Story By: RACE OF CHAMPIONS – WILLIAMSON, NY – Ron Silk of Norwalk, CT, drove to his first-ever Race of Champions Modified Series victory this past Friday night at Spencer Speedway in Williamson, NY, and it was in one of the most lucrative victories in the history of the Speedway, with over $54,000 in purse money for the Modified event.
Silk took home $11,000 for his efforts in what is considered the best per lap for Modified racing in the region.
Silk started 5th and slipped past Jake Lutz of Hamburg, NY, on a restart when Lutz missed a shift. From that point Lutz pressured Silk all the way to the checkered flag, however, it was to no avail as Silk narrowly earned the victory.
“We had a great car and I need to thank my team for that,” stated Silk in victory lane. “It’s awesome that we won our first Race of Champions race in the Maynard Troyer Classic, he was certainly a legend of this sport. Jake (Lutz) is young and he’s extremely good. I hope he doesn’t get too much better, he really gave us a run for our money.”
Lutz came home 2nd. Current Series championship point-leader, Zane Zeiner of Bath, PA, posted yet another top-five finishing 3rd. Paulie Hartwig, III of Galloway, NJ, finished 4th and Jack Ely formerly of Wall, NJ, now residing in Northampton, PA, finished 5th.
Silk earned the fastest time in green-white-checker qualifying. Silk, Zeiner, Mike Leaty of Williamson, NY, and Hartwig earned the qualifying race victories.
Kevin Timmerman of Ontario, NY, redrew the pole and led flag-to-flag to win the Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series feature this past Friday. Timmerman topped Eddie Hawkins of Marion, NY, and Mike Leaty. Timmy Lewis of Ontario, NY, and Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY, rounded out the top-five.
Jake Christman of Walnutport, PA, posted the fastest time in the final practice session to earn the bonus points. Christman, Evan Rygielski of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and Andrew Lewis, Jr., of Ontario, NY won the qualifying races.
Joey VanLane of Williamson, NY won the Race of Champions Rocket Performance 602 Sportsman Modified Series race. VanLane outran Jenna Dietz of Holland, NY, and John Sippel of Webster, NY.
Dietz won the qualifying race
The next race for the Race of Champions “Family of Series” is next Sunday, September 8 at Humberstone Speedway in Port Colborne, Ontario-Canada with Nostalgia Night for the Race of Champions Dirt 602 Sportsman Modified Series. The Race of Champions “Family of Series” returns to action with the Race of Champions Sportsman Modified and Race of Champions Super Stock Series “the Night Before the Glen” on Saturday, September 14 at Chemung (NY) Speedrome.