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Hossfeld
Wins Opening Day Modified Feature Sammut Takes MSA Checkers at DTRP By:
Lori Overdorf . |
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Lancaster, NY – Dunn Tire Raceway Park opened their 51st season of stock car racing with picture perfect weather, packed grandstands, and great racing action. The “Hot Shoe” Chuck Hossfeld continued his winning ways at DTRP as he beat out a star studded field of Modified drivers while second year Street Stock driver Kris Hamman picked up his first career feature win in the division. Defending 4 Cylinder Champion Matt Druar captured the first win of the season and Mark Sammut made a last lap pass to win the MSA Supermodified feature event. The 4 Cylinders were first up on the nights schedule and as always providing plenty of exciting racing action on the inner oval. Kalie Clementi started on the pole but quickly fell back through the field with an ill handling race car. Matt Druar took advantage of the situation and took the lead from Don Roesch on lap 3 and never relinquished it. Roesch and Derek Wagner waged a battle for second and third while navigating lap traffic which allowed Druar to build a sizeable lead and take the checkered flag. Twenty-three Street Stocks were on track for the first feature of 2009. At the drop of the green outside polesitter Mike Nash took the lead from Cory Gallagher who had redrew the top starting position. Nash led while Gallagher, Kris Hamman, and Dave Frieder sliced and diced for second on back. An early yellow flag resulted in a double file restart with Nash and Hamman leading the way and racing side by side for the lead for a number of laps. Hamman finally prevailed and took the lead for good on lap 6. By the halfway point of the 25 lap feature, Hamman had a hefty lead on the rest of the field. However two late race cautions bunched up the field behind the leader. Hamman maintained his lead on the track while Nash and Gallagher wage a spirited battle for second and third. Gallagher ultimately prevailed and set his sights on the leader but the laps expired before he could challenge Hamman for the lead. Hamman, who was the 2008 Rookie of the Year in the Street Stock division, captured his first feature win in the extremely competitive division. Dunn Tire Raceway Park is the “Western New York Home of the Asphalt Modified” and its premier division put on a fantastic show with a star studded field of competitors. After two qualifying heats and the top ten drivers redrawing for feature starting position, Dave Wollaber, Jimmy Zacharias, Chuck Hossfeld, and Billy Putney led the field to the green flag. Wollaber jumped into the lead but was battling an ill handling car and soon gave up the top spot to Hossfeld on lap three. Tom McGrath, who had moved into the second position after starting fifth, soon began applying heavy pressure to the leader. A few quick cautions allowed McGrath to restart on the outside of Hossfeld but Hossfeld maintained his lead. A heated battle for the top seven spots ensued and at the halfway point Hossfeld was followed by Erick Rudolph, McGrath, Sege Fidanza, Eric Beers, and Ted Christopher. Christopher was soon on the move and with just ten laps to go has raced his way into the fourth position and was applying heavy pressure to McGrath for third. On Lap 44 Christopher powered his way to the outside of McGrath coming out of turn two to take the position. McGrath spun on the backstretch and the yellow flag was displayed. The single file restart with just six laps remaining saw Hossfeld, Rudolph, Christopher, Fidanza, and Beers as the top five cars. With the laps clicking off Hossfeld was able to gain some breathing room as Rudolph had to concentrate on Christopher on his bumper instead of trying to contend for the lead. Hossfeld took home the first DTRP Modified feature win of the 2009 season. The final feature of the afternoon’s events was the Midwest Supermodified Association’s touring series of winged Supermodifieds. Thirteen cars started the feature and it was soon apparent that the race would be a matter of surviving the attrition. Outside polesitter Trent Stephens took the lead at the drop of the green until being passed by Tim Jedrzejek for the top spot on the track. Jedrzejek held a steady lead on the field and looked to be in the catbird’s seat as the rest of the competition experienced mechanical problems of one variety or another, forcing them to the infield. A car on the move was Mark Sammut who slotted into the second position on lap 24 after passing Stephens. With just two laps to go, Sammut caught leader Jedrzejek and after side by side racing for over a lap, Sammut took position of the lead and crossed the finish line first. Next week at Dunn Tire Raceway Park, the men and women of the Armed Forces will be honored on Military Appreciation Night. All military personnel with valid identification will receive free admission to the races. In addition the Army National Guard will be on hand with the #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR racecar. For more information visit DTRP’s official website – www.dunntireracewaypark.com. McGard Modified Feature Finish (5/24/09) – Chuck Hossfeld, Erick Rudolph, Ted Christopher, Eric Beers, Sege Fidanza, Billy Putney, Jimmy Zacharias, Danny Knoll Jr., Karl Hehr, Dave Wollaber, Tom McGrath, Jeff Hamman, Bob Reis, Tom Wiest, Kevin Lewis, Chip Santee, Mark Tychoniewicz, Pete Brittain, TJ Zacharias, Matt Clemens Lap Leaders: Laps 1-2 Wollaber, Laps 3-50 Hossfeld Able Agency Street Stocks Feature Finish (5/24/09) – Kris Hamman, Cory Gallagher, Mike Nash, Mike Maggiore, Dave Frieder, Scott Mutka, Jeff Guidotti, Tim Garlock, Joe Haley, Rick Ortwein, Jim Stein, Debbie Jurek, Gary Bartella, Gary Denea, Ed Nowak, Mike Weston, Steve Cochran, John Hewson, Nate Straus, Joe Light, Ricky Farina, Matt Jurek, J Kornowski Lap Leaders: Laps 1-3 Nash, Lap 4 Hamman, Lap 5 Nash, Laps 6-25 Hamman 4 Cylinder Feature Finish (5/24/09) – Matt Druar, Derek Wagner, Don Roesch, Ken Hejna, Kevin Morreale, Kalie Clementi, Cassie McGrath, Dean Siminski, Tim Durfy, Jayme Thompson DNS: Charles Buchanan Lap Leaders: Laps 1-3 Roesch, Laps 3-20 Druar
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