Mike Sweeney Earns Podium Finish
at Sundance (July
24, 2010)- Unseasonably high temperatures didn’t stop the drivers
and fans from coming out to support the 1/3-mile asphalt oval
Saturday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. In a dominating
performance, Mike Skarbowski of Upper Black Eddy emerged with his
first career $1000 Sport Modified feature victory. Lorin Arthofer of
Bethlehem went on to claim his second straight $800 prize and Paul
Morgan, Jr. of Mountaintop extended his points lead with his fourth
Factory Stock victory of the season.
Read More
Mike Sweeney Rebounds From Flat
Tire to Score 4th Place Finish(July 11, 2010)-
Postponed from a weather threatened Saturday, drivers took to the
1/3-mile asphalt oval on Sunday at Sundance vacations Speedway. It
was a day of firsts, as all of the feature winners went to victory
lane for the very first time in their division. Without pitting for
tires, Todd Baer of New Tripoli grabbed the $1250 prize after
picking up his first career Sport Modified victory in the 75-lap
contest. Following a handful of runner up finishes this season,
Lorin Arthofer of Bethlehem went on to claim the $800 prize and his
first feature win in a Late Model at the speedway and Eric Wink of
Palm capitalized on a late race tangle to score his first career
Factory Stock feature win.
Read MoreWith
Double Features on the Line, Sweeney Grabs Second Win of the Season
and Nearly Snags His Third (June 26,
2010)- Due to being
postponed from two weeks earlier, the Sport Modified and Late Model
drivers ran double features on a hot and muggy Saturday evening at
Sundance Vacations Speedway. In dominating fashion, Earl Paules of
Palmerton stormed to the Sport Modified make up win and he followed
it up later that night with another feature victory. Mike Coll of
Long Island and Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning split the Late Model
main events and Brandon Oltra of Alden notched his first career
Factory Stock victory. After a last lap pass, Bob Wink of Palm found
victory in the Father’s Day Factory Stock race and Scott Hubler of
Coplay scored his fifth straight PA Asphalt Legends feature win of
the season.
Read More
Mike
Sweeney's Winning Pass (By Kyle Hardner) and Late Model
Crash at Sundance Vacations Speedway (Below)
Mike Sweeney Ecstatic
Over First Late Model Win of the Season at Sundance(May 30, 2010)-
After going a lap down and finishing his first Sport Modified
Feature two weeks ago, Brian Sones of Sandy Valley asked his father
to put his engine back in his Street Stock. Dad declined and Brian,
a former two-time victor in the Street Stocks set out Sunday with
hopes of earning a top ten finish at Sundance Vacations Speedway. To
the surprise of many, Sones not only earned his first top ten, but
also went on to capture the checkered flag, picking up his first
career Sport Modified main event win. After weeks of frustration and
disappointment, Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning threatened to cut up
his Late Model if it wasn’t competitive in the feature. It appears
that Sweeney’s car will remain intact because he notched his first
feature win of the season. White Haven’s Jeff Searfoss held off Paul
Morgan, Jr. and scored his first Factory Stock win in nearly 16
years and Scott Hubler of Coplay pulled the hat trick and scored his
third consecutive Pennsylvania Asphalt Legends Series victory.
Read MoreSweeney Wins Heat Before
Car Falls Off During Feature at Sundance (May 16, 2010)-
Perfect racing conditions from Mother Nature set the stage for close
door to door racing Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. After
taking the race lead from Paul Frantz early in the Sport Modified
feature, Ricky Ross, Jr. of Mountaintop held off Nick Pecko to score
his first feature win of the season. Jerry Hildebrand of Wapwallopen
held off Lorin Arthofer to notch his first Late Model victory of
year and Mountaintop’s Wayne Lowe visited victory lane for the fist
time the season in Factory Stock competition. Ian Cumens of Lyndell
took top honors in the ATQRMA main event and Scott Hubler of Coplay
found victory lane in the P.A.L. Legend main.
Read MoreTop 5 Finish Boosts
Confidence for Mike Sweeney(May 2, 2010) Kyle
Harvell started from the pole position and was overtaken by Lorin
Arthofer following the drop of the green flag in the 30-lap Late
Model main event Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway.The
first of four yellows waved when several cars slowed up in front of
Jerry Hildebrand. Hildebrand made contact, suffered a flat tire and
headed pit side.
