RGeeProductions
06-20-2015, 05:18 PM
Saying it had to be the longest 75 laps of his life, TJ Zacharias is now a two-time feature winner at Chemung Speedrome. This was, by far, his greatest performance to date in the headline Sunoco Modified division. Terry Potrzebowski was declared the Super Stock feature winner after Mike Nichols failed post-race technical inspection. Randy Mathews (4 Cylinders), Brandon DeBrakeleer (INEX Legends) and Lars McElravy (Bandoleros) also picked up feature wins on a beautiful Friday night.
Last month TJ Zacharias got his career-first win in the Sunoco Modified division at Chemung. On Friday night he did it again, this time for one of his biggest wins ever. Twenty one cars started the special 75-lap feature, which was slowed for just three caution periods. TJ Zacharias, Gene Sharpsteen and Andy Jankowiak won the three heat races, and all three would be factors in a great race.
While Chris Clemens led early, TJ Zacharias took command and pulled away from Sharpsteen and Jimmy Zacharias. The first caution came out eight laps into the race when John Wilber and Zack Curren got together. When the green came back out the field ran 14 laps, during which TJ was pursued by his brother. Jankowiak, meanwhile, had worked his way up from 12th and was running 3rd. Larry Jaynes spun off the back stretch and put the field under yellow with 22 laps complete.
TJ opted to restart on the outside of his brother, something Jimmy typically does on restarts. “The car was pretty good on the outside so I figured I’d give it a try,” he said after the race. It worked for him, twice, as the field went under caution again when several cars spun in turn two on the restart. Alan Bookmiller appeared to get the worst end of that deal.
Over the remaining 53 laps it was ‘battle on’ for the brothers and Jankowiak. They worked the lap traffic to perfection, often passing cars nose-to-tail. The younger Zacharias held his line and took the checkered flag after 75 grueling laps. “That was the longest 75 laps of my life,” he said in victory lane. “I knew once I was in front that I’d be there a little while. But I kept looking at the scoreboard watching the laps and I was still there.” Jimmy Zacharias finished second, with Jankowiak, Wilber and Sharpsteen all posting top five finishes.
Pre- and post-race tech prevented one driver from racing and reversed an apparent win for another in the Super Stock division. Heat winner Charlie Sharpsteen led the field off turn two with his brother Lee and Mike Nichols in tow. They ran together for several laps before Nichols broke free and took the top spot away. Nick Robinson and Lee were both able to pass underneath when Charlie drifted high in the corners. Nichols pulled away from a great battle among Robinson, the Sharpsteen brothers and Terry Potrzebowski. Potrzebowski got around all three and was up to second but Nichols was in a different zip code.
They got the caution all but Nichols wanted when L. Sharpsteen and Robinson got together. Over the remaining laps Nichols build up another big lead and took the checkered flag. Things soured for him in post-race technical inspection; the intake manifold in his car was unapproved and he was disqualified. Terry Potrzebowski was declared the winner, his first feature win this year. C. Sharpsteen was second, with Robinson, L. Sharpsteen and Rich Talada all in the top five.
Randy Mathews has had an up and down season in his 4 Cylinder. Winner on opening night, he then had a pair of 10th place finishes. But he’s back, and his feature win Friday night proved things are looking up. He and Stan Mathews treated the fans to some great racing in their 20-lap feature, leaving the team cars of Justin Hall, Greg Moldt and Monica Green locked in their own tight battle for third. Head starter Troy McDonald put the field under caution due to a medical emergency in the infield. When the race resumed the final seven laps resembled the first 13. At the stripe it was Randy Mathews picking up his second feature win. Stan Mathews was second, followed by Moldt, Hall and Green. R. and S. Mathews won their heats, while Moldt took home hardware as the highest finishing FWD car.
