SOBCZYNSKI, HITCHCOCK, ECKERT, SALEMI & SEMLITSCH TALLY VIP NIGHT WINS AT LANCASTER

LANCASTER, NY – Three new winners and two repeats winners topped their respective classes on VIP Night at Lancaster National Dragway on Friday. The Franco’s Pizza Friday Night IHRA Drag Racing winners included: Jeff Sobczysnki of Depew, N.Y. in Top 8 Eliminator, Brian Hitchcock of Amherst, N.Y. in Top ET, Dale Eckert of S. Wales, N.Y. in McGard Mod ET, Angelo Salemi of Wheatfield, N.Y. in Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds and “Fast Eddie” Semlitsch in Tread City Tire Street.

The race of the night was the final in Top ET as Hitchcock and Mike Swinarski lined up for a heads-up race with identical dial-ins. Hitchcock left the starting line first in his rear engine dragster while Swinarski gave chase. Swinarski was a little too fast in his pursuit as he broke out at top end by just .003 seconds to hand the win to Hitchcock.

Jeff Sobczynski picked up his first win of the year Top 8 Eliminator. Sobczysnki held off Zell Gaymon in the final round as Gaymon could not make up the difference on the starting tree. The McGard Mod ET final came down to two drivers both looking for their second wins of the year in Dale Eckert and Ryan Ricketson. Eckert got the victory in a double breakout finish.

Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds had their first snowmobile winner of the season as Angelo Salemi took top honors. Salemi faced Tom Varney in the final pairing, but a red light by Varney gave the win to Salemi’s sled. “Fast Eddie” Semlitsch was in the final round of Tread City Tire Street for the second week in a row. This time he was able to trigger the win light at top end by defeating Wade Schneckenberger. The victory gives Semlitsch two wins overall in 2018 with a win in Mod ET the week before.

This Friday (June 15) at Lancaster National Dragway is Ladies Night. All ladies get in for just $5. We will once again feature special female-only classes of racing, Amateur for drivers with no experience and street legal cars and a Pro class for former winners and current female competitors. The winner of each class will win a diamond ring from Cash & Go Pawn.

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 (Driver, hometown, vehicle, reaction time, dial-in, elapsed time and top speed)

Top 8 Eliminator ET

Winner: Jeff Sobczynski (Depew, N.Y.) 1967 Chevrolet Camaro .519 6.96 6.986 seconds, 102.51 mph

Runner-up: Zell Gaymon (Buffalo, N.Y.) 1994 Chevrolet Lumina .542 5.56 5.599 seconds, 123.56 mph

Top ET

Winner: Brian Hitchcock (Amherst, N.Y.) 1993 G-Force RED .506 5.19 5.201 seconds, 131.12 mph

Runner-up: Mike Swinarski (Orchard Park, N.Y.) 2002 Chevrolet Camaro .539 5.19 5.187 seconds, 131.98

McGard Mod ET

Winner: Dale Eckert (S. Wales, N.Y.) 1969 Chevrolet Camaro .524 7.09 7.089 seconds, 93.90 mph

Runner-up: Ryan Ricketson (Delevan, N.Y.) 1974 Dodge Dart .547 7.97 7.941 seconds, 87.01 mph

Hebeler’s Sales Bikes & Sleds

Winner: Angelo Salemi (Wheatfield, N.Y.) 1999 Polaris .565 6.58 6.554 seconds, 104.15 mph

Runner-up: Tom Varney (Tonawanda, N.Y.) 1981 Kawasaki .431 FOUL

Tread City Tire Street ET

Winner: Ed Semlitsch (W. Seneca, N.Y.) 1963 Chevrolet Nova .702 8.83 8.802 seconds, 73.31 mph

Runner-up: Wade Schneckenberger (Holland, N.Y.) 1982 Chevrolet Caprice .595 9.75 9.718 seconds, 68.78 mph