RGeeProductions
06-07-2014, 11:22 PM
Chemung Speedrome presented a full program Friday night, with a total of 8 feature races for 6 divisions. TJ Potrzebowski won the 40-lap Sunoco Modified feature held over from the prior week, while John Wilber claimed the regularly scheduled 40-lapper. Tim Gullo got his 2nd win in the Super Stocks; Mike Alcaro won both ends of the twin bill for the INEX Legends. Repeat winners included Nick Morich (4 Cylinders), Chris Clemens (Dirt Crate Sportsman) and David French (Bandoleros). Jeremiah Clonch took home the hardware for the highest finishing 4 Cylinder.
When the Sunoco Modifieds pulled onto the race track many were anticipating another great battle between last week’s heat winners TJ Potrzebowski and Jimmy Zacharias. Potrzebowski led the first 4 laps until Zacharias ducked inside coming off turn 4 and had the lead on the 5th lap. A series of cautions slowed the action but on each restart Zacharias held off Potrzebowski. Zack Curren and John Wilber were also working their way to the front, running 3rd and 4th.
During the 6th caution period Curren went pit side and Connor Sellars moved up to 4th. Over the 2nd half of the event Zacharias pulled away from Potrzebowski and left him engaged in a battle for 2nd with Wilber. Trouble came quickly for the leader. The 7th and final caution came out when Jody Buckley spun, but smoke appeared behind the #71 of Zacharias. He pulled into the pits with a blown motor and the lead went back to Potrzebowski. He held on and picked up his 3rd win of the season, this time over Wilber, TJ Zacharias, Sellars and Corey Mosher.
Qualifying for the regularly scheduled 40-lap Sunoco Modified feature found Jimmy Zacharias in the previously-numbered 17 and his brother, TJ in the #95M. Jimmy and Zack Curren picked up the heat wins and the pair would represent the bulk of story. When the green flag dropped on their 2nd feature J Zacharias took off leaving Curren and TJ Potrzebowski behind him. The first caution came when Potrzebowski slowed with 18 laps complete. Two more back-to-back cautions brought the field together again and on each restart Zacharias led the way.
With 10 laps to go Curren appeared to have the faster car and he chased down the leader. The field took the white flag and Zacharias was determined to pick up his first win of 2014. Curren, with a faster car, was a little too fast entering turn 3 and he got into Zacharias. He spun and the 4th caution flag waved. That gave the lead to Wilber, who held on over the green/white/checkered finish and picked up his first of ’14. Curren finished 2nd but officials assessed a 2-spot penalty. That enabled Gene Sharpsteen and Connor Sellars to finish ahead of him. Jody Buckley rounded out the top 5.
Super Stock heat winners Dan Mathews and Tim Gullo made up the front row for their 25-lap feature. It started out tame enough, with Gullo leading the way and Lee Sharpsteen running 2nd. The first caution flag came out a lap short of the halfway point when Mike Nichols came to a stop on the back stretch. He pitted for service and restarted at the rear. The race resumed and Gullo prevailed. Sharpsteen was searching for an opening but Gullo wasn’t offering one. Nichols, meanwhile, was powering his way back toward the front.
Jody Buckley’s spin with 22 laps complete put Nichols and Charlie Sharpsteen in row 2 behind Gullo and Lee Sharpsteen for the restart. Over the next few laps Jeff Goodwin got his #05 around Nichols and was up to 3rd.
The pivotal moment in this one came with just 1 lap remaining. Joe Snell spun in turn 4 and, on the restart, Nichols went 3-wide off turn 2 and into Lee Sharpsteen and others. With nowhere to go, the melee collected all but Gullo, Goodwin and Dusty Snell. Several cars retired at that point, among them Nick Robinson, Rich Talada, and both Charlie and Lee Sharpsteen.
The green/white/checkered dash to the finish set up an opportunity for Goodwin but Gullo again prevailed and collected his 2nd feature this year. Buckley finished behind Goodwin in 3rd, followed by Dusty Snell and Joe Snell. Nichols, who finished 9th was black-flagged for causing the multi-car pileup that involved so many cars.
It’s unfortunate when it happens – a driver giving validity to the expression “it’s his race to lose”. Cody Jackson learned the hard way that there is truth to that statement. The 4 Cylinder rookie won his heat race and dominated the 20-lap feature. Victory seemed assured until he lost control coming off turn 2 on the white flag lap, ending his chance to take the checkered flag on this night.
Nick Morich, who ran 2nd from the halfway point on, restarted on the pole with 2-time feature winner Joe Lane alongside. Over those final 2 laps Lane gave it his best but this one belonged to Morich. Lane settled for 2nd, followed by the highest placing front-wheel drive and heat winner Jeremiah Clonch, Eric Ellsworth and Dewain Talada.
