For the third straight year, Chuck Hossfeld has put the #22 DeLange Racing modified in victory lane on opening day at Lancaster.

Though this may have been the first race of the season for Lancaster, the season actually started several months ago for Hossfeld and the DeLange Racing Team. For two weeks in February, the team was in Florida for the 39th Annual World Series of Stock Car Racing held at New Smyrna Speedway. Hossfeld earned a second place finish in the points and two victories in the eight race series before heading back home to New York.

After Lancaster's scheduled season opener was rained out on May 1st, the team took advantage of practice sesson at the track this past Wednesday. The testing went very well and there was a bit of confidence in the #22 team as they left the track and prepared for Saturday's race.

Every racing season brings something new along with it, and this year there are two major improvements to the DeLange Racing Team. First off there are the new owners Dave and Laura DeLange. The DeLange's have been the primary sponsor onboard the #22 modified for the past two seasons. In an effort to increase their support, as well as to increase their involvment in a sport they love, they made the decision to take over as owners staring with the 2005 season. The arrangement has already been fruitful as they earned their first two victories as owners of the #22 in Florida in February.

Another welcome addition to the DeLange Racing Team this year is Jim Rudolph coming onboard as crew chief for the #22 modified. Rudolph's extensive knowledge of race cars and engine building coupled with years of racing experience has made him somehwhat of a local legend in Western New York racing circles. It was his guidance during speedweeks in Florida that made the trip such a success for the DeLange Racing Team. Jim had previously worked with Hossfeld several years ago and has been a big influence in Hossfeld's racing ever since. Rudolph and Hossfeld share a unique understanding of one another and have a chemistry that enables them to work well together.

Looking to capitalize on the momentum from Florida, the DeLange Racing team pulled into Lancaster Raceway Park on Saturday May 7th, 2005 ready to race. Hossfeld was still all smiles from running a dirt race the previous night at Ransomville Speedway, and he even kept the dirt on his helmet and was showing it off to anyone who wandered close to the #22 pit.

Chuck took the car out for practice and it hadn't skipped a beat from Wednesday's practice session. Simply put - the car was fast! After drawing to start first in the heat race, Hossfeld went on to easily win that.

The top 12 cars in a field of 18 redrew for starting position with Chuck and the #22 DeLange Racing modified set to go from the 3rd spot. Sege Fidanza (77) started on the pole, while last year's Lancaster Modified Champion Dave Wollaber (5) was on the outside of the front row. At the drop of the green Hossfeld got a good jump on Wollaber and quickly moved into second position. He wasted no time in trying to get by Fidanza for the lead, and with the exception of a couple of early cautions, Hossfeld battled side-by-side on the outside of Fidanza for several laps. Once the HotShoe pulled an inside move to get past Fidanza, it was pretty much a done deal. Fidanza tried to get a look on the inside of Hossfeld after a lap 20 restart, but the DeLange Racing machine was not to be tamed on this night. Hossfeld led the remaining laps to win the race followed by Fidanza in second place.

The race marks the third straight season opening win at Lancaster for Hossfeld and the #22 team.

DeLange Racing had a night of ups and downs though. Defending track champion Bobby Holmes (8) led from the pole to win the 20-lap SST race aboard his DeLange Racing sponsored sportsman entry. However the other DeLange Racing modified team of Ron Williams (1) abrubtly ended their night with hard contact into the turn 2 wall early into the modified feature.

Chuck Hossfeld and the DeLange Racing Team will be racing at Lancaster Raceway Park for the entire month of May. The action continues next week May 14th, we hope to see you at the track, and don't forget to come by and see Chuck and the DeLange Racing Team in the pits after the race.