Read More
Mike Sweeny Rebound with 8th
Place Finish After Getting Wrecked Early
(April 18, 2010) Mike Coll ran the
quickest lap during Late Model time trials and rolled an eight for the
redraw, which gave the pole position to Justin Onderko. Onderko decided
to start at the tail end of the feature and that put Jerry Hildebrand at
the point for the start of the 30-lap Late Model feature. Despite being
wrecked early on and thanks for quick crew work, Mike Sweeney rebounded
to finish in the 8th position.
Read More
Sweeney Announces 2010 Sponsor Lineup
Race sponsorship is always hard to come by , especially with the
decline in the economy. However, due to past performances,
sportsmanship and two straight track championships Mike Sweeney and
the Sweeney Racing Late Model race team earned support and have finalized their sponsor
lineup for this season. Sweeney is excited about the upcoming season
and is determined to visit victory lane early to recognize the great
people and businesses that will help support his racing efforts this
year. Radocha Excavating bumped things up this year to become the
primary sponsor of the team and Competition Graphics came onboard
for their first season with Sweeney Racing. SVS Abatement also
signed on as a new sponsor and will showcase their name on the #D11
with all of the returning supporters that are listed on the left.
After Two
Titles, Mike Sweeney Makes Some Changes
By: Kyle Hardner
Area Auto Racing News
It's a sunny Saturday
afternoon, and Mike Sweeney is standing in Victory Lane. His
parents, Bernice and Vince, stand proudly on either side. Mike is
holding the checkered flag, a huge smile across his face. Behind
him, two crewmen hold up a banner proclaiming Sweeney as Sundance
Vacations Speedway's Late Model champion for two straight years.
The picture, taken after Sundance's King of the Mountain 2009
season finale, shows the end result of an amazing two-year ride. It
was in 2008 that Sweeney brought out a new car, a Late Model with a
chassis built by Nate Correll and all the extras added by Sweeney
and his crew.
For two years, that black Andy Jensen-powered No. D11 car has been
Sundance's most consistent. In 2008, it led him to a first career
title by 97 points over Ricky Ross Jr. Last year, it helped him
become the fifth driver in track history to win back-to-back Late
Model crowns (Bob Becker, Richie Jensen, Todd Geist and Paul Koehler
Jr. are the others). He earned 11 top-five finishes in 12 races to
top Jerry Hildebrand by 119 points.
So why are Sweeney and his team spending their winter evenings
making major changes to a car that has a chance to make Sundance
Late Model history this year? Easy answer: to go even faster.
"I'm proud of all my guys and what we've done," says Sweeney, 29,
of Nesquehoning, Pa. "But even though we've won two championships -
and it's tough to win a championship - I just haven't had the feel
of the car. It's a very consistent car, but we need more speed."
Most of all, Sweeney wants to get back to Victory Lane on a more
regular basis - and not just after a season-long points battle.
"Our win total hasn't been where I've wanted it to be," he says.
"We won five races at Mahoning in 2005, then I broke my leg the next
year, sat out half a year and still came back to win three races. In
2007 I switched to (Sundance) and won three times. But then we won
twice in 2008 and just once last year. That's really bugged me. So
we're cutting the car apart a little bit and trying some new
things."
The fine line between big winner and track champion is one Sweeney
has spent most of his nine-year career trying to balance. When he
first started in Factory Stocks, then Street Stocks, he was a hard
charger. His go-for-broke style even earned him the car number he
uses today.
"When we first went to Sundance (with a Street Stock), there was
another No. 11 car, and we had to come up with a different number,"
Sweeney explains. "I work for Radocha Excavating, and at the time
the biggest bulldozer they had was a Caterpillar D11 model. So we
put the 'D' in front of our number. It's always been an inside joke
with me and (Mike) Radocha."
Once Sweeney moved to Late Models, he began to lift off the
throttle a little more and became a more complete driver. Yet it's
said to win a championship, you have to first lose one. Sweeney had
that experience at Mahoning in 2005 when he narrowly lost the Late
Model crown to his good friend and Nesquehoning neighbor Mike
Radocha Jr. With that lesson learned, and with the new car at his
disposal starting in '08, Sweeney took the final steps from
contender to champion.
