Ben Russo and Jeff Szafraniec Split Hornet Feature Wins at Holland
Tom Northem and Zach Myers Share Charger Triumphs
HOLLAND, New York (August 20, 2016) – Holland International Speedway beat mother nature this past Saturday night as VSP Graphics Group presented First Responders Appreciation Night. Ben Russo from Lancaster, NY picked up the win in the Bank of Holland Hornets feature in their first of two features on the night. For Russo, it was his third win of the season. Jeff Szafraniec from Buffalo, NY won his third feature of the season in the nightcap for the Hornets. Tom Northem from Alden, NY scored the win in the first twin 25 for the Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Agency NASCAR Pro Chargers for his third win of the season. Zach Myers took “the Fastest Grocery Getter in WNY” back to victory lane for the fourth time in 2016 in the second Charger feature. Brandon DeBrakeleer from Mill Village, Pennsylvania picked up his fourth win of the season for the Advance Auto Parts INEX Legends. Dale Lombardo from Dunkirk, NY claimed another win in the Rookie 4’s. Jim Steins from South Wales, NY earned his fifth win of the season in the M&M U Pull-It Figure 8’s.
In the first of the twin 25 features for the Bank of Holland Hornets Adam Killingbeck and Mandie Orr set the pace and it was Orr showing the way. Bob Palmer would take the lead from his sixth starting spot at the end of the first scored lap with Jason Adams taking second away from Orr. Tyler Pastorious hit the turn four wall hard to bring out the races first caution on lap five. On the restart, Adams would take the lead away. Ben Russo would take the lead away from Adams at the halfway point and George Anthony would take second away from Adams just one lap later. Russo pulled away to score the win with Szafraniec in second, George Anthony, and Jason Adams rounding out the top four.
In the nightcap, Adam Killingbeck and Bob Bogner set the front row and it was Bogner jumping into the lead with Bob Palmer running in second place. Adam Killingbeck went three wide in turn three and got loose and Kathie Ricketson got collected as she had nowhere to go to bring out the races first caution with just two laps completed. Both drivers climbed out of their cars under their own power. Off the restart, Bogner would continue to lead the event with Jason Adams taking second away from Palmer with Jeff Szafraniec moving into third. Adams would take the lead on lap five as Szafraniec moved into second. Szafraniec would take over the lead on lap eight as Anton Anderson III would take second away from Adams and would begin to go after the race lead. Anderson would throw everything he had at Szafraniec until he had issues on the final lap. Szafraniec would go on to score the win, his third of the season.
The first of two twin 25’s for the Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Agency NASCAR Pro Chargers was led to the green flag by Nik Welshans and Jim Mallaber with Welshans jumping into the lead. Zach Myers took second away early and chased down Welshans for the lead. Myers would take the lead away from Welshans on lap eight as Tom Northem would take second and would go after the race leader Myers during the mid-point of the event. Northem would take the lead heading to the white flag after the lead duo made contact with Myers spinning in turn three. Northem would go on to score the win, his third of the season. Dave Vona, who crossed the line in third failed post race tech.
In the nightcap, Zach Myers and Tim Welshans shared the front row and it was Myers showing the way early. Myers would open up his advantage over the field as Tim Welshans got caught by Josh Hathaway and Tom Northem. Both Hathaway and Northem would move into second and third respectively on lap eight and would then battle each other for the runner-up spot. Hathaway and Northem raced hard for second and both made contact and Northem spun in turn four, bringing out the caution with just eight laps remaining. Myers pulled away off the restart over Hathaway and Ted Welshans as Dave Vona worked his way back through the field after an early race incident to run in fourth place. Myers would hold off Hathaway and Vona to score the win, his fourth of the season. Runner-up finisher Josh Hathaway failed post race tech.
Kevin Youngs led the opening circuit in the main event for the Advance Auto Parts INEX Legends. Carl Vilardo would take the lead at the end of the first scored lap with Brandon DeBrakeleer moving into second place. DeBrakeleer would take the lead at the end of lap four. The top two pulled away from the balance of the field. DeBrakeleer would go on to score his fourth win of the season and career win #110. Vilardo would finish in second with Gary Ham and David French completing the top four. Kevin Youngs and Mick Peterson came together on the back straightaway fighting for third spot coming to the checkered flag.
Dale Lombardo and Darryl Phillips battled throughout the whole Rookie 4’s main event. The duo would exchange the lead for several circuits until Lombardo cleared Phillips for the lead with four laps remaining. Lombardo would then pull away from the field in route to another victory. Phillips would finish in second with Brian Erler rounding out the field.
