Rypkema Wins First Ever RoC Event In Ol’ Boy Cup 60 At Lancaster

Story By: DAVE BUCHANAN / LANCASTER SPEEDWAY – LANCASTER, NY – Tyler Rypkema of Owego, N.Y. won the third annual Ol’ Boy Cup 60 Bill Colton Memorial presented by Thermal Foams at Lancaster National Speedway on Thursday night. It was the first ever Race of Champions Modified Series win for the 20-year-old Rypkema.

In other X-Press Signs Stock Car Series racing action, Rich Sharpe of Lancaster scored his fifth win of the season in the Advance Auto Parts Street Stocks. Jason Anasiewicz of Lancaster earned his fourth win of the year in the Roaming Buffalo 4-Cylinders. Tim Gullo won the 25-lap feature for the Race of Champions Super Stock Series.

Scott Wylie and Mike Leaty led the field of 21 Race of Champions Modifieds to the initial green flag of the Ol’ Boy Cup 60. The second row featured a pair of drivers hungry for their win RoC Series win in Tommy Catalano and George Skora III.

Leaty took the lead at the start with Catalano settling into second place early. Just a few laps later Catalano passed Leaty to the inside to take the lead. Skora got by Leaty for second place on lap 10.

The first caution of the event happened on lap 13 for a spin by Kevin Miller. The yellow flag flew again one lap later when Patrick Emerling spun out in turn four.

Catalano and Skora resumed their battle for the lead with Skora eventually taking over the top spot on lap 17. Shortly after that Catalano started to slow on the track with a mechanical issue. Bryan Sherwood damaged his radiator after he ran into the back of Emerling while trying to avoid Catalano’s car, which ended his night prematurely.

Catalano’s problems moved Rypkema to second after he started fifth, and just like Skora and Catalano he was hunting for a first RoC Series victory.

Half of the field was involved in a massive pile up on lap 32 after Daren Scherer’s car slowed in the middle of the pack in turn 4. Several cars collided as they tried to dodge Scherer, who suffered brake failure in the narrowest part of the race track. Tommy Catalano, Danny Knoll, Jr., Amy Catalano, Bill Mislin, Camden Barber, John Barber, Alan Bookmiller and Kevin Miller were some of the cars that got caught up in the wreck. Both Chuck Hossfeld and Mike Leaty pitted during the extended red flag period as well.

Only about 12 cars were remaining in competition once the wreck was cleared. Skora was shown as the leader ahead of Rypkema, Andy Jankowiak, Emerling, Wylie and Leaty. Skora looked to be pulling away from Rypkema when racing resumed, but a caution on lap 41 once again bunched the field together.

On lap 43, Rypkema made a bold move going into turn 3 as he drove hard into the corner underneath Skora. The pass paid off as he had wrestled the lead away for good just one lap later. Unfortunately for Skora his night ended shortly after that as he stopped on the track with engine issues on lap 53.

This left Rypkema to fend off Chuck Hossfeld in the closing laps with the “Hotshoe” in search of his second Ol’ Boy Cup victory. Hossfeld moved to the inside of Rypkema as they went under the white flag. The pair made contact in turn 1 with both drivers saving their cars from spinning out. Rypkema had just enough momentum to maintain the lead and he held on to cross the finish line first.

The win was the second career Modified victory for Rypkema and first ever on the Race of Champions Modified circuit. Hossfeld was happy to finish second after an eventful evening in an event that paid tribute that helped launch his Modified career. Mike Leaty came back to finish third. Andy Jankowiak and Patrick Emerling rounded out the top five.

Rich Sharpe once again clawed his way through the field of Advance Auto Parts Street Stocks for his fifth win of the year. Sharpe started eighth in the 21-car field, but made it to third place by the halfway point of the race. He then passed Mark Hoch for the lead with seven laps to go.

