ANDY JANKOWIAK BOOK ENDS LANCASTER NATIONAL SPEEDWAY SEASON WITH EMOTIONAL VICTORY
IN THE US OPEN 125
-Chuck Hossfeld, Dave Heitzhaus and Tim Gullo all Earn US Open Race of Champions Series Victories-
Lancaster, N.Y. – (September 25, 2017) – Andy Jankowiak of Buffalo, N.Y., drove to his second Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco victory on Sunday afternoon under steamy Fall conditions in front of a sun drenched crowd to close out the 29th Annual US Open 125 at Lancaster (N.Y.) National Speedway to book end the Lancaster season. Jankowiak won the season opening event for the Race of Champions Series at Lancaster in April and Sunday marked his first victory in the Modified portion of the event.
“This has been an emotional week for Modified racing, I thought about what I would say if I got here, but I’m a little at a loss for words,” stated Jankowiak from victory lane, after resting the checkered flag next to the 13 and “TC” on his roof in memoriam of Plainville, Connecticut racer, Ted Christopher, who passed away suddenly last Saturday. “Teddy was such a huge part of racing, I’m proud I can tell people I raced with him. This was a huge win for our team. I work these guys so hard and today it just all came together. We had a good car and it showed. This is one I will remember.”
Jankowiak started on the pole for the 125-lap feature and led the first 66 caution free laps with Tommy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y., giving chase. The lap 66 caution saw the entire field pit for their permitted one tire change. Jankowiak’s team, led by crew chief, Tom McGrath made their way back out first.
Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., and Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pennsylvania were the big winners on the pit stops as they advanced to second and third respectively on the ensuing restart. Hirschman eventually made his way to second with Mike Leaty of Williamson, N.Y., racing his way to third.
Jankowiak was not to be denied, surviving two late race restarts and running to the victory. He joins Karl Hehr of Cheektowaga, N.Y., and Todd Hoddick of Cheektowaga, N.Y., as the only three driver’s to win events at the US Open in three different divisions.
Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y., Bobby Holmes of Lockport, N.Y., and Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., won the qualifying races while Hirschman posted the fastest time in group qualifying.
Dave Heitzhaus of Strykersville, N.Y., survived multiple caution flags to earn his second consecutive Race of Champions Late Model Series fueled by Sunoco victory on Sunday afternoon. Heitzhaus then drew his daughter’s winning 50/50 ticket in victory lane. Heitzhaus had to fend off Terry Weldy of Clarence, N.Y., and David Rigan of Williamsville, N.Y., to earn the victory.
Heitzhaus and Eldon King, III of Delavan, N.Y., won the qualifying races.
Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., and Tommy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y., battled for the victory in the Race of Champions Asphalt Sportsman Series fueled by Sunoco on Saturday night with Tommy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y., swapping the lead on several different occasions. Eventually Hossfeld took the lead for good and went on to his 7th US Open career victory. Catalano wound up second and Tyler Rypkema of Owego, N.Y., came home third.
Neal Dietz, Jr., of Holland, N.Y., posted the fastest qualifying time in green-white-checker group qualifying. Hossfeld, Dietz, Kevin Miller of Rochester, N.Y., and Rypkema won the qualifying races. Timmy Catalano OF Ontario, N.Y., and Bobby Holmes of Lockport, N.Y., won the B-Mains.
Tim Gullo of Elmira, N.Y., continued his dominance in the Race of Champions Super Stock Series fueled by Sunoco topping Eric Hadley of Cassadaga, N.Y., and Tommy Reese of West Seneca, N.Y., in the 30-lap feature. Gullo took the lead from Joe Mancuso of Buffalo, N.Y., who is the defending series champion just past the halfway point of the race.
Joel Gleason of Webster, N.Y., Gullo and Terry Cheetham of Sodus, N.Y., won the qualifying races.
