Mike & Nick Hossfeld's LancasterRacer.com - news

Hebing, Matuszak, Johnson and Jankowiak all start the year off right.

Lancaster Raceway Park was host to its season opener Sunday, May 6th. The weather was perfect and the pits were packed as many drivers and fans have had racing fever all winter. I believe everyone was happy to be back at the track.

The first feature of the afternoon was the McGard Wheel Lock Street Stocks. The "tough nuts" of the street stock division proved it again. The race began with Jeff Madill on the pole. The action was early as Joe Light spun into the turn 2 wall on lap 1. Joe was able to come back out later in the race and get a solid finish. Just a few laps later, Jim Stein had a engine failure which led to a lengthy clean up. Jeff Madill was able to retain his lead for a majority of the feature until lap 14 when Cory Gallagher brought out the caution. On the restart, Andy Jankowiak was able to get around Madill. Jankowiak was sitting in the top 5 the whole race and got the lead with 5 to go. Andy J led those 5 remaining laps and take home his second straight street stock win. Jankowiak won the US Open feature last fall. The top 5 included Andy Jankowiak, Jeff Madill, Tom Agen Sr, Jim Bryant and Wayne Lavis. Lavis had a strong run winning his heat race and finishing in the top 5. Other standouts include Russell Knutsen who came from the back after a spin to finish 8th, and rookie Jeff Guidotti who finished 9th.

The Relaks Resale Super Stocks had very low car counts for there feature. Many drivers who ran last year were not in attendance, including Kyle Sharpe, Paul Alberti, Jay Mudra and Doug Evans. Anyways, the race must go on. Heat Winner, Wayne Bernhard, started on the pole. The feature was quick with only one caution. Bernhard, Johnson and Batista ran in a 3 car pack. With about 5 laps left, Bernhard got loose and spun. Dave Johnson got the lead with Batista behind him. Dave Johnson won the race. 8 Super Stocks were at the track. I really hope some more drivers show up so this division can get back up to 12-14 car fields.

The BobCat of Buffalo Late Models were up next. 2006 Champion Bobby Weber started out front with Will Thomas to his outside. 15 cars started the race. Phil Hayne DNS. Bobby Weber had the lead early and looked as though he may dominate the race. This thought ended after Tommy Reese brought out the caution. On the restart, Will Thomas got around Weber. Something in Weber's car broke and he pulled off a few laps later. Todd Hoddick moved up to second and Bill Matuszak battled with George Skora to get up to third. As the laps winded down, Hoddick closed in the gap between himself and Thomas. On the last lap, in turn 2, Hoddick spun Thomas. This was most likely pay back from the US Open when Thomas picked up the win after getting around Hoddick using some force. All of this commotion was exactly what Matuszak was looking for. After Thomas and Hoddick were sent to the back, Billy Matuszak got the lead. We went on to win the feature.

Twenty Modifieds were on hand for the first Lancaster Modified race of the season. Bill "Wilbur" Hebing started on the pole with TJ Potrzebowski on his outside. TJ got the lead early. The race was a little dicey in the beginning. As drivers were jockeying for position, Chris Finocchario threw a block on Jan Leaty who was on his inside. This sent Leaty into the inside wall and then back out onto the track, collecting Sege Fidanza and Erick Rudolph. Fidanza did become airborne as his car was spinning into the outside jersey barrier in the beginning of turn 1. Leaty and Fidanza went out on flatbeds and Rudolph was towed off. Some laps later, McGrath and Buck Catalano made contact in turn 3, sending McGrath into the wall. After all of this, Patsy Catalano was in the lead. Bobby Holmes was running right on his tail when he almost spun Patsy in turn 4. The caution was thrown and Patsy was able to save his car. Bobby Holmes was sent to the rear. The race was full of action and after Holmes was sent to the back, Bill Hebing was able to get the lead. Some laps after this, Bobby Holmes and TJ Potrzebowski spun in turn 3 and hit the wall. Bill Hebing was still holding the lead and Danny Knoll, who came all the way from the back, was sitting second. Knoll tried to make a move around Hebing but couldn't get around him. Bill Hebing went on to claim the checkered flag. Knoll, Putney, Buck Catalano and Larry Jackson rounded out the top 5.

The 2007 Season Opener is in the books.

Lancaster Raceway Park will be back to having Saturday night shows starting next weekend, Saturday, May 12th.

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