LANCASTER, N.Y. — Driving from 12th to first, Patrick Emerling won the Ol’ Boy Cup VII presented by Thermal Foams for the Race of Champions Modified Series at Lancaster Motorplex Thursday night.
It was the 60th appearance all time at Lancaster for the Race of Champions Modified Series.
Brothers Trevor and Tyler Catalano brought the field to the green flag with Trevor taking the lead, with Tyler Catalano being pressured by Daren Scherer, George Skora III and Zane Zeiner.
Scherer took second away on lap two and would go after Catalano for the lead. Paulie Hartwig III and Timmy Catalano would bounce nerf bars, with Hartwig hitting the Thermal Foam to bring out the race’s first caution on lap four. Trevor Catalano would reclaim the lead on the restart, with Tyler regaining the runner-up position on lap six, with Zane Zeiner, Scherer, and Skora into the top five.
Emerling worked his way into the top ten on lap nine, after passing Timmy Catalano and Roger Coss. Emerling’s move to the front continued, as on lap 11, he and Tommy Catalano worked in sixth and seventh place, respectively.
Emerling passed Tommy Catalano to take over sixth place on lap 13. Emerling passed Daren Scherer on lap 18 to move into fifth place. Zane Zeiner would take over second from Tyler Catalano on lap 21 and would go after race leader Trevor Catalano.
Emerling passed Skora to take over fourth place on lap 24. Jeff Szafraniec would bring out the second caution of the event on lap 25 after coming to a stop in turn four.
On the restart, Catalano would have the lead, but the Whelen safety lights would immediately come back on as Paulie Hartwig III came to a stop in turn two. Zeiner would take the lead on lap 26, as Patrick Emerling, Tyler Catalano, and Tommy Catalano would all race in the top five. Trevor would regain the lead on lap 27, with Zeiner reclaiming the top spot on lap 28.
Emerling grabbed second on lap 30, as Emerling went from 12th to second in the first half of the race. The lap 32 restart would see Emerling take the lead away from Zeiner, as Tyler and Trevor Catalano raced for third, with oldest brother Tommy racing in fifth place.
Emerling pulled away from the field to score the win, the 10th of his career at Lancaster.
Zeiner finished second, with Tyler Catalano, Jack Ely and Tommy Catalano rounding out the top five.
Dave Wollaber won his first Mighty TQ Midget feature of the season. Chris Deyoe Jr. earned his second 4 Cylinder feature of the season.
The finish:
Patrick Emerling, Zane Zeiner, Tyler Catalano, Jack Ely, Tommy Catalano, Trevor Catalano, Timmy Catalano, Daren Scherer, Paulie Hartwig III, Shawn Nye, Earl Paules, Danny Knoll Jr, Andy Jankowiak, Roger Coss, Randall Richard, Jeff Szafraniec, Ricky Knapp Jr, Tim Connolly, Chris Finocchario, George Skora III, Paul Townsend, Scott Wylie, C.J. Palmer, Greg Krause, Tony Hanbury.