8/1/2023
Lancaster Speedway
Lancaster to Host Special Legends Tribute Saturday Night during NWMT Event
LANCASTER, N.Y. (August 1, 2023) – While this weekend’s Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 is only the second NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) event to be held at Lancaster Motorplex, Modifieds have long been a part of the track’s history. That legacy is a source of pride for longtime fans of the Western NY oval.
This Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 5:30pm (immediately following Modified Tour time trials), as part of the Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 festivities, Lancaster Motorplex will host an autograph session for three of the track’s living legends – Sege Fidanza, Chuck Hossfeld and Tim Mangus.
Speed Enterprises Entertainment had asked for assistance from the Lancaster faithful to help make the autograph session a success.
With the long and storied pasts of each of these popular competitors come a host of different cars and paint schemes. Thanks to Hydro Fabrication Inc. (HFI) out of Middleport, NY, autograph cards were made for the drivers depicting the racecar chosen by fans on Facebook. The photo with the most likes has been commemorated on the cards.
Milt Northrop of the Buffalo News once wrote of Sege Fidanza of Middleport, NY, that “all [the] years on the local stage have given him a legion of fans and as many critics. And he's had his share of controversy and fierce rivalries…” Love him or hate him, Fidanza is Lancaster royalty. He’s a 10-time Lancaster Speedway Modified champion and the winning-most Modified driver with 112 open wheel victories. With 124 total feature wins, he also sits atop the all-time winners list at the western NY oval. His last win came in 2009. Fidanza’s additional 12 wins were aboard a Late Model, the division where he cut his teeth. Fidanza began his career racing in Late Model in 1969. In 2009, Fidanza was inducted into the Friends of Auto Racing (FOAR Score) Fan Club Hall of Fame. He was recently inducted into the New York State Stock Car Association’s (NYSSCA) Hall of Fame.
One of Fidanza’s modern day rivals was Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, NY. With 42 career wins at Lancaster, Hossfeld sits fourth on the Modified all-time wins list. “The Hotshoe” began racing karts at Limerock Speedway on dirt before making the transition to Lancaster’s Street stock division. Another Lancaster legend, Bill Colton, Sr., was the first to give Hossfeld a Modified ride. Hossfeld’s accolades at Lancaster Motorplex are impressive but he’s shone brightly in all of asphalt Modified racing. Hossfeld has nine career victories in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition. Before returning to his roots in Modified racing, Hossfeld ran in the NASCAR Truck Series for Roush Racing in 2000-2001.
Tim Mangus of Webster, NY, may not be as prolific as Fidanza and Hossfeld, but he’s certainly among the fan favorites. Grit and perseverance are among his most notable qualities as a racer. With 16 wins to his credit at Lancaster Motorplex, Mangus sits thirteenth on the all-time Modififed win list at the Speedway. He also made 48 career starts on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour between 1987 and 2002. In just 19 starts with the Race of Champions, Mangus scored two victories. Like Fidanza and Hossfeld, Mangus has also won the Race of Champions 200 at Oswego Speedway. Mangus began his career racing snowmobiles from 1977-84, winning nearly 70 features and eight championships. He began racing Modifieds in 1985 and dabbled in Super Late Model racing before returning to the Modifieds in 1989. Mangus retired from racing after the 2005 season.
Hydro Fabrication Inc. (HFI) is a full-service waterjet machining source. Whether for prototype or large production runs, HydroFab has the experience and expertise to take the guesswork out of precision cutting needs. HFI is owned and operated by Jeff Ulrich, a former Lancaster Motorplex competitor and winning Modified driver in his own right. Today, Ulrich is a championship winning car owner.
The Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour is scheduled for this Saturday, August 5. In addition to the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, the race card also includes the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman, Rusty Diamond Cores 4-Cylinders and the Budget RV Outlet of Buffalo Street Stocks. Advance tickets are available at SeetheEvents.com.
The Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 is presented by Speed Enterprises Entertainment, Franco’s Pizza, West Herr Auto Group, New York Army National Guard, XPress Signs, JJ Supply of North Carolina, Thermal Foams, Elma Press, Russell’s Steaks Chops & More, and Whelen Engineering.
Article Credit: Dale Wolbrink
Submitted By: Steven Petty