1: Patrick Emerling comes in as the points leader seeking just a good finish at the Race of Champions. Emerling has six wins this year, but he’s never been higher than 13th in the Race of Champions. Perhaps his success this year will help produce better numbers this year. One good note for Emerling is that he won at Oswego in the spring.
3: Matt Hirschman is making a name for himself. The second generation driver is seeking his fourth win in the last six Race of Champions events. Hirschman also has two-runner up finishes in the Race of Champions.
4: Tony Hirschman and George Kent are the all-time win leaders on the asphalt at the Race of Champions. Hirschman won at Oswego and at Pocono. Kent did the same winning twice at each location.
5: Dutch Hoag was one of the best there was in the Race of Champions, but his five wins all came on the dirt. He won five times in 15 starts. He also had three other finishes in the top three.
22: The driver in the 22 car Chuck Hossfeld is seeking his third win in the Race of Champions. Hossfeld has a total of eight podium finishes at the Race of Champions.
60: In 1977 and 1979 the Race of Champions started 60 cars in the main event. It was not uncommon in the 80’s to see as many as 50 cars start the main race.
66: This will be the 66th year for the Race of Champions making it one of the longest continuing races in the country.
250: The race will be 250 laps.
$12,500: The winner’s share of the ROC 250. Thus making it one of the richest races in short track racings let alone Modified.
All in the Family: Jan Leaty has run the Race of Champions event 24 times in the past. Now the two-time winner watches his son Mike Leaty run it and looks to improve on a fifth-place finish last year. The younger Leaty family member will be making the 37th start for the family in this race.
Best of the Best: Looking at the historic names that have won this race is a list of who’s who in the Modified World. From Richie Evans, Geoff Bodine, Ray Hendrick, Mike Stefanik, Tony Hirschman, Reggie Ruggiero, Jimmy Spencer and many others.
ROC at Chemung
2015 Matt Hirschman
ROC at Oswego
2014 Chuck Hossfeld
2013 Matt Hirschman
2012 Matt Hirschman
2011 Tony Hirschman
2010 Billy Putney
2009 Tony Hirschman
2008 Jan Leaty
2007 TJ Potrzebowski
2006 Chuck Hossfeld
2005 Eric Beers
2004 Sege Fidanza
2003 Tim Mangus
2002 George Kent
2001 George Kent
2000 Chuck Hossfeld
1999 Sege Fidanza
1998 Tony Hirschman
1997 Jan Leaty
Run at Flemington
1996 John Blewett III
1995 Tony Siscone
1994 Bill Pauch
1993 Lenny Boyd
Run at Pocono
1992 Satch Worley
1991 Mike Stefanik
1990 Tony Hirschman
1989 Reggie Ruggiero
1988 George Brunnhoelzl
1987 George Kent
1986 Brett Bodine
1985 Brian Ross
1984 Jimmy Spencer
1983 Greg Sacks
1982 George Kent
1981 Richie Evans
1980 Richie Evans Big Track
1979 Geoff Bodine Big Track
1978 Maynard Troyer Big Track
Run at Trenton
1977 Maynard Troyer
1976 Ray Hendrick
1975 Fred DeSarro
1974 Richie Evans
1973 Geoff Bodine
Run at Langhorn
1972 Roger Treichler
1971 Mev Treichler
1970 Ray Hendrick
1969 Dutch Hoag
1968 Dutch Hoag
1967 Will Cagle
1966 Bill Slater
Run at Langhorn on Dirt
1965 Freddy Adams
1964 Dutch Hoag
1963 Frankie Schneider
1962 Freddy Adams
1961 Dutch Hoag
1960 Jim Delaney
1959 Jim Delaney
1958 Glenn Guthrie
1957 Dutch Hoag
1956 Pete Corey
1955 Frankie Schneider
1954 Ted Swaim
1953 Jim Delaney
1952 Hully Bunn
-By Elgin Traylor, Speed51.com Correspondent
-Photo Credit: Speed51.com
