(Press Release from Lancaster Motorplex)
When the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour rolls into New York International Raceway Park to compete at Lancaster Speedway they will do so with the support of Nu-Way Auto Parts. Headquartered in nearby Rochester, NY, Nu-Way Auto Parts is a member of the Hahn Automotive family with stores locally in Buffalo, Elmira, and Erie. The Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 is scheduled for Saturday, July 31, 2021.
“It really is a perfect fit,” said event promoter Mike Myers of Lancaster Raceway Park, “and it’s a sponsorship of which we can all be proud. Nu-Way has its roots here in western New York, they have supported racing here for many years and Mike Maggiore, who is the driving force of the partnership, is a former racer.”
Maggiore, Director of Operations at the Buffalo location, is a former competitor at Lancaster Dragway. Widely respected in the pit area, The Wookie, as he is known, was also a standout in the four-cylinder and street stock divisions on the oval for 10 seasons. The second generation driver remembers fondly growing up watching his father race at Lancaster.
“I know the drivers appreciate [the sponsorship]. I know the track appreciates it,” said Maggiore. “We are doing this for them.”
The talent-laden Modified Tour event will feature the likes of Justin and Kyle Bonsignore, Doug Coby, Woody Pitkat, Tommy Catalano, from nearby Ontario, NY, Eric Goodale, Jon McKennedy, Craig Lutz and Ron Silk. Local favorites like current Whelen Modified Tour point leader Patrick Emerling, Chuck Hossfeld and Tyler Rypkema could have a decided advantage with home track experience.
As rewarding as it is for Maggiore to give back, what is most gratifying has been the immediate interest by major national brands like ACDelco, Valvoline and Lucas Oil.
“As soon as we told our partners what we were doing to support the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and New York International Raceway Park, they wanted to be a part of it,” added Maggiore. “Large automotive brands appreciate the brand loyalty of racers and fans.”
Loyalty is important to Nu-Way Auto Parts as well. Starting as a home-grown parts store in Western, NY, the Nu-Way philosophy remains focused on customer satisfaction and personalized service synonymous with a hometown auto parts store. All while providing pricing and supply chain benefits as part of the ACDelco national marketing program and the Hahn Automotive family.
“Our roots are here,” said Maggiore. “That is still critically important to us today. Helping to bring this prestigious racing series to Lancaster is meaningful.”
Hahn Automotive has been the premier auto parts supplier for the Midwest and Eastern US for over 60 years; providing millions of hard parts, accessories, supplies, chemicals and tools from our extensive inventory of more than 200 brands of parts supplied by the leading manufacturers in the industry.
Racing since 1959, New York International Raceway Park is home to the half-mile asphalt oval as well as a 1/8-mile drag strip featuring IHRA sanctioned drag racing.
In addition to the crown jewel of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Nu-Way Auto Parts 150, complete with celebrity announcers, fireworks and more scheduled for Saturday, July 31, the Speedway will run three (3) additional tour-type modified events in 2021 including the popular US Open on September 10-12. Weekly divisions at Lancaster include Sportsman, 602 Sportsman, Late Models, Super Stocks, Street Stocks, 4 cylinders and TQ Midgets.
Are the facilities at Lancaster improved from their run down status of 15-20 years ago? I sure hope so!