RGeeProductions
08-30-2015, 09:09 AM
Pennell, Sharpe & Bartel clinch track championships
Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway closed out the regular season for the Seneca Resorts & Casinos Saturday Night Stock Car program with Season Championship Night presented by 10-75 Emergency Lighting. All three track champions were crowned for Lancaster’s weekly home track divisions.
Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY took home his second win of the season in the Sportsman Modifieds. Jankowiak passed Jeff Brown for the lead on lap 21, and then drove away for the final nine laps to score the victory.
Brown had taken the lead from Neal Dietz, Jr. on lap five, before pulling away from the pack. A caution on lap 19 for a spin by Todd Lorenzo erased Brown’s advantage, and set up a restart with Brown and Jankowiak on the front row. Jankowiak wrestled the lead away after a brief side-by-side battle and cruised to the win.
Mark Pennell of Lancaster, driver of the Thompson Racing #54, was crowned Sportsman track champion. Pennell started the feature with a 22-point lead over Jake Lyon and John Barber.
Pennell looked to be on his way to the championship early in the race as he was running fifth when the yellow flag flew on lap 19. On the ensuing restart, however, Pennell spun out while coming to the green flag. Luckily he received no major damage and was able to continue the race from the rear of the field.
Pennell worked his way back up to ninth by race’s end to accumulate enough points for the championship. He won the title by 12 points over John Barber. It was his first career track championship and the first since 1996 for the Thomspon Racing team.
Barber finished fourth in the race to finish second in the final point standings. Coincidentally, Barber sold his primary car during the week to the Thompson team for Jayme Thompson to run after her car was wrecked the week before.
The Street Stock championship was already locked up going to the final feature as Rich Sharpe’s six feature wins gave him enough of a cushion over the rest of the competition. It was Sharpe’s first career track championship.
Sharpe’s six-race win streak came to an end on the final points night, however, as Nate Straus of Buffalo captured his first feature victory of the season. Straus led all 20 laps from the front row to claim the win. He had to hold off a hard-charging Dave Wilson, Jr. in the closing laps to get the win.
Sharpe pitted during a caution period on lap three for an ill-handling race car. He came back to finish third behind Straus and Wilson.
The 4-Cylinder division had the closest points battle going into the final race with Chris Bugenhagen holding a one-point lead over Rich Bartel and a seven-point lead over Chris Pennell. Bugenhagen extended the lead over Bartel to three points following the heat races.
In the 20-lap feature, Bartel passed Bugenhagen for second place with just four laps to go. That move proved to deciding moment of the season as Bartel won the championship by one point over Bugenhagen. It is the second-straight championship for Bartel.
Bobby Woch won the feature for his second win of the season. He took the lead on lap 11 and drove away for the win.
Dave Anasiewicz led the first ten laps from the pole position. Kevin Bainbridge drove through the field to catch Anasiewicz at the halfway point. The pair then made contact while racing for the lead, and Woch was able to drive by to take over the top spot.
The X-Press Signs Late Model made their third appearance of the season at Lancaster and for the third race in a row Bobby Weber of Clarence Center, NY took home the feature win. Weber passed Dave Whittaker for the lead on lap eight and never looked back as the race went caution free. Dave Russell finished second followed by Whittaker, Sam Fullone and Ron Nurmi.
Lancaster’s stock car program will now turn its attention to the 27th annual U.S. Open on September 25-27. Western New York’s racing finale wraps up the racing season with the Race of Champions Modified Tour U.S. Open 125 plus the X-Press Signs Late Models, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, NYPA TQ Midgets, 4-Cylinders and INEX Legends. The full schedule of events is available at www.thelancasterUSOpen.com.
Founded in 1959, Lancaster National Speedway is a multi-use facility located on 77 acres just outside of metropolitan Buffalo, NY. The facility features a 1/8-mile drag, a 5/8-mile oval track and hosts several non-motorsports events such as car shows and concerts. For the latest information on Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway check out our all-new website www.lancasternationalspeedway.com. Additional information for racers and fans can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LancasterSpeedway) and on Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy).
X-PRESS SIGNS LATE MODELS
Heat Winners: Bobby Weber, Dave Whittaker
Feature: BOBBY WEBER, Dave Russell, Dave Whittaker, Sam Fullone, Ron Nurmi, Jeff Brown, Terry Weldy, Eldon King III, Frank Batista, Jr., Nick Crassi, Bill Osborn, Ron Richter, Scott Nurmi
SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS
Heat Winners: Tony Hanbury, Jeff Brown
Feature: ANDY JANKOWIAK, Jeff Brown, Tony Hanbury, John Barber, Neal Dietz, Jr., Russ Gian, Jake Lyon, Kevin Lewis, Mark Pennell, Pete Sisti, Jayme Thompson, Patti Pruitt, Scott Stolzenberg, Sherri Hogan, Dick Kluth, Todd Lorenzo
STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners: Dave Wilson, Jr., Heather Weber
Feature: NATE STRAUS, Dave Wilson, Jr., Rich Sharpe, Dennis Londos, Keith Flanigan, Jerome Hruby, Heather Weber, Gary Bartella, Rick Ortwein, Jr., Mike Dalfonso, Jr., Mark Annis, Jr., Mike Dalfonso, Sr., Rick Meyers
4-CYLINDERS
Heat Winners: Joe Brunka, Kevin Bainbridge
Feature: BOBBY WOCH, Rich Bartel, Chris Bugenhagen, Joe Brunka, Al Piasecki, Garrett Cleversley, Chris Pennell, Frank Prell, Dave Anasiewicz, Tim Durfy, Don Brzezowski, Jessica Dadswell, Kevin Bainbridge
Dave Buchanan
Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway closed out the regular season for the Seneca Resorts & Casinos Saturday Night Stock Car program with Season Championship Night presented by 10-75 Emergency Lighting. All three track champions were crowned for Lancaster’s weekly home track divisions.
Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY took home his second win of the season in the Sportsman Modifieds. Jankowiak passed Jeff Brown for the lead on lap 21, and then drove away for the final nine laps to score the victory.
Brown had taken the lead from Neal Dietz, Jr. on lap five, before pulling away from the pack. A caution on lap 19 for a spin by Todd Lorenzo erased Brown’s advantage, and set up a restart with Brown and Jankowiak on the front row. Jankowiak wrestled the lead away after a brief side-by-side battle and cruised to the win.
Mark Pennell of Lancaster, driver of the Thompson Racing #54, was crowned Sportsman track champion. Pennell started the feature with a 22-point lead over Jake Lyon and John Barber.
Pennell looked to be on his way to the championship early in the race as he was running fifth when the yellow flag flew on lap 19. On the ensuing restart, however, Pennell spun out while coming to the green flag. Luckily he received no major damage and was able to continue the race from the rear of the field.
Pennell worked his way back up to ninth by race’s end to accumulate enough points for the championship. He won the title by 12 points over John Barber. It was his first career track championship and the first since 1996 for the Thomspon Racing team.
Barber finished fourth in the race to finish second in the final point standings. Coincidentally, Barber sold his primary car during the week to the Thompson team for Jayme Thompson to run after her car was wrecked the week before.
The Street Stock championship was already locked up going to the final feature as Rich Sharpe’s six feature wins gave him enough of a cushion over the rest of the competition. It was Sharpe’s first career track championship.
Sharpe’s six-race win streak came to an end on the final points night, however, as Nate Straus of Buffalo captured his first feature victory of the season. Straus led all 20 laps from the front row to claim the win. He had to hold off a hard-charging Dave Wilson, Jr. in the closing laps to get the win.
Sharpe pitted during a caution period on lap three for an ill-handling race car. He came back to finish third behind Straus and Wilson.
The 4-Cylinder division had the closest points battle going into the final race with Chris Bugenhagen holding a one-point lead over Rich Bartel and a seven-point lead over Chris Pennell. Bugenhagen extended the lead over Bartel to three points following the heat races.
In the 20-lap feature, Bartel passed Bugenhagen for second place with just four laps to go. That move proved to deciding moment of the season as Bartel won the championship by one point over Bugenhagen. It is the second-straight championship for Bartel.
Bobby Woch won the feature for his second win of the season. He took the lead on lap 11 and drove away for the win.
Dave Anasiewicz led the first ten laps from the pole position. Kevin Bainbridge drove through the field to catch Anasiewicz at the halfway point. The pair then made contact while racing for the lead, and Woch was able to drive by to take over the top spot.
The X-Press Signs Late Model made their third appearance of the season at Lancaster and for the third race in a row Bobby Weber of Clarence Center, NY took home the feature win. Weber passed Dave Whittaker for the lead on lap eight and never looked back as the race went caution free. Dave Russell finished second followed by Whittaker, Sam Fullone and Ron Nurmi.
Lancaster’s stock car program will now turn its attention to the 27th annual U.S. Open on September 25-27. Western New York’s racing finale wraps up the racing season with the Race of Champions Modified Tour U.S. Open 125 plus the X-Press Signs Late Models, Sportsman, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, NYPA TQ Midgets, 4-Cylinders and INEX Legends. The full schedule of events is available at www.thelancasterUSOpen.com.
Founded in 1959, Lancaster National Speedway is a multi-use facility located on 77 acres just outside of metropolitan Buffalo, NY. The facility features a 1/8-mile drag, a 5/8-mile oval track and hosts several non-motorsports events such as car shows and concerts. For the latest information on Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway check out our all-new website www.lancasternationalspeedway.com. Additional information for racers and fans can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LancasterSpeedway) and on Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy).
X-PRESS SIGNS LATE MODELS
Heat Winners: Bobby Weber, Dave Whittaker
Feature: BOBBY WEBER, Dave Russell, Dave Whittaker, Sam Fullone, Ron Nurmi, Jeff Brown, Terry Weldy, Eldon King III, Frank Batista, Jr., Nick Crassi, Bill Osborn, Ron Richter, Scott Nurmi
SPORTSMAN MODIFIEDS
Heat Winners: Tony Hanbury, Jeff Brown
Feature: ANDY JANKOWIAK, Jeff Brown, Tony Hanbury, John Barber, Neal Dietz, Jr., Russ Gian, Jake Lyon, Kevin Lewis, Mark Pennell, Pete Sisti, Jayme Thompson, Patti Pruitt, Scott Stolzenberg, Sherri Hogan, Dick Kluth, Todd Lorenzo
STREET STOCKS
Heat Winners: Dave Wilson, Jr., Heather Weber
Feature: NATE STRAUS, Dave Wilson, Jr., Rich Sharpe, Dennis Londos, Keith Flanigan, Jerome Hruby, Heather Weber, Gary Bartella, Rick Ortwein, Jr., Mike Dalfonso, Jr., Mark Annis, Jr., Mike Dalfonso, Sr., Rick Meyers
4-CYLINDERS
Heat Winners: Joe Brunka, Kevin Bainbridge
Feature: BOBBY WOCH, Rich Bartel, Chris Bugenhagen, Joe Brunka, Al Piasecki, Garrett Cleversley, Chris Pennell, Frank Prell, Dave Anasiewicz, Tim Durfy, Don Brzezowski, Jessica Dadswell, Kevin Bainbridge
Dave Buchanan