Patrick Emerling Scores Big Win At Holland Speedway

Story By: STEVE PETTY / HOLLAND SPEEDWAY – HOLLAND, NY – Orchard Park, NY’s Patrick Emerling won the main event for the Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Agency NASCAR Pro Modified feature on Kwik Fill Night at Holland International Speedway this past Saturday evening.

Nik Welshans from West Falls, NY won his first Bank of Holland Charger feature of the season. Dave Wollaber from Lockport, NY continued his dominance of Holland, winning his third NYPA TQ Midget feature of the season. Josh Schosek from Hamburg, NY won his first career feature event for the Advance Auto Parts Hornets. Anthony Riforgiato from Portland, NY won his first career INEX Legends feature. Marty Hughes from Holland, NY won his third M&M U Pull-It Figure 8 car feature of the season.

Timmy and Amy Catalano led the field of Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Agency NASCAR Pro Modifieds to the green flag with Timmy showing the way with older brother Tommy running in second with Kirk Totten passing Amy Catalano to move into third place early on. Tommy would pass Timmy for the lead on lap seven. Neal Dietz Jr spun in turn four to bring out the races first caution on lap eight. On the restart, Tommy would take back the lead with Amy Catalano regaining second from son Timmy. Kirk Totten spun in turn three to bring out the caution on lap nine. The restart would see Tommy and Amy jump out into first and second with Sam Fullone moving into third place. Shawn Nye would have engine troubles exiting turn two on lap 13 to bring the caution out again for the third time in the event. Patrick Emerling passed Amy Catalano to take second place away on lap 14. Emerling looked underneath Tommy Catalano to take the lead away on lap 15 but Catalano applied the pressure to Emerling with “Fast” Eddie Hawkins running in third. Dean Kroll spun in turn two to bring out the caution with 12 laps remaining. Emerling would pull away from Tommy Catalano off the restart with Amy Catalano regaining third away from Hawkins with Eldon King III running in fifth. Emerling would hold off Tommy Catalano to score his first win of the season on the highbanks.

Justin Myers and Jim Loffredo brought the field of Bank of Holland Chargers to the green flag for their 25 lap feature event with Justin Myers getting into the lead as Loffredo had rear end issues in his number six (6) machine. Zach Myers took over second with Nik Welshans, Dave Vona and Jim Mallaber racing inside the top five early on. Nik Welshans passed Zach Myers to take second and then challenged Justin Myers for the lead. Nik Welshans took command of the field on lap seven after passing Myers off turn four. Tim Welshans passed Zach Myers for third prior to the halfway mark and then went after Justin Myers for second with Nik Welshans running away from the field. Welshans would drive away to score the win, his first of the season at Holland.

Dave Wollaber jumped into the lead from his fourth place starting spot at the end of the opening circuit to start the 20 lap feature for the NYPA TQ Midgets. Vinnie Christiano III and Charlie DiRosa led the 17 car strong field to the green flag as Wollaber and Kyle Hutchinson took command of the field early. Wollaber and Hutchinson battled for the lead as the lead duo entered lap traffic with just nine laps completed. Wollaber held off Hutchinson to score his third win of the season at Holland. Andy Nye, Tommy Catalano, and NYPA Series points leader Erik Musto completed the top five.

Josh Schosek and Tyler Pastorius brought the field of Advance Auto Parts Hornets to the green flag for their 20 lap feature event with Schosek showing the way with Ben Russo taking over second at the end of the opening circuit. Bob Bogner would take second away from Russo on lap three and go after the leader Schosek. The lead duo battled for several circuits with the duo exchanging the lead. Bogner would take the lead for good with five laps remaining. Travis Murphy slowed in turn four to bring out the first caution of the event with two laps remaining. Schosek would regain the lead on the restart and would hold off Bob Bogner and Jeff Szafraniec to win his first career feature event.

