8/13/2018
Race of Champions
SAM FULLONE DRIVES TO VICTORY IN 50-LAP RACE OF CHAMPIONS LATE MODEL SERIES EVENT AS PART OF JERRY GRADL NIGHT AT THE TRACK @ HILLSIDE BUFFALO
Sam Fullone of North Collins, N.Y., started fourth and quickly worked his way to the top spot, survived several restarts and challenges before going on to win the Race of Champions Late Model Series 50-lap event at the Track @ Hillside Buffalo this past Saturday.
“We had a good day,” offered Fullone in victory lane. “We are working hard on this and some work to do to get here. It was a challenging race. It’s great to put this car number (48) back in victory lane in a Late Model here at Holland. Late Models belong here and I’m proud of this. Our team did a great job and we are going to enjoy this.”
Eldon King, III of Delevan, N.Y., who started from the pole, recovered from an early race penalty to finish second.
Dave Heitzhaus of Strykersville, N.Y., finished third after starting second.
Terry Weldy of Clarence, N.Y., drove to a fourth place finish after starting third. It was Weldy’s return to competition after a devastating crash in the Series previous race at Lancaster (N.Y.) National Speedway.
Tommy Catalano rounded out the top-five in fifth.
Fullone turned in the fastest time overall time during group qualifying with a lap of 14.475 seconds with an average speed of 93.264 mph.
Fullone and Heitzhaus won the qualifying races.
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, US Army, Upstate Automotive Group, Waddell Communications, Pilat Graphic Design, Jerico Performance, TDH Refrigeration, Sherwood Racing Wheels, PavedTrackDigest.com and Speed51.com. The 68th annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2018 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
For more information, contact;
Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
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Feature Finish
Jerry Gradl Night (50-laps)
The Track @ Hillside Buffalo, Holland, N.Y.
Finishing Position, Car Number, Driver, Laps Completed, Reason Out (If Any)
Finish Starting Position No. Name Laps
1 4 48 Sam Fullone 50
2 1 0 Eldon King, III
3 2 45 Dave Heitzhaus
4 3 66 Terry Weldy
5 5 98 Tommy Catalano
6 10 21 Joe Berretta
7 9 7 Matt Bove
8 12 31x Ron Richter 46
9 7 93 Dave Russell 36, Accident
10 6 2 Dave Whittaker 31, Handling
11 8 11 Bob Weber 19, Over Heating
12 13 09 Art Hill 2, Clutch
13 11 43 Joshua Hathaway 1, Engine
Time of Race: 31 minutes and 28 seconds Average Speed: 35.761 mph Margin of Victory: .396 seconds
Qualifying Race 1; Sam Fullone Qualifying Race 2; Dave Heitzhaus
Submitted By: Joe Skotnicki