TONY HANBURY SET TO DEFEND HIS SST MODIFIED TITLE AT THE 59^TH SUNOCO RACE OF CHAMPIONS

Owego, NY … During the last two editions of the Sunoco Race of Champions at the Oswego Speedway one of the most exciting races during the weekend is the Friday night SST Modified 100. This year should be no different as a top notch field of quality competitors is expected to be on hand for the $2,500 to win event.

All of the drivers will be chasing the defending champion Tony Hanbury who also won the 57^th edition of this race in 2007. Both years the win capped off a pretty impressive season for Hanbury and the Hanbury Motorsports Team.

This year has been an up and down season for the Owego, NY driver. Tony started out the year on fire as he won during the month of May six races out of eight entered in a span of three weeks. Then after that the bottom literally fell out as for the remainder of the racing season Tony has gone winless. Click here for full story.

LAST CHANCE TO TUNE UP FOR SUNOCO RACE OF CHAMPIONS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE OSWEGO SPEEDWAY IN THE RoC MODIFIED 100

OSWEGO, NY - This Saturday night at the Oswego Speedway the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour will be running in the Roc Modified 100. This race will be the final tune – up for the 59^th Sunoco Race of Champions that takes place at the same facility one week later.

The race also marks the final regular season point race for the RoC Dart Modifieds. Going into Saturday defending RoC champion Matt Hirschman leads the points by just 11 points over Rusty Smith.  Mike Leaty is third in points just 14 behind Hirschman, Eric Beers is fourth with 185 and Earl Paules is fifth with 170. The second five finds Jan Leaty in sixth, Daren Scherer in seventh, T J Potrzebowski in eighth, Billy Putney in ninth and Jim Storace in tenth.

The first RoC Modified race this year at Oswego was a real barnburner with Billy Putney holding everyone at bay until the right front hub broke with two laps to go. That gave the lead to Ted Christopher who held off Matt Hirschman by inches at the line for his first career Oswego feature win.

Also the race winner on this night will receive one of the final two spots into the RoC All Star race that takes place on Saturday night of Sunoco RoC Weekend.

Originally this race was slated to be only a 75 lap race but within the last week the event has been extended to 100 laps. The additional 25 laps will help all Modified racing teams in getting set up for the big 200 lapper that takes place the following Sunday afternoon.

Pit gates open at ten in the morning on Saturday with hot laps and grandstand gates opening at one in the afternoon and the first heat gets the green at four in the afternoon. For more information on the show please contact RoC at 607 – 775 – 5555 or Oswego Speedway at 315 – 342 – 0646. Information can also be found on the World Wide Web at; www.raceofchampions.net or www.oswegospeedway.com.

MODIFIED SHOW GROWS FOR CLASSIC WEEKEND AT OSWEGO SPEEDWAY

T.J. Toyota/Waite Toyota Modified All-Star Event Beginning To Take Shape for Saturday Night of Sunoco Race of Champions Weekend at Oswego Speedway.   Weekend Set to Take Place on Saturday, September 12^th.

BINGHAMTON, NY…The idea of the first Race of Champions Modified All-Star race is no longer just a concept as the event is really beginning to take shape as the final qualifiers are being completed for the 30 lap event at Oswego Speedway.  The T.J. Toyota/Waite Toyota Modified All-Star event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12^th as part of the Sunoco Race of Champions Weekend.

The most recent All-Star race qualifiers took place at the Wall Township Speedway on Saturday, August 8^th.  Pete Brittain and Justin Gumley emerged winners of the twin 50 lap format.  Both are now locked in for the 30 lap special at Oswego Speedway.  This past Friday, August 14^th Jan Leaty used his home track knowledge to record the victory in the RoC Modified Tour 100.  The victory puts the elder Leaty in the event that his son already qualified for with his Spencer victory back in June.  On Saturday night the Waterford Speedbowl hosted a RoC qualifier with the True Value Modified Series event.  Rowan Pennink recorded the win and has now added his name to the All-Star field list. Click here for full story.

LEATYS OWN SPENCER ONCE AGAIN AS JAN TAKES OPENING ROUND OF RoC CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

BY JR KENNERUP

Williamson, NY … It’s a fact that when the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour races at the Spencer Speedway there is a pretty good chance that a Leaty will be in victory lane at the end of the night.

Back in June at the first race held at the track this year Mike Leaty stole the spotlight from his dad Jan as he raced to the feature win.

On Friday night Jan paid his son and 22 other competitors back big time with some lucky draws which led to him dominating the 100 lap feature on this night. Jan drew outside pole for his heat which he won and pulled the pole for the feature. Click here for full story.

CHEMUNG RoC RACE CANCELLED… SPENCER UP NEXT

Binghamton, NY… For the second time this year on the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour a race has been postponed due to rain. The Sunday August 2^nd opening race of the Championship Series where additional monies and points are awarded was washed out due to an all day rain forecasted for the area. Officials from RoC and Chemung have decided not to reschedule the event.

