Hirschman Takes US Open Modified Win
Haudricourt, Druar, Holmes, Hewson, Mudra, Hoddick, and Weber Also Add Their Names To US Open Trophy
Lancaster, New York – The Western New York racing finale, Dunn Tire Raceway Park’s US Open, attracted the best of the best competition in the north east United States to the historic facility this past weekend. Matt Hirschman won an exciting Modified feature event and also captured the overall Race of Champions Modified Tour Points Championship. Bobby Weber captured the Late Model checkered flag while Todd Hoddick was declared the winner in the SST Sportsman feature event. Jay Mudra and John Hewson won in the Super Stock and Street Stock features and Bobby Holmes won his first US Open TQ Midget main event. Matt Druar continued his domination of the 4 Cylinder Division with another win and Jeremy Haudricourt won the inaugural INEX Legends race.
While Saturday’s event schedule included qualifying for most of the divisions, it also featured the main events for the INEX Legends, 4 Cylinders, Super Stocks, and SST Sportsman.
Making their Dunn Tire Raceway Park debut, the INEX Legends were the first division to run their feature event. Racing on the ¼ inner oval, the Legends were able to showcase their division to the DTRP fans. Starting from the pole position, Jeremy Haudricourt led every lap to win the inaugural Legends race. Daren Scherer, who was also competing in the Modified division during the weekend, gave Haudricourt a run for his money in the closing laps but was unable to wrest the lead away from the leader.
The 4 Cylinders were up next on the inner oval and 2009 DTRP 4 Cylinder Champion Matt Druar started from the pole. Druar wasted no time in building a considerable lead after the green flag was shown. While Druar led, Charles Buchanan, Kalie Clementi, and Dave Frieder waged a battle for the second position on back. However, Druar went on to lead every lap from green to checkered while Buchanan, Clementi, and Frieder finished second, third, and fourth.
The Super Stocks were the third feature to take to the track on Saturday night, making their one and only appearance at the 5/8th mile track in 2009. The field consisted of representatives from every area speedway and each was looking to take home the win for their home track. Alexis Wilson and Phil Alhart started on the front row while Jay Mudra and Bobby Lippa Jr. started right behind them. A quick yellow on the first lap saw Wilson spin and Mudra go tail for contact. When the race resumed Lippa grabbed control of the lead from Alhart on lap five. Lippa would soon have company though as Mudra was flying up through the field. By lap eight Mudra was on Lippa’s bumper and on lap 16, Mudra and the #16 car took control of the lead. Mudra survived two late race cautions and a green, white, checkered finish to take home his second career US Open win.
The SST Sportsman were the headline division on Saturday night and 35 cars were slated to take the green flag for the 75 lap feature event. Craig Dolphin and Moose Rutherford led the field to the green flag although the green flag racing was short lived as a caution on lap two halted the racing action. When racing resumed Rutherford and Andy Jankowiak were the top two starters. Jankowiak wasted no time in capturing the lead after the green flag was dropped. After a shaky start, the field settled in and ran single file around the track. By lap 25, Jankowiak had built a considerable lead over second place Wilbur Hebing. In turn Hebing had a nice size lead over third place Jerry Gradl Jr., Moose Rutherford, Nick Cappelli, and Bobby Holmes. Cappelli was on the move up through the field and was in the second running spot by lap 28 after having started from the 22nd spot on the grid. At the halfway point of the race Jankowiak and Cappelli were at least five car lengths ahead of third place Rutherford. Rutherford’s good run would be cut short however as he pounded the turn one wall with just fifteen laps to go. The crash occurred as Rutherford, Todd Hoddick, and Hebing were negotiating their way through lap traffic. The ensuing single file restart saw Jankowiak, Cappelli, Hebing, Hoddick, and Tom McGrath leading the rest of the field to the green flag. Hoddick soon made his move for third and displaced Hebing to the fourth spot while up front Jankowiak and Cappelli were starting to wage a fierce battle for the lead. In the closing laps of the feature two caution flags appeared, keeping the distance between the top runners to a minimum. As the last three laps clicked off, Jankowiak and Cappelli were racing hard, with Jankowiak looking for a way to keep the lead and Cappelli looking for a way to take it away. As the came out of turn four on the last lap, contact was made between the two leaders, causing each to wreck. Hoddick and Hebing followed the wrecking cars out of turn four, crossing the finish line. After a front stretch incident and extensive review by race officials, the US Open win was awarded to Todd Hoddick.
The Sunday morning sunshine brought a day full of racing as the TQ Midgets, Late Models, Street Stocks, and Modifieds were scheduled for their US Open feature events.