Twin-15’s were on tap for the INEX Legends division. Brandon DeBrakeleer and Mike Alcaro, both of whom had won features this year, claimed their respective heats. Alcaro returned to the Garden State with a pair of trophies after winning both features. The first 15-lapper went caution-free and Alcaro took the lead on lap 4. DeBrakeleer, with likely the fastest car on the track, got to 2nd but could go no further with the remaining laps. He finished 2nd, followed by Alex Bowen, Alexandria Smith and Matt Maring.
In race #2 Alcaro and DeBrakeleer started on the front row, to the dismay of nearly everyone else. One caution, with 4 laps complete, brought the field back together. Alcaro hit the fast pedal and stayed in front of DeBrakeleer. Over the remaining laps his advantage increased, as did the distance between DeBrakeleer and Smith. When it was over Alcaro celebrated his 2nd win of the night. DeBrakeleer, Smith, Maring and Bowen all posted top-5 finishes.
The Dirt Crate Sportsmen on hand proved once again that a few cars can put on an exciting show. In both their heat and feature Chris Clemens, Ray Dann and James Howard diced for the top spot lap after lap. Clemens, who won the season opener, prevailed once again with a sweep without the dirt. But he had to work a bit for this one until the final 3 laps. Dann, Howard and Allison Pierce finished behind him.
David French owned the Bandolero division last season, winning all 10 features. Friday night he swept the action when he won both the heat and 8-lap feature. French pulled away from Lars McElravy and Nick Morich , who were locked in a good battle for2nd at the halfway point. One caution brought the field back together but this one belonged to French, who held off McElravy and Morich.
This Friday’s program features the Sunoco Modifieds in a 75-lap race, along with the Super Stocks (25), 4 Cylinders (20), INEX Legends (20) and Bandoleros (08). Pits open at 4, practice and grandstand open at 6, and racing gets underway at 7:15 PM. Admission: adults $12; seniors 65 and older $10; kids 6-12 $5; kids 5 and under free. Fans are reminded that their ticket stub from June 6th is good for $2 off this Friday night.
Notes: Kyle Sill was the honorary Veteran of the Race. Sill served in the Army and received a Purple Heart for injuries he suffered in Afghanistan. Track announcer Carol Houssock will be out of action for a few weeks due to hip replacement surgery on June 13th. Morgan Colegrove, longtime voice of Woodhull Raceway, was on hand and will fill in during her absence.
Modifieds (5/30 makeup – 40 laps) TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, John Wilber, TJ Zacharias, Connor Sellars, Corey Mosher, Cam Ayres, Jody Buckley, Tommy Rought, Jimmy Zacharias, Zack Curren, Larry Jaynes, Matt Clemens
Heats: Potrzebowski, J Zacharias
Modifieds (40 laps) JOHN WILBER, Gene Sharpsteen, Connor Sellars, Zack Curren, Jody Buckley, Jimmy Zacharias, Cam Ayres, Larry Jaynes, Corey Mosher, TJ Potrzebowski, TJ Zacharias, Tommy Rought
Heats: J Zacharias, Curren
Super Stocks (25 laps) TIM GULLO, Jeff Goodwin, Jody Buckley, Dusty Snell, Joe Snell, Hank Buchanan, Dan Mathews, Lee Sharpsteen, Charlie Sharpsteen, Rich Talada, Nick Robinson, Terry Potrzebowski, Jake Snell, Mike Nichols (Black Flag for on-track incident)
Heats: Mathews, Gullo
4 Cylinders (20 laps) NICK MORICH, Joe Lane, Jeremiah Clonch, Eric Ellsworth, Dewain Talada, Justin Hill, Cody Jackson, Sam Warren, CJ Krapf, Dre Evans, Monica Green, Josh Sharpsteen, Dave Cooke (DNS), Greg Moldt (DNS)
Heats: Clonch, Jackson
INEX Legends (race #1 – 15 laps) MIKE ALCARO, Brandon DeBrakeleer, Alex Bowen, Alexandria Smith, Matt Maring, Chuck Lohmeyer, Gary Ham, Mike Bollen, John Bacon, Charlie Lohmeyer, Christian Eckes, Lee DeBrakeleer, Wayne Walker (DNS)
Heats: B DeBrakeleer, Alcaro
INEX Legends (race#2 – 15 laps) MIKE ALCARO, Brandon DeBrakeleer, Alexandria Smith, Matt Maring, Alex Bowen, Chuck Lohmeyer, John Bacon, Charlie Lohmeyer, Gary Ham, Christian Eckes, Mike Bollen, Lee DeBrakeleer
Dirt Crate Sportsmen (15 laps) CHRIS CLEMENS, Ray Dann, James Howard, Allison Pierce
Heat: Clemens
Bandoleros (8 laps) DAVID FRENCH, Lars McElravy, Nick Morich, Damon Frutchey, Timothy Bowen, Teddy Bowen
Heat: French
Carol Houssock
When the Sunoco Modifieds pulled onto the race track many were anticipating another great battle between last week’s heat winners TJ Potrzebowski and Jimmy Zacharias. Potrzebowski led the first 4 laps until Zacharias ducked inside coming off turn 4 and had the lead on the 5th lap. A series of cautions slowed the action but on each restart Zacharias held off Potrzebowski. Zack Curren and John Wilber were also working their way to the front, running 3rd and 4th.