The INEX Legends ran a caution-free 20-lap feature. Early on Chuck Lohmeyer and Daren Scherer ran side-by-side. Scherer got around on the third lap and led the way. Brandon DeBrakeleer, always a contender when he rolls into town, worked his way up to second and trailed Scherer. While working the seventh lap DeBrakeleer dove to the inside and passed Scherer for the lead. For the remainder of the race the field spread out, likely waiting for the caution that never came. DeBrakeleer picked up the win over Scherer, Lohmeyer, and heat winners Alexandria Smith and Alex Bowen.
Bandolero racer Lars McElravy came, and conquered. He and Teddy Bowen won their respective heat races and started the 10-lap feature in the third row. Garrett Zacharias led early but McElravy had the lead by the halfway point. He had to hold off the others on two restarts but he was on his game for both of them. The race ended with a green/white/checker and McElravy parked his red #5 in victory lane for the second consecutive week. Bowen finished second, followed by Damon Frutchey, Zacharias and Joey Bernatavitz.
Racing continues this Friday, June 26th and includes the Sunoco Modifieds (40 Laps), Super Stocks (50 Laps), 4 Cylinders (20) and INEX Legends (20), with double points in all divisions. The Bandolero division has the night off. Pits open at 4, grandstand opens and practice begins 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 adult or senior ticket stub from June 19th is good for $2 off their admission this week. For additional information call the track office at 607-529-9998, ‘like’ us on Facebook, or check the track’s website www.chemungspeedrome.net.
Of note:
Ret. Master Sergeant Richard Wilbur, Sr. received a special plaque as Veteran of the Race for his 30 years of military service. Wilbur spent 6 years in the Navy, which included a 2-year stint in Vietnam. A 22-year member of the NY Air National Guard, Richard also served in Desert Storm. Originally from Athens and a former racer at the Speedrome, he now lives in Ithaca.
Dominick Wood, who had just finished his Bandolero race, exited his car hot and dehydrated. Treated initially by track EMT’s, he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
TJ Zacharias, Terry Potrzebowski and Randy Mathews won ‘Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner’ gift certificates for a dozen wings at Buffalo Wild Wings in Horseheads, NY.
Fans text IRTOOLSCHE to 313131 earn a chance to win prizes from Ingersoll Rand, the official tools of NASCAR. The Speedrome is also eligible for prizes when fans text the Chemung code.
Due to an agreement with INEX, the Bandolero division will not be running on June 26th.
Chemung Speedrome and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series: Asphalt Racing At Its Finest!
Sunoco Modifieds (75 Laps) TJ ZACHARIAS, Jimmy Zacharias, Andy Jankowiak, John Wilber, Gene Sharpsteen, Connor Sellars, Randy Brokaw, Chris Clemens, Nick Morich, Bob Wilson, Jr., Sam Warren, Cody Jackson, CJ Lacativa, Alan Bookmiller, Larry Jaynes, Cam Ayers, Dave Jackson, Zack Curren, Tommy Rought, Corey Mosher, Don Mosher, Ken Benjamin (DNS)
Heats: TJ Zacharias, Sharpsteen, Jankowiak
Super Stocks (25 Laps) TERRY POTRZEBOWSKI, Charlie Sharpsteen, Nick Robinson, Lee Sharpsteen, Rich Talada, Randy Davenport, Mike Nichols (DQ, finished 1st)
Heat: C Sharpsteen
4 Cylinders (20 Laps) RANDY MATHEWS, Stan Mathews, Greg Moldt (1st FWD), Justin Hall, Monica Green, Jordan Mathews, Eric Ellsworth, Dave Cooke, Alisha Mathews, Trevor Williams, Zack Jaynes, Jeff Andrus, Billy Groover
Heats: R Mathews, S Mathews
INEX Legends (20 Laps) BRANDON DEBRAKELEER, Daren Scherer, Chuck Lohmeyer, Alexandria Smith, Alex Bowen, Anthony Riforgiato, Pat Judson, Beth Scherer, Andrew Bickford, Kurt Knapp, Charlie Lohmeyer, Cliff Rought, Jimmer Ulrich, Jimmy Zacharias
Heats: Bowen, D Scherer
Bandoleros (10 Laps) LARS MCELRAVY, Teddy Bowen, Damon Frutchey, Garrett Zacharias, Joey Bernatavitz, Timmy Bowen, Joey Bevacqua, Bryce Bailey, Dominick Wood, Jade McElravy, Seth Zacharias
Heats: L McElravy, Teddy Bowen
Carol Houssock
Last month TJ Zacharias got his career-first win in the Sunoco Modified division at Chemung. On Friday night he did it again, this time for one of his biggest wins ever. Twenty one cars started the special 75-lap feature, which was slowed for just three caution periods. TJ Zacharias, Gene Sharpsteen and Andy Jankowiak won the three heat races, and all three would be factors in a great race.