The day’s features began with the Late Models who, like the Super Stocks, were making their first and only appearance of the season at the facility. Scott Wylie, Joe Carbone, Todd Hoddick, Dave Heitzhaus, and Joe Brainard were the top five starters and at the drop of the green Carbone jumped into the lead. Carbone’s position as the leader of the race was short lived though as Heitzhaus powered into the lead on lap four. However on a lap five restart, Heitzhaus had a mechanical issue and was unable to restart the race. This allowed George Skora to move into the front row with Carbone. Skora took advantage of the opportunity and took the lead. Skora soon had company though as former DTRP Late Model Champion Bobby Weber was pressuring him for the lead. On lap eight, Weber dove under Skora and took the top spot. The field soon settled in for a long green flag run and at the halfway point of the 75 lap feature, Weber had a considerable lead over Skora, who in turn led Hoddick. While Weber continued to increase his lead, Hoddick began closing the gap on Skora. The laps clicked off and the race was completed before Hoddick could challenge Skora for second and before anyone could challenge Weber for the lead. Weber dominated the field and took home the US Open Late Model trophy.
The TQ Midgets took to the inner oval next for their feature event. Dave Wollaber began the race on the pole but immediately began falling back through the field with mechanical issues. Dan Lawrence, who had started on the outside pole, took advantage of Wollaber’s misfortune and took control of the lead. A number of cautions in the early goings of the race kept the field in check, not allowing for much advancement. However once the field went green and stayed green, drivers began to move. Bobby Holmes, who had started sixth, was running blistering speeds and soon made his way past Lawrence and into the lead. Once in the lead Holmes was followed by Lawrence, Camden Barber, and Dean McConnaughy. Barber, who has had success in the overall Casey’s TQ Midget Series, was once again faced with bad luck at DTRP as he spun out and his race car was cradled off with damage. Moving up through the field was Jamie Collard, who had started eighth. By lap fifteen, Collard was there to challenge Holmes for the top spot, even taking it briefly as Holmes bobbled in lap traffic. Holmes however had an unbelievably fast race car and was able to retake the lead and immediately began building a lead on Collard and the rest of the field. Holmes was unchallenged in the waning laps of the race and went on to take his first career TQ Midget US Open win.
The Street Stocks were the second to last feature of the US Open weekend and they were ready to put on a show. Tim Garlock, the 2009 DTRP US Open Street Stock Champion, started from the pole while Kris Hamman, Mike Maggiore, and John Hewson started behind him for the beginning of the 50 lap feature. Garlock jumped into the lead and immediately began to distance himself from the rest of the field. Hamman and Hewson settled into second and third, while Maggiore, Kevin Mendel, and Cory Gallagher rounded out the top six. By the halfway point of the feature, Hewson had passed Hamman for second and had started to set his sights on the leader. By lap 31 Hewson had found his way to Garlock’s bumper and started looking for a way around the leader. With the field strung out around the track, the leaders began to hit lap traffic on lap 35. While trying to negotiate a pack of lap traffic Garlock became stuck behind a lapped car, allowing Hewson to dive low and take the lead. With just ten laps left, time was running out for Garlock to regain the lead. A yellow flag appeared on lap 41 as another lead lap car tangled with a lapped car, with both spinning and bringing out the caution. The ensuing single file restart saw Hewson, Garlock, Hamman, Gallagher, and Scott Mutka leading the field to the green flag. Another quick caution saw the field take another single file restart and the race was on with less than five laps to go. Garlock began having mechanical issues and slipped back through the field while Hamman and Gallagher waged a battle for the second spot. Hewson crossed the finish line first, while Gallagher beat Hamman at the line by a mere bumper length to capture second place. Hewson won his second consecutive US Open Street Stock feature win.
The headline event of the weekend was the final scheduled event – the Race of Champions Modified 100 lap feature. Tom McGrath redrew the pole position and was joined on the outside row by Earl Paules. Jim Storace, Rusty Smith, Sege Fidanza, and Jan Leaty followed the front row to the green flag. McGrath’s lead was short lived as Paules dove under him and took the lead on lap one. A quick yellow flag on lap six produced a double file restart and Paules once again took the lead. The field quickly settled in single file as the top six cars of Paules, Fidanza, McGrath, J. Leaty, Matt Hirschman, and Smith ran nose to tail. On lap 12 Fidanza made the move for the lead, going under Paules in turn three and coming out as the race leader. A yellow flag on lap 20 saw the first round of pit stops for the optional right rear tire. Most of the leaders stayed out and when the race went green again Fidanza led Paules, McGrath, and J. Leaty. By lap 25 Hirschman had moved up to second while J. Leaty ran third. Hirschman began looking high and low on Fidanza, looking for any way around the leader. Hirschman’s opportunity came on lap 27 as he powered under Fidanza coming out of turn four and took the lead. The field once again settled in single file until the yellow flag appeared once again on lap 38. The pits were a busy place as J. Leaty, and a number of other top ten cars pitted. The top four of Hirschman, Fidanza, McGrath, and Smith stayed out and at halfway ran in positions one through four. Just at the halfway point the yellow caution flag was displayed and the pits were re-opened. Hirschman, Fidanza, Smith, and Mike Leaty – who had been running fifth – all ducked into the pits. The single file restart now had McGrath leading the pack while TJ Potrzebowski, Jim Storace, and Erick Rudolph followed. McGrath held his lead but the cars with fresher tires were on the move up through the field. By lap 70 Hirschman was back up to fifth. A late race yellow on lap 74 saw McGrath give up the lead and head pitside, handing the lead over to Potrzebowski. On lap 77 J. Leaty took advantage of his fresher tires and passed Potrzebowski for the lead. Hirschman followed and the battle for the lead soon began. Hirschman was all over J. Leaty and on lap 94 was able to capitalize on lap traffic, taking the lead away from Leaty. After clearing Leaty and lap traffic, Hirschman took off and built a considerable lead as the race wound down. Hirschman crossed the finish line first and was followed by Jan Leaty and TJ Potrzebowski. The race marked the first time that a father son duo has won the Modified US Open event, with Matt’s father Tony winning one of the very first US Open Modified events. The Modified race was also significant in that it was the last race for veteran driver Sege Fidanza. Fidanza has decided to retire after an illustrious career that includes ten Lancaster Modified Championships.
