Kevin Rex,
Jr., Scores Third 600cc Mahoning Mod Win
The Hoosier Tire EXCEL
Chassis 600cc Modifieds pulled into Doug and Gena Hoffman’s Mahoning Valley
Speedway this past Saturday night and for the fifth and final time this
season and for the third time in five starts at the paved Lehighton oval
Kevin Rex, Jr., came out the winner.
On all previous runs and
including Saturday there was plenty of track-wide action by the field.
However, Rex’s prowess of the paved ¼-mile was too much for the competition
by this past Pro4 Late Model champion.
Starting fifth in the 18
car field, Rex, who hails from Lehighton, moved ahead of Chris Stockham for
the lead on lap 10 and then remained steady the rest of the way.
Tyler Bartik led from the
outset with Matt Carman riding his rear bumper. Rex and Stockham had also
begun their duel and were battling for third spot.
On lap six Carman brought
out a caution due to spinning after racing three-wide with Bartik and
Stockhman. Rex, who was right behind the trio, just missed careening the
stopped car of Carman.
When the race went back to
green Stockham was able to blast by Bartik for the led and along with him
came Rex.
The next three laps saw
plenty of close dicing action before Rex was able to make his race winning
move at the halfway mark.
Stockhman, who also has a
‘09 Mahoning win, remained second at the finish.
George Loux passed Bartik
with two laps to go and was third with BJ Scherff rounding out the top five.
Point leader Eric Whitby was never a factor as he finished 13th.
Rex and Stockhman set the
tone for the night early on as they each won their respective heats.
600cc Modified Feature Finish, 20 Laps: 1.Kevin Rex, Jr. 2.Chris Stockham
3.George Loux 4.Tyler Bartik 5.BJ Scherff 6.Brad Szulewski 7.Cody Coons
8.Matt Carmen 9.Mike Kelly 10.Joe Fanelli 11.Ryan Higgs 12.Ryan Suchon
13.Eric Whitby 14.Kasey Ernst 15.Justin Schraden 16.Cody Roth 17.Wayne
Kocher Did not start: Aaron Bowes