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27TH ANNUAL U.S. OPEN ON TAP FOR THIS WEEKEND AT
LANCASTER
Large Turnout Of Race Teams & Fans Expected During
Three-Day Event |
We
are on the eve of Western New York's biggest motorsports event of
the year, the 27th annual U.S. Open at Lancaster National Speedway.
The excitement for this year's edition has been boosted by a weekend
forecast that features plenty of sunshine and daytime temperatures
in the mid 70's. This bodes well for a solid turnout of competitors
across the eight divisions of racing competing this weekend.
The 27th annual U.S. Open weekend kicks off with a practice session
for all teams on Friday night. Immediately after practice it’s the
annual U.S. Open Kickoff Party in the main concourse, featuring live
music. The Friday night fun also includes the return of the U.S.
Open Adult Tricycle Race and the inaugural U.S. Open Pit Crew
Contest.
Pit gates open at 4 PM on Friday with practice running from 6:30 to
9:30. Grandstand gates open at 6 PM with free general admission for
all race fans that want to watch practice.
Headlining Saturday's racing program is the 75-lap Sportsman feature
with around 40 cars expected to attempt to qualify for the 24-car
starting field. Andy Jankowiak of Tonawanda, NY has won this race
every year for the last five years, and will go for a sixth win in
2015.
The INEX Legends will join the inner-oval action on Saturday night
with $500 on the line for the winner. The U.S. Open Legends feature
is a qualifier for the Race of Champions at Chemung Speedrome on
October 3. The winner of the 25-lap feature will be a guaranteed
starter for the Legends race during Race of Champions weekend, and
will also be locked into the feature redraw as long as they compete
in a heat race.
The 4-Cylinders, Street Stocks and NYPA TQ Midget Association will
be in action as well with heats and features for all divisions.
Pit gates will open at 12:30 PM on Saturday, September 26.
Grandstand gates open at 2:30 just as practice gets under way. The
racing action will be capped off by gigantic fireworks display.
U.S. Open weekend concludes on Sunday with heats and features for
the Race of Champions Modified Tour, X-Press Signs Late Models and
Super Stocks.
The U.S. Open 125 for the Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour on
Sunday is the main event of the weekend. This race is the most
prestigious Modified on the Lancaster schedule. Tony Hanbury of
Orchard Park, NY overcame a heat race crash in last year’s event to
become the 16th different Modified winner in U.S. Open history.
The U.S. Open 125 is also the next to last event of the RoC Modified
Tour schedule. Orchard Park’s Patrick Emerling currently holds a
five point lead over three-time U.S. Open winner Matt Hirschman in
the tour's title chase. Andy Jankowiak, Chuck Hossfeld and Hanbury
are in the hunt for the RoC Tour championship as well.
Modified drivers will have a chance to earn extra money thanks to
the U.S. Open Modified 125 lap sponsorship program. Lap sponsorships
are currently being sold for $25. Anyone interested in sponsoring a
lap can contact Barb Holmes in the speedway office.
The X-Press Signs Late Model feature presented by Abbott Rd Pizza
will pay $2,000 to the winner and $350 to start. The race will be
lap 50 laps based on a car count of 18 or more cars.
Pit gates open at 9:30 AM for Sunday’s program with practice
starting at 10:30. Opening ceremonies will take place at noon,
immediately followed by the first heat race of the day.
Fans encouraged to stick around after the races on Sunday for a
Buffalo Football Tailgate Party in the main concourse. There will be
a TV set up under the big tent for fans to watch Buffalo "squish the
fish". The concession stand and beer stand will remain open for
football fans.
The official U.S. Open website is online at
www.thelancasterusopen.com featuring the opportunity to
purchase advance tickets and other information about the weekend.
A two-day adult general admission ticket is just $40, which is a
savings of $5.00. A student (age 12-17) weekend ticket is $15, with
kids under 12 free. Family passes are available for families with
two adults and two students.
Free camping is available in the speedway parking lot. Campers are
encouraged to take part in the U.S. Open Best Appearing Campsite
contest for the chance to win a $100 Colton RV gift certificate.
Judging takes place on Saturday evening with the winner announced on
Sunday afternoon.
Founded in 1959, Lancaster National Speedway is a multi-use facility
located on 77 acres just outside of metropolitan Buffalo, NY. The
facility features a 1/8-mile drag, a 5/8-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 all-new 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).
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The US OPEN – September 25th – 27th
Lancaster National Speedway, Lancaster, NY
*All times and events subject to change
Friday 9/25
3:00pm Hauler Pre-Stage, Secure Facility
4:00pm Pit Gates Open, Inspection Begins
6:00pm Grandstand Gates Open
6:30pm – 9:30pm Practice – by round (minimum of two rounds)
9:30pm (approx.) Conclusion of Practice - US Open “Kick Off Party”/Band in
Concourse
11:30pm Pit Area Closed / Secure Facility
Saturday 9/26
12:30pm Pit Gates Open – Inspection Begins
2:30pm Front Gates Open – Practice by Division (2 Rounds per Division –
Inner Oval First)
3:00pm Kids Crafts
4:05pm Driver’s Meetings (TQ Midgets, 4 Cylinders, Street Stock, Sportsman –
Tech Barn)
4:25pm Big Wheel Races
4:30pm Opening Ceremonies (Invocation & Anthems)
4:35pm NYPA T.Q. Midget Qualifying Races (8-laps) – Inner Oval
4:45pm 4 Cylinder Qualifying Races (8-laps each) – Inner Oval
5:05pm Legends Qualifying Races (8-laps each) – Inner Oval
5:15pm Street Stock Qualifying Races (6-laps each)
5:30pm Sportsman Modified Qualifying Races – (8-laps each)
6:00pm NYPA T.Q. Midget Feature Race – (25-laps) WINNER Only Victory Lane
6:25pm Legends Feature Race (25-laps) WINNER Only Victory Lane
6:45pm 4 Cylinder Feature Race (25-laps) WINNER Only Victory Lane
7:15pm Street Stock Feature (25-laps) Immediately Followed by Victory Lane
7:45pm Sportsman Modified Feature Race (75-laps) Immediately Followed by
Victory Lane
8:45pm Sportsman Modified Victory Lane
9:00pm Fireworks
11:00pm Pit Area Closed / Secure Facility
Sunday 9/27
9:30am Pit Gates Open
10:30am Front Gates Open – Practice by Division (2 Rounds per Division –
Inner Oval First)
11:00am Kids Crafts
11:45am Driver’s Meetings (RoC Driver Meeting, Late Model, Lancaster Super
Stocks Tech Barn)
11:55am Big Wheel Races
12:05pm Opening Ceremonies (Invocation & Anthems)
12:10pm Lancaster Super Stock Qualifying Races (8-laps each)
12:20pm Late Model Qualifying Races (10-laps each)
12:45pm Race of Champions Modified Tour Qualifying Races – (10-laps each)
1:10pm Lancaster Super Stock Feature Race (25-laps – based on car count)
1:45pm Late Model Feature (50 or 30-laps) (Immediately Followed by Victory
Lane)
2:30pm Race of Champions Modified Tour Stages Feature on Frontstretch
(Lemans Style)
2:45pm Race of Champions Modified Tour Driver Introductions
3:00pm Command to Start Engines
3:10pm Race of Champions Modified Tour US Open 125 (125-laps)
4:30pm Race of Champions Modified Tour Victory Lane
6:00pm Pit Area Closed / Secure Facility
(Immediately Followed by Victory Lane)
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Source:
Dave Buchanan / Lancaster National Speedway &
Dragway
Posted: September
24, 2015 |
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