Frankie Althouse Takes Back-To-Back Wins in Street Stocks at Mahoning Valley

Story By: GENEVIVE YAMELSKI / MAHONING VALLEY SPEEDWAY – LEIGHTON, PA – The Street Stock feature at Mahoning Valley Speedway on Saturday started with a complete restart after Josh Kuronya didn’t fire, but all cars kept their original spots. Brandon Christman took the outside pull and led early until Frankie Althouse powered past on lap seven. A spin by Cody Geist on lap nine brought out the caution, and on the restart Randy Ahner slipped to the inside of Christman, shuffling him back to fifth while Jill Snyder and Jon Moser moved forward.

The drama picked back up on lap twenty-four when Kuronya spun in turn three. On the restart, Snyder dove low under Ahner, making contact that sent him sideways. Putting Ahner to the back of the field to try charging back through again. Out front, Althouse held strong to claim the win, with Moser second and Adam Steigerwalt third. Christman recovered for fourth, and Snyder completed the top five.

The 602 Modifieds brought the action to Mahoning Valley Speedway with Max Pfeifer and Nick Baer leading the charge from the front row. Pfeifer jumped out early, but it didn’t take long for Baer to strike. On lap five, Baer made his move, slipping under Pfeifer down the inside to take command of the race.

From there, Baer set the tone, showing strength and command while Pfeifer and Makayla Kohler battled to keep pace. The race stayed green until lap 17 when Pfeifer looped it on the backstretch, bringing out the caution and setting up a late-race restart. With the field reset single-file, Baer wasted no time pulling away again, holding strong through the final laps to seal the victory. Pfeifer finishing second and Makayla Kohler third.

The Hobby Stocks kept the fans on edge with plenty of drama from start to finish. The opening lap saw cars clash while jostling for position, setting the tone for an intense twenty-five lap feature. By lap ten, Travis Solomon muscled his way forward with a bold inside pass, climbing into contention. Trouble struck on lap eighteen when Ryan Petro spun across the frontstretch into the grass after contact with James Tout, shuffling the field once more.

Through it all, Shayne Geist controlled the action, holding strong at the front as three-wide battles and smoke-filled duels unfolded behind him. Geist never wavered, taking the checkered flag for his fourth win of the season, adding another to his dominant streak. Solomon crossed second after a hard-fought charge, with Tout holding on for third. Ryan Berger and Jeremy Henry rounding out the top five in a thrilling showdown that had the crowd on their feet.

The Pro 4 feature got underway with Bob Kibler on the pole and Jeremy Guerra alongside. Bob Kibler wasted no time asserting himself, jumping out front on lap one as Guerra settled into second. But not for long as Bobby Kibler Jr. moved his way to the outside completing the pass to take over second. Just two laps later Cody Kohler charged low, going three-wide with Guerra in the middle and Jake Kibler up high. Kohler completes the pass but the yellow flag flew once contact was made between Guerra and Jake Kibler, sending Jake into the pits with a left-rear flat.

With cars being stacked back up next to each other Bob Kibler was set for the inside lead with Kibler Jr on his outside. Kibler Jr. gets to pull on the drop of the green. Kohler puts the pressure onto Bob Kibler, looking to both the inside and outside to make his way around. By lap twelve, Kohler was about to dive to the inside of Bob Kibler, the two making contact in turn three. Both battling side by side before Kohler is able to complete the pass. Even with a late spin bringing tension as the final lap became a single file restart, Kibler Jr. held firm to capture his sixth win of the season.

At the finish, it was Bobby Kibler Jr. out front, Kohler close behind in second, Guerra hanging on for third, Bob Kibler in fourth, and Kadie Pursell completing the top five after the twenty lap run.

The Microstocks put on a show, but it was Alex Greenzweig who stole the spotlight. After slipping past Roger Snyder early, Greenzweig never looked back, building a commanding lead as the laps clicked off. Behind him, Snyder held firm in second while Lydia Snyder and Ian McGuire kept the pressure on, battling just off his bumper in the early stages.

As Greenzweig stretched his advantage, pulling nearly half a track over the rest of the field, the fight for the runner-up spot tightened. Roger Snyder managed to fend off the challengers, crossing the line second, with Lydia Snyder edging out McGuire for third. Caden Miller rounded out the field after tough luck cost him a lap.

The Junk Car feature went the distance with 50 laps of chaos and grit. From the drop of the green, Wyatt Fulmer set the tone, showing speed that kept him out front and in control. Behind him, Neil Kunkel and Steven Schlenker battled hard, swapping spots inside the top three as the laps clicked away.

Drama struck on lap 43 when Anthonie Hunsicker had his hood pins break, sending the hood flopping open and leaving him with no visibility, a tough break while running strong and never pulling off the track. Meanwhile, Fulmer never faltered, stretching his lead and keeping it clean through the traffic.

At the checkered, Fulmer claimed the win, with Kunkel finishing second and Schlenker rounding out the podium. Todd Fulmer crossed fourth, and Shane Elliott closed out the top five after an action-packed showdown that tested both the cars and the drivers’ endurance.

Race Results:

Street Stock (30 Laps)

1. Frankie Althouse, 2. Jon Moser, 3. Adam Steigerwalt, 4. Brandon Christman, 5. Jill Snyder, 6. TJ Gursky, 7. Jamie Smith, 8. Randy Ahner, 9. Josh Kuronya, 10. Keith Boehm, 11. Thomas Flanagan, 12. Cody Geist

602 Modified (20 Laps)

1. Nick Baer, 2. Max Pfeifer, 3. Makayla Kohler

Hobby Stock (25 Laps)

1. Shayne Geist, 2. Travis Solomon, 3. James Tout, 4. Ryan Berger, 5. Jeremy Henry, 6. Dave Kerr, 7. Devin Schmidt, 8. Jr Merkal, 9. Terry Peters, 10. Arland Moyer Jr, 11. Ryan Petro

Pro 4 (20 Laps)

1. Bobby Kibler, 2. Cody Kohler, 3. Jeremy Guerra, 4. Bob Kibler, 5. Kadie Pursell, 6. Rich Pursell, 7. Jake Kibler

Microstock (20 Laps)

1. Alex Greenzweig, 2. Roger Snyder, 3. Lydia Snyder, 4. Ian McGuire, 5. Caden Miller

Junk Car (50 Laps)

1. Wyatt Fulmer, 2. Neil Kunkel, 3. Steven Schlenker, 4. Todd Fulmer, 5. Shane Elliott, 6. Anthonie Hunsicker, 7. Ty Weist, 8. Stewart Smith, 9. Corey Kerschner, 10. Phil Levering, 11. Chris Medley, 12. Justin Anderson, 13. Brian Kunkel, 14. Logan Polcari, 15. David Imler, 16. Tony Rispin, 17. Paul Mercante, 18. Todd Kerschner