During the 6th caution period Curren went pit side and Connor Sellars moved up to 4th. Over the 2nd half of the event Zacharias pulled away from Potrzebowski and left him engaged in a battle for 2nd with Wilber. Trouble came quickly for the leader. The 7th and final caution came out when Jody Buckley spun, but smoke appeared behind the #71 of Zacharias. He pulled into the pits with a blown motor and the lead went back to Potrzebowski. He held on and picked up his 3rd win of the season, this time over Wilber, TJ Zacharias, Sellars and Corey Mosher.
Qualifying for the regularly scheduled 40-lap Sunoco Modified feature found Jimmy Zacharias in the previously-numbered 17 and his brother, TJ in the #95M. Jimmy and Zack Curren picked up the heat wins and the pair would represent the bulk of story. When the green flag dropped on their 2nd feature J Zacharias took off leaving Curren and TJ Potrzebowski behind him. The first caution came when Potrzebowski slowed with 18 laps complete. Two more back-to-back cautions brought the field together again and on each restart Zacharias led the way.
With 10 laps to go Curren appeared to have the faster car and he chased down the leader. The field took the white flag and Zacharias was determined to pick up his first win of 2014. Curren, with a faster car, was a little too fast entering turn 3 and he got into Zacharias. He spun and the 4th caution flag waved. That gave the lead to Wilber, who held on over the green/white/checkered finish and picked up his first of ’14. Curren finished 2nd but officials assessed a 2-spot penalty. That enabled Gene Sharpsteen and Connor Sellars to finish ahead of him. Jody Buckley rounded out the top 5.
Super Stock heat winners Dan Mathews and Tim Gullo made up the front row for their 25-lap feature. It started out tame enough, with Gullo leading the way and Lee Sharpsteen running 2nd. The first caution flag came out a lap short of the halfway point when Mike Nichols came to a stop on the back stretch. He pitted for service and restarted at the rear. The race resumed and Gullo prevailed. Sharpsteen was searching for an opening but Gullo wasn’t offering one. Nichols, meanwhile, was powering his way back toward the front.
Jody Buckley’s spin with 22 laps complete put Nichols and Charlie Sharpsteen in row 2 behind Gullo and Lee Sharpsteen for the restart. Over the next few laps Jeff Goodwin got his #05 around Nichols and was up to 3rd.
The pivotal moment in this one came with just 1 lap remaining. Joe Snell spun in turn 4 and, on the restart, Nichols went 3-wide off turn 2 and into Lee Sharpsteen and others. With nowhere to go, the melee collected all but Gullo, Goodwin and Dusty Snell. Several cars retired at that point, among them Nick Robinson, Rich Talada, and both Charlie and Lee Sharpsteen.
The green/white/checkered dash to the finish set up an opportunity for Goodwin but Gullo again prevailed and collected his 2nd feature this year. Buckley finished behind Goodwin in 3rd, followed by Dusty Snell and Joe Snell. Nichols, who finished 9th was black-flagged for causing the multi-car pileup that involved so many cars.
It’s unfortunate when it happens – a driver giving validity to the expression “it’s his race to lose”. Cody Jackson learned the hard way that there is truth to that statement. The 4 Cylinder rookie won his heat race and dominated the 20-lap feature. Victory seemed assured until he lost control coming off turn 2 on the white flag lap, ending his chance to take the checkered flag on this night.
Nick Morich, who ran 2nd from the halfway point on, restarted on the pole with 2-time feature winner Joe Lane alongside. Over those final 2 laps Lane gave it his best but this one belonged to Morich. Lane settled for 2nd, followed by the highest placing front-wheel drive and heat winner Jeremiah Clonch, Eric Ellsworth and Dewain Talada.
