9/25/2018
Race of Champions
MATT HIRSCHMAN EARNS 5TH US OPEN VICTORY IN THE 30TH ANNUAL EDITION OF THE RACE SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT LANCASTER NATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., earned his fifth US Open victory in the 30th edition of the event on Sunday afternoon in front of a sun drenched crowd at Lancaster (N.Y.) National Speedway. It was Hirschman’s fourth Race of Champions victory during the 2018 season.
“This is a big win for us, we had to work for it,” stated Hirschman from victory lane. “Andy (Jankowiak) was strong but our tire strategy played out and here we are. I’m really proud of all of my team, they did a great job. We lost a great competitor this week in Greg Hodnett and I wanted to recognize him and all that he meant to racing.”
Hirschman started third and chased Tommy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y., during the early stages of the race even swapping the lead with Hirschman before pitting. Andy Jankowiak of North Tonawanda, N.Y., who was the defending event champion made his way to the top spot before Hirschman took the lead for good on lap 110.
Hirschman held off Jankowiak over the closing 15 laps to earn the victory. Jankowiak was second with Mike Leaty of Ontario, N.Y., finishing third. Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y., finished fourth while Catalano rounded out the top-five.
In the Late Model Series race, Catalano maneuvered around Bob Weber of Clarence, N.Y., and Eldon King, III of Delevan, N.Y., to earn the victory. King finished second with Weber third.
Chuck Hossfeld of Ransmoville, N.Y., scored the Sportsman Modified Series victory on Saturday. Hossfeld held off Mike Fiebelkorn of Eden, N.Y., and Eddie Hawkins of Rochester, N.Y., to earn his third straight Sportsman US Open victory.
Joe Mancuso of Buffalo, N.Y., came out on top in the Super Stock Series race. Mancuso took the lead from Tim Gullo of Elmira, N.Y., after a spirited battle for the win. Tommy Krawczyk of West Seneca, N.Y., finished a close second in the feature event with Gullo coming home third.
Jacob Gustafson of Webster, N.Y., scored his first-ever Race of Champions Four Cylinder Dash Series victory on Saturday evening. Kenny Hejna of South Buffalo, N.Y., finished second but was penalized for refusing post-race inspection. Jimmy Pierce of Buffalo, N.Y., finished third.
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Feature Finish
US Open 125
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Finish Starting Position No. Name Laps
1 3 60 Matt Hirschman 125
2 11 12x Andy Jankowiak
3 4 25 Mike Leaty
4 6 07 Patrick Emerling
5 1 54c Tommy Catalano
6 7 65 George Skora, III
7 9 45B Eric Beers
8 18 88 Scott Wylie
9 8 22 Chuck Hossfeld
10 5 32 Tyler Rypkema
11 2 45c Timmy Catalano.
12 12 10l Daryl Lewis, Jr.
13 13 59 Karl Hehr
14 15 17 Danny Knoll, Jr.
15 21 40 Alan Bookmiller
16 20 84 Larry Jackson 124
17 14 64 Amy Catalano 123
18 17 1 Chris Risdale 100 Suspension
19 10 3 Daren Scherer 100 Power Steering
20 19 54e Jack Ely 2 Rotor
21 20 8 Chris Finnocchario 0 Engine
Time of Race: 53 minutes and 8 seconds Average Speed: 71.390 mph Margin of Victory: .568 seconds
Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers (Tommy Catalano – 1-50; Matt Hirschman 51-53; Catalano 54-89; Andy Jankowiak 90-109; Hirschman 110-125)
Speed51.com “Top of the Board” Award; Mike Leaty (17.248 seconds)
Paved Track Qualifying Race Winners; Daren Scherer (2); Andy Jankowiak (2); Matt Hirschman (4)
Jerico Performance “Jammin’ Gears Awards”; Scott Wylie (Advanced 10 positions in feature)
US Army Top Performer Award; Matt Hirschman (17.248 seconds)
Jan “Pops” Leaty Award – Leader Lap 25 – Tommy Catalano
$100 Bicknell Racing Products Certificate Award (Third Place) – Mike Leaty
MyRacePass “Free Pass” Award – Alan Bookmiller
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 98 Tommy Catalano
2 0 Eldon King, III
3 11 Bob Weber
4 66 Terry Weldy
5 45 Dave Heitzhaus
6 12 Bob Minacapelli
7 37 Frank Batista, Jr.
8 07 Nick Crassi
9 48 Sam Fullone
10 2 Dave Whittaker
11 31x Ron Richter
12 11x Mark Mecurio
13 93 Dave Russell
14 3 Matt Bove
Qualifying Race Winners; Bob Weber, 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 10 Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr.
3 32 Tyler Rypkema
4 33 Eddie Hawkins
5 57x Andy Jankowiak
6 44 Scott Wylie
7 8 Chris Finocchario
8 18 Mark Pennell
9 74 Sherri Hogan
10 01 John Barber
11 65l Andy Lewis
12 36 Dave Kozlowski
13 27 Jake Vernon
14 40 Alan Bookmiller
15 41l Timmy Lewis
16 54t Jayme Thompson
17 6 Leo Becker
18 11 Bobby Weber
19 6 Scott Hossfeld
20 65 George Skora, III
21 10l Daryl Lewis, Jr.
22 2 Owen Bednasz
23 09 Mike Ramos
24 1 Tony Hanbury
25 31 Tony Carbone
26 00 Connor Sellars
27 51 Shawn Nye
Qualifying Races: Chuck Hossfeld, Tyler Rypkema, George Skora, III
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 64 Joe Mancuso
2 48 Tommy Krawczyk
3 71 Tim Gullo
4 44 Jake Wylie
5 75 Zach Willis
6 75a Chuck Anderson
7 11 Terry Cheetham
8 48b Eric Brown
9 06 TJ Cochrane
10 84 Josh Schoonmaker
11 52 Joel Gleason
12 03 Dale Lazzaro
13 46 Cole Hicks
14 99 Bob Ripley
15 13 Tom Northem
16 22 Willie Strusz
17 94 Kory Rider
18 2f Joe Fetzer
19 1 Vern Hedderick
20 72 Mike Nichols
21 09 Andy Cryan
22 28 Tommy Barron
23 98 Scott Wylie
24 89 Jeff Whalen
25 18 Max Northem
26 09x Charles Buchanan
Qualifying Race Winners; Tommy Krawzcyk; Joe Mancuso; Zach Willis
Feature Finish
US Open 30 Super Stocks
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
1 66 Jacob Gustafson
2 71x Ken Hejna (Penalty)
3 26 Jimmy Pierce
4 3 Jason Anasiewicz
5 33 Bobby Woch
6 57 Scott Fritz
7 27 Joe Brunka
8 89 Jody London
9 18 Chris Pennell
10 49x Andy Danielwicz
11 28 Dave Brunka
12 37ny Bob Palmer
13 04 Travis Montgomery
14 10x Ryan Palmer
15 42 Jason Adams
16 30 Bob Bogner
17 73 Adam Killingbeck
18 24 Tommy Hughes
19 9 Braden Suffaletta
20 54 Briar Dils
21 7 Jeff Dorenzo
22 9b Kevin Bainbridge
23 10 Charles Palmer
24 12 Dave Milbriand
Did Not Start: Dan Dressel; Justin Sass; Dave Evans; Andy Jankowiak; Greg Krause; Tim Durfy
Qualifying Race Winners; Dave Brunka; Dave Milbrand, Jr.; Jacob Gustafson; Charles Palmer
Submitted By: Joe Skotnicki
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