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The 67th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2017 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania as part of Presque Isle Downs & Casino Race of Champions Weekend and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500. For more information, contact;
Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
Follow us on Twitter; Instagram and Facebook; @RoCModSeries or visit our website:
www.rocmodifiedseries.com Feature Finish
US Open 125
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 12x Andy Jankowiak
2 60 Matt Hirschman
3 25 Mike Leaty
4 22 Scott Wylie
5 65 George Skora, III
6 32 Tyler Rypkema
7 22 Chuck Hossfeld
8 10 Daryl Lewis, Jr.
9 66 Austin Kochenash
10 54 Tommy Catalano
11 01 Cam Barber
12 95 Bryan Sherwood
13 3 Daren Scherer
14 54 Jack Ely
15 07 Patrick Emerling
16 64 Amy Catalano
17 7ny Bobby Holmes
18 01 John Barber
19 27 Matt Galko
20 59 Karl Hehr
21 17 Danny Knoll, Jr.
22 40 Jake Rought
23 1 Chris Risdale
24 45 Eric Beers
25 13 Tony Hanbury
Fast Time in Group Qualifying: Matt Hirschman
Qualifying Race Winners; Patrick Emerling, Matt Hirschman, Bobby Holmes
Feature Finish
US Open 30 – Late Models
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 45 Dave Heitzhaus
2 66 Terry Weldy
3 24 David Rigan
4 48 Sam Fullone
5 12 Tommy Catalano
6 37 Frank Batista, Jr.
7 9 Jeff Ruddy
8 09 John Julicher
9 2 Ron Nurmi
10 11 Bobby Weber
11 07 Nick Crassi
12 93 Dave Russell
Qualifying Race Winners; Dave Heitzhaus, Eldon King, III
Feature Finish
US Open 75 - Sportsman
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 22 Chuck Hossfeld
2 54 Tommy Catalano
3 32 Tyler Rypkema
4 10 Daryl Lewis, Jr.
5 65 George Skora, III
6 51 Shawn Nye
7 4 Zack Knowlden
8 3 Jeff Brown
9 91 Joe Evans
10 15 Rusty Smith
11 41 Andy Jankowiak
12 40 Alan Bookmiller
13 09 Bobby Weber
14 45 Kevin Miller
15 64 Amy Catalano
16 55 Keith Flanigan
17 2 Owen Bednasz
18 65 Andy Lewis
19 45 Timmy Catalano
20 48 Sam Fullone
21 54 Jayme Thompson
22 98 Bobby Holmes
23 74 Sherri Hogan
24 42 Tony Hanbury
25 39 Jeremy Haudricourt
26 84 Neal Dietz, Jr.
27 44 Scott Wylie
28 86 Timmy Nies
Qualifying Races: Chuck Hossfeld, Neal Dietz, Jr., Kevin Miller, Tyler Rypkema
Fastest Time during Group Green-White-Checker Qualifying; Neal Dietz, Jr.
B-Main Winners; Timmy Catalano, Bobby Holmes
Failed to Qualify:: Jake Lyon, Mark Pennell, Jake Vernon, Tony Carbone, Connor Sellars, Russ Gian, Justin Demelo, Jay Withey, Jr., Mike Meyers, Dave Kozlowski
Feature Finish
US Open 30 Super Stocks
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Pos No. Name
1 37 Tim Gullo
2 71 Eric Hadley
3 81 Tommy Reese
4 11 Terry Cheetham
5 06 TJ Cochrane
6 64 Joe Mancuso
7 75 Zach Willis
8 52 Joel Gleason
9 7 Josh Hunter
10 96 Dana Novoa
11 1x Rob Misczak
12 54 Dale Lazzaro
13 38 Shawn Frarey
14 37 Bobby Schosek
15 92 Kyle Sharpe
16 92 Ryan Lagoda
17 19 Jeff Whalen
18 84 Josh Schoonmaker
19 1 Vern Hedderick
20 28 Tommy Barron DQ
21 98 Jake Wylie DQ
22 76 Mike Scott DNS
23 48 Tommy Krawczyk DNS
Qualifying Race Winners; Joel Gleason, Tim Gullo, Terry Cheetham
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