7/13/2023
Lancaster Speedway
Carbone, Hoch, McKay, and Nye Score Thursday Night Wins at Lancaster
LANCASTER, N.Y. (July 13, 2023) – Third-generation driver Tony Carbone from West Seneca, NY earned his first career Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman feature win Thursday night at Lancaster Motorplex. Mark Hoch from West Seneca, NY won his third Street Stock feature of the season, moving him to sixth on the division’s all-time wins list. Third-generation driver Hunter McKay from Depew, NY won his first career 4 Cylinder feature. Andrew Nye from Lancaster, NY won his first Mighty TQ Midget feature of the season.
Jeff Szafraniec and Dave Kozlowski brought the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman to the green flag for their 35-lap feature event, with Szafraniec showing the way over Tom McLeod, Shawn Nye, George Skora, Jake Vernon, and Andy Jankowiak. McLeod would take over the lead on lap number four, with Shawn Nye moving into second place, driving the Leo Becker owned entry. Nye would take over the lead on lap six, with Skora and Jankowiak battling for third place behind McLeod. Jankowiak would pass Skora on lap nine to move into third place. The red flag would come out on lap 10 as McLeod and Jankowiak made contact, with Jankowiak hitting the front straightaway wall hard and Skora had nowhere to go. Both drivers climbed out of their cars under their own power, McLeod was sent tail for his involvement in the accident. The lap 10 restart would see Shawn Nye and Jake Vernon on the front row, with Nye showing the way. Tony Carbone would take over second place and would go after Nye. Alan Bookmiller and Jake Vernon got together in turn three to bring out the caution on lap 15. Nye and Carbone would pull away from the field following the restart and would battle for the lead and win amongst themselves. Carbone would take the lead away on lap 22. Carbone and Nye would battle for much of the final 13 circuits, but in the end, it was Carbone celebrating in victory lane for his first career Sportsman win at Lancaster Motorplex. Tony dedicated the win to longtime car owner Gene Stevenson, who passed away a couple of seasons ago. Tony’s win adds his name to long storied tradition of the Carbone family winning at Lancaster Motorplex.
Tommy Wentland and Gary Bartella were on the front row for the Street Stocks feature event, with Wentland showing the way over a strong field of 23 Street Stocks. The lead trio of Wentland, Bartella, and Tim Welshans started to pull away from Nik Welshans and Jacob Gustafson. Mike Dalfonso raced in sixth and was challenging Gustafson for fifth. Tim Welshans would move into second place on lap nine and would go after race leader Tommy Wentland near the race’s halfway mark. Mark Hoch would enter the battle, as he took over second from Welshans on lap 12 and would go after Wentland. Hoch would then take over the lead on lap 14. Gustafson would take over second following a lap 14 restart, as Hoch would lead the event.
Hunter McKay and Andy Danielwicz led the field of 4 Cylinders to the green flag for their feature event, with McKay showing the way. Danielwicz, Russ Bulger Jr, and Mason Hanel battled for several laps for the runner up position, with Hanel moving into third on lap six. With McKay continuing to show the way, the battle was on for second place with Danielwicz, Russ Bulger Jr, Josh Schosek, and Hanel. Hanel would take over second late in the event, as McKay would drive on to score his first career win.
Nick Groff and Dave Wollaber were on the front row for the 20-lap Mighty TQ Midgets feature with Groff showing the way ahead of Wollaber and Vinnie Christiano III. Wollaber would take the lead away on lap three. The first caution of the race came out on lap nine as Kyle Hutchinson and Erik Musto got together in turn three. Wollaber would continue to lead, and Christiano III would take over second on the restart. Andrew Nye worked his way from his dead-last starting position, to take over fourth place on lap 12. The caution would come out again on lap 15, as Chester Haywood spun in turn three. Nye would take the lead on lap 18 and would go on to score the win, driving from 15th to 1st to do so, and with that earning his second straight Mighty TQ Midget Series victory, first of the season at Lancaster, and eighth of his career at the Lancaster ¼-mile, tying him with James Michael Friesen, Vinnie Christiano Jr, and Bobby Holmes for ninth all time.
Stock car racing action continues at Lancaster on Saturday, July 22 for Autograph Night! The New York Super Stock Series and Late Models will make their second visits of the season. They will be joined by the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman, Street Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and Mighty TQ Midgets. 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 and can participate in the Kids Korner Craft hosted by the 50/50 ticket sellers. Racing will get underway next Saturday at 6pm.
For more information, follow Lancaster Motorplex on social media and for the complete 2023 schedules, visit the website at www.lancastermotorplexny.com
RACE RESULTS – THURSDAY NIGHT THUNDER
Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman: TONY CARBONE, Shawn Nye, John Barber, Tim Garlock, Cameron Ruggiero Jr, Jeff Szafraniec, Dave Kozlowski, Rich Littlefield, Andrew Cook, Paul Flye, Paul Townsend, Chris Pennell, Alan Bookmiller, Jake Vernon, Tom MacLeod, Andy Jankowiak, George Skora III
Did Not Start: Chase Williams
Qualifying Heats: Jake Vernon, George Skora III
Street Stocks: MARK HOCH, Mike Dalfonso, Nik Welshans, Jacob Gustafson, Tim Welshans, David Brunka, Chris Powers, Mike Piccirilli, Tommy Wentland, David Johnson, Chris Barber, Max Northem, John Carlson, Dan Dressel, Gary Bartella, Garret Cleversley, Matt Friend, Rick Meyers, Frank Prell, Frank Batista Jr, Bob Palmer, Dustin Novoa
Did Not Start: Jim Dauer
Qualifying Heats: Mike Dalfonso, David Johnson, Tommy Wentland
4 Cylinders: HUNTER MCKAY, Mason Hanel, Chris Deyoe Jr, John Byrd, Tim Offhaus, Russ Bulger Jr, Josh Schosek, Andy Danielwicz
Did Not Start: Ashton Hannon
Qualifying Heat: Russ Bulger Jr
Mighty TQ Midgets: ANDREW NYE, Dave Wollaber, Brian Schulz, Vinnie Christiano III, Erik Musto, Kyle Hutchinson, Vinnie Christiano Jr, Brendan Wallace, Carl Schroeder, Ronnie Flaim, Nick Groff, Chester Haywood, Kevin Wilson, Adam Brown, Andy Jankowiak
Qualifying Heats: Nick Groff, Dave Wollaber
Article Credit: Steven Petty
Submitted By: Steven Petty