Twin-15’s were on tap for the INEX Legends division. Brandon DeBrakeleer and Mike Alcaro, both of whom had won features this year, claimed their respective heats. Alcaro returned to the Garden State with a pair of trophies after winning both features. The first 15-lapper went caution-free and Alcaro took the lead on lap 4. DeBrakeleer, with likely the fastest car on the track, got to 2nd but could go no further with the remaining laps. He finished 2nd, followed by Alex Bowen, Alexandria Smith and Matt Maring.
In race #2 Alcaro and DeBrakeleer started on the front row, to the dismay of nearly everyone else. One caution, with 4 laps complete, brought the field back together. Alcaro hit the fast pedal and stayed in front of DeBrakeleer. Over the remaining laps his advantage increased, as did the distance between DeBrakeleer and Smith. When it was over Alcaro celebrated his 2nd win of the night. DeBrakeleer, Smith, Maring and Bowen all posted top-5 finishes.
The Dirt Crate Sportsmen on hand proved once again that a few cars can put on an exciting show. In both their heat and feature Chris Clemens, Ray Dann and James Howard diced for the top spot lap after lap. Clemens, who won the season opener, prevailed once again with a sweep without the dirt. But he had to work a bit for this one until the final 3 laps. Dann, Howard and Allison Pierce finished behind him.
David French owned the Bandolero division last season, winning all 10 features. Friday night he swept the action when he won both the heat and 8-lap feature. French pulled away from Lars McElravy and Nick Morich , who were locked in a good battle for2nd at the halfway point. One caution brought the field back together but this one belonged to French, who held off McElravy and Morich.
This Friday’s program features the Sunoco Modifieds in a 75-lap race, along with the Super Stocks (25), 4 Cylinders (20), INEX Legends (20) and Bandoleros (08). Pits open at 4, practice and grandstand open at 6, and racing gets underway at 7:15 PM. Admission: adults $12; seniors 65 and older $10; kids 6-12 $5; kids 5 and under free. Fans are reminded that their ticket stub from June 6th is good for $2 off this Friday night.
Notes: Kyle Sill was the honorary Veteran of the Race. Sill served in the Army and received a Purple Heart for injuries he suffered in Afghanistan. Track announcer Carol Houssock will be out of action for a few weeks due to hip replacement surgery on June 13th. Morgan Colegrove, longtime voice of Woodhull Raceway, was on hand and will fill in during her absence.
Modifieds (5/30 makeup – 40 laps) TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, John Wilber, TJ Zacharias, Connor Sellars, Corey Mosher, Cam Ayres, Jody Buckley, Tommy Rought, Jimmy Zacharias, Zack Curren, Larry Jaynes, Matt Clemens
Heats: Potrzebowski, J Zacharias
Modifieds (40 laps) JOHN WILBER, Gene Sharpsteen, Connor Sellars, Zack Curren, Jody Buckley, Jimmy Zacharias, Cam Ayres, Larry Jaynes, Corey Mosher, TJ Potrzebowski, TJ Zacharias, Tommy Rought
Heats: J Zacharias, Curren
Super Stocks (25 laps) TIM GULLO, Jeff Goodwin, Jody Buckley, Dusty Snell, Joe Snell, Hank Buchanan, Dan Mathews, Lee Sharpsteen, Charlie Sharpsteen, Rich Talada, Nick Robinson, Terry Potrzebowski, Jake Snell, Mike Nichols (Black Flag for on-track incident)
Heats: Mathews, Gullo
4 Cylinders (20 laps) NICK MORICH, Joe Lane, Jeremiah Clonch, Eric Ellsworth, Dewain Talada, Justin Hill, Cody Jackson, Sam Warren, CJ Krapf, Dre Evans, Monica Green, Josh Sharpsteen, Dave Cooke (DNS), Greg Moldt (DNS)
Heats: Clonch, Jackson
INEX Legends (race #1 – 15 laps) MIKE ALCARO, Brandon DeBrakeleer, Alex Bowen, Alexandria Smith, Matt Maring, Chuck Lohmeyer, Gary Ham, Mike Bollen, John Bacon, Charlie Lohmeyer, Christian Eckes, Lee DeBrakeleer, Wayne Walker (DNS)
Heats: B DeBrakeleer, Alcaro
INEX Legends (race#2 – 15 laps) MIKE ALCARO, Brandon DeBrakeleer, Alexandria Smith, Matt Maring, Alex Bowen, Chuck Lohmeyer, John Bacon, Charlie Lohmeyer, Gary Ham, Christian Eckes, Mike Bollen, Lee DeBrakeleer
Dirt Crate Sportsmen (15 laps) CHRIS CLEMENS, Ray Dann, James Howard, Allison Pierce
Heat: Clemens
Bandoleros (8 laps) DAVID FRENCH, Lars McElravy, Nick Morich, Damon Frutchey, Timothy Bowen, Teddy Bowen
Heat: French
Carol Houssock