SCORES FOURTH VICTORY OF 2016 FERRIS MOWERS RACE OF CHAMPIONS FUELED BY SUNOCO SEASON
Story By:ROC ASPHALT SERIES MEDIA Photos By:ALEX & HELEN BRUCE / RACERSGUIDE.COM
Holland NY.- July 12, 2016- Under threatening skies the Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco made their own thunder on the legendary high banks of Holland International Speedway this past Saturday night and when the checkered flag flew a familiar face drove his machine to victory lane. Patrick Emerling, who resides near the track where his racing career started, scored his fourth victory in the eight races during the 2016 campaign.
‘This a good win for us,” smiled Emerling in victory lane. “We set the car up for the longer runs and to help conserve our tires. Our laps during the race were very consistent and we never backed up too far and that helped us maintain and move forward in the end. It’s really a testament of the team that we have here. They do an incredible job. Jimmy (Zacharias) raced us clean and I respect that. It’s been a great year for us so far, I hope we can keep the momentum rolling.”
Brian DeFebo of Berwick, Pa., and Mike Leaty of Williamson, N.Y., led the 26-car field to the green flag with Leaty showing the way. Leaty and DeFebo swapped the lead back and forth a couple times around lap 15, with Leaty holding down the top spot until DeFebo worked his way into the top spot on lap 26. DeFebo would hold the lead for the next six circuits until Jimmy Zacharias of Vestal, N.Y., took the lead on lap 33.
Zacharias would end up leading the most laps during the 100-lap grind, setting the pace over the next 52 laps. Emerling made several attempts to pass Zacharias and finally closed the deal on the bottom of the track on lap 86. Emerling was able to hold Zacharias at bay over the closing laps of the race.
“We had a good car tonight,” explained Jimmy Zacharias during the post-race activities. “Patrick (Emerling) is on his game right now, but he ran us clean the entire race. We’re just going to keep working on it until we have it right.”
Andy Jankowiak of North Tonawanda, N.Y., worked his way from 18th to finish 3rd. George Skora, III., of Eden, N.Y., started 7th and finished 4th, while Leaty rounded out the top-five.
Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y., continued his amazing streak of posting fast time, with a series leading sixth fast time in the Timed Hot Lap session to establish the heat race line ups with a time of 13.650 seconds (98.901 mph).
Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco and Holland International Speedway management were also proud to announce that 2017 edition of the Thunder in the Hills 100 will be on Saturday, July 15, 2017.
The next event for the Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco is the “Flower City 75” at Spencer Speedway in Williamson, N.Y., just east of Rochester.