While his back-to-back Sundance titles have come by somewhat
comfortable margins, Sweeney did have a bit of a scare with two
races left last season, when a special Friday night makeup show, run
quickly on a frigid night under the threat of rain, nearly spelled
disaster. "I broke a spindle on the left front in warm-ups," he
says. "That sent me into the wall with the right front and ripped
apart every suspension piece on that side."
The car wasn't fixable by heat-race time, and sitting out wasn't
an option. So he turned to his good friend and fellow Late Model
racer Troy Bollinger, who let Sweeney borrow his car for the night.
Sweeney finished that rain-shortened 21-lap race in seventh spot
(his only non-top-five of the year), good enough to maintain his
points lead, then wrap up the title with his own, repaired car at
the King of the Mountain finale.
To earn an historic three-peat, Sweeney knows he and his team -
which includes his mom and dad, his girlfriend Sarah Valentine,
uncle Robbie Sweeney, crew chief Rick Foulk and crewmen Bruce and
Eric - have to step up his program a bit. The 2010 Sundance Late
Model field looks to be one of the toughest in recent memory.
Two-time champ Todd Geist and Bollinger, a past Modified champ at
Mahoning, have already announced plans to race Late Models full-time
at Sundance for the first time in several years, and a few others
are considering regular action at the third-of-a-mile asphalt oval
as well.
Sweeney, who has been working two jobs this winter to enhance his
racing budget, knows he'll be part of the mix. He and Bollinger have
purchased pit spots next to one another. "Troy and I have been
working together a bit this off-season," Sweeney says. "He was my
crew chief for the (Sundance) NELMA 100 and (Wall) Turkey Derby last
year. He acquired an older Howe car for this year and put a new rear
clip on it. He's been at my garage and I've been at his to help
out."
Sweeney has raced other cars in his career - an asphalt Modified
part-time for Dale Troxell and even a one-time ride in a Super
Sportsman at Big Diamond Raceway in 2008 - but Late Models remain
his focus.
"The only real differences between a Modified and Late Model are
the fenders on the Late Model and the (higher) cost of the tires in
a Modified," he says. "With the Late Model, you're on scales and
playing with setups every week. You have to know your equipment is
capable of running that race and then some. When you come across the
line for five-to-go, your equipment is there, you're up on the
wheel, hopefully you're leading and nobody is gonna pass you."
Sweeney hopes he's the one leading more often than not this year.
And if that leads him to a third consecutive Sundance Late Model
crown, even better.
“Crazy Train” Mike
Sweeney- 2009 Late Model ChampionDrivers’ endure a lot to be on top of his or her division and
that definitely proves true with Mike Sweeney, the 2009 Late Model
Champion. Although he didn’t have a race winning car week in and
out, Sweeney stood tall and finished the best that he could with the
set up he had. Without tearing up his stuff, along with consistency,
Sweeney will be the defending champion in 2010.No slouch this season, Sweeney scored a feature win and had
11 top 5 and 12 top 10 finishes in 12 starts. He owes much of his success to his family, friends and
definitely his hard working crew, which consists of Dad, Rick, the
crew chief, Robbie, Pip, Bruce, Eric, Greg and David. The special
ladies behind the scenes are Mom, Sarah and Tami.Sweeney boasts his sponsorship efforts on a regular basis and
they’re always displayed well on his #D11 Pontiac Grand Prix. Those
supporters include Radocha Excavating, Stewart Sanitation, Midnight
Recovery Specialist, Krajcirik Automotive, Hope's Collision, Our
Family Mini Mart, TB Mobile Fabrication, Kemmerer Graphics, Tirpak
Oil, The Comfort Inn of West Hazleton, Jones Racing Products, A-1
Racing Parts, VDL Fuel Systems, Koehler Brothers Collision Repair
Center, Jensen’s Engine Technologies, Hoffman Brothers Performance,
GME and the RAACE Foundation. During practice, a spindle broke on the #D11 with only two
races remaining in the season. With a tore up race car and the
championship hopes on the line, Troy Bollinger, a friend and
competitor of Sweeney’s offered him his car for the day of racing.
Sweeney accepted and finished 7th in the feature.
