Lancaster, NY: Chuck Hossfeld was back behind the wheel of the #22 DeLange Racing Modified Saturday August 14, 2004 at Lancaster Raceway Park in Lancaster, NY. After being inactive for the past month while Chuck was busy with races on the NASCAR Featherlite Modified tour, The DeLange Racing Team was anxious to get back on the track and was looking to get back to some of the early success they've had this season.

The #22 DeLange Racing Modified was quick off the trailer, as Chuck went out and put in some fast laps during the first practice session. Starting 8th in a field of 11 for the 10-lap heat race, the Hotshoe wasted no time in marching to the front. After working for a couple of laps to get around Billy Putney (88), Hossfeld skillfully navigated his way through the pack. As the white flag flew Chuck was setting up to pass leader Brett Scherrer (8) on the inside. Hossfeld had the position, but contact from Scherrer caused the Hotshoe to spin between turns 1 and 2. The resulting caution setup a green/white/checkered finish for the heat, and although Hossfeld had to come from the back of the pack, he was able pass several cars and grab a qualifying position by finishing 5th in the final two lap sprint.

A robust field of 22 cars would start the feature, with the Hotshoe taking the green from 11th position. With many of the top contenders ahead of him, the race to the front would be both challenging and interesting. The mighty mods roared to life and took the green flag. In the opening laps, Hossfeld had gained several positions and on lap 7, he narrowly avoided a 2-car incident in turn 3 that sent the field scrambling to find a way through.

From the lap 8 restart, Chuck continued his forward progress through the field. With about ten laps to go to the end of the 30-lap race he had moved himself into the 5th spot and was challenging current modified points leader Dave Wollaber (5) for 4th position. As Hossfeld got a run on the high-side off of turn 4 it looked as though he would make the pass, but was forced to back off the throttle as Tim Mangus (93) got loose coming on to the front straight. Wollaber passed Mangus for 3rd and Hossfeld followed suit shortly after grabbing the 4th spot.

Second place Sege Fidanza (77) was now reeling in leader Tom McGrath (12), who had opened up a sizeable lead. The two had roughly a straightaway lead over Wollaber and Hossfeld, but were just beginning to enter heavy lapped traffic.

What followed next between Hossfeld and Wollaber was something that we are seeing more and more when these two talented Ransomville, NY natives find each other on the track. The Ransomville rivals treated fans to an exciting side-by-side battle for position for several laps. Both drivers showed not only guts and determination, but poise and control as they raced hard in the waning laps of the feature, seemingly glued together.

Though Hossfeld and Wollaber battled each other, they were still able to make up ground on the leaders McGrath and Fidanza as the leaders dealt with lapped cars. Lapped traffic was certain to play a role in determining who would win the battle that Wollaber and Hossfeld were waging. As the two came down the front stretch with less than 5 laps to go, they stayed nerf bar-to-nerf bar as they made it three-wide to pass a lapped car, who had kindly moved down to give them room to race. On the following lap though Hossfeld, still running the outside, was able to use Bill Torrisi (7NY) as a rolling pick down the back straight. Wollaber with no place to go was forced to back out of it and relinquish the position to Hossfeld.

Finally past Wollaber, the Hotshoe now set his sights on the leaders. But, with only a couple of laps left, Hossfeld would have to settle for 3rd tonight, and the knowledge that he ran one heck of a race.

McGrath went on to win the race, followed closely by Fidanza. Hossfeld, Wollaber, and Mangus rounded out the top-five.

In the end it was a good day for Chuck Hossfeld and the DeLange Racing Team, and great preparation for the $5000 to win Tommy Druar Memorial/Mr. Modified 50 to be held next Saturday August 21, 2004 at Lancaster Raceway Park. Chuck is the defending champion of the 2003 race and hopes to repeat with another Mr. Modified victory for DeLange Racing this year.

The DeLange Racing Team will cap off their final race of the season at Lancaster Raceway Park on August 28, 2004 - so if you haven't had a chance to see the Hotshoe in action at his hometown track, you'd better hurry as you only have two weeks left!

The final race of the 2004 season for the DeLange Racing Team will come on September 18th at Oswego Speedway for the Sunoco Race Of Champions 200.