10/7-8/06

HOSSFELD SURGES TO ROC TOUR US OPEN 100 WIN

 
SATURDAY:

HOSSFELD SURGES TO ROC TOUR US OPEN 100 WIN

The Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour took center stage on day one of the 18th annual U.S. Open at Lancaster Raceway Park. The Modified race at the U.S. Open is one of the most prestigious asphalt Modified races in the Northeast, and it draws a stellar field of competitors. In the end, however, a familiar face to victory lane at Lancaster would come out on top for his second career Open victory.

Jan Leaty started on the pole for the 100-lap feature alongside Lee Sherwood. Leaty had a fast car in his heat race, and that was also true in the main event as he jumped out to the early lead.

Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, NY was not as fortunate in his heat race. Hossfeld, driving the Don Ryerse-owned #99, ran into the back of another car and cut down a tire and did not finish. He was forced to qualify through the B-Main, which he won, and started 21st in the 31-car field.

In the feature, Hossfeld didn't waste any time in getting to the front. He had already moved up to 12th by the eleventh lap.

Hossfeld was still in 12th when the first caution of the race came out on lap 19 when Sege Fidanza spun in turn two. Instead of keeping his spot on the track, Hossfeld elected to pit at this time for tires. Kory Rabenold, T.J. Potrzebowski, Matt Alix, Danny Knoll Jr., and Mike Leaty were among the other cars that also pitted.

Leaty was still eading when the race resumed followed by Sherwood, Eric Beers, Daren Scherer, and Dave Wollaber. Beers moved into second immediately after the restart, as he and Jan Leaty took over as the two fastest cars in the field.

John Markovic and Bob Reis got together on lap 37 to bring out the race's second caution. Once again several cars pitted during the yellow flag period including, Dave Wollaber, Pete Brittain, Daren Scherer, Bill Hebing, and Tom McGrath.

Shortly after the ensuing restart on lap 42, Chuck Frisbee III stopped in turn four to bring the yellow flag back out. Matt Hirschman, Buck Catalano, and Tommy Cloce all pitted during the caution period. Hirschman had worked himself from almost dead last in the starting grid to fourth before stopping.

As the race pass the halfway point Leaty, Beers, and Earl Paules held the top three spots as they had not yet elected to pit. Hossfeld was now in fourth and on the heels of the leaders.

Leaty and Beers pulled away from the pack while Paules was left to fend off the "Hotshoe". Hossfeld got past Paules on lap 56 for third, and then went after the top two. He caught and passed Beers on lap 60 just before the yellow flag came out for Bill Hebing.

Realizing that they were outmatched by Hossfeld while on older tires both Leaty and Beers pitted, which handed the lead to Hossfeld. Tom McGrath was now second followed by Bobby Holmes, Mike Leaty, and T.J. Potrzebowski.

On the restart, McGrath pulled to the inside of Hossfeld as the field picked up the green flag. McGrath took the lead going into turn one, however, RoC Tour officials ruled that he jumped the start when he pulled alongside Hossfeld before the start/finish line. Hossfeld was put back into the lead during the following caution period.

On lap 76, T.J. Potrzebowski spun in turn two and stacked up several cars. John Markovic, Billy Putney, and Daren Scherer all suffered damage as they tangled on the backstretch. This set up a 24 lap dash to the finish with Hossfeld still leading over McGrath, plus drivers such as Eric Beers, Jan Leaty, and Matt Hirschman working through the field after pitting.

When the race resumed Hossfeld took off and pulled away from the rest of the pack. He went the final 24 laps untouched to score his second career U.S. Open win.

Hossfeld knew he had put himself in a hole in the heat race, but overcame it.

"It was just luck of the draw," Hossfeld said, "we drew 98 of 100 and it put me last in the heat, and just got a flat tire."

He also had a different crew working with him than usual, but it did not affect the outcome. "My normal guys are in Syracuse watching dirt," Hossfeld said. "We got kind of a filler bunch guys, and Don's (Ryerse) guys." "What a ride, I'm really pumped up," he added.

Tom McGrath finished second to Hossfeld. Matt Hirschman finished third after starting second to last in the 31-car field. He came through the field twice after pitting while running fourth. Jan Leaty and Bobby Holmes rounded out the top five. Eric Beers finished sixth. Danny Knoll Jr. finished eighth in just his first race since last year's Open.

Pete Brittain tightened the race for the RoC Tour championship by finishing five spots ahead of points leader Earl Paules in ninth. Paules has a slim four point lead over Brittain going into the final race at Mahoning Valley on October 21. Matt Hirschman is third and is 13 points out of the lead.

