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Steve Petty Photo
LANCASTER, N.Y. (September 23, 2023) – Tommy Catalano from Ontario, NY was declared the winner of the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman main event to headline the Saturday night portion of US Open Weekend at Lancaster Motorplex. For Catalano, it was his second win at the US Open. Tommy Krawczyk from Orchard Park, NY won the New York Super Stock Series event, his second US Open title since 2020. Dan Kapuscinski from Fulton, NY won the inaugural visit by the Small Block Super Championship Series for Small Block Supermodifieds. Dave Wollaber from North Tonawanda, NY won the Mighty TQ Midget feature for his eighth win in the US Open. David Brunka from Cheektowaga, NY won the Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinder feature event to claim his first US Open victory.
Andy Jankowiak and Tony Hanbury were on the front row for the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman 50-lap feature event, with Jankowiak ahead of Skora, Hanbury. Jake Lutz would start to move up through the field at the start of the main event, as Lutz, started 13th on the gird, was already up to seventh on lap seven. Shawn Nye raced his way in fifth place and was challenging John Wilbur for fourth place and lap 12, with Lutz, Tommy Catalano right behind on lap 15. Jankowiak and Skora would pull away from the field and entered lap traffic early in the main event. The battle for third place was steady for the first half of the race, with Nye moving into third place on lap 20, with Lutz and Catalano moving into fourth and fifth respectively. While in lap traffic, Skora would catch Jankowiak, and the battle was on for the lead. The red flag would come out on lap 31 with a multi-car incident, involving Trevor Catalano, Chris Pennell, John Barber, and Tim Garlock. On the restart, Lutz would battle with Skora for second, allowing Jankowiak to take the lead. Tommy Catalano would battle with Skora for third place on lap 33, with Nye regaining fourth place from Skora on lap 34. Lutz would catch Jankowiak on lap 35 and would battle with Jankowiak for the lead. Lutz would take the lead away from Jankowiak with two laps remaining after using the bumper to get Jankowiak loose. Lutz would cross the line in first place but was penalized for rough riding. Lutz would then be disqualified for failing to stop for tire durometer reading postrace, giving the win to Catalano.
Drew Pascuzzi and Camden Proud brought the Small Block Super Championship to the green flag for their 25-lap feature event, with Proud in the lead. Joe Papin and Pascuzzi made contact going into turn one and would bring out the caution on lap four. Dan Kapuscinski would take over second place and would go after Proud for the lead. DJ Shuman would battle with Lou LeVea Jr for third place as the lead duo would pull away from the field. Danny K would take the lead away from Proud going into turn three on lap 12 and would start to pull away from the field. DJ Shuman and LeVea would battle for several laps, with Shuman taking over the third place past the halfway mark. Shuman would start to reel in Proud late in the event, but it would be too little too late, as Kapuscinski would go away to score the feature win, ahead of Proud and DJ Shuman.
Scott Wylie and Tommy Krawczyk were on the front row for the New York Super Stock Series event, with Krawczyk showing the way. Josh Hunter, Andy Cryan, and Jacob Christman raced in the top five. Christman and Hunter would get together in turn one, with Christman spinning to bring out the race’s first caution on lap four. On the restart, Garrett Zacharias would take over second place from Wylie, with Jacob Gustafson moving into third place. Matt Druar would pass Josh Hunter to take over fifth place and then on lap 11, would get around Wylie to take over fourth place. While negotiating lap traffic, Zacharias would start to reel in race leader Krawczyk. Travis Montgomery slowed to bring out the caution on lap 29. Druar would battle with Gustafson for second place and would complete the pass on lap 39, as Krawczyk would take off with the lead. Andy Cryan would take over third place on lap 44, with Christman moving into fourth at the same time. Christman would work his way back through the field to take over third place on lap 45. Krawczyk would hold off Druar and Christman to score the win, his second US Open triumph.
