![PATRICK EMERLING WINS EMPIRE STATE OPENER IN RACE OF CHAMPIONS ASPHALT MODIFIED SERIES COMPETITON AT CHEMUNG SPEEDROME THIS PAST SATURDAY](https://dy5vgx5yyjho5.cloudfront.net/images/v2/1200x1200-C7btG6Z4ndJ23ux635573.jpg)
![5/12/2021](https://dy5vgx5yyjho5.cloudfront.net/images/v2/profile-D3w4dHaB52x632985.jpg)
5/12/2021
Race of Champions
PATRICK EMERLING WINS EMPIRE STATE OPENER IN RACE OF CHAMPIONS ASPHALT MODIFIED SERIES COMPETITON AT CHEMUNG SPEEDROME THIS PAST SATURDAY
Patrick Emerling of Orchard Park, N.Y., earned another Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series victory this past Saturday at Chemung (N.Y.) Speedrome after asphalt modified racing has been absent from the New York tracks for over 600-days.
Emerling started on the pole and was able to hold off a charging Matt Hirschman of Northampton, Pa., in the final laps of the race to earn the victory.
“We had a good car and I knew he was coming, but we had enough to hold him off,” stated Emerling from victory lane. “It was a good race and there were challenges, but we were able to get the job done. This is a competitive series and we were able to beat some of the best this afternoon. I have to thank my team and everyone involved with our group. This is a great way for us to get back going in New York.”
Emerling fended off advances from Tommy Catalano of Ontario, N.Y., Austin Beers of Northampton, Pa., and Hirschman to earn the victory.
Hirschman finished second after a spirited battle in the late stages of the race chasing Emerling. Beers finished third after swapping the position back and forth with Zane Zeiner of Bath, Pa.
Zeiner finished fourth and Catalano fifth.
Beers posted the fastest time during group qreen-white-checker qualifying.
Beers, Bryan Sherwood of Apalachin, N.Y., and Hirschman won the three qualifying races.
Full results are posted on www.rocmodifiedseries.com under the schedule/results tab.
The Race of Champions is a sanctioning body presenting Modified and Stock Car racing on asphalt and dirt surfaces throughout the Northeast, with events in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey with primary marketing partners Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, US Army, FX Caprara, Waddell Communications, Image X Graphics, Sherwood Racing Wheels, PavedTrackDigest.com, Erie Sports Commission and Presque Isle Downs & Casino. The 71st annual Race of Champions weekend will take place in 2021 at Lake Erie Speedway in North East, Pennsylvania and is the second longest consecutive auto-racing event in North America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.
For more information, contact;
Race of Champions Media at media@rocmodifiedseries.com
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and FaceBook; @RoCModSeries or visit our website; www.rocmodifiedseries.com