RPW Exclusive: Second Steve LaRochelle Memorial Headlines A High Stakes Night At Lebanon Valley
News Director 
Column By: JACOB MACDONALD / RPW – WEST LEBANON, NY – As the end of summer begins to near, the action is only heating up at the Lebanon Valley Speedway.
Saturday night will see the Pro Stocks run the second annual Steve LaRochelle Memorial, paying $1,178 to win.
Steve was a longtime competitor in the Pure Stocks and eventually made his way up to the Pro Stock division where he was a multi time feature winner and a force to be reckoned with week in and week out.
“I remember when one time, we battled hard for fifth or sixth and we definitely had some marks to prove it. After the race, I thought for sure that he was going to be upset with me or the finish, but he was grinning from ear to ear with excitement and enthusiasm about the hard racing that just happened,” said Zach Sorrentino.
The tributes will extend outside the Pro Stock division as Colby Kokosa will run the 178 on the side of his limited sportsman in tribute to LaRochelle as well.
Something to keep an eye on also is the points battle in Pro Stocks. Sorrentino and Nick Hilt have swapped the lead multiple times in the Pro Stock division throughout the 2024 season. However, as of this weekend, it is Sorrentino in the 54s who sits atop the standings with 612 points following a runner up finish to Chris Stalker last Saturday night in a wild feature. Hilt however remains in striking distance, only sitting 12 points behind Sorrentino. Tommy Dean, Dave Stickles and Shawn Perez Sr. round out the top five in the standings.
In DIRTcar Big Block Modified action, “The Double Threat,” Brett Haas enters Saturday as the man to beat with a 19 point advantage over six-time track champion, Andy Bachetti. However, they aren’t the only two with a chance late in the season. Last week’s winner Kolby Schroder sits only 31 back in third along with Marc Johnson who is 36 points out on Haas. Haas is no stranger to championships as he won a Sportsman track championship in 2011 and a 358 Modified title in 2020.It’ll be interesting to see how the last two weeks play out as points for the Big Blocks end next Saturday, August 24th.
358 Modified action enters Saturday with a familiar name at the top as its “The Wild Child,” Andy Bachetti out in front of the field in points. Bachetti is coming off his eighth win in the 358 Modifieds this season. However, if he wants his 11th track championship in the 358 Modifieds, he’s gonna have to stay strong through the last few weeks of the season as Joey Coppola is right on Bachetti’s back bumper as he only sits six points out of the lead. Brett Haas sits third in points (-32) in the Jimmy Wenchell number 17. Kyle Sheldon (-44) sits fourth in his first season with car owner Paul Whenau and Jeff Watson (-92) completes the top five in points.
The Sportsman division sees a single season domination that hasn’t been seen in a long time at the high banks of Lebanon Valley. Tim Hartman Jr has gone 12 for 12 on the season and dating back to last season, has won 14 in a row. It should come as no shock that Hartman has a commanding lead over the field in the standings to go with his winning ways in 2024, as he currently sits 122 points ahead of Michael Sabia. Former Orange County competitor Nick Giardini sits third in points in his rookie season at Lebanon Valley, while Brady Cordova and Justin Gozzi round out the top five.
It’s a two car breakaway for the top spot in the Street Stock standings as Jeff Meltz Sr holds a slim two point advantage over Dave Striebel Jr. Meltz, a six time winner in 2024 looks to tie his son Jason in Street Stock championships (Jason won his in 2015 and 2016 respectively). Kerianne Vandenburg, Dave Striebel Sr. and Frank Smith sit third, fourth and fifth respectively heading into this weekend.
Scott Zenhacker looks to cushion his lead enroute to a track championship in Limited Sportsman competition. Already a four time winner on the season, Zenhacker has a 61 point lead heading into this Saturday over Brian Walsh. Ray Royals, Owen Lewis and Braxton Martin round out the top five in points.
Pit gates are set to open at 3 p.m, grandstands at 5 p.m and racing action starts at 6 p.m. General admission is just $12, while children are just $2.