“We discussed the early postponement with Chemung officials to help avoid costly travel expenses for the teams,” stated RoC Administrative Director Andrew Harpell. “Unfortunately, we were unable to find a suitable date to reschedule.”

Up next for the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour is a Friday August 14^th show at the Spencer Speedway which will now be round one of the Championship Series. The first race at Spencer this year was a real barnburner as local favorite Mike Leaty took home the very popular win over Chuck Hossfeld and Erick Rudolph.

For more information on RoC please call 607-775-5555 or log on to the World Wide Web at; www.raceofchampions.net.

The Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour is proudly sponsored by; Dart Machinery, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Gater Racing News, PBM Performance Products, Total Seal Piston Rings, Competition Engineering by Moroso, Dura – Bond, Dynatech, Melling Performance, Afco, CV Products, Erson Cams, Xceldyne Technologies, and LA Sleeve.

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, AUGUST 3 FOR 59TH RACE OF CHAMPIONS AT OSWEGO; SCHEDULE & PRICING FINALIZED

BINGHAMTON, NY…The anticipation of the 59^th running of the Sunoco Race of Champions Weekend continues to grow as the biggest weekend of short track racing is just around the corner.  The 59^th edition is set to take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday September 11^th through 13^th at Oswego Speedway.  Tickets go on sale this Monday, August 3^rd through the Oswego Speedway box office at 315-342-0646.

The new exciting format of the Sunoco Race of Champions Weekend has had tremendous feedback from both the competitors and spectators that annually attend this weekend of speed.  For the first time a special “advance sale only” three day reserved seat will be available.  The cost is $70 for all three days of racing in your same seat all weekend long.  This is a savings of $13 over buying the tickets individually.  The advance sale three day reserved seat package will only be sold through Thursday, September 10^th.  After that only one day reserved seats will be made available along with the normal grandstand general admission tickets.

Click here for full story.

FIRST ALL-STAR EVENT SET FOR SEPT. 12 AT OSWEGO RoC WEEKEND

BINGHAMTON, NY…The excitement is building for the 59^th running of the Sunoco Race of Champions Weekend at Oswego Speedway September 11^th, 12^th and 13^th.  A new format will include the first running of the T.J. Toyota/Waite Toyota Modified All-Star 30 lap special on Saturday of the weekend.

The T.J. Toyota/Waite Toyota Modified All-Star 30 lap special will pit sixteen of the northeast’s top Modified chauffeurs in a wheel to wheel battle that could determine the top five starting spot in Sunday’s Sunoco Race of Champions Modified 200.  The drivers in the All-Star Event will be comprised of all the RoC Dart Asphalt Modified Tour feature winners in 2009 along with RoC Qualifier winners at different facilities in the northeast. Click here for full story.

RUSTY SMITH WINS DTRP FIRST IN RoC TOUR RACE

LANCASTER, NY - Rusty Smith garnered his first win at Dunn Tire Raceway Park as the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour rolled into the speedway on Saturday.  Smith took the top honors after a dramatic late race charge to the front in the 75 lap event.  The victory also ensured Smith a starting spot in the first ever T.J. Toyota/Waite Toyota Modified All-Star event during the Sunoco Race of Champions Weekend at Oswego Speedway. Click here for full story.

HIRSCHMAN USES TIRE MANAGEMENT TO THE MAX ONCE AGAIN TO WIN WYOMING COUNTY RoC

BY JR KENNERUP

PERRY, NY - He has won races before using the same strategy and on Friday night at the Wyoming County International Speedway defending RoC Dart Asphalt Modified Tour champion Matt Hirschman showed just how good he is saving his tires. The Northampton, Pa. driver was the only one not to pit for a fresh right rear and he saved his tires just enough to hold off all challengers to win the 75 lap feature.

Matt who started fourth took the lead on a lap 67 restart from Tony Hanbury and then had to survive a wild scenario that took place over the final eight laps. Matt was able to withstand five restarts in the final eight laps to capture his first win on the tour this year. Early race leader Pete Brittain ended up second with Rusty Smith nipping Eric Beers at the line for third. Daren Scherer made several pit stops, kept the wheels on his car and ended up fifth in a fine point racing effort on this night. Click here for full story.

RoC Pavement Series TV Schedule - Click here

RAIN POSTPONES THE RoC INVASION OF DUNN TIRE

BY JR KENNERUP

BINGHAMTON, NY - Officials of the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour and the Dunn Tire Raceway Park made a decision early Friday morning June 19^th to postpone the RoC sanctioned Modified show slated for Saturday night June 20^th.

The show will be made up with a date of Saturday July 18^th being selected at this time. Officials from Dunn Tire and RoC wanted to get news of a rain date for this show out as early as possible so everyone could make their plans in advance. Click here for full story.