Kirk Rutherford of Barker, NY won the caution-filled 75-lap SST Modified Series feature. Rutherford started sixth in a field of 33 cars, but took the lead from pole-sitter Neal Dietz on lap five. He led the final 70 laps and survived through more than 12 caution periods.

Tony Hanbury started eighth and moved in to the runner-up spot on lap 17. Hanbury was one of the few cars that could keep up with Rutherford under green flag conditions. Late in the race, he made a serious attempt to take the lead but came up short.

T.J. Potrzebowski was sent to the rear after being involved in an early-race caution, but came back through the field to finish third. Chris Finocchario ran inside the top five for the entire race and finished fourth. Jerry Harding Jr. had an impressive fifth place run.

Rutherford's win is his fifth at the U.S. Open, which is more than any other driver in the 18-year history of the event.

Dave Johnson won the 30-lap Jerry Gradl Motors Super Stock feature. Johnson passed Jay Mudra for the lead with just four laps to go. Mudra led 23 laps before handing over the lead to Johnson.

Wayne Bernhard finished second. Jeff Merritt, Frank Batista Jr., and Jay Mudra rounded out the top five.

RESULTS

Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour

Heat Winners - Earl Paules, Buck Catalano, Tom McGrath, Bobby Holmes

B-Main Winners - Chuck Hossfeld, T.J. Potrzebowski

U.S. Open 100 Finish -
1. (21) CHUCK HOSSFELD #99H
2. (7) Tom McGrath #12
3. (30) Matt Hirschman #60
4. (1) Jan Leaty #6
5. (4) Bobby Holmes #22
6. (8) Eric Beers #9
7. (31) Mike Leaty #25
8. (19) Danny Knoll, Jr. #70
9. (12) Pete Brittain #99
10. (2) Lee Sherwood #95
11. (13) Sege Fidanza #77
12. (14) Rick Kluth #44
13. (11) Matt Alix #2 <#72>
14. (9) Earl Paules #8
15. (18) Phil Slater #24
16. (28) Todd Smith #52
17. (5) Buck Catalano #4
18. (29) Tommy Cloce #69
19. (23) Rick Zacharias #5
20. (27) Chuck Frisbee, III #7
21. (25) Mark Tychoniewicz #01
22. (22) T.J. Potrzebowski #72
23. (10) Dave Wollaber #45
24. (3) Kory Rabenold #63
25. (16) Billy Putney #88
26. (6) Daren Scherer #3
27. (20) John Markovic #95M
28. (26) Bill Hebing #66
29. (15) Bob Reis #10
30. (17) Brett Scherrer #80
31. (24) Tony Hanbury #09

DNQ:
Sean O'Neill #71 <#7>
Doug Reaume #14
Chris Finocchario #81 <#8>
Matt Clemens #9x <#95M>
Rich Kuiken, Jr. #98

Hard Luck - Daren Scherer
Hard Charger - Matt Hirschman (30th to 3rd)
Sunoco Fuel Bonus - Phil Slater
Gater News Bonus - Tom McGrath

SST Modifieds

Heat Winners - Justin Shepker, Kirk Rutherford, Neal Dietz Jr.

Feature -
1. (6) KIRK RUTHERFORD #11
2. (8) Tony Hanbury #68
3. (16) T.J. Potrzebowski #51
4. (5) Chris Finocchario #8
5. (3) Jerry Harding, Jr. #57B
6. (4) Frank Booker, Jr. #22
7. (22) Neil Hopkins #4
8. (7) Russ Gian #9
9. (19) Eddie Murray #37
10. (12) Justin Shepker #60
11. (15) Phil Johnson #6
12. (30) Dick Kluth #27
13. (24) Mike Stevenson #1S
14. (20) Tom Wiest #35
15. (23) Richard Thomas #15
16. (7) Jeff Ruddy #9
17. (11) Wayne Lent #94
18. (29) Jim Howard #57
19. (27) Billy Ray Pruitt #2P
20. (31) Luke Wozniak #7
21. (14) Craig Dolphin #98
22. (21) Tim Garlock #29
23. (17) Daryl Lewis, Jr. #10
24. (25) Chuck Anderson #25
25. (1) Neal Dietz, Jr. #84
26. (9) Jerry Gradl, Jr. #2G
27. (13) Nick Cappelli #86
28. (28) Don Wylie #97
29. (32) Daryl Lewis #1L
30. (2) John Barber #01x
31. (26) Ed Grimmer #31
32. (10) Ed Weber #4
33. (33) Bill Burd #20

