Story By: RACE OF CHAMPIONS – LANCASTER, NY – The Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series will headline the Ol’ Boy Cup IV on Thursday evening at Lancaster (NY) National Speedway. The race pays tribute to Bill Colton, who was commonly referred to as the Ol’ Boy. Colton, who along with the late Alex Friesen, installed the first Thermal Foam barriers surrounding the half-mile speedway.
The effort became legend as several other speedways adopted the same or similar blocks to assist in protecting drivers. Colton later spearheaded the “Super Fan Plan” and several other programs that helped drive Modified racing and Lancaster National Speedway forward. In addition, Colton also helped build racing careers for many young drivers, most notably, Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, NY.
This race is held in his honor to remember those efforts, as well as continuing to propel the sport forward. Colton’s sons — Billy (Troyer Race Cars) and Jim and Chris (Colton RV) — have stepped forward with bonuses once again for what has now become a true Lancaster tradition that many racers look forward to; the ‘Ol’ Boy Cup.
“This has become a very special night for our family,” explained Billy Colton, who has steered Troyer Race Cars since the early 1990’s. “My Dad loved Modified racing and Lancaster National Speedway. It’s an honor to have his name preserved in this manner with an event at the track he enjoyed so much. We are very proud of the legacy that he created and happy that we get to be part of it. Every time those cars fire up we know the ‘Ol Boy’ is looking down and smiling.”
As a bonus, an extra $4,000 in money and prizes will be available to drivers during the 60-lap ‘Ol’ Boy Cup feature including $2,800 in lap awards. There will be seven laps with cash prizes of $200 courtesy of Colton RV and seven additional laps will have giveaways of $200 certificates to Troyer Race Cars.
The prizes will be given away using the “Lucky 15” format, which Bill Colton used when organized the lap sponsorship program for Lancaster’s U.S. Open. Drivers running inside the top 15 on each lap will be eligible with the winning position randomly selected prior to the race. In addition to the lap money, the winner of the race will receive $600 in cash from Colton RV and a $600 certificate to Troyer Race Cars.
Also joining the card in addition to the Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series will be the Race of Champions Super Stock Series running in a 30-lap feature. The night’s festivities are also a part of “Speed51.com Summer Thunder Series.”