Nick Groff and Dave Wollaber were on the front row for the Mighty TQ Midget feature event, with Groff leading the field. Wollaber would take the lead away on lap three and would check out on the field. Ronnie Flaim would take over second, with Kyle Hutchinson racing in third place. Wollaber would pull away from the field and would score the win, his eighth at the US Open and 35th of his career at Lancaster.
Tommy Hughes and Chris Deyoe Jr were on the front row for the Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinders, with Hughes ahead of David Brunka. Brunka would take the lead away on lap six, with Josh Schosek battling for second with Hughes. Schosek would take over second on lap seven and would challenge Brunka for the lead. The duo would go at for the entire second half of the feature event, but it was Brunka being able to hold off Schosek to score the elusive US Open victory.
Racing is back on Sunday, September 24th for the 35th US Open featuring the Race of Champions Modified Series, Late Models, Budget RV Outlet of Buffalo Street Stocks, and the Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinders will all be in action. Pit gates will open at 9am, with practice getting underway at 11am, and racing will get underway at 1pm.
Admission prices are available by clicking on the schedule tab at www.lancastermotorplexny.com and by following along on social media. For more information, follow Lancaster Motorplex on social media and visit the website at www.lancastermotorplexny.com
RACE RESULTS – US OPEN DAY 1
Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman: TOMMY CATALANO, Shawn Nye, Andy Jankowiak, George Skora III, Tony Hanbury, Chris Finocchario, Trevor Catalano, Andy Lewis Jr, John Wilbur, Jake Vernon, Tom MacLeod, Alan Bookmiller, Timmy Lewis, Dave Kozlowski, Mason Hanel, Jonathan Reid, Chris Pennell, Andrew Cook, Jerry Boerman, Brian Schulz, Chris Ridsdale, Tim Nies, Paul Townsend, Mike Fiebelkorn Jr, John Barber, Tim Garlock, Jerry Gradl Jr, Jake Lutz (DQ)
Qualifying Heats: Andy Lewis Jr, Jake Lutz, George Skora III
Small Block Super Championship Series: DAN KAPUSCINSKI, Camden Proud, DJ Shuman, Lou Levea Jr, Noah Ratcliff, Joe Papin, AJ Larkin, Drew Pascuzzi, Mike Fowler, Greg O’Connor, Griffin Miller
Qualifying Heats: Camden Proud, Dan Kapuscinski
New York Super Stock Series: TOMMY KRAWCZYK, Matt Druar, Jacob Christman, Garrett Zacharias, Teej Cochrane, Andy Cryan, Nate Peckham, Eric Brown, Jim Steffenhagen, Josh Hunter, Griffin Miller, Jacob Gustafson, Dave Bailey, Jason Duke, Tim Faro, Bob Palmer, Andy Cocilova, Zach Willis, Colt Ingerick, Cameron Nichols, Billy Both, Joe Miller, Travis Montgomery, Scott Wylie
Qualifying Heats: Jacob Christman, Jacob Gustafson, Matt Druar
Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinders: DAVID BRUNKA, Josh Schosek, Tommy Hughes, Kyle Casper, Chris Deyoe Jr, Russ Bulger Jr, CJ Palmer, Nathan Bryant, Kenny Hejna, Andy Danielwicz, Mason Offhaus, Connor Kurdziel, RJ Manwaring, Russ Bulger Sr, Tim Durfy, Joe Brunka, Bob Palmer
Qualifying Heats: Josh Schosek, Russ Bulger Jr
Mighty TQ Midgets: DAVE WOLLABER, Ronnie Flaim, Kyle Hutchinson, Vinnie Christiano III, Nick Groff, Aric McGruder, Cory Grenzy, Vinnie Christiano Jr, Brian Schulz, Mark Schulz, Dave Schulz, Tyler Catalano, Chester Haywood, Adam Brown, Timmy Catalano, Carl Schroeder, Andy Jankowiak
Qualifying Heats: Ronnie Flaim, Dave Wollaber
