HOLLAND, NY Bright blue skies and cool temperatures welcomed the fans to the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex for Opening Day 2013 presented by McKinley Mall. Hamburg, NY pilot“Earthquake” Jake Vernon would score the opening night win in the Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Agency Pro Modifieds. Freedom, NY driver Eldon King III won the McClurg Auto Group NASCAR Late Model main while Cheektowaga, NY’s Rich Carnes won in the Bank of Holland Chargers. Dave Wollaber from North  Tonawanda, NY won in the New York/Pennsylvania (NYPAMA) TQ Midgets while Orchard  Park, NYstandout Chris Powers was awarded the Hornet victory. Buffalo, NYdriver Jason Eck won in the M&M U Pull-It Figure 8’s.

Jake Vernon and 2011 New York State NASCAR Champion Amy Catalano led the field of Getzoni Nationwide Insurance NASCAR Pro Modifieds to the green flag for their 30 lap feature event with Vernongetting the lead on the first lap. But Catalano would clear Vernon for the lead on lap two. As George Skora tried to get around the slow car of Dean Kroll, Jeff Brown was bumped into and slammed the turn three Armco barrier to bring out the races first caution on lap five.

The early race restart saw contact between Kirk Totten and Tommy Catalano and both young competitors went to the turn three wall. Both were able to continue on racing. On the restart, Jake Vernon was able to pull away from the field with George Skora III right behind him. With ten laps completed, Dave Catalano passed his son Tommy and moved into the top five.

Neal Dietz was issued a stop in go penalty after making contact with Amy Catalano on the restart and Dietz was put a lap down with ten laps remaining. Tony Carbone dropped fluid on the speedway to bring out the caution with five laps remaining setting up a five lap shootout.

The late race restart saw Vernon and Skora lead the field back to the green flag with Vernon pulling away. Dave Catalano would pass Skora for second with three laps remaining. “Earthquake” Jake Vernon would hold off Dave Catalano to get the victory. They were followed to the line by George Skora III, Tommy Catalano and Neal Dietz Jr completing the top five.

Josh Hathaway and Dave Whittaker led the field of McClurg Auto Group Late Models to the green flag and it was third place starter Mike Ticco getting the early race lead. Defending divisional champion Eldon King III quickly worked his way up from his fifth starting spot and by the end of lap three, was leading the way.

K&N East Series Rookie competitor Brandon Glover returned home and ran a strong race and worked his way through the field and was able to reel in King in the late going but the defending track champion King, would go on and score the opening day victory. Mike Ticco would finish third and he was followed to the line by Dave Whittaker and Josh Hathaway.

Ken Maltby and Rich Carnes led the field of Bank of Holland Chargers to the green flag with Carnes getting the advantage when the field crossed in front of the grandstands for the first time. Jerry Kosmowski got around Maltby to take over second place on lap three. Former Hornet Champion Eric Brown passed Maltby to take over third place just two laps later on lap five. Lexi Wilson moved up into fourth and qualifying event winner Thom Northem both passed Ken Maltby to run in positions four and five by lap ten. Northem passed Wilson coming off turn three to take over fourth place at the races halfway mark.

Northem continued his way through the field as he challenged Brown for third place and completed the pass with ten laps remaining. After passing Brown, Northem went right to work on Jerry Kosmowski and went to the bottom of the speedway to complete the pass out of turn four with four laps remaining. Rich Carnes would lead from start to finish to pick up the win. Northem would finish in second and he was followed to the line by Jerry Kosmowski, Eric Brown and Lexi Wilson.

Kyle Hutchinson and Brandon Zavarella led the field of TQ Midgets to the green flag with Hutchinson getting the early race advantage. The yellow lights would be turned on for the first time on lap number two as Nelson Rung came to a stop in turn one. The restart saw Hutchinson, driving for John Casey and Dave Wollaber driving for Vinnie Christiano lead the field back to the green flag and it was Wollaber getting the advantage. Camden Barber and Shawn Nye moved up from their eighth and tenth starting spots and were battling for third as Wollaber and Hutchinson pulled away from the field. Cody Mullno slowed the field on lap eight after he spun in turn three. Barber took over second from Hutchinson off the restart and Shawn Nye worked on by Hutchinson to take over third with seven laps remaining.

Brandon Zavarella and Chad Heywood locked wheels entering turn three and Zavarella went upside down end over end several times and cleared the speedway and was on the outside of turns three and four. Zavarella did communicate with officials and was moving and climbed out of the car.

The final three laps saw Dave Wollaber hold off Camden Barber, Shawn Nye, Kyle Hutchinson and Andy Nye to pick up the checkered flag.

