Story By: RACE OF CHAMPIONS – HOLLAND, NY – Jake Christman of Walnutport, Pa., has been on a roll in Race of Champions competition of all types. He has won the first two Race of Champions Super Stock Series races and this past Saturday he used a late race restart move to edge out Jake Vernon for the first Sportsman Modified victory of his young career.
“This car was good tonight,” beamed Christman from victory lane. “We got it right and just kept working our way forward. It’s really challenging to win one of these and it feels incredible. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. I’m very thankful for my Dad, my family, my crew for all that they do to get us here.”
Christman, who started from the pole, slipped back and had to chase Vernon of Eden, NY, down. Vernon had dominated the race until late in the going, eventually finishing second. Kevin Timmerman of Ontario, NY finished third.
Shawn Nye of Lancaster, NY posted the fastest recorded time in the final practice session, which was used for qualifying times. Vernon, Christman and Mike Fiebelkorn of Hamburg, NY won the qualifying races.
Jacob Gustafson of Webster, NY held off veteran Late Model racer and defending Series champion Dave Heitzhaus of Strykersville, NY to win the Race of Champions Late Model Series opener. It was the first Late Model victory of Gustafson’s career. Eldon King, III of Freedom, NY finished third.
Trisha Connolly of Palmerton, Pa., passed Nick Robinson of Waverly, NY, late in the going and went on to win her first Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series race. Connolly was the 2023 Series Most-Popular-Driver. Hunter McKay of Depew, NY, finished second. Gene Purvis of Elmira, NY, came home third.
Tim Welshans of South Wales, NY, was the only “repeat Series winner in action Saturday as he scored another Race of Champions Street Stock victory. Nik Welshans of West Seneca, NY finished second. Third place finisher Kyle Schosek of Orchard Park, NY was disqualified from the event after finishing third for an illegal carburetor, moving Mitch Friend of Buffalo, NY to third.
Tim Nies of Elma, NY was disqualified and parked from the Sportsman Modified Series event per the Race of Champions Modified Series rule book, Section 2, b2, letter C., after intentionally hitting a car in the infield following the checkered flag and completion of the feature race and proceeding to leave the race track at a high rate of speed while pedestrians crossed the track.
Matt Heale of Rochester, NY, was penalized for a tire infraction in one of the qualifying race for the Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series.
The next race for the Race of Champions “Family of Series” is this Friday, June 14 at Spencer Speedway for the Race of Champions Super Stocks Saturday, June 15 at Chemung (NY) Speedrome for the Race of Champions Modified Series and Race of Champions FOAR SCORE Dash Series and finally Sunday, June 16 at Wyoming County International Speedway “The Bullring” for the Race of Champions Sportsman Modified; Super Stock and FOAR SCORE Four Cylinder Dash Series.