WILLIAMSON, NY — Taking the green flag from 12th, Mike Leaty methodically worked his way through the field to win the Race of Champion Asphalt Modifieds Maynard Troyer Classic IV at Spencer Speedway.

Even having placed third in his heat, there were a lot of eyes on the No. 25 at the start of the event in knowing his history at the half-mile flat oval. That shined through in watching him break into the top-10 at Lap 12, followed by watching him make moves as competitor slipped up ahead of him. The progress continued, with Leaty breaking into the top-five at the halfway mark, before making his way into second at Lap 40.

Andy Jankowaik had dominated from the drop of the green flag, starting on pole and not looking back as he built his advantage over the field. Though as the laps began to click down, he found the No. 25 getting closer in his rearview mirror, followed by no gap in sight between the pair with under 10 laps to go.

Leaty tried to take the easy route around underneath of the No. 73, but that was not happening in seeing how well Jankowaik had the bottom wrapped. He took the high side through turns one and two, and two laps later, he was able to put his nose out front. However, as he did that, the caution waved for an incident on the backstretch.

The race restarted with just three laps on the board with Jankowaik on the bottom and Leaty to his outside on the front row. It put Leaty exactly where he wanted to be, as he made his way by down the backstretch, pacing the final two laps en route to the checkered flag. It marks Leaty’s third win of the season and sixth top-five in 10 events.

Paulie Hartwig III’s impressive climb through the modified ranks continued as he rounded out the podium in third, with George Skora III and Zane Zeiner completing the top-five. Zeiner now carries a 207 point advantage over Jack Ely heading into the Race of Champions weekend at Lake Erie Speedway.

Tommy Catalano was sixth, followed by Austin Kochenash, Bryan Sherwood, Trevor Catalano, and Jack Ely.