9/18/2023
Lancaster Speedway
35th US Open Weekend This Coming Weekend
LANCASTER, N.Y. (September 18, 2023) – Lancaster Motorplex is gearing up for its biggest racing weekend of the season, with the 35th US Open Weekend September 22-24. The weekend’s activities has something for everyone and is set up to be an instant classic.
Matt Hirschman from Northampton, PA has won the US Open six times, most recently in 2022. The stars of the Race of Champions Modified Series will be headlining the Sunday, September 24 racing program. Zane Zeiner from Bath, PA won the race back in 2003. Mike Leaty from Williamson, NY won the race in 2021, joining Father Jan as a US Open Modified winner. Patrick Emerling has won the race on two occasions, in 2016 and 2019. Andy Jankowiak won the race in 2017. Sunday’s racing action will also see the Late Models in action. Eldon King III has three Late Model victories at the Open, so does Dave Heitzhaus. Bob Weber is the all-time winningest driver in the division, with five victories. The Budget RV Outlet of Buffalo Street Stocks will also be in action on Sunday, with 2023 track champion Mark Hoch from West Seneca being the most recent winner. Rich Sharpe leads all drivers with six wins. The Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinders will be racing on the big track on Sunday, with Dave Milbrand picking up the win last year.
The Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman will be headlining the Saturday portion of US Open Weekend. Andy Jankowiak from Tonawanda, NY has won the sportsman event six times over his career, most recently in 2021. George Skora III is the defending race winner. Saturday’s program will also feature the New York Super Stock Series, where Joe Mancuso leads all drivers with four wins in the race. The last three years for the Super Stocks has produced three different winners, with Tommy Krawczyk, Ryan Lagoda, and Eric Brown all visiting victory lane. Saturday’s racing action will also feature the Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinders, with Chris Deyoe Jr being the defending race winner. Kevin Bainbridge has won the race on three occasions. The Mighty TQ Midgets will also be in competition Saturday, with Dave Wollaber leading all drivers with seven wins. Andy Jankowiak, Bobby Holmes, and Jonathan Reid are the recent winners. Saturday will also see the inaugural appearance by the Small Block Super Modified Championship Series. The SBS run weekly at the Oswego Speedway.
In the 34 previous US Open Weekends, no one has won more races combined than both Chuck Hossfeld and Andy Jankowiak, with nine wins a piece. Hossfeld has four sportsman wins and five modified triumphs. Jankowiak has six in the Sportsman, one in the modified, with wins in the Street Stocks, and TQ Midgets.
The 35th US Open Weekend will kick off on Friday, September 22 for an open practice for all participating cars from 6pm-9:30pm, followed by a FREE concert from The 5D Band in the grandstand concourse. Grandstands are free to come watch practice on Friday night.
Racing will get underway on Saturday, September 23 at 4:30pm, with pit gates opening at noon, and grandstand gates opening at 2pm. Grandstand admission is $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and veterans, $15 for kids aged 13-16, and kids 12 and under are admitted FREE. Pit admission is $40. The Saturday program will feature the Monroe Extinguisher Sportsman, New York Super Stocks, Small Block Supermodified Championship Series, the Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinders and the Mighty TQ Midgets.
Sunday, September 24 will be 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. Pit gates will open at 9am, with practice and front gates opening at 11am, and racing will get underway at 1pm. Pit admission is $40. Grandstand admission prices are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and veterans, $20 for kids 13-16, with kids 12 and under being admitted free.
Camping is available all weekend long for $20 and must check in at the gates prior to setting up camp.
For more information, follow Lancaster Motorplex on social media and visit the website at www.lancastermotorplexny.com
Article Credit: Steven Petty
Submitted By: Steven Petty