Andy Jankowiak wins 4th of 2011 at WCIS

PERRY, NY….. A beautiful Mid-August evening welcomed the stars and the cars to Elitsac Lumber Night at Wyoming County International Speedway (WCIS). The entire staff and management at WCIS would like to thank the folks at Elitsac Lumber for sponsoring the night’s festivities on the 1/3^rd mile oval in the hills of Wyoming County. On the track it was Andy Jankowiak getting the win in the SST Modifieds. In the Super Stocks, it was Austyn Fugle getting his second victory of the season and in the 4 Cylinders it was Brian Johnson notching his first win of 2011.

Heat winner Andy Jankowiak and Dick Kluth were on the front row for the 35 lap affair for the open-wheeled SST Modifieds and it was Jankowiak out front early on. Dan Hoag had a hard hit into the back stretch concrete, ending the night of the Dansville competitor. The field went back under green flag conditions and it was Jankowiak back in the lead with Jim Love leading Dick Kluth and TJ Zacharias.

Zacharias looked to the inside of Love for the runner up spot and would complete the pass going down the front straightaway early on in the event. Jankowiak was still ahead of the class when the field came under starter James Mitchell’s crossed-flags meaning the race was half over. Zacharias, Love, Kluth and Jim “Timex” Morgan making his SST Modified debut was running fifth.

Nobody was going to catch Andy J on this night as Jankowiak would lead from start to finish claiming his fourth win of the season at the Perry Bullring.  Coming home second was TJ Zacharias and Jim Love rounded out the top three.

Austin Fugle and Bob Herman were on the front row for the Super Stock feature and it was Fugle out to the early race lead. Last week’s feature winner Phil Alhart Jr quickly moved from his starting spot to take over the number three position on lap two and moved into second just couple of laps later. The driver that was on the move was former track champion Kenny Barber. Barber, who was filling in for Jeremy Gray, started towards the rear of the field and was up into third just before the halfway mark of the race. The Livonia, NY pilot held off all challenges as Fugle would lead from start to finish to win his second race of the 2011 racing season. Alhart would come home in second and Kenny Barber would round out the top three. 

Joe Horvatits and Eric Hastreiter led the field of 4 Cylinders to the green flag for their 20 lap feature event with Horvatits out front early. Second generation driver Matt Druar got turned around by three-time feature winner Charles Buchanan on the first go around to bring out the races’ first caution.

On the restart it was Horvatits in the lead and there was a problem for Hastreiter as the Silver Lake Marina, Southpaw Signs Bill at Da Grille Restaurant entry slowed but was able to continue on racing. Heat winner Tom Lalomia Jr was able to get around Horvatits for the top spot with a move to the outside of turn two to claim the number one position. When the race was half completed, it was heat winner Tom Lalomia Jr leading the way over Brian Johnson, Charles Buchanan, Matt Druar and Vinnie Muscarella running in the top five.

There was a battle for the lead shaping up at the front of the field between race leader Lalomia and Brian Johnson and with three laps remaining, Johnson would make his move on the top side of the speedway and would pass Lalomia for the top spot. Johnson, from Castile would lead the remaining three circuits to claim his first win of 2011 at the Bullring. Lalomia would cross the line in second followed by Buchanan, Druar and Muscarella.

Racing continues next Friday night at the Bullring featuring the SST Modifieds, Super Stocks and 4 Cylinders. Pit gates open at 5:00pm with the grandstand gates also swinging open at 5pm. The racing action gets underway at 7:30. An added special performance next week by Billy Dee, who will be performing hits from Johnny Cash and Dayle Ess singing favorites from Patsy Cline. The concert starts at 6:30pm and also will be going on during intermission. Next Friday is sponsored by the Bank of Castile and as part of the sponsorship; there will be a 5000 penny pickup.  

Mark your calendars for Labor Day weekend as Sunday September 4^th will feature the SST Modified 100 and the Super Stocks in a 50 lap affair plus the 4 Cylinder Stocks. Lap sponsorships are available for the SST Modified 100 and Super Stock 50 for just $25 per lap. To be a lap sponsor, call the speedway office at 585-237-2580. For more information, you can log on to www.wyomingcountyinternationalspeedway.com or call 585-237-2580.

OFFICIAL FINISH: ELITSAC LUMBER NIGHT

SST MODIFIED: ANDY JANKOWIAK, TJ Zacharias, Jim Love, Dick Kluth, Jim “Timex” Morgan, Tom Weist, Bill Roemasser, Dan Hoag

Heat Winners: Andy Jankowiak, TJ Zacharias

SUPER STOCKS: AUSTYN FUGLE, Phil Alhart Jr, Kenny Barber, Brad Collings, Daniel Majchrzak, Bob Herman, John Bookmiller, Cassie Logsdon, Grace Roberts, Jay Canonico (DNS)

Heat Winners: Austyn Fugle, Jay Canonico

4 CYLINDER STOCKS: BRIAN JOHNSON, Tom Lalomia Jr, Charles Buchanan, Matt Druar, Vinnie Muscarella, Brian Frost, Eric Hastreiter, Daniel Majchrzak, Joe Horvatits, Nate Koson, Dakota Packman, Jason Landcastle, Troy Collings (DNS), Bryan Stimson (DNS)