Buffalo, NY: Chuck Hossfeld and the DeLange Racing Team pulled into Lancaster Raceway Park this past Saturday June 19, 2004 for the Budweiser 50 modified event and the second race for the DeLange Racing Team in 2004. After an outstanding win in the season-opening Queen City Clash, the team was anxious to get back on the track, and had high hopes of again finding victory lane in the DeLange Racing #22 Modified.

The team arrived early Saturday as sponsors Dave and Laura DeLange had asked Chuck to test one of their cars, the #1 DeLange Racing modified driven by Ron Williams. The session was successful as Hossfeld was able to provide some positive feedback to Williams and the #1 team.

After the test, and focusing back on his own team, the Hot Shoe showed the #22 modified was strong again, as he went out in the second practice session and put in some fast laps.

There would be two 10-lap heats with the top 6 in each heat qualifying for the redraw. Hossfeld started in 8th spot in heat number 1. The Hot Shoe narrowly avoided a spinning Rich Littlefield (3), as he went on to finish 4th in the heat.

The top 12 qualified drivers redrew for starting postition, and as luck would have it Chuck drew the 12th place starting spot.

The race got under way and went green until lap 24, just before the halfway point. Hossfeld had been steadily moving the #22 DeLange Racing modified through the field and had found himself running 7th when the caution flew.

On the ensuing restart, Tim Magnus (93) and Karl Hehr (59) made contact between turns 3 and 4, causing them to spin. As Hehr spun in the middle of the track, Hossfeld checked up, went high and appeared as though he would clear the accident. However, Chuck was collected by the spinning Hehr and Matt Alix (72) from the rear, and stuffed the nose of the DeLange Racing modified into the styrofoam barriers. All three drivers were physically ok, though none would return to the race.

The #22 DeLange Racing modified retired from the race with heavy damage to the front end and a fair amount to the rear.

Hossfeld seems to have a dark cloud following him so far this season as he endures one of the worst runs of bad luck in his entire career. Mechanical problems and unavoidable accidents have taken him out of one third of the races he's competed in so far this season. As the season approaches the halfway mark, a win at Lancaster in the DeLange Racing modified, and a Bud Pole Award in the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series are the only noticeable highlights.

Let's hope that Lady Luck smiles again soon upon the Hot Shoe and gives us a fresh outlook for the second half of the 2004 season.

Chuck's next race is the NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series Busch 150, to be held Saturday June 26, 2004 at Wall Township Speedway in Wall Township, NJ. The next event for the DeLange Racing Team will be Thursday July 1, 2004 at Lancaster Raceway Park for the Race Of Champions Firecracker 75.

Click here for more results on the Budweiser 50 at Lancaster Raceway Park.