LANCASTER, N.Y. — Patrick Emerling crossed the line first on Sunday afternoon in the 34th Annual Tribute to Tommy Druar and Tony Jankowiak for the Race of Champions Modified Series at Lancaster Motorplex.
Jack Ely and Daryl Lewis Jr. brought the field of Race of Champions Modifieds to the green flag for the Tommy/Tony 110 with Ely taking command early on, as Jake Lutz moved into second place after passing Lewis, with Andy Jankowiak, and Austin Beers racing in the top five.
Jankowiak would pass Lewis for third place on lap three, as Beers went to the inside of Lewis for fourth place on lap four. George Skora would work his way into the top seven, after passing Tyler Catalano on lap seven, just ahead of Emerling.
Beers, fresh off his Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 victory, passed Jankowiak to take over third place on lap 21, as Ely and Lutz started to pull away from the field.
Skora would continue to move up through the field, as he was able to race around Trevor Catalano for sixth place, with Emerling moving into seven on lap 24. Skora continued his race towards the front of the field, as he would reel in Lewis and Jankowiak for the race for fourth place on lap 30.
Skora would take over fifth place on lap 40, just as race leader Jack Ely would catch the back of the field. Skora would pass Jankowiak to move into fourth place. The first caution of the event would come out on lap 48, as Catalano spun out of turn four.
Most of the teams up front would go into the pits, except for race leader Ely and third-place Beers. Following the restart, Emerling would move to second place as Zane Zeiner worked his way into third following pit stops.
Catalano spun in turn three on lap 79 to bring out the caution. Emerling would take over the lead on lap 87, as Lutz would pass Ely to take over second place. Zeiner passed Ely on lap 89 to move into third place, as Jankowiak was able to race his way into fourth place.
Lutz would start to pressure his teammate Emerling on lap 94, as Skora was trying to re-enter the top five. Catalano spun on the back straightaway to bring out the caution on lap 97.
The restart would see the two Joey Stearns’ prepared cars of Emerling and Lutz on the front row, with Emerling taking the lead ahead of Lutz, Zeiner, Skora, and Jankowiak. Danny Knoll Jr. spun on the front straightaway to bring out the caution on lap 98.
Beers would work his way back into fifth place on lap 99, as Emerling started to pull away from the field. A caution for debris on lap 108 would set up a green-white-checkered finish, with Emerling holding off Lutz and Skora to score the feature win, his second at Lancaster in Race of Champions competition, and 11th of his career.Â
Nik Welshans won the Budget RV Outlet of Buffalo Street Stocks. Russ Bulger Jr. won the Rusty Diamond Cores 4 Cylinder feature event. Kyle Hutchinson won the Mighty TQ Midgets feature event.Â
Feature Finish:
PATRICK EMERLING, Jake Lutz, George Skora III, Zane Zeiner, Austin Beers, Andy Jankowiak, Daryl Lewis Jr, Trevor Catalano, Paulie Hartwig III, Daren Scherer, Shawn Nye, Jack Ely, Sean Verwys, Tyler Catalano, Ricky Knapp Jr, Randall Richard, Austin Kochenash, Danny Knoll Jr, Earl Paules, Bobby Hanel Jr, Timmy Catalano, Mike Leaty, Tony Hanbury
Did Not Start: Tommy Catalano