Modified Feature Finish (9/20/09): Matt Hirschman, Jan Leaty, TJ Potrzebowski, Erick Rudolph, Sege Fidanza, Rusty Smith, Tom McGrath, Karl Hehr, Jeff Hamman, Dave Wollaber, Bob Reis, Eric Beers, Mike Leaty, Billy Putney, Mark Tychoniewicz, Jim Storace, Billy Burd, Rick Kluth, Earl Paules, Daryl Lewis Jr., Doug Reaume, Jimmy Zacharias, Tom Wiest, Daren Scherer, Terry Zacharias
Heat Winners: Hirschman, Smith, Putney
Late Model Feature Finish (9/20/09): Bobby Weber, George Skora, Todd Hoddick, Dave Russell, Chris Ross, Scott Wylie, Joe Brainard, Scott Skora, Jeff Brown, Josh John, Richard Arndt, Dave Heitzhaus, Mike Fiebelkorn, Dave Whittaker, Joe Carbone, Dave Rigan
Heat Winners: Rigan, Heitzhaus
Street Stock Feature Finish (9/20/09): John Hewson, Cory Gallagher, Kris Hamman, Scott Mutka, Tim Garlock, Kevin Mendel, Joe Haley, Mike Maggiore, Dave Frieder, Gary Bartella, Gary Light, Wayne Bernhard, Debbie Jurek, Ed Nowak, Anton Anderson, Rick Ortwein, Driver 12, Joe Light, Rob Pocobello, Ricky Farina
Heat Winners: Hewson, Mutka
TQ Feature Finish (9/20/09): Bobby Holmes, Jamie Collard, Dean McConnaughy, Dan Lawrence, Vinny Christiano Jr., Rich Watkins, Mike Blair, Jim Fleischman, Dave Schulz, Shawn Nye, Charlie DiRosa, Chad Haywood, Driver 55, Nelson Rung, Driver 42, AJ Hessler, Jonathan Reid, Driver 8, Wayne Turnbull, Cam Barber, Mark Schulz, Dave Wollaber, Arik McGruder
SST Sportsman Feature Finish (9/19/09): Todd Hoddick, Wilbur Hebing, Bobby Holmes, Tom McGrath, Rick Kluth, Mark Pennell, Frank Batista Jr., Amy Catalano, Russ Gian, Dick Kluth, Sherri Hogan, Terry Cheetham, Don King, Steve West, Ed Weber, Justin Shepker, Buck Catalano, Moose Rutherford, David Tedesco, Jimmy Zacharias, John Julicher Jr., John Barber, Joe Evans, Jerry Harding Jr., Jerry Gradl Jr., Craig Dolphin, Billy Burd, Jeff Price, Kevin Lewis, Sege Fidanza, Chris Finocharrio, Jon Price DNS: Driver 19 DQ: Andy Jankowiak, Nick Cappelli
Heat Winners: Jankowiak, Shepker, Gradl, Jon Price
Super Stock Feature Finish (9/19/09): Jay Mudra, Bobby Lippa Jr., Phil Alhart, Cassie Logsdon, Pete Pieczynski, Joe Mancuso, Alexis Wilson, Jay Canonico
Heat Winner: Mudra
4 Cylinder Feature Finish (9/19/09): Matt Druar, Charles Buchanan, Kalie Clementi, Dave Frieder, Tim Durfy, Ken Hejna, Dean Siminski, Bob Goldstein, Jay Adams, Jayme Thompson, Cassie McGrath, Driver 11R, Derrick Brant, Samantha Jones, Tony Carbone
Heat Winners: Buchanan, Durfy
INEX Legends Feature Finish (9/19/09): Jeremy Haudricort, Daren Scherer, Larry Occhibone, Jake Vernon, Brad Salatino, Charlie Neuman, Jeff Decker, Cody Myers, Ben Krentz, Chris Spaker
