RGeeProductions
05-05-2013, 11:58 PM
Jankowiak, Lyon, Piasecki, and Hutchinson Take Opening Day Wins
It was a perfect day for racing at Elegant Builders Raceway Park for the 55th Annual Stock Car Season Opener. Fans and drivers returned to the historic speedway, formerly known as Lancaster Speedway, for a full night of racing action.
Starting the nights racing action were the After Hours Imaging TQ Midgets, who have become a weekly division at the track this season. Arik McGruder led the field to the green flag but racing was short lived as a spun car brought out a quick caution and then another multi-car wreck on lap one brought out another caution flag. The second caution collected many of the leaders and it was Kyle Hutchinson who made it through the mess and led the field back to green flag racing. By the halfway point of the 20 lap feature, Hutchinson and Nye had built a considerable distance over Jon Reid, Eric Musto, and Andy Jankowiak who were running third through fifth. As the laps clicked off, Nye began applying heavy pressure to Hutchinson for the lead, looking for any way around the top car. However, Hutchinson held on to the lead and took home the win.
More inner oval action followed with the 4 Cylinders taking to the track for their feature event. Derrick Brant, Al Piasecki, Bob Bogner, and Kevin Bainbridge led the field to the green flag for the 20 lap feature. Piasecki shot out to the lead and by lap five had built up a considerable lead over Bogner, Kevin Bainbridge, and 2012 EBRP 4 Cylinder Champion Tom LaLomia Jr. Bainbridge soon tried to make a move on Bogner on the outside but got loose and fell back a few positions, allowing LaLomia to pass both of them and slot into second behind Piasecki. Piasecki however had built a huge lead over the rest of the field and cruised home to his first 4 Cylinder feature win at EBRP.
The racing action switched to the 5/8th mile outer oval for the last two features of the night with the Street Stocks up first. Matt Druar and Dennis Londos led the field down to start the first Street Stock race of the season and Druar immediately jumped into the lead. Londos and Mike Dalfonso Jr.’s night came to an early end though as both slowed, bringing out the caution flag. Both were done for the night and Druar, Keith Flanigan, Joe Haley, and Bob Heineman brought the field back to green. Druar again took control of the top spot while Flanigan and Haley battled for second. Haley prevailed and set out for Druar. Meanwhile, Jake Lyon began his march to the front from his seventh place starting spot. Soon Lyon had made his way to second, utilizing the top lane to pass, and was at Druar’s bumper. A few laps later, Lyon was in the lead but Druar stayed right with him while Jim Stein, Haley, and Nate Straus moved up behind the leaders. A yellow flag at lap 12 brought the field back together for a double file restart with Lyon, Druar, Stein, Haley, Straus, and Flanigan making up the first three rows. Lyon again jumped into the lead while Stein passed Druar for second. Another yellow on lap 18 reset the field and on the restart Lyon and Stein, Druar and Straus raced side by side for the top spots on the track. Lyon soon grabbed control of the lead while Stein slotted into second and Straus into third. At the drop of the checkers though it was Lyon who picked up the first Street Stock feature win of the 2013 season.
The last feature event of the night was the 35 lap Sportsman event and Mark Pennell and Tommy Catalano led the field down to the start of the race. The action didn’t stay green for long however as a chain reaction in the field resulted in a pile up in turn one and Catalano in the backstretch wall. A complete restart was called for and Pennell and Kevin Miller restarted in the front row, followed by Sherri Hogan and Frank Batista Jr. Pennell took the lead while Tom MacLeod and Andy Jankowiak, both of whom were involved in the initial caution, restarted in the back of the field but soon began moving their way up. Another yellow flag appeared and another double file restart ensued and up front Pennell had a challenger for the lead in Miller. Miller eventually gained the lead but Pennell stuck with him. Miller began swinging a little high on his exit out of turn four and Pennell waited patiently for the right opportunity to retake the lead. Behind them, Jankowiak had moved up to third while Billy Burd was fourth and MacLeod was fifth. However, tight racing with Jankowiak and company resulted in Jankowiak being shuffled back to seventh. By the halfway point of the feature, Miller led Pennell, Burd, MacLeod, Dave Catalano, Batista, Jankowiak, and Kevin Lewis. Soon though Pennell grabbed an opportunity and retook the lead from Miller, who was relegated to third three laps later when Burd passed him for second. With just ten laps to go Pennell led Burd, Miller, MacLeod, and Jankowiak. Jankowiak and MacLeod were battling hard for fourth as the laps wound down while Burd was slowly closing in on Pennell up front for the lead. With five laps to go, the leaders came upon the lapped car of Dick Kluth. In an effort to get around Kluth, both Pennell and Burd spun in turn three, resulting in a caution. After the scoring was hashed out, Miller was the new leader, while Jankowiak, D. Catalano, and Lewis followed. On the restart Miller grabbed the lead but Jankowiak was in hot pursuit. With just two laps to go, Jankowiak got by Miller in turn one as Miller bobbled. Lewis slotted into second and Catalano was third while Pennell had moved his way back up to fourth. Jankowiak finished the race up front and took home the checkered flag.
