Shawn Nye, Rich Sharpe, Dave Brunka Claim 2021 Lancaster Track Championships Andy Jankowiak, Sam Fullone, Sharpe, Brunka, and Andy Nye Score Victories
LANCASTER, NY (August 21, 2021) … Andy Jankowiak from Tonawanda, NY won his third Sportsman feature of the season. Shawn Nye from Lancaster, NY won the track championship. Sam Fullone from North Collins, NY won the Late Model special. Rich Sharpe from Depew, NY won his third Street Stock feature of the season and picked up the track championship. Dave Brunka from Cheektowaga, NY won his fourth 4 Cylinder feature and claimed the track title. Andy Nye from Lancaster won his second Jerry Gradl Motors NYPA TQ Midget feature of the season.
Mark Pennell and Bob Reis was on the front row for the Sportsman feature event, and it was Reis showing the way. Andy Jankowiak would take over second and would go after Reis for the lead. Jankowiak would take the lead away from Reis on lap five and Shawn Nye would take over second just two laps later. Reis, Jimmy Zacharias, Timmy Lewis and Pennell would all battle for third place. Zacharias would take over third on lap 17. Jankowiak and Nye would pull away from the rest of the field. Neil Hopkins spun in turn two to bring out the caution on lap 27, erasing the lead that Jankowiak and Nye had over the field. On the restart, Jankowiak would take over the lead. Nye and Zacharias would battle for second. Jankowiak would go on to score the win, his third of the season and career win #23 in a Sportsman, tying Karl Hehr for fourth on the all-time division win list.
Joe Mancuso would lead from his front-row starting spot in the Late Model feature go. While working lap traffic, Dave Heitzhaus would take the lead away from Mancuso, with Eldon King III and Sam Fullone racing in third and fourth. Off a lap seven restart, Heitzhaus would take off out front with Sam Fullone taking over second place. Fullone would then take the lead away on lap nine, with King moving into second place. King would catch Fullone and would take over the lead on lap 18, as the top two would pull away from Jeff Brown, Heitzhaus, and Chase Williams. Fullone and King battled for several laps, and it was Fullone edging out King to score the victory.
Tim Garlock and Scott Soos was on the front row for the Street Stock feature event and before the field completed the first lap, Mark Hoch spun, in turn, three after dropping fluid out of the 07. Entering the night, Hoch was the division’s points leader. After leaking water, Nik Welshans spun, in turn, one to bring out the caution once again. Garlock would lead on the restart with Soos, Mike Rogers, Al Piasecki, and Tim Welshans racing in the fifth spot. Rich Sharpe worked his way into sixth place and then on lap seven, moved into fourth place. Welshans and Soos battled for second place as Garlock started to pull away from the field. Dave Krawczyk raced into the top five and stayed behind Sharpe for the duration of the event. After a lap 15 caution, Sharpe would take over the lead with Welshans battling with Garlock for second place. Dave Krawczyk would take over second place late in the event, with Rich Sharpe showing the way. Sharpe went on to score the win, career win 30 and clinched the track title by a single point over Krawczyk
Vinny Christiano Jr and Brian Schulz brought the Jerry Gradl Motors NYPA Midgets to the green flag for their 20-lap feature with Christiano showing the way. Mark Schulz would take second away from his younger brother on lap two. Andy Jankowiak spun, in turn, two and dropped fluid on the track to bring out the caution. On the restart, Schulz would take over the lead with Bobby Holmes in second. Andy Nye would work his way through the field to take over the lead with Holmes and Dave Wollaber in third. Nye would pull away to his second win of the season and seventh career TQ Midget win at Lancaster.
Casey Pew took the lead from his pole position in the 4 Cylinder feature event. Dave Brunka would take over the lead off a lap three restart. Pew and Dan Dressel would battle for several laps for second place as Brunka would pull away from the field. Brunka would go on to score the win and claim the 2021 track championship.
Speedway management would like to thank Brian from BRK Engines and Nu-Way Auto Parts for their support of Autograph Night. Over $2,900 in gift cards were given away to young race fans throughout the night.