Bollinger’s kindness kept the championship hopes alive.How dedicated is Mike Sweeney? Well, due to a rescheduled
rain out during the year, Sweeney was forced to miss his
Girlfriend’s (Sarah) college graduation. Although she probably
wasn’t thrilled with the decision, Sarah told Mike to go racing and
win the championship. Job well done- Happy graduation, Sarah! The future isn’t carved in stone for Sweeney Racing, but
there’s not a doubt that the reigning titlist will be a threat
anywhere.
Website
designed by and maintained by Tyler Jett Motorsports Marketing
www.tylerjett.com
(July 11, 2010)-
Postponed from a weather threatened Saturday, drivers took to the
1/3-mile asphalt oval on Sunday at Sundance vacations Speedway. It
was a day of firsts, as all of the feature winners went to victory
lane for the very first time in their division. Without pitting for
tires, Todd Baer of New Tripoli grabbed the $1250 prize after
picking up his first career Sport Modified victory in the 75-lap
contest. Following a handful of runner up finishes this season,
Lorin Arthofer of Bethlehem went on to claim the $800 prize and his
first feature win in a Late Model at the speedway and Eric Wink of
Palm capitalized on a late race tangle to score his first career
Factory Stock feature win.
Read More
With
Double Features on the Line, Sweeney Grabs Second Win of the Season
and Nearly Snags His Third
(June 26,
2010)-
Due to being
postponed from two weeks earlier, the Sport Modified and Late Model
drivers ran double features on a hot and muggy Saturday evening at
Sundance Vacations Speedway. In dominating fashion, Earl Paules of
Palmerton stormed to the Sport Modified make up win and he followed
it up later that night with another feature victory. Mike Coll of
Long Island and Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning split the Late Model
main events and Brandon Oltra of Alden notched his first career
Factory Stock victory. After a last lap pass, Bob Wink of Palm found
victory in the Father’s Day Factory Stock race and Scott Hubler of
Coplay scored his fifth straight PA Asphalt Legends feature win of
the season.
Read More
Mike
Sweeney's Winning Pass (By Kyle Hardner) and Late Model
Crash at Sundance Vacations Speedway (Below)
Mike Sweeney Ecstatic
Over First Late Model Win of the Season at Sundance
(May 30, 2010)-
After going a lap down and finishing his first Sport Modified
Feature two weeks ago, Brian Sones of Sandy Valley asked his father
to put his engine back in his Street Stock. Dad declined and Brian,
a former two-time victor in the Street Stocks set out Sunday with
hopes of earning a top ten finish at Sundance Vacations Speedway. To
the surprise of many, Sones not only earned his first top ten, but
also went on to capture the checkered flag, picking up his first
career Sport Modified main event win. After weeks of frustration and
disappointment, Mike Sweeney of Nesquehoning threatened to cut up
his Late Model if it wasn’t competitive in the feature. It appears
that Sweeney’s car will remain intact because he notched his first
feature win of the season. White Haven’s Jeff Searfoss held off Paul
Morgan, Jr. and scored his first Factory Stock win in nearly 16
years and Scott Hubler of Coplay pulled the hat trick and scored his
third consecutive Pennsylvania Asphalt Legends Series victory.
Read More
Sweeney Wins Heat Before
Car Falls Off During Feature at Sundance
(May 16, 2010)-
Perfect racing conditions from Mother Nature set the stage for close
door to door racing Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway. After
taking the race lead from Paul Frantz early in the Sport Modified
feature, Ricky Ross, Jr. of Mountaintop held off Nick Pecko to score
his first feature win of the season. Jerry Hildebrand of Wapwallopen
held off Lorin Arthofer to notch his first Late Model victory of
year and Mountaintop’s Wayne Lowe visited victory lane for the fist
time the season in Factory Stock competition. Ian Cumens of Lyndell
took top honors in the ATQRMA main event and Scott Hubler of Coplay
found victory lane in the P.A.L. Legend main.
Read More
Top 5 Finish Boosts
Confidence for Mike Sweeney
(May 2, 2010) Kyle
Harvell started from the pole position and was overtaken by Lorin
Arthofer following the drop of the green flag in the 30-lap Late
Model main event Sunday at Sundance Vacations Speedway.
The
first of four yellows waved when several cars slowed up in front of
Jerry Hildebrand. Hildebrand made contact, suffered a flat tire and
headed pit side.
Read More
Mike Sweeny Rebound with 8th
Place Finish After Getting Wrecked Early