MIKE LEATY HOLDS OFF A RIM-RIDING HOSSFELD FOR EXCITING SPENCER RoC VICTORY

BY JR KENNERUP

WILLIAMSON, NY - The pre race hype had everyone talking about if you wanted to win at Spencer Speedway on Friday night you had to beat a Leaty. Most people were referring to Jan who has won many big races at the flat half mile oval.

But on Friday night Jan’s son Mike took a page out of his dad’s race strategy notebook to win the 75 lap Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour sanctioned event. Mike pitted along with a host of others on lap 35, a great pit stop by his crew placed Mike at the head of the cars who had pitted. Click here for full story.

TWO OF SPENCER’S ALL-TIME WINNINGEST MODIFIED DRIVERS RETURN
by Gary M. Spaid – Spencer Speedway Media

WILLIAMSON, NY - Two of Spencer Speedway’s all-time winningest drivers are returning this Friday for the 75-lap Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour Event. George Kent, who sits fourth on the all-time Spencer Speedway Modified victory list, announced he would be returning for this Friday’s race. Kent has 39 Spencer Modified wins, sitting behind Maynard Troyer, Richie Evans and Dutch Hoag.

Spencer’s own Buck Catalano sits fifth on the all-time Modified feature win list with 37 victories, only two back from Kent. Kent last won at Spencer on June 29, 2001. Click here for full story.

PUTNEY’S HEARTBREAK ALLOWS CHRISTOPHER TO WIN FIRST CAREER OSWEGO & RoC FEATURE BY INCHES OVER HIRSCHMAN

BY JR KENNERUP

    OSWEGO, NY - Saturday night at the Oswego Speedway in the Modified portion of the Port City 150 that was sponsored by Parts Plus and Gater Racing News. Billy Putney of Easy Aurora, NY was on his way to a very special win in the Richie Evans Memorial if it was a 72 lap race.

Unfortunately for Putney the race was 75 laps in length as during a yellow flag period on the 72^nd lap a bolt holding the right front brake caliper came out. The result was the brake caliper moving and jamming itself inside the right front rim and this locked the right front up completely and Putney had to pit and retire from the race.

The heartbreak suffered by Putney was gladly accepted by Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT who inherited the lead. Christopher driving a car prepared and owned by Terry Zacharias of Candor, NY knew the last three laps were going to be tough. As defending RoC Champion Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa. was now in second and Matt who was undefeated at Oswego in 2008 was looking to keep his streak intact. Click here for full story.

2009 RoC Membership Form Available

Click here for the 2009 RoC membership form.

T.J. Toyota & Waite Toyota Sign On With RoC Asphalt Series

    BINGHAMTON, NY - T.J. Toyota and Waite Toyota have signed on to become an official associate sponsor of the 2009 Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour and a participating sponsor of the 2009 Race of Champions Weekend at Oswego Speedway in September.  The two companies have also teamed up to present the 2009 RoC Late Model 125 lap special on Saturday, September 12^th at Oswego Speedway. Click here for full story.

2009 Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour Schedule Set

    BINGHAMTON, NY - The 2009 Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour schedule is in place with nine races on tap for the upcoming season.  The RoC staff worked hard to put in place a schedule for this season that will avoid conflicts which will allow both the competitors and fans of Modified racing to have more options.  Once again the tour will be divided in to a regular season and championship trail awarding point funds for both and keeping drivers in the hunt right until the final event at Dunn Tire Raceway Park. Click here for full story.

 Dates Set For 59th Sunoco Race of Champions At Oswego Speedway

    BINGHAMTON, NY - The date is set for the 59^th running of the Sunoco Race of Champions at Oswego Speedway.  The prestigious Modified 200 will take place on Sunday, September 13^th at the historic 5/8 mile oval.  The Modified 200 will culminate a huge weekend of racing that will satisfy the greatest racing appetites. 

    The weekend will get underway on Friday morning with an open practice session for the teams competing over the weekend.  On Friday evening the intensity will grow for the annual SST Modified 100.  The SST stars will be joined by the annual Mini Stock open and Factory Stock event on that evening.  Qualifying on Friday will begin at 6:30 p.m. Click here for full story.

Matt Hirschman Honored At RoC Dart Asphalt Modified Tour Awards Banquet

    Binghamton, NY (Jan. 3) - This past Saturday night at the Binghamton Regency Hotel and Conference Center the final checker flag of the 2008 racing season came down for the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour. The setting of the festive evening was the Grand Ballroom at the state of the art facility in the heart of downtown.

     Northampton, Pa. driver Matt Hirschman did the impossible this past year on the Race of Champions Dart Asphalt Modified Tour. Matt missed two vital point shows but still ended up winning the championship, his second RoC Championship with his first coming in 2005. Click here for full story.

2008 RoC Dart Asphalt Modified Banquet Photos - Click Here