The Stock Car program will take a couple of weeks off to get ready for the 33rd edition of the US Open Weekend on September 11 and 12. On Saturday, September 11, the Sportsman, Super Stocks, 4 Cylinders, and the Jerry Gradl Motors NYPA TQ Midgets will all be in competition. Racing will get underway at 4:30 pm with grandstands opening at 3:00 pm and the pits will open at 10:00 am with practice getting underway at 1 pm. Then on Sunday, the Tour-Type Modifieds will take center stage for the 33rd US Open 125. The Street Stocks and Late Models will also take part in day two of the US Open Weekend. Racing on Sunday will start at 1:30 pm. Pit gates on Sunday will open at 9:30 am, practice gets underway at 10:30 am, and grandstands will open at 12 noon. follow NYIRP at Lancaster on social media and website in the coming days for admission prices and more information regarding US Open Weekend.
The Rusty Wallace Driving Experience will be at the speedway on Sunday, August 29. Contact them for times and pricing.
For more information, check out www.lancastermotorsportspark.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and now on Instagram.
RACE RESULTS – SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP NIGHT
SPORTSMAN: ANDY JANKOWIAK, Shawn Nye, Jimmy Zacharias, Bob Reis, Timmy Lewis Jr, Scott Wylie, Mark Pennell, Kyle Hutchinson, Dave Kozlowski, Neil Hopkins, Jeff Szafraniec, John Barber, Leo Becker
Did Not Start: Tim Garlock, Jeff Lutz
Qualifying Heats: Andy Jankowiak, Jimmy Zacharias
LATE MODELS: SAM FULLONE, Eldon King III, Jeff Brown, Dave Heitzhaus, Chase Williams, Danny Knoll Jr, Dave Russell, Steve Schultz, Joe Mancuso, Jared Shanley, Ron Richter
Qualifying Heats: Eldon King III, Jeff Brown
STREET STOCKS: RICH SHARPE, Dave Krawczyk, Tim Welshans, Tim Garlock, Tommy Wentland, Mike Dalfonso, Frank Prell, Tyler Day, Mike Rogers, Ken Maltby, Jerry Kosmowski, Jason Anasiewicz, John Carlson, Scott Soos, Al Piasecki, Jim Dauer, Garret Cleversley, Bobby Blaszak, Ed Culliton, Matt Friend, Will Cloutier, Wes La Bar, Kyle Schosek, Dave Evans, Nik Welshans, Mark Hoch
Did Not Start: Chris Powers
Qualifying Heats: Tommy Wentland, Rich Sharpe, Jerry Kosmowski
JERRY GRADL MOTORS NYPA TQ MIDGETS: ANDY NYE, Bobby Holmes, Dave Wollaber, Mark Schulz, Brian Schulz, Kyle Hutchinson, Jonathan Reid, Vinnie Christiano Jr, Moose Rutherford, Vinnie Christiano III, Ronnie Flaim, Arik McGruder, Tony Petrea, Kevin Wilson, Ricky Farina, Erik Musto, Andy Jankowiak, Chet Haywood
Qualifying Heats: Brian Schulz, Vinnie Christiano Jr
4 CYLINDERS: DAVID BRUNKA, Casey Pew, Dan Dressel, Kyle Casper, Andy Danielwicz, Christopher Deyoe Jr, Bob Heineman, Mason Offhaus, Jimmy Dunkleman, Jonathan Klamut
Did Not Start: Charles Palmer
Qualifying Heats: David Brunka, Casey Pew
About NYIRP at Lancaster Speedway & Dragway: Founded in 1959, New York International Raceway Park at Lancaster Speedway and Dragway (NYIRP at Lancaster) is a multi-use facility located on 77 acres just outside of metro Buffalo, N.Y. The facility features a 1/8-mile IHRA drag strip, a 1/2-mile oval track and hosts several non-motorsports events such as car shows and concerts. For the latest information on NYIRP at Lancaster, check out our website www.lancastermotorsportspark.com. Additional information for racers and fans can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LancasterMotorsportspark), Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy), and on Instagram (@lancasterspeedwaydragway).
Sources: Steven Petty/New York International Raceway Park at Lancaster Speedway and Dragway PR