Jerry Gradl Motors Super Stocks

Heat Winners - Dave Johnson, Doug Evans

Feature -
1. (4) DAVE JOHNSON #52
2. (8) Wayne Bernhard #23
3. (6) Jeff Merritt #49
4. (11) Frank Batista, Jr. #37
5. (2) Jay Mudra #16
6. (7) Bobby Lippa, Jr. #15
7. (16) R.J. Zacharias #71
8. (13) J.W. Flagler #27
9. (12) George Roesch #61
10. (17) John Kraemer #77
11. (15) Mike McDonald #90
12. (18) Jason Gwin #30
13. (14) Mike Nichols #72
14. (9) Mark Hoch #07
15. (3) Doug Evans #57
16. (1) Kyle Sharpe #92
17. (10) Paul Alberti #34
18. (19) Jim Steffenhagen, Jr. #13
19. (5) Mike Scott #59

DNS:
Joe Fetzer #2
Pete Pieczynski #89

SUNDAY:

LAST LAP PASS WINS US OPEN 100 AND MAARA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THOMAS

The best may have been saved for last during U.S. Open weekend at Lancaster Raceway Park. On the last lap in the last race of the weekend Will Thomas of Sharpsville, PA made a pass that won him the Mid-Atlantic Asphalt Racing Alliance (MAARA) Late Model 100 and helped him clinch the first-ever MAARA championship.

Thomas started third in the 28-car field that was led by Rich Skora and Joe Carbone to the green flag. The original start, however, was not a clean one and the yellow flag immediately came out. As the field slowed on the backstretch, T.J. Johnson was sent into the wall ending his day before completing a lap.

The race had a long stretch of green flag racing following the second attempt at starting it. Rich Skora jumped out to the early lead from the pole position. His brother, Scott Skora, moved into second place followed by Todd Hoddick.

Hoddick eventually passed Scott Skora on lap seven, and then hooked up with Rich Skora to pull away from the field. On lap 21, Hoddick would pass Rich Skora to take the lead.

On lap 37 the second yellow flag of the race came out when Pete Vanderwyst, Ron Nurmi, and Scott Skora tangled in turn one. Those three cars were racing for positions 4-6 on the track before they piled up.

The race restarted on lap 40 with Will Thomas getting by Rich Skora for second. At the same time as this Mark Bliss dropped out of the race with mechanical problems while running sixth. Bliss was the defending race winner.

The yellow flag came out again on lap 48 when Scott Skora was sent into the turn three wall by Pete Vanderwyst. Skora suffered heavy damage to the rear end of his car after hitting the Thermal Foam and concrete wall.

Racing resumed on lap 53 following another yellow flag with Hoddick leading Will Thomas, George Skora III, Rich Skora, and Glenn Gault Jr. Racing continued until lap 70 when it was stopped for the MAARA-mandated fuel stop for all teams.

This set up a 30-lap dash to the finish with Thomas all over Hoddick right from the drop of the green flag. Thomas looked to have the better handling car as the laps winded down. His car was able to run lower in the corners than Hoddick's, but Hoddick was able to stay down enough to fend him off.

Hoddick was en route to what looked to be an apparent win until the yellow flag came out on lap 98. Jimmy Weller spun in turn one to cause the final caution that set up a green-white-checkered finish.

This gave Thomas one last shot at the victory, and he would take advantage. On the final lap, Thomas drove underneath Hoddick in turn two. The pair raced side-by-side down the backstretch into the final two corners. Thomas would pull ahead coming out of turn four to take the win. It was his first ever win at Lancaster.

"I got underneath Todd (Hoddick) once and he didn't give me a whole lot of room going down the front stretch," Thomas said, "he had that deal won until the yellow came out."

The victory also helped Thomas in clinching the first ever MAARA championship. He came into the race with just a 10-point lead in the standings. The win was Thomas's third MAARA-win in a row.

"We worked really, really hard to put together this season," Thomas said, "We won a lot of races this year, but we had some DNFs at (Lake) Erie, so winning this MAARA deal is really great."

Hoddick finished second after leading 78 laps of the race. George Skora III finished third after starting 16th. Rich Skora and Ron Nurmi completed the top five. Cole Pearn from Mt. Brydges, Ontario finished sixth in his first start at Lancaster. Glenn Gault Jr., Bobby Weber, Pete Vanderwyst, and Dave Heitzhaus rounded out the top ten.

Andy Jankowiak won the 35-lap Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stock feature for his first career win. Jankowiak started eighth out of 36 cars, and led 17 laps to get the win.

Wayne Lavis led from the pole until lap five when he was passed Tom Agen Sr. Agen then locked in a three-car battle for the lead with Jankowiak and Tim Garlock. Following a restart on lap 16, Jankowiak got underneath Agen in turn two. They battled side by side for two laps before Jankowiak took over the lead for good.

Jankowiak is the son of the late Tony Jankowiak who passed away in a racing accident in 1990.

