5/8/2005
HOSSFELD COMES HOME TO TAKE OPENING DAY VICTORY AT LANCASTER
The Lancaster Raceway Park opened up its 2005 stock car racing season after a one-week delay thanks to Mother Nature, but it did not take away from the emotion of being back at the race track for a new season.
In the Advance Auto Parts Modifieds, Sege Fidanza and Chuck Hossfeld renewed their rivalry as Hossfeld returned to his home track while on break from his Whelen Modified Tour ride. Fidanza started on the pole for the 30-lap main event with Hossfeld following him to the front from the third starting spot.
Fidanza would lead the race’s first eight laps but then Hossfeld would overtake him going into turn one on lap nine. Hossfeld would then take control of the race, leading the final 21 circuits. It marks the third-straight year that Hossfeld has won the season opener for the Modifieds.
Fidanza would finish second. Tom McGrath finished third with Dave Wollaber and Karl Hehr rounding out the top five.
Lancaster also played host to the first round of the Holland Speedway/Lancaster Raceway Park Late Model Challenge Series on opening. For 2005, the series has been extended from four races to six with each track hosting three events.
For the series’ first race, Ron Nurmi and George Skora III started on the front row. Nurmi would grab the early lead as the first 13 laps of the race went caution-free. In the second half of the race, however, yellow fever would grab a hold as several caution periods marred the race’s final 12 laps
This allowed Vern Bliss to reel in Nurmi and take the lead with just eight laps to go. Bliss had started fourth on the field but could only advance one spot in the first 15 laps. With 10 to go Bliss would finally pass Mike Ticco and go after Nurmi for the win.
Following his pass of Nurmi, Bliss was unstoppable as he survived through a few cautions before claiming his win. Nurmi finished second and was the highest finishing Lancaster regular. Joe Carbone, Todd Hoddick, and Mike Ticco completed the top five. The series continues on Sunday, May 15 at Holland.
The Signworks Sportsman made their debut under the affiliation of the Super Short Track (SST) Sportsman Series. The SST Series unites the rules for the Sportsman at several racetracks in New York. Despite the new rules it was still the same result as defending track champion, Bobby Holmes, picked up where he left off, cruising to the win in the 20-lap feature. John Barber finished second. Frank Booker, Neal Dietz Jr., and Eddie Murray rounded out the top five.
The Cup Lites Racing Series ran their first event of 2005 season. It would come down to a late race battle in lap traffic between Bryan Weisenburg and Dennis Tybor. Tybor took the lead on lap 23 while they passed a lapped car while running side by side. Tybor, however, would lose the lead to Weisenburg in lap traffic with just three laps to go in what turned out to be the winning pass.
In the Probity Construction Super Stocks, Mark Hoch started on the pole and ran away from the field for 20 laps to capture his first win. A.J. Cole held off Doug Evans for second. Wayne Bernhard and Jay Mudra rounded out the top five.
Frank Batista began his title defense in the Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks with a win. Batista led all 15 laps to repeat as opening day winner. Dave Johnson finished a close second with Tom Agen in third.
Coming up next at LRP, the TQ Midgets will make their season debut as they join the five regular weekly racing divisions. Grandstand gates open at 5 PM, with racing starting at 6:30. For more info call the office at (716) 759-6818 or log on to the improved 2005 edition of www.lancasterracing.com.
RESULTS
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS MODIFIEDS
Heat Winners – Chuck Hossfeld, Lee Sherwood, Buck Catalano
Feature – CHUCK HOSSFELD, Sege Fidanza, Tom McGrath, Dave Wollaber, Karl Hehr, Billy Putney, Buck Catalano, Kenny Troyer, Brett Scherrer, Tim Mangus, Lee Sherwood, Todd Smith, Danny Knoll Jr., Bill Mislin, Chris Finocchario, Patsy Catalano, and Ron Williams. DNS: Ed Murray, DQ: T.J. Potrzebowski.
HOLLAND/LANCASTER LATE MODEL CHALLENGE SERIES – RACE 1
Heat Winners – Mark Bliss, Todd Hoddick
Feature – VERN BLISS, Ron Nurmi, Joe Carbone, Todd Hoddick, Mike Ticco, John Julicher, Dave Heitzhaus, George Skora III, T.J. Johnson, Dave Russell, Mark Pennell, Scott Skora, Mark Bliss, Paul Madsen, Craig Orr, Eldon King III, Tom MacLeod, Bob Nye, Matt Alix, and Tommy Reese.
SIGNWORKS SST SPORTSMAN
Heat Winners – Russ Gian, Bill Hebing, Bobby Holmes
Feature – BOBBY HOLMES, John Barber, Frank Booker, Neal Dietz Jr., Eddie Murray, Justin Shepker, Russ Gian, Bill Hebing, Jim Pierce, Randy Jazembak, Steve West, Daryl Lewis Jr., Mike Mitchell, Dave Johnson, Ed Weber, Don Wylie, Mike Shields, Sherri Hogan, Tom Wiest, and Andy Lewis.
CUP LITES RACING SERIES
Heat Winners – Dave Whittaker, Bryan Weisenburg
Feature – BRYAN WEISENBURG, Dennis Tybor, Dave Whittaker, Dan Tybor, Kreig Heroth, Kevin Blakely, Kris Martin, Jeremy Eiseman, Rob McCall, Ken Heckler, Michael Czuprysnki, Mark Welytok, Glenn Absolom, and Dave Russell.
PROBITY CONSTRUCTION SUPER STOCKS
Heat Winners – Jay Mudra, Wayne Bernhard
Feature – MARK HOCH, A.J. Cole, Doug Evans, Wayne Bernhard, Jay Mudra, Ed Collver, Mike Scott, Paul Alberti, Jason Gwin, Chris Pennell, and Jay Canonico. DNS: Ben Harms.
GLEN CAMPBELL CHEVROLET STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners – Jim Stein, John Shurmatz, Mike Maggiore, Dave Johnson
Feature – FRANK BATISTA JR., Dave Johnson, Tom Agen, Jim Stein, John Shurmatz, Gary Light, Scott Mutka, John Kraemer, Bobby Hanel Jr., Mike Maggiore, Pete Hackett, Rick Widmer, Joe Mergl, Jeff Madill, Tim Garlock, Bob Blaszak, Joe Light, Rob Bulger, Russell Knutsen, Don Deville, Kyle Volk, Tim Geary, Jim Offhaus, Jim Bryant, and Kyle Sharpe. DNS: Paul Tessier.
Source: Dave Buchanan/LRP PR
Posted: May 8, 2005