Jim Steins took off into the lead off the opening green flag in the M&M U Pull-It Figure 8’s feature. He would use his outside pole position to pull away from polesitter Don Haskell when the field hit the figure 8 track when they came off the banking of turns two and one. Once out front, Steins would dominate the event, leading the race from green to checkers. Steins would drive off into the sunset to score his fifth win of the season. Haskell would finish in second with Sharon Hughes and Scott Chaplin completing the field.
NEWS AND NOTES: It was VSP Graphic Groups’ Firefighter Family Night and Library Night at the races presented by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. The Jeep Wranglers Club of WNY was on hand as well as employees from ECMC.
The race for the 2016 Holland track titles will continue to heat up on Saturday, August 27th as Martin Brothers Chevrolet presents the tune-up before Season Championships. It is also Boy Scouts Family Night A full NASCAR Whelen All-American Series program will be presented as the Chargers will be running twin features plus another appearance by the NYPA TQ Midgets. Pit gates will open at 4:15pm with grandstand gates opening at 5:45pm and qualifying racing action starts at 6:00pm. NASCAR feature racing will be underway promptly at 7:05pm.
We’re social; find us on Facebook (Holland International Speedway), Twitter @HollandSpdwy), and Instagram (@hollandspeedway) as weekly specials and news on upcoming events will be seen on the track’s social media pages for the racetrack and the Holland Paintball and Airsoft Adventure Park. When posting on Social Media, use the #HollandSpeedway! Don’t forget to check out all of the pictures from each week’s racing program by logging on to hollandspeedway.smugmug.com. For more information log on to www.hollandspeedway.com or www.hollandpaintballadventurepark.com.
RACE REPORT: 8-20-16
BANK OF HOLLAND HORNETS #1: BEN RUSSO (Started 5th), Jeff Szafraniec (12), George Anthony (10), Jason Adams (8), Kathie Ricketson (3), Bob Palmer (6), Butcher Palmer (7), Bob Bogner (9), Scott Chaplin (11), Don Haskell (4), Mandie Orr (2), Adam Killingbeck (1), Tyler Pastorious (14) Disqualified: Anton Anderson III (13)
BANK OF HOLLAND HORNETS #2: JEFF SZAFRANIEC (Started 8th), Jason Adams (6), Ben Russo (11), George Anthony (9), Bob Bogner (2), Scott Chaplin (3), Butcher Palmer (5), Bob Palmer (4), Anton Anderson III (10), Don Haskell (12), Kathie Ricketson (7), Adam Killingbeck (1) Did Not Start: Mandie Orr, Tyler Pastorious
Qualifying Winners: Ben Russo, Kathie Ricketson
GETZONI NATIONWIDE INSURANCE AGENCY NASCAR PRO CHARGERS #1: TOM NORTHEM (Started 8th), Nik Welshans (1), Josh Hathaway (6), Jim Mallaber (2), Ted Welshans (5), Matt Fleming (11), Tim Welshans (3), Chuck Anderson (9), Zach Myers (4), Chris Handley (10), Steve Hill Jr (12), Rich Carnes (13) Disqualified: Dave Vona (7) Did Not Start: Max Northem
GETZONI NATIONWIDE INSURANCE AGENCY NASCAR PRO CHARGERS #2: ZACH MYERS (Started 1st), Dave Vona (10), Ted Welshans (3), Nik Welshans (6), Tim Welshans (2), Matt Fleming (12), Jim Mallaber (4), Chris Handley (8), Tom Northem (7), Steve Hill Jr (13), Rich Carnes (9), Chuck Anderson (11), Disqualified: Josh Hathaway (5) Did Not Start: Max Northem
Qualifying Winners: Nik Welshans, Zach Myers
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS INEX LEGENDS: BRANDON DEBRAKELEER (Started 4th), Carl Vilardo IV (2), Gary Ham (3), David French (6), Anthony Riforgiato (5), Keith Youngs (9), Kevin Youngs (1), Mick Peterson (7), Lars McElravy (10), Terry Lindstrom (8), John Breads (11)
Qualifying Winners: Brandon DeBrakeleer, Gary Ham
NASCAR ROOKIE 4’s: DALE LOMBARDO (Started 2nd), Darryl Phillips (3), Brian Erler (1)
Qualifying Winner: Darryl Phillips
M&M U PULL-IT FIGURE 8’s: JIM STEINS (Started 2nd), Don Haskell (1), Sharon Hughes (3) Scott Chaplin (4)
Sources: Steven Petty/Holland International Speedway PR