Tim Garlock finished right in the tire tracks of Jankowiak in second. Russell Knutsen, Mark Hoch, and Jeff Madill completed the top five.

Scott Wylie dominated the 50-lap feature for the Cup Lites Racing Series. Wylie started on the pole and led all 50 laps without any challenges from his competitors. He also clinched the 2006 Cup Lites Racing Series championship.

Dave Wollaber had a similar run in the TQ Midget feature as he led all 25 laps from the pole. Dan Lawrence finished second. Jamie Collard, Curtis Friesen and Bobby Holmes finished in the top five.

The U.S. Open concludes the regular stock car schedule for Lancaster Raceway Park in 2006. The season awards banquet is on Saturday, November 4 at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew. On Saturday, November 25, LRP will run the first ever Mini Stock Turkey Trot Enduro. For more details on both events check out www.lancasterracing.com or call (716) 759-6818.

RESULTS

MAARA Late Models

Heat Winners - Pete Vanderwyst, Glenn Gault Jr., T.J. Johnson

U.S. Open 100 Finish -
1. (3) WILL THOMAS #9
2. (8) Todd Hoddick #49
3. (16) George Skora, III #65
4. (1) Rich Skora #75
5. (5) Ron Nurmi #2
6. (17) Cole Pearn #6
7. (11) Glenn Gault, Jr. #32
8. (20) Bobby Weber #11
9. (10) Pete Vanderwyst #50x
10. (27) Dave Heitzhaus #45,
11. (7) Mark Pennell #18
12. (14) Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr. #50
13. (9) Jeff Brown, Jr. #3
14. (13) Mike Ticco #65sr
15. (22) Jimmy Weller, III #23 - last lead lap car
16. (23) Tommy Cloce #3K
17. (21) Dave Rigan #93
18. (19) Nick Crassi #07
19. (18) Bryan Salisbury #26
20. (24) Dan Habuda #15
21. (26) Bob Nye #41
22. (4) Scott Skora #56
23. (12) Mark Bliss #0
24. (25) Scott Nurmi #22
25. (2) Joe Carbone #31
26. (15) Joey Brainard #98
27. (6) T.J. Johnson #99
DNS: Eldon King, III #28

Glen Campbell Chevrolet Street Stocks

Heat Winners - Jeff Madill, Tom Agen Sr., Russell Knutsen, Andy Jankowiak

Feature - 1. (8) ANDY JANKOWIAK #73, Tim Garlock, Russell Knutsen, Mark Hoch, Jeff Madill, Wayne Lavis, Scott Mutka, Anton Anderson Jr., Jim Bryant, Kevin Mendel, Cory Gallagher, Jim Stein, Mike Maggiore, Bob Blaszak, Gary Bartella, Tom Agen Jr., Dennis Pieczynski, Kaz Tarasek, Rick Ortwein, Jim Sulzbach, Ed Nowak, Steve Cochran, Matt Jurek, Tim Neis, Bill Wruck, Jim Offhaus, Tom Agen Sr., John Julicher Jr., Jeff Guidotti, Gary Light, Debbie Jurek, Herschel Twoguns, Tom Deville, Bob Hanel Sr., Don Deville and Joe Mergl. DNS: Joe Light, Jack Warrior. DNQ: Andy Cryan, Rob Bulger, Rich Hoch, Joe Haley.

Cup Lites Racing Series

Heat Winners - Scott Wylie, Darin Spalti

Feature - 1. (1) SCOTT WYLIE #32, Dennis Tybor, Taylor Holdaway, Kris Martin, Glenn Attanasio, Kreig Heroth, Jason Keen, Dave Bittner, Jeremy Ratajczyk, Darin Spalti, Ken Heckler, Michael Czuprynski, Leo Becker, Phil Hayne, Glenn Absolom, Nelson Rung and Dan Tybor.

TQ Midgets

Heat Winners - Curtis Friesen, Dave Wollaber

Feature -
1. (2) DAVE WOLLABER #1
2. (3) Dan Lawrence #7
3. (1) Jamie Collard #3
4. (8) Curtis Friesen #68
5. (10) Bobby Holmes #22
6. (4) Jared Turnbull #93
7. (7) Mark Schulz #X
8. (5) Chris Bandelian #34
9. (6) Vinny Christiano Jr. #2
10. (14) Jim Fleischman #41
11. (15) Camden Barber #9
12. (9) Shaun Szejnar #14
13. (17) Junior Haywood #43
14. (11) Rob Croft #4
15. (12) Arik McGruder #21
16. (13) A.J. Hessler #11
17. (16) Mike Blair #8
DNS: Chad Haywood #44

Source: Dave Buchanan/Lancaster Raceway Park PR
Additions: Mark Southcott/NYRaceZone.com
Posted: October 9, 2006