Next week – Saturday, May 11th – is the first race of the Hoosier Modified Series at Elegant Builders Raceway Park with the “Mr. Modified 100”. Also on the racing card are the Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and After Hours Imaging TQ Midgets. For more information visit www.elegantbuildersracewaypark.com.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): ANDY JANKOWIAK, Kevin Lewis, Dave Catalano, Mark Pennell, Tom MacLeod, Sherri Hogan, Billy Burd, Kevin Miller, Tom Weist, Kalie Clementi, Frank Batista Jr., Dick Kluth, Jake Vernon, Tommy Catalano
Heat Winners: Jankowiak, D. Catalano
STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): JAKE LYON, Jim Stein, Nate Straus, Matt Druar, Bob Heineman, TJ Cochrane, Joe Haley, Keith Flanigan, Heather Weber, Jerry Hruby, Jeff Whalen, Dave Vona, Dennis Londos, Mike Dalfonso Jr.
Heat Winners: Londos, Straus
4 CYLINDER FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): AL PIASECKI, Tom LaLomia Jr., Kevin Bainbridge, Bob Bogner, Bobby Woch, Peter Koschuk, Christine Hanel, Derrick Brant, James Loveland, Chris Bugenhagen DNS: Jayme Thompson
Heat Winners: Piasecki, LaLomia Jr.
AFTER HOURS IMAGING TQ MIDGET FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): Kyle Hutchinson, Shawn Nye, Jon Reid, Eric Musto, Andy Jankowiak, Timex Morgan, Arik McGruder, Scott Kruetter, Brandon Zaverella, Ryan Susice, Andy Nye
Heat Winners: Reid, Morgan
Lori Overdorf
It was a perfect day for racing at Elegant Builders Raceway Park for the 55th Annual Stock Car Season Opener. Fans and drivers returned to the historic speedway, formerly known as Lancaster Speedway, for a full night of racing action.
Starting the nights racing action were the After Hours Imaging TQ Midgets, who have become a weekly division at the track this season. Arik McGruder led the field to the green flag but racing was short lived as a spun car brought out a quick caution and then another multi-car wreck on lap one brought out another caution flag. The second caution collected many of the leaders and it was Kyle Hutchinson who made it through the mess and led the field back to green flag racing. By the halfway point of the 20 lap feature, Hutchinson and Nye had built a considerable distance over Jon Reid, Eric Musto, and Andy Jankowiak who were running third through fifth. As the laps clicked off, Nye began applying heavy pressure to Hutchinson for the lead, looking for any way around the top car. However, Hutchinson held on to the lead and took home the win.
More inner oval action followed with the 4 Cylinders taking to the track for their feature event. Derrick Brant, Al Piasecki, Bob Bogner, and Kevin Bainbridge led the field to the green flag for the 20 lap feature. Piasecki shot out to the lead and by lap five had built up a considerable lead over Bogner, Kevin Bainbridge, and 2012 EBRP 4 Cylinder Champion Tom LaLomia Jr. Bainbridge soon tried to make a move on Bogner on the outside but got loose and fell back a few positions, allowing LaLomia to pass both of them and slot into second behind Piasecki. Piasecki however had built a huge lead over the rest of the field and cruised home to his first 4 Cylinder feature win at EBRP.
