to wave.
When the field was reset it was Barbush at the helm and there he would stay to the finish picking up a long overdue win and with the same car that his sister, Rebecca Barbush, won with a few weeks earlier.
Maggie Wambold, B.J. Wambold, McNulty and Jared Frye rounded out the top five.
Conner Shotwell collected his second McNulty Funeral Home Novice class win of the season. Taking the lead from the get-go, Shotwell stayed out front the entire distance. The always-improving Sarabeth Mesko notched a season-best second while point leader Caitlyn Makarewicz was third.
The INEX Legends raced in a 25-lap main, and for the second time in three starts, it was Kevin Nowak picking up the win.
Chris Piasecki would jump out to the early lead before Brad Lowmaster took control on lap 3. Hot on his heels was Nowak, who bided his time before making his race-winning move with an inside pass through turns 1 and 2 on lap 11.
He then was able to pull to a two-car length lead the rest of the way and go on to earn his 15th win at Evergreen. Lowmaster settled for second with Brayton Malbeuf third.
John Alaimo won the Bandolero feature.