HOLLAND MEMORIAL DAY SPECIAL WINS TO VERNON, MARZEC, KIRCHBERGER; O’VELL IS THE “FASTER PASTOR”

 

Holland, NY

 

The INEX Legends, Thiel Motorsports 4-cylinder Hornets, and the ladies-only Queen Bees had their 2008 season openers on Memorial Day Monday at the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex, and at the end of the night at the Western New York oval, Jake Vernon of Hamburg, NY, Eric Marzec of West Seneca, NY, and Ashley Kirchberger of Buffalo, NY were all celebrating victories.

 

In addition, Pastor Jeff O’Vell from the Orchard Park, NY Wesleyan Church emerged as the champion of the annual “Faster Pastor” event.

 

Vernon, the winningest Holland Legends driver in 2007, showed his strength in the Legends opener by leading the caution-free 15 lap distance from flag-to-flag, but had to hold off a contending Jeremy Haudricourt throughout.  Haudricourt tried multiple times to get a run on Vernon, but was never quite able to pull alongside.  At the checkers, Vernon held approximately a 1 ½ car length margin of victory.  Defending division champ Jeff Johnson finished third.

 

After two early caution periods, the final 24 laps of the 30 lap Thiel Motorsports Hornet main went green, and veteran driver Eric Marzec picked up his first career feature win.  By the luck of the draw, Marzec started on the pole in his Marzce Construction/Nickel City Shirt Co./Southern Tier Auto Center Dodge, but a lot of lap traffic and a challenging Frank Nellist made him earn the win.  On two occasions, Nellist pulled even with Marzec, but both times, Marzec was able to hold on to the top spot and hold a scant car length margin of victory over Nellist at the checkers.  Jammer Mueckl skillfully maneuvered around lapped traffic to claim third.

 

Defending Queen Bees champ Ashley Kirchberger had to borrow the former Brandon Hirsch 4-cylinder racer, given that her own new 2008 racer did not have a working engine.  Borrowed car notwithstanding, Ashley led the 15 lap event start to finish, holding off a mid-race challenge from Mae Urban.  Mae had what seemed to be a certain second place finish disappear when a tire went down in the final two circuits – Samantha Lutz was able to edge Mae at the line for second place.

 

A flat tire also was a factor in the outcome of the 5-lap Faster Pastor Championship race, as Pastor Jeff O’Vell took advantage of a last lap flat on the car of fellow Orchard Park Wesleyan pastor Todd Glendenning to make the pass and drive on for the win.  Another Orchard Park Weleyan pastor, Ray Selden, took third, while Pastor Greg McClain from the Wesleyan Church of Hamburg, NY finished fourth.  A total of 25 area clergy members took part in this popular annual event, competing in Speedway provided strictly stock 4-cylinder racers.

 

As a nightcap to the evening, Holland’s own stunt daredeveil Jimmy “Flying Elvis” Gnojek, thrilled the crowed with a perfect ramp jump in his stunt car, landing in and destroying a camper trailer.

 

For more information about events at the Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex, call the Holland office at (716)-537-2272, or visit the web site at www.hollandspeedway.com.

 

 

RESULTS SUMMARY – May 26, 2008

 

I.N.E.X. LEGENDS (15 laps):  1. (started 2^nd) JAKE VERNON,  2. (4) Jeremy Haudricourt,  3. (3) Jeff Johnson,  4. (1) Charlie Neumann,  5. (5) Brett Sager.    

 

Thiel Motorsports 4-cylinder HORNETS (30 laps):  1. (started 1^st) ERIC MARZEC,  2. (8) Frank Nellist,  3. (9) Jammer Mueckl,  4. (16) Ricky Roth,  5. (18) Jeff Szafraniec,  6. (4) George Quintana,  7. (10) Kenny Hejna,  8. (20) Samantha Lutz,  9. (14) Noreen Koningisor,  10. (5) Mae Urban,  11. (3) Butcher Palmer,  12. (15) Kyle Skoney,  13. (12) Pit Murray,  14. (13) Ben Russo,  15. (11) Skip Murray,  16. (7) Peter Hauser,  17. (17) Cassy Newell,  18. (2) Joe Mastrocicco III,  19. (6) David Warrior,  20. (21) Waylon Price,  21. (19) Bill Lutz,  22. (22) Scott Pastorius.

 

Thiel Motorsports QUEEN BEES (15 laps):  1. (started 1^st) ASHLEY KIRCHBERGER,  2. (4) Samantha Lutz,  3. (3) Mae Urban,  4. (2) Noreen Koningisor,  5. (5) Elaine Pimpo.