8/22/2004

BUCK CATALANO LEADS FROM GREEN TO CHECKERED TO BECOME MR. MODIFIED 2004

Sometimes one golden opportunity is all that one needs to take advantage of a situation. Buck Catalano would get his opportunity on the opening lap of the Tommy Druar Memorial/AC-Delco Mr. Modified 50 at Lancaster Raceway Park to win the biggest Modified race of his career. 

Starting third in the 24-car field, Catalano admitted before the race that he if had a clear shot to take the lead early on that he would capitalize on it. His chance came as the field poured out of turn two on the race's opening lap. Pole sitter, Daryl Lewis Sr., left the inside lane opening when he slid up the race track, Catalano dove to the inside and drove past Lewis down the backstretch. 

"Daryl's car didn't turn good going into one; the hole was too big not to take it," said Catalano. He knew that this was going to be his one shot for the lead. "To be out in front, I had to go for it," Catalano said. 

There were seven caution periods during the race, most of which for simple spins. The first major incident happened on lap five as Tom McGrath in turn two in front of large pack of cars. Several cars spun to avoid McGrath, including those of Dave Wollaber, Matt Alix, and Karl Hehr. Chuck Hossfeld had to be towed off the track with front end damage and was unable to continue. 

Outside pole sitter, Billy Putney, tailed Catalano for the first 19 laps of the race running in second. Tim Mangus then got around Putney and took his turn in going after the leader. Mangus and Brett Scherrer reeled in Catalano throughout the second half of the race but were unable to get any closer than a car length. Mangus was driving his car hard into the corners, while Catalano maintained a smooth line. 

As the laps wound down Mangus seemed to be closing in on Catalano for good, but three restarts in the final 11 laps gave the leader a chance to regroup for the final stretch. "I saw those guys (Mangus and Scherrer) coming and I didn't know if I could run from them," Catalano said in victory lane, "on the cooler tires it actually helped me, I think." 

It would helped as he pulled away after the race's final restart on lap 47. Catalano picked up his third Advance Auto Parts Modified feature of the year and put himself back in the running for the track title with two points races remaining. Mangus and Scherrer closed out the top three with strong performances. Jeff Ulrich took home his best finish of the year in fourth, while point leader Dave Wollaber finished fifth after starting 18th. 

Todd Hoddick led 14 of 25 laps while en route to his second victory of the year in the Late Models. Hoddick took the lead from Bob Nye who had started on the pole. Nye would hang on with the runner up position at the finish. Tom MacLeod closed within 20 points of John Julicher for point lead with a third place finish. Bob Weber and Joe Carbone rounded out the top five. 

The Jerry Gradl Motors Super Stocks had yet another nail-biting, down to the wire, not over 'til the last lap finish. Once again Jay Mudra was involved, but this time the car stayed down and he stayed in front to cross the finish line first for his second win of the year. He and Wayne Bernhard were side by side on the final lap but Bernhard would get loose coming off turn four. Bernhard would lose enough momentum to allow Mudra to win and Rich Skora to take second. 

Kyle Sharpe captured his second win of the year in the Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks. Sharpe passed Tim Garlock with less than five laps remaining to take control of the race as he pulled away from the field. Garlock would finish second, followed by Russell Knutsen, Frank Batista, and Rick Widmer. 

Next week, August 28, there will be another full card of Stock Car Mayhem at LRP with the return of the Bobcat of Buffalo Sportsman and TQ Midgets. Racing begins at 6 PM. 

RESULTS 

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIEDS 

Heat Winners - Buck Catalano, Sege Fidanza, Bill Putney 

TOMMY DRUAR MEMORIAL MR. MODIFIED 50 - BUCK CATALANO, Tim Mangus, Brett Scherrer, Jeff Ulrich, Dave Wollaber, Ron Williams, Kenny Troyer, T.J. Potrzebowski, Matt Alix, Bill Putney, Karl Hehr, Patsy Catalano, Tom McGrath, Rich Littlefield, Daryl Lewis, Kevin Timmerman, Daryl Lewis Jr., Nick Cappelli, Eddie Murray, Darrell Krentz, Bill Mislin, Chuck Hossfeld, Sege Fidanza, and Bill Torrisi. 

LATE MODELS 

Heat Winners - Todd Hoddick, Bob Nye 

Feature - TODD HODDICK, Bob Nye, Tom MacLeod, Bob Weber, Joe Carbone, Ron Nurmi, Bill Adamczyk, John Julicher, T.J. Johnson, Mike Ticco, Mike Catalano, Dan Habuda, Mark Pennell, Darryl McKay, and Tim DiPasquale. DNS: Dan Domanowski. 

JERRY GRADL MOTORS SUPER STOCKS 

Heat Winners - Jay Mudra, Mike Scott 

Feature - JAY MUDRA, Rich Skora, Wayne Bernhard, Mike Scott, Mark Hoch, Jeff Merritt, Doug Evans, Tom Carney, Paul Alberti, Craig Orr, A.J. Cole, J.W. Flagler, Jim Nowinski, Jason Gwin, and Ben Harms. DNS: Ed Collver. 

GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS 

Heat Winners - Rick Widmer, John Shurmatz, Kyle Sharpe 

Feature - KYLE SHARPE, Tim Garlock, Russell Knutsen, Frank Batista Jr., Rick Widmer, Tom Agen, John Shurmatz, Jim Offhaus, Pete Hackett, Mike Maggiore, Kyle Volk, Dennis Pieczynski, Scott Mutka, John Kraemer, Tim Offhaus, Gary Light, Joe Light, Mike Mitchell, Mark Pew, Phil Lysiak, Paul Tessier, Wayne Lavis, Gary Bartella, Jim Stein, and Anton Anderson Jr. DNS: Brandon Northrup, Tom DeVille, and Joe Mergl. 

Source:  Dave Buchanan/Lancaster Raceway Park PR
Posted:  August 22, 2004