Waterford, CT: For the second time this season Chuck Hossfeld led the most laps in NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series competition. Despite his Series leading tally of laps led the Buffalo, NY driver has yet to visit victory lane. Leading the final lap cannot be far off for the Garbarino-led Mystic Missile team. After leading 80 laps of the XTRA-MART 150 at the Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, CT on Saturday night Hossfeld had to settle for a 12th place finish.

Hossfeld proved once again that he knows his way around the Speedbowl. With a lap of 13.634 seconds he just missed beating his own track record in qualifying to earn his first Bud Pole Award of the season. He was able to retain his front row starting position by pulling the pole in the redraw.

Riding high from this qualifying run Hossfeld jumped out to an early lead. Lapped traffic became an issue early and served to be both helpful and harmful at times. Ken Barry got into trouble early losing a lap to the leader. With a very fast racecar the rookie was able to stay with the lead pack, getting in line between Hossfeld and second-running Ted Christopher. The trio entered heavy lapped traffic on lap 25. Finally freeing himself from Barry, Christopher began to chip away at Hossfeld's lead.

Racing on the tight confines at the Waterford often lends to drama and Hossfeld experienced his fair share during the evening. After a series of near misses with lapped traffic during a long green flag run, the first caution of the event flew on lap 46.

Hossfeld was able to maintain his lead after the lap 56 restart. It was a repeat of the same on lap 70. A caution for an accident involving Tommy Cloce on lap 73 changed the complexion of the race for Hossfeld.

With the field set to go back to green on lap 80, Christopher lined up to the outside of leader Hossfeld. Christopher made the outside groove work to his advantage taking the lead in turn two. Hossfeld looked to the inside of Christopher as the duo exited turn four of the same lap. Contact sent Christopher spinning and the remainder of the field scrambling. Under the caution, NASCAR sent Hossfeld to the rear of the field for his involvement.

After the race Hossfeld was disappointed but philosophical.

"My car was really good coming out of turn four. The bottom groove opened up a bit and I took an opportunity to try to get the lead back. We made contact but it was not intentional," said Hossfeld.

Hossfeld continued, "I feel terrible for the team. They gave me a car capable of winning."

On a mission, Hossfeld spent the remainder of the race charging back toward the front. He joined the field in 21st position on the lap 88 restart. By lap 101 he made his way to 15th. His progress slowed slightly over the final phase of the race as he was in the thick of intense action. Hossfeld displayed some great driving to miss incidents that unfolded directly ahead of him. First when Dave Etheridge got out of shape followed by an incident on lap 121 when Rick Fuller spun with a flat tire directly in front of the Mystic Missile.

The final caution flag flew on lap 140 for a single-car accident in turn three. There was little Hossfeld could do after the green/white/checker restart on lap 151 and had to settle for a 12th place finish. After three races, Hossfeld and his Mystic Missile Racing team sit 5th in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series point standings.

The weekend started out on a high-note for Hossfeld who drove the RJR Enterprises Wisk Clorox #47 SK Modified ® to a runner-up finish at the Stafford Motor Speedway on Friday night. It was Hossfeld's third top-three finish in a row at the NASCAR sanctioned facility.

Next up for the Featherlite Modified Series is the Service Electric 100 from the fast track at Nazareth Speedway in Nazareth, PA on May 23.

For a complete race report on the XTRA MART 150 visit www.nascartouring.com. Check out www.chuckhossfeld.com to get the latest news on all Chuck's racing endeavors.