Lars McElravy and Josh Marchese led the INEX Legends to the green flag for their 20 lap feature with Marchese showing the way. Anthony Riforgiato raced in second with sixth place starter Bryce Norton moving into third at the end of lap two. Riforgiato would take over the lead on lap three from Marchese. Marchese and Norton battled for second throughout the event, letting race leader Riforgiato pull away from the field. Riforgiato would pull away to score his first career win at Holland.

Marty Hughes dominated the M&M U Pull-It Figure 8 car main winning his third race of the season, defeating Tyler Pastorious and Joe Mastrocicco III.

NEWS AND NOTES: Our friends at Kwik Fill gave away a $250 gift card and a $100 gift card to two lucky fans in attendance. After a brief delay due to weather, the racing program was completed at 10:08 pm.

Holland’s historic 58th season continues on Saturday, July 15th for Mid-Season Championships featuring a full card of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing action. It is also WNY Sportsman Night presented by Nature’s Prize Outdoors, High School National Guard Day, and St. John Vianney School Night at the Races! Pit Gates will open at 3:30 pm, with grandstand gates swinging open at 5:45 pm with qualifying at 6:00 pm sharp with NASCAR feature racing at 7:05 pm. Fans have the opportunity to purchase laps for the 18th Annual George Decker Memorial 75, scheduled for Saturday, August 5th. To purchase a lap, contact Decker Promotions or Public Relations Director Steven Petty.

RACE RESULTS – Kwik Fill Night at the Races

Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Agency NASCAR Pro Modifieds: PATRICK EMERLING (Started 4th), Tommy Catalano (3), Amy Catalano (2), Eldon King III (11), Eddie Hawkins (13), Scott Wylie (12), Sam Fullone (8), Matt Druar (10), Neal Dietz Jr (6), Timmy Catalano (1), Dean Kroll (9), Kirk Totten (5), Shawn Nye (7)

Qualifying Winners: Tommy Catalano, Patrick Emerling

Bank of Holland Chargers: NIK WELSHANS (Started 7th), Justin Myers (1), Tim Welshans (8), Josh Hathaway (9), Dave Wilson (11), Zach Myers (3), Ted Welshans (6), Dave Vona (5), Scott Gleed (10), Jim Mallaber (4), Mike Rodgers (12), Steve Hill Jr (13), Jim Loffredo (2)

Qualifying Winners: Nik Welshans, Tim Welshans

NYPA TQ Midgets: DAVE WOLLABER (Started 4th), Kyle Hutchinson (3), Andy Nye (5), Tommy Catalano (16), Erik Musto (7), Vinnie Christiano Jr (6), AJ Hessler (8), Charlie DiRosa (2), Tony Petrea (10), Vinnie Christiano III (1), Chad Haywood (9), Jim Musto (13), Jamie Pew (14), Jeremy Conklin (15), Kevin Wilson (11) Did Not Start: Shawn Nye

Qualifying Winners: Dave Wollaber, Andy Nye

Advance Auto Parts Hornets: JOSH SCHOSEK (Started 1st), Bob Bogner (7), Jeff Szafraniec (8), Bob Palmer (10), Ben Russo (3), Marty Hughes (5), Dale Lombardo (9), Michele Maltby (11), Adam Killingbeck (6), Tyler Pastorious (2), Nikki Maltby (12), Travis Murphy (4) Did Not Start: Mandie Orr, Josh Hill

Qualifying Winners: Bob Palmer, Bob Bogner

INEX Legends: ANTHONY RIFORGIATO (Started 4th), Josh Marchese (2), Bryce Norton (6), Kevin Bertelone (5), Brad Salatino (3), Lars McElravy (1), Terry Lindstrom (7), Did Not Start: Michael Riforgiato

Qualifying Winner: Bryce Norton

M&M U Pull-It Figure 8’s: MARTY HUGHES (Started 2nd), Tyler Pastorious (3), Joe Mastrocicco III (1)