The racing action switched to the 5/8th mile outer oval for the last two features of the night with the Street Stocks up first. Matt Druar and Dennis Londos led the field down to start the first Street Stock race of the season and Druar immediately jumped into the lead. Londos and Mike Dalfonso Jr.’s night came to an early end though as both slowed, bringing out the caution flag. Both were done for the night and Druar, Keith Flanigan, Joe Haley, and Bob Heineman brought the field back to green. Druar again took control of the top spot while Flanigan and Haley battled for second. Haley prevailed and set out for Druar. Meanwhile, Jake Lyon began his march to the front from his seventh place starting spot. Soon Lyon had made his way to second, utilizing the top lane to pass, and was at Druar’s bumper. A few laps later, Lyon was in the lead but Druar stayed right with him while Jim Stein, Haley, and Nate Straus moved up behind the leaders. A yellow flag at lap 12 brought the field back together for a double file restart with Lyon, Druar, Stein, Haley, Straus, and Flanigan making up the first three rows. Lyon again jumped into the lead while Stein passed Druar for second. Another yellow on lap 18 reset the field and on the restart Lyon and Stein, Druar and Straus raced side by side for the top spots on the track. Lyon soon grabbed control of the lead while Stein slotted into second and Straus into third. At the drop of the checkers though it was Lyon who picked up the first Street Stock feature win of the 2013 season.
The last feature event of the night was the 35 lap Sportsman event and Mark Pennell and Tommy Catalano led the field down to the start of the race. The action didn’t stay green for long however as a chain reaction in the field resulted in a pile up in turn one and Catalano in the backstretch wall. A complete restart was called for and Pennell and Kevin Miller restarted in the front row, followed by Sherri Hogan and Frank Batista Jr. Pennell took the lead while Tom MacLeod and Andy Jankowiak, both of whom were involved in the initial caution, restarted in the back of the field but soon began moving their way up. Another yellow flag appeared and another double file restart ensued and up front Pennell had a challenger for the lead in Miller. Miller eventually gained the lead but Pennell stuck with him. Miller began swinging a little high on his exit out of turn four and Pennell waited patiently for the right opportunity to retake the lead. Behind them, Jankowiak had moved up to third while Billy Burd was fourth and MacLeod was fifth. However, tight racing with Jankowiak and company resulted in Jankowiak being shuffled back to seventh. By the halfway point of the feature, Miller led Pennell, Burd, MacLeod, Dave Catalano, Batista, Jankowiak, and Kevin Lewis. Soon though Pennell grabbed an opportunity and retook the lead from Miller, who was relegated to third three laps later when Burd passed him for second. With just ten laps to go Pennell led Burd, Miller, MacLeod, and Jankowiak. Jankowiak and MacLeod were battling hard for fourth as the laps wound down while Burd was slowly closing in on Pennell up front for the lead. With five laps to go, the leaders came upon the lapped car of Dick Kluth. In an effort to get around Kluth, both Pennell and Burd spun in turn three, resulting in a caution. After the scoring was hashed out, Miller was the new leader, while Jankowiak, D. Catalano, and Lewis followed. On the restart Miller grabbed the lead but Jankowiak was in hot pursuit. With just two laps to go, Jankowiak got by Miller in turn one as Miller bobbled. Lewis slotted into second and Catalano was third while Pennell had moved his way back up to fourth. Jankowiak finished the race up front and took home the checkered flag.
Next week – Saturday, May 11th – is the first race of the Hoosier Modified Series at Elegant Builders Raceway Park with the “Mr. Modified 100”. Also on the racing card are the Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and After Hours Imaging TQ Midgets. For more information visit www.elegantbuildersracewaypark.com.
SPORTSMAN FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): ANDY JANKOWIAK, Kevin Lewis, Dave Catalano, Mark Pennell, Tom MacLeod, Sherri Hogan, Billy Burd, Kevin Miller, Tom Weist, Kalie Clementi, Frank Batista Jr., Dick Kluth, Jake Vernon, Tommy Catalano
Heat Winners: Jankowiak, D. Catalano
STREET STOCK FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): JAKE LYON, Jim Stein, Nate Straus, Matt Druar, Bob Heineman, TJ Cochrane, Joe Haley, Keith Flanigan, Heather Weber, Jerry Hruby, Jeff Whalen, Dave Vona, Dennis Londos, Mike Dalfonso Jr.
Heat Winners: Londos, Straus
4 CYLINDER FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): AL PIASECKI, Tom LaLomia Jr., Kevin Bainbridge, Bob Bogner, Bobby Woch, Peter Koschuk, Christine Hanel, Derrick Brant, James Loveland, Chris Bugenhagen DNS: Jayme Thompson
Heat Winners: Piasecki, LaLomia Jr.
AFTER HOURS IMAGING TQ MIDGET FEATURE FINISH (5/4/2013): Kyle Hutchinson, Shawn Nye, Jon Reid, Eric Musto, Andy Jankowiak, Timex Morgan, Arik McGruder, Scott Kruetter, Brandon Zaverella, Ryan Susice, Andy Nye
Heat Winners: Reid, Morgan
Lori Overdorf