7/9/2005

NEIL HOPKINS DOUBLES HIS PLEASURE AT HOLLAND SPEEDWAY ON SATURDAY EVENING

Holland, NY: Neil Hopkins has experienced the thrill of a race win at Holland Speedway many times in the past, but on Saturday evening, he discovered that two wins can be twice as nice, as the West Falls, NY driver swept the victories in both the Upstate Automotive 50 for the NASCAR Sunoco Late Model Pro Stocks and in the regularly scheduled 35 lap Pro Modified main. The Late Model win was a career first for Hopkins.

In other Holland action, Rob Miszczak of Holland scored his second Charger win of the year, while Rob Willard of Buffalo, NY did likewise in the Pro Four feature race. Points leader Greg Urban of Buffalo grabbed win number three of '05 in the Figure 8 Car go.

Both of Hopkins' wins were nail biters, though the Late Model 50 took a few bizarre twists on the way to an exciting finish. Early on, it looked as if Bill Matuszak was out to impress his sponsor on their night at the Speedway, as the driver of the Upstate Automotive Monte Carlo was out in front and making tracks away from the field early. Todd Hoddick, Eldon King III, and Mark Bliss were giving chase when things started to take some strange turns. Hoddick's Dodge began to misfire badly, and he dropped out on lap 19. Two laps later, the first caution flag of the race appeared when Cory Lischer spun in turn 1. On the re-start, things really went crazy, as race leader Matuszak entered turn 1 too hot, and looped into the wall. During that caution flag, Mark Bliss, who would have inherited the lead, was forced to pit (and park) with a serious fluid leak.

When the race finally resumed, Eldon King battled with Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr. and Neil Hopkins for the top slot. However, just when it appeared as if King was going to put some breathing room between himself and his challengers, the engine in his Monte Carlo began to misfire badly, and King reduced his speed in order to nurse the car to the checkers. Hopkins and Fiebelkorn moved back to the front, and resumed their bids for the top slot. Fielbelkorn tucked his mount under Hopkins for the lead on lap 45, but with two to go, Hopkins was able to throttle up his Schrader Industrial Sales ride to the outside of Fiebelkorn to grab the lead by a fender. The duo ran side-by-side over the final two laps, with Hopkins able to prevail over Fiebelkorn by all of two feet at the stripe. Fiebelkorn's runner-up finish was his fifth of the season. Bill Catania managed to avoid the evening's trouble to take home his best Holland finish with a third place showing.

The Late Model finish may have seemed like déjà vu to Hopkins, because earlier, he nipped Steve Kreitzbender in similar fashion for the Pro Modified win. Hopkins scooted by Dave Hannahs for the top spot on a lap four re-start, then over the final eight laps, used the high groove to thwart the persistent inside lane challenges from Kreitzbender. The two ran side-by-side over the final four circuits, with Hopkins outracing Kreitzbender by 1/2 a car length at the checkers for his third Pro Modified win of the season. Early race leader Hannahs had his strongest outing in some time with a third place finish.

In the 30 lap Charger feature race, it looked as if Joe Fetzer was ready to back up his Holland Masters weekend victory of a week earlier with another trip to the winners circle. However, with just four laps remaining, the front suspension on the Fetzer Malibu collapsed, forcing him out of action, and handing the lead to Rob Miszczak. Miszczak would hold off the challenges of points leader Jerry Kosmowski to race his East Aurora Collision Chevelle to the win. Kosmowski would take second, with Tim Welshans crossing the line in third.

Rob Willard took his Diamond Hurwitz Scrap Ford Probe to the lead on lap 7 in a three wide move, then survived a mid-race re-start challenge from Dan Brew to race on to the win in the 25 lap Pro Four event. Brew and Chad Pusloski crossed the line side-by-side for second -- a video replay determined that Brew edged Pusloski by inches for the runner-up position.

Greg Urban moved his Biggs Auto Recovery/Artistic Imprints Honda into the lead on the first lap, then ran way and hid for an easy win in the caution-free 12 lap Figure 8 Car feature race. Sharon Hughes battled by Wayne Fisher in the late going to claim second.

On Saturday, July 16, Holland Speedway will feature the annual visit by the Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Trail, as the Mod Squad will compete in the Kayak Pools 100 in their only Holland appearance of the season. The NASCAR Sunoco Late Model Pro Stocks, Pro Modifieds, Chargers, 8-cylinder strictly stock Challengers, and the Figure 8 Cars will round out the slate. Pit gates will open at 3:00, spectator gates will open at 4:00, and racing will get underway at 6:00 pm. For more information, contact the Speedway office at (716)-537-2272 or visit the Speedway web site at www.hollandspeedway.com.

Holland Speedway Race Results - Saturday, July 13, 2005

NASCAR Sunoco LATE MODEL PRO STOCKS - Upstate Automotive Group 50: NEIL HOPKINS, Mike Fiebelkorn, Jr., Bill Catania, Eldon King III, Cory Lischer, Eric Sanders, Mark Bliss, Bill Matuszak, and Todd Hoddick.

PRO MODIFIEDS - 35 laps: NEIL HOPKINS, Steve Kreitzbender, Dave Hannahs, Chuck Anderson, Jason Kline, Randy Jazembak, Chadd Bishoff, Jeff Ruddy, Steve Hoxie, and Chris Kline.

CHARGERS - 30 laps: ROB MISZCZAK, Jerry Kosmowski, Tim Welshans, Marc Gentner, Bill Wise, Brian Gleason, Jay Queen, Joe Fetzer, Tony Billotte, Dan Hobbs, Al Grimmer, and Rich Calteaux.

PRO FOURS - 25 laps: ROB WILLARD, Dan Brew, Chad Pusloski, Michelle Roberts, Brian Slippy, Brian Porebski, Mike Eckam, Dan Hutchinson, Rich Carnes, Shawn Lafferty, and Jason Adams.

FIGURE 8 CARS - 12 laps: GREG URBAN, Sharon Hughes, Wayne Fisher, Jason Eck, and Jason Adams.

Source: Rick Mooney/Holland PR
Posted: July 12, 2005