8/18/2020
Race of Champions
PATRICK EMERLING GET HIS FIRST LAKE ERIE SPEEDWAY MODIFIED WIN IN 31ST ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO TOMMY DRUAR AND TONY JANKOWIAK THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT
Patrck Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y., turned in an outstanding performance to win at Lake Erie Speedway this past Saturday night in the 31st Annual Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak. It was the 18th career victory for Emerling, who sits 4th on the all-time win list. He also became the first person to win the race at another track.
“We needed this tonight,” offered Emerling. “We have been fast and the crew has worked super hard, tonight we were finally able to put it all together and get it into victory lane. This is a great race for us to win. I’m very proud of all my guys for their efforts tonight.”
Emerling used a timely pit stop and a daring three-wide move in traffic to position himself for the victory. Mike Leaty of Ontario, N.Y., and Emerling’s L2 Autosport teammate wound up second with Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, N.Y., finishing third. Austin Beers of Northampton, Pa., finished fourth after leading several laps. Kyle Ebersole of Mooresville, N.C., wound up fifth after a strong run.
T.J. Potrzebowski of Owego, N.Y., picked up $730 from friend of racing, Howard Markel and a $50 bonus from ARG Auto Sales for leading lap 73. Emerling scored a $370 bonus from Markel and a $50 bonus from ARG Auto Sales for leading lap 37. Alan Bookmiller of Castile, N.Y., and Kevin Timmerman of Ontario, N.Y., picked up $250 certificates from Rocket Performance, the official parts truck of the Race of Champions.
Rich Sharpe of Depew, N.Y., scored the victory in the first-ever Race of Champions Street Stock Series race. Sharpe topped Justin Myers of Franklinville, N.Y., and Nik Welshans of West Seneca, N.Y. Myers was disqualified from the event in post-race inspection for refusing inspection, with the removal of the rear end cover. The purse money will be divided equally and distributed to the rest of the field. In a typical “non-pandemic” season, the money would be placed in the point fund and distributed to competitors who earned championship point standing funds.
Joe Mancuso of Buffalo, N.Y., topped Tommy Krawczyk of West Seneca, N.Y., in an exciting Super Stock Series event. Mancuso joined Emerling winning the Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak at two different tracks. Andy Cryan of Hamburg, N.Y., finished third. Tommy Barron of Ontario, N.Y., finished fourth and Trevor Catalano of Ontario, N.Y., rounded out the top-five. D.J. Shaw of Waverly, N.Y., scored his second straight Four Cylinder Dash Series victory at Lake Erie. Shaw scored $337.73 in honor Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak, which was posted by DCH Consultants of Williamsville, N.Y., who specialize in short track consulting. Bob Palmer of Cheektowaga, N.Y., finished second and Briar DIls of Derby, N.Y., finished third. Jason Anasiewicz of Alden, N.Y., finished fourth and Rob Laskowski of Williamsville, N.Y., finished fifth. Laskowski earned a $50 hard charger bonus posted by Bob Woch and Old Man Engineering. Mike Piccirilli of Hamburg, N.Y., Hard Luck; Charles Palmer of Cheektowaga, N.Y., halfway leader and Nick Galusha of Hamburg, N.Y., Hard Luck; Charles Palmer of Cheektowaga, N.Y., halfway leader. Nick Galusha of Williamson, N.Y., and Dave Brunka of Cheektowaga, N.Y., 10th place finish (scoring error) each received $50 from Bob Woch and Old Man Engineering. Bradeon Suffoleotta won the random draw of $73 from Rob Laskowski, which was posted for a B-Main, however, no B-Main was run and all cars were started.
Bobby Holmes of Lockport, N.Y., won the NYPA TQ Midget race as part of the five division racing bill.
Full and detailed race results and point standings can be obtained at www.rocmodifiedseries.com (http://www.rocmodifiedseries.com/schedule/)
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, Printed Image of Buffalo, Waddell Communications, Pilat Graphic Design, TDH Refrigeration, RPM Newsletter and Workshops; Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com, Wilbert’s U-Pull It and Speed51.com. The 70th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2020 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
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Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
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