Mike Leaty Wins Ol’ Boy Cup IX At Lancaster Motorplex Thursday Night

Story By: STEVE PETTY / LANCASTER MOTORPLEX – LANCASTER, NY – Mike Leaty from Williamson, NY dominated the Ol’ Boy Cup IX at Lancaster Motorplex Thursday night, leading the last 45 laps to capture the win in the Race of Champions Modified Series event.

Tyler Catalano from Ontario, NY won his first career Lancaster Sportsman feature. Second generation driver Andy Jankowiak from Tonawanda, NY won the Mighty TQ Midget feature.  Mike Meyers from Kenmore, NY won the Rusty Diamond Cores Pro 4 feature. The night honored the Ol’ Boy Bill Colton Sr and was presented by Thermal Foams.

George Skora III and Daryl Lewis Jr were on the front row for the Ol’ Boy Cup IX for Race of Champions Modified Series, with Skora showing the way ahead of former Lancaster Sportsman Rookie of the Year Jake Christman. Shawn Nye would come to a stop in turn two to bring out the races’ first caution on lap two. On the restart, Christman would take over the lead as defending race winner Jack Ely would take over second place, with Skora falling to third. Christman and Ely would battle for the lead, as Patrick Emerling and Jake Lutz raced into third and fourth place. Emerling would take over the lead on lap nine, with Mike Leaty racing his way into second place. Leaty would challenge Emerling for the lead for several laps, with Leaty taking over the lead on lap 15. The caution would fly on lap 27 as Randall Richard spun on the front straightaway. Jake Lutz would take second from Emerling on the restart, with Andy Jankowiak and Ely racing in fourth and fifth respectively. Leaty would increase his lead over the field, and would go on to win the event, his fourth career Lancaster modified win, and first since June of 2022.

Carson Kelchlin and Andrew Nye were on the front row for the Sportsman feature, with Kelchlin showing the way, Carbone would take the lead on lap three. Tyler Catalano would take second away and would chase down Carbone. With Carbone out front, Catalano would race ahead of Skora, Shawn Nye, Tony Hanbury, and Amy Catalano. Tyler Catalano would pass Carbone on lap 17 to take over the lead, with Skora and Hanbury moving into second and third. The race’s first caution would come out on lap 20 as Chris Pennell spun in turn three. On the restart, Catalano would lead as Hanbury and Nye passed Skora to move into second and third respectively. Catalano, Hanbury, and Nye would go three wide for the lead with less than ten remaining, putting the Lancaster fans on their feet. Catalano would hold off Nye and Skora to score his first career Lancaster victory.

Mark Schulz and Tony Petrea led the Mighty TQ Midgets to the green flag for their 20-lap feature, with Schulz in the lead ahead of Brendan Wallace and Andy Jankowiak. Jankowiak would take over second on lap two and would go after Schulz for the lead. Jankowiak would complete the pass to take over the top spot on lap six. Jankowiak would dominate the event, leading the final 14 laps to earn the win, his eighth TQ Midget feature win at Lancaster.

Chris Deyo Jr. led the opening lap of the Rusty Diamond Cores Pro 4’s feature, but Mike Meyers would take over the top spot on lap two. Jimmy Dunkleman III would then inherit the lead on lap three. Dunkleman and Meyers would pull away from the field, setting up a battle amongst themselves for the lead and win. Meyers would take the lead back on lap 11. Meyers would go on to score the win, his third career Rusty Diamond Cores Pro 4 feature victory.

Racing returns on Saturday, July 12 as the stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour return for the Nu-Way Auto Parts 150. The Sportsman, Late Models, and the Street Stocks will all be in action. Pit gates will open at 1pm, practice will take place at 2:30pm, and racing will get underway at 4pm.

RACE RESULTS – OL’BOY CUP IX

Race of Champions Modifieds: MIKE LEATY, Jake Lutz, Patrick Emerling, Andy Jankowiak, Jack Ely, Austin Kochenash, Shawn Nye, Austin Beers, Jake Christman, Jayden Harman, Luke Baldwin, Kevin Miller, Chris Finocchario, Randall Richard, Daren Scherer, Tim Nies, George Skora III, Daryl Lewis Jr

Qualifying Heats: Andy Jankowiak, Mike Leaty, Jake Lutz

Fast Time: Andy Jankowiak (17.541 seconds)

Sportsman: TYLER CATALANO, Shawn Nye, George Skora III, Andy Jankowiak, Amy Catalano, Tony Hanbury, Alan Bookmiller, Tony Carbone, John Barber, Andrew Nye, Paul Flye, Carson Kelchlin, Chris Pennell, Chris Ridsdale, Matt Alix, Mason Hanel

Qualifying Heats: Tyler Catalano, Tony Carbone

Rusty Diamond Core Pro 4’s: MIKE MEYERS, Jimmy Dunkleman III, Eric Black, Tommy Hughes, Chris Deyoe Jr, Ryan Hessler, Mason Russo, Kyle Brown, Jim Dunkleman Jr, Bob Bogner, John Byrd, Eris Szychowski, Caiden Ingerick, Bob Palmer, Ashton Hannon

Did Not Start: Kenny Hejna

Qualifying Heat: Tommy Hughes, Jimmy Dunkleman III

Mighty TQ Midgets: ANDY JANKOWIAK, Mark Schulz, Brendan Wallace, Vinnie Christiano III, Ronnie Flaim, Nick Groff, Brian Schulz, Kyle Hutchinson, Tony Petrea, Jacob Schulz, Vinnie Christiano Jr, Phil Vigneri III,  Josh Terwilliger

Qualifying Heats: Mark Schulz, Tony Petrea