Story By: STEVEN PETTY / LANCASTER MOTORPLEX – LANCASTER, NY – On the anniversary of the passing of his uncle, hall of famer “Travelin’ Man” Tommy Druar, second-generation driver Andy Jankowiak from Tonawanda, NY won the Sportsman 50 for the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman under the lights on Saturday night at Lancaster Motorplex.
Reigning track champion Mark Hoch from West Seneca, NY won his first Street Stock feature of the season. Chris Deyoe Jr from East Otto won the 4 Cylinders feature event. Ronnie Flaim from Allegany, NY won the Mighty TQ Midget feature.
Rich Littlefield and Tim Garlock were on the front row for the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman 50, with third-place starter Chase Williams taking the lead ahead of Tony Carbone. George Skora III and Trevor Catalano would work their way into the top five early on, as they raced in third and fourth respectively on lap six. Skora would continue to work towards the front of the field as he would challenge Carbone for second on lap 10, completing the pass on lap 11. Andy Jankowiak, who started 19th on the grid, entered the top ten on lap 15 after passing Tom MacLeod. The leaders would encounter lap traffic on lap 16, allowing Skora and Trevor Catalano to catch race leader Williams. Jankowiak would continue to work his way through the field on lap 18, passing John Barber to move into eighth place. The lead trio would pull away from the field and would battle for the lead at the halfway mark, with Williams leading Skora and Catalano. Jankowiak moved up to seventh on lap 26, closing in on sixth place Shawn Nye. Just two laps later, Trevor Catalano would take the lead away from Williams, with Skora taking over second place. While fighting lap traffic, Chase Williams spun in turn three to bring out the first caution of the event on lap 29. The caution would immediately come back out as race leader Trevor Catalano spun in turn four after slight contact with Skora, setting off a chain reaction crash, taking out several cars, including Tyler Catalano and Jake Vernon. Skora was sent tail for his involvement. On the restart, Alan Bookmiller would be in the lead ahead of Tony Carbone and Andy Jankowiak. Jankowiak would take over second and would take over the lead on lap 34. Shawn Nye would work his way back to fourth, with Trevor Catalano moving up back into fifth place on lap 39. In the closing laps, Jankowiak would hold on to score the win ahead of Bookmiller, Carbone, Trevor Catalano, and Shawn Nye. George Skora would work back to finish in sixth place ahead of Rich Littlefield, Tom MacLeod, Dave Kozlowski, and Chase Williams.
Dave Johnson and David Brunka were on the front row for the Street Stocks feature event, with Brunka taking the lead. Following a lap three caution, Frank Batista Jr would take over second from Johnson, and would go after race leader David Brunka. Contact was made on lap five between Nik Welshans and Dan Dressel, sending Dressel spinning, with Tim Welshans hitting the Thermal Foam and Jacob Gustafson breaking the rear axle. On the restart, Brunka would continue to show the way. Mike Piccirilli slowed on the front straightway to bring out the caution on lap nine. Mark Hoch and Frank Batista would battle for second place at the race’s halfway mark, with Hoch moving into second on lap 13. Chris Handley spun in turn one to bring out the caution on lap 13. Mark Hoch would take the lead away on lap 16, with Batista Jr in second place. Hoch would drive away to pick up the win, his first of the season and 10th of his career at Lancaster.
Brendan Wallace and Mark Schulz brought the Mighty TQ Midgets to the green flag for their 20-lap event, with Wallace showing the way. Jonathan Reid would break in turn three to bring out the caution on lap one. Also on the opening lap, Dave Wollaber came to a stop on the front straightaway and Brian Schulz suffered front end damage on his #27 in turn three. On the restart, Wallace would continue to show the way ahead of Ronnie Flaim, Erik Musto, Mark and Dave Schulz. Tony Petrea would spin in turn one to bring out the caution on lap 14. On the restart, Kyle Hutchinson would take over fifth place. Ronnie Flaim would take the lead away on lap 16 and would go on to score the feature win.
Mason Offhaus and Hunter McKay brought the 4 Cylinders to the green flag for their feature event, with McKay jumping into the lead with Chris Deyoe Jr taking over second place. Josh Schosek would take over third place from Wyatt Hannon on lap three, with John Byrd taking over fifth place. Deyoe and McKay would battle for the lead for several laps, with Deyoe taking over the lead on lap 11. Josh Schosek would catch the lead duo on lap 12, setting up a three-car battle for the lead. Schosek would take over second place on lap 16, as Deyoe would checkout on the field. Deyoe would go on to score the feature win.
Stock car racing action continues at Lancaster on Saturday, June 17 as the 350 SMAC Supermodifieds will be competing in the Key Bank 45. The Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman, Street Stocks, and 4 Cylinders will all be in action. Also, on tap will be the King Wolf Productions Big Wheels! Kids aged 3-12 can sign up at the picnic tables in the main concourse when gates open and race during intermission. Pit gates will open at 2:30pm, grandstands open at 4:00pm, and racing will begin at 6:30pm.
For more information, follow Lancaster Motorplex on social media and for the complete 2023 schedules, visit the website at www.lancastermotorplexny.com
RACE RESULTS – SATURDAY NIGHT SHORT TRACK ACTION
Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman: ANDY JANKOWIAK, Alan Bookmiller, Tony Carbone, Trevor Catalano, Shawn Nye, George Skora III, Rich Littlefield, Tom MacLeod, Dave Kozlowski, Chase Williams, Jeff Szafraniec, Tim Garlock, Andrew Cook, Chris Pennell, Paul Townsend, Cameron Ruggiero, Tyler Catalano, John Barber, Jake Vernon
Did Not Start: Jonathan Reid
Qualifying Heats: George Skora III, Tony Carbone, Chase Williams
Street Stocks: MARK HOCH, Frank Batista Jr, Mike Dalfonso, David Brunka, Dustin Novoa, Tommy Wentland, David Johnson, Nik Welshans, Ken Maltby, Frank Prell, Tim Welshans, Gary Bartella, Mike Rogers, Dan Dressel, Bobby Blaszak Jr, Scott Chaplin, Garret Cleversley, Chris Handley, Bob Palmer, Matt Friend, Mike Piccirilli, Jay Canonico, Kyle Schosek, John Carlson, Jacob Gustafson
Did Not Start: Chris Barber, Jim Dauer
Qualifying Heats: David Brunka, Frank Batista Jr, Dustin Novoa
4 Cylinders: CHRIS DEYOE JR, Josh Schosek, Hunter McKay, Andy Danielwicz, John Byrd, Russ Bulger Jr, Tim Offhaus, Ashton Hannon, Connor Kurdziel, Mason Offhaus, Wyatt Hannon
Qualifying Heats: Josh Schosek, Hunter McKay
Mighty TQ Midgets: RONNIE FLAIM, Brendan Wallace, Erik Musto, Mark Schulz, Vinnie Christiano III, Kyle Hutchinson, Dave Schulz, Vinnie Christiano Jr, Carl Schroeder, Owen Bednasz, Tony Petrea, Kevin Wilson, Cory Grenzy, Nick Groff, Brian Schulz, Jonathan Reid, Dave Wollaber
Did Not Start: Andrew Nye, Adam Brown
Qualifying Heats: Brendan Wallace, Brian Schulz