Cousins Tony Carbone and Chris Powers led the field of Hornets to the green flag for their 25 lap feature event and it was Powers jumping out to the early lead. Ben Russo was on the move and Russo took over the top spot with just two laps complete. Defending divisional champion Jeff Szafraniec and Louis Carbone put on a battle of the ages for third place.

With slower traffic building, Powers caught Russo and the two went side by side but Russo held off all challenges from Powers. Russo would hold off Powers to what would appear to be the victory. However he was found to be illegal in post race tech and Chris Powers was awarded the victory. Louis Carbone, Jeff Szafraniec and Tony Carbone completed the top four.

The M&M U Pull-It Figure 8’s saw Jason Eck pass Shane Toms on the opening circuit and never extinguished the lead and Toms was there to challenge late but Eck was there to pick up the win. Toms finished second and was followed to the line by Josh Hill and Robert Palmer.

NEWS AND NOTES: Members of the American Legion Post 362 Honor Guard presented our Nations Colors. Skylighters of New York with support from the Swatsworth Family and the Boston Deli closed out the 54th season opener with a terrific fireworks display. The Holland Motorsports Complex would like to send their condolences to the families of Stroker McGurk and Harry Macy on their recent passings during the off-season. Both McGurk and Macy were vital in racing here at Holland.

Holland returns to action next Saturday, June 1st with the running of the Faster Pastor Race. Eastern Hills Mall and the Farm Bureau of WNY presents a full show featuring the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series starring the Getzoni Nationwide Insurance Pro Modifieds, McClurg Auto Group NASCAR Late Models, Bank of Holland Chargers, M&M U-Pull It Figure 8’s, the NASCAR 4 Cylinder Hornets, and the Holland Southtown Tire NY/Penn TQ Midget Series. Pit Gates will open at 3:30pm with the grandstand gates opening at 4:45pm. Qualifying events will start at 5:00pm and feature racing will get the green flag at 7:05pm.

Check out the Holland Motorsports Complex on Facebookas weekly specials and news on upcoming events will be seen on the track’s social media page for the racetrack and the all new Holland Paintball Adventure Park. Don’t forget to check out all of the pictures from each week’s racing program by logging on to www.printroom.comand searching Holland Speedway. For more information log on to www.hollandspeedway.comor www.hollandpaintballadventurepark.com.

OFFICIAL RESULTS 5-25-13

Getzoni Nationwide Insurance NASCAR Pro Modifieds: JAKE VERNON (Started 1), Dave Catalano (7), George Skora III (3), Tommy Catalano (6), Neal Dietz Jr (4), Amy Catalano (2), Dean Kroll (10), Tony Carbone (9), Kirk Totten (5), and Jeff Brown (8)

Qualifying Winners: Tommy Catalano and Kirk Totten

McClurg Auto Group Late Models: ELDON KING III (Started 5), Brandon Glover (6), Mike Ticco (3), Dave Whittaker (2), Josh Hathaway (1), JD Roberts (4) and Jason Gwin (7)

Qualifying Winner: Brandon Glover

Bank of Holland Chargers: RICH CARNES (Started 2), Thom Northem (7), Jerry Kosmowski (4), Eric Brown (6), Lexi Wilson (5), Ken Maltby (1), Don Sitarski (8), Jason Dieter (3) and TJ Northem (9)

Qualifying Winner: Tom Northem

Holland Southtown Tire NYPAMATQ Midget Series: DAVE WOLLABER (Started 9), Camden Barber (10), Shawn Nye (8), Kyle Hutchinson (1), Andy Nye (3), Jamie Collard (6), Vinnie Christiano Jr (7), Nick Groff (15), Charlie DiRosa (4), Gordie Steffan (5), Scott Gleed (11), Sean McNamara (18), Kylie McElver (16), Brandon Zavarbella (2), Chad Heywood (14), Neal Dietz Jr (19), Cody Mullno (20), Chris Barber (17), Ryan Hessler (12) and Nelson Rung (16)

Heat Winners: Jamie Collard and Kyle Hutchinson

NASCAR Hornets: CHRIS POWERS (Started 2), Louis Carbone (6), Jeff Szafraniec (5), Tony Carbone (1) Brian Richael (12), Michele Maltby (10), Timmy Swatsworth (3), Robert Palmer (8), Butcher Palmer (9), Grant Hill (13), Bill Lutz (7), Josh Hill (11) and Ben Russo (DQ – 4)

Qualifying Winners: Ben Russo and Jeff Szafraniec

M&M U Pull-It Figure 8’s: JASON ECK (Started 2),Shane Toms (1), Josh Hill (4) and Robert Palmer (3)

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(Contact –– Steven Petty: steven.j.petty@gmail.comor Tim Bennett: (716)-418-RACE (7223) )

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