Race of Champions

9/6/2021

Race of Champions

TRIBUTE TO JOE REILLY “CROWN ROYAL” CLASSIC TO PAY $3,054.54 AS PART OF PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS & CASINO RACE OF CHAMPIONS WEEKEND

The Race of Champions Sportsman Modified Series will have some additional incentives on the line in the Tribute to Joe Reilly “Crown Royal” Classic at Lake Erie Speedway on Saturday, September 25, 2021. The winner will receive $3,054.54 for their efforts in the 54-lap race.

Crew chiefs will be recognized with a cash bonus. The winning crew chief will receive $154. The second and third place finishing crew chiefs will receive $108. The fifth place finishing crew chief will receive $54. The 10th, 15th, 20th and last place finishing crew chief will receive $54.

The race is in tribute to Joe Reilly. Reilly, who was a self –taught mechanic, worked his way to being the crew chief for Thompson Racing. Reilly never stopped educating himself and ultimately won two track championships at Lancaster Speedway. The championships came in the Sportsman division in 2015 with driver Mark Pennell and in the Late Model division in 1996 with driver Bob Straus. Reilly made sure the Thompson Racing machines made it to each and every race they could. Each and every crew member in the pit area, plays an integral role in making sure their respective cars make it week-in and week-out, something Reilly took great pride in. The race on Saturday, September 25, is not just a tribute to Reilly, but a tribute to each and every crew member that works countless hours to “make it happen”.

There will be a special pre-race tribute to the crew chiefs and crew members as well a post-race lantern lighting of 54-lanterns, commencing 1-hour after the conclusion of the race.

Race of Champions management is also continuing the “Driver / Crew Chief Challenge” to the first “driver / crew chief” combination who makes the redraw and elects to surrender their starting position and start from the rear of the field and that is able to win will earn an additional $540. If the “driver / crew chief” combination that elects to surrender their starting position earns 2nd through 5th in the finish, they will earn a $250 bonus. Only one “driver / crew chief”, the first team that comes to the Race of Champions Series trailer and declares their intentions, will be eligible. Once this has been declared, it will be official. The rows will slide forward and positions will not cross-over in regard to standard Race of Champions race procedural rules.

In addition Race of Champions management is continuing the Ted Christopher Drive of the Race Award for this event only. An additional $130 will be awarded to the driver who advances the most positions from their official starting position as posted on the official starting lineup for the event. The “driver / crew chief” candidate will not be eligible for this award.

Tickets may be purchased for the weekend and will be available at the Lake Erie Speedway ticket office or at www.lakeeriespeedway.com. In the event that there is inclement weather, the event will be postponed to 2022.

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, Waddell Communications, Image X Graphic Designs, Sherwood Racing Wheels, DirtTrackDigest.com, FX Caprara and Billy Whittaker Ford. 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

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