Sharpe cruised the final seven laps to earn the win. Hoch finished second followed by Keith Flanigan in third. Ken Maltby came home fourth after leading early in the race. Jake Wylie piloted the RJP Motorsports #81 to a fifth place finish.

Tim Gullo started from the pole and led all 25 laps of the Race of Champions Super Stock feature. Veteran Tom Barron finished second as he tried to hang with Gullo through some mid race restarts, but Gullo’s Ithaca Gun Company #37 was too strong. Joel Gleason finished third after a spirited battle with Ryan Lagoda in the closing laps of the race.

Jason Anasiewicz found himself in Roaming Buffalo 4-Cylinder victory lane despite crossing the finish line second. Dave Brunka led most of the race until contact with Bobby Woch with two laps to go took him out of contention. Woch was penalized three positions for the contact, which gave the win to Anasiewicz.

Lancaster National Speedway resumes X-Press Signs Stock Car racing on Saturday, July 8 with First Responders Night presented by 10-75 Emergency Lighting. All first responders receive $5 admission with valid ID. The Sunoco Sportsman return to action alongside the Advance Auto Parts Street Stocks, Roaming Buffalo 4-Cylinders and the Race of Champions Super Stocks. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m.

About Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway: Founded in 1959, Lancaster National Speedway and Dragway, WNY’s Premier Motorsports and Event Facility, is a multi-use facility located on 77 acres just outside of metropolitan Buffalo, N.Y. The facility features a 1/8-mile drag strip, a 1/2-mile oval track and hosts several non-motorsports events such as car shows and concerts. For the latest information on Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway check out our website www.lancasternationalspeedway.com. Additional information for racers and fans can be found on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LancasterSpeedway) and on Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy).

RESULTS

RACE OF CHAMPIONS MODIFIED SERIES

Fast Qualifier: Chuck Hossfeld (17.000 seconds)

Heat Winners: Mike Leaty, Chuck Hossfeld, Patrick Emerling

Ol’ Boy Cup 60 Bill Colton Memorial Finish: TYLER RYPKEMA, Chuck Hossfeld, Mike Leaty, Andy Jankowiak, Patrick Emerling, Bill Mislin, Tommy Rought, Amy Catalano, George Skora III, Scott Wylie, Tommy Catalano, David Rigan, Karl Hehr, Daren Scherer, Austin Kochenash, John Barber, Danny Knoll, Jr., Camden Barber, Alan Bookmiller, Kevin Miller, Bryan Sherwood

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS STREET STOCKS

Heat Winners: Mark Hoch, Rich Sharpe, Keith Flanigan

Feature: RICH SHARPE, Mark Hoch, Keith Flanigan, Ken Maltby, Jake Wylie, Max Northm, Dave Wilson, Tommy Wentland, Jarrod Brown, Nik Welshans, Tim Welshans, Mike Dalfonso, Jr., Nate Straus, Garrett Cleversley, Gino Pinto, Frank Prell, Jimmy Pierce, Chris Handley, Dylan Carbone, Mike Dalfonso, Sr., Rich Pocobello, DNS: Tom Northem, Brian Rogers

ROAMING BUFFALO 4-CYLINDERS

Heat Winners: Dave Brunka, Dan Dressel

Feature: JASON ANASIEWICZ, Dan Dressel, Dave Brunka, Bobby Woch, Kevin Bainbridge, Dave Milbrand, Jr., Chris Pennell, Chris Bugenhagen, Zach Cleversley, Joe Brunka, Bob Palmer, Casey Pew, Charles Palmer, Bob Hanel, Jr.

RACE OF CHAMPIONS SUPER STOCK SERIES

Heat Winners: Joe Mancuso, Tim Gullo

Feature: TIM GULLO, Tom Barron, Joel Gleason, Ryan Lagoda, Joe Mancuso, Bobby Schosek, Zach Willis, Josh Hunter, Vern Hedderick, Rob Misczak, Pete Pieczysnki, Dana Novoa, Tommy Reese, Jeff Whalen