While Chris Clemens led early, TJ Zacharias took command and pulled away from Sharpsteen and Jimmy Zacharias. The first caution came out eight laps into the race when John Wilber and Zack Curren got together. When the green came back out the field ran 14 laps, during which TJ was pursued by his brother. Jankowiak, meanwhile, had worked his way up from 12th and was running 3rd. Larry Jaynes spun off the back stretch and put the field under yellow with 22 laps complete.
TJ opted to restart on the outside of his brother, something Jimmy typically does on restarts. “The car was pretty good on the outside so I figured I’d give it a try,” he said after the race. It worked for him, twice, as the field went under caution again when several cars spun in turn two on the restart. Alan Bookmiller appeared to get the worst end of that deal.
Over the remaining 53 laps it was ‘battle on’ for the brothers and Jankowiak. They worked the lap traffic to perfection, often passing cars nose-to-tail. The younger Zacharias held his line and took the checkered flag after 75 grueling laps. “That was the longest 75 laps of my life,” he said in victory lane. “I knew once I was in front that I’d be there a little while. But I kept looking at the scoreboard watching the laps and I was still there.” Jimmy Zacharias finished second, with Jankowiak, Wilber and Sharpsteen all posting top five finishes.
Pre- and post-race tech prevented one driver from racing and reversed an apparent win for another in the Super Stock division. Heat winner Charlie Sharpsteen led the field off turn two with his brother Lee and Mike Nichols in tow. They ran together for several laps before Nichols broke free and took the top spot away. Nick Robinson and Lee were both able to pass underneath when Charlie drifted high in the corners. Nichols pulled away from a great battle among Robinson, the Sharpsteen brothers and Terry Potrzebowski. Potrzebowski got around all three and was up to second but Nichols was in a different zip code.
They got the caution all but Nichols wanted when L. Sharpsteen and Robinson got together. Over the remaining laps Nichols build up another big lead and took the checkered flag. Things soured for him in post-race technical inspection; the intake manifold in his car was unapproved and he was disqualified. Terry Potrzebowski was declared the winner, his first feature win this year. C. Sharpsteen was second, with Robinson, L. Sharpsteen and Rich Talada all in the top five.
Randy Mathews has had an up and down season in his 4 Cylinder. Winner on opening night, he then had a pair of 10th place finishes. But he’s back, and his feature win Friday night proved things are looking up. He and Stan Mathews treated the fans to some great racing in their 20-lap feature, leaving the team cars of Justin Hall, Greg Moldt and Monica Green locked in their own tight battle for third. Head starter Troy McDonald put the field under caution due to a medical emergency in the infield. When the race resumed the final seven laps resembled the first 13. At the stripe it was Randy Mathews picking up his second feature win. Stan Mathews was second, followed by Moldt, Hall and Green. R. and S. Mathews won their heats, while Moldt took home hardware as the highest finishing FWD car.
The INEX Legends ran a caution-free 20-lap feature. Early on Chuck Lohmeyer and Daren Scherer ran side-by-side. Scherer got around on the third lap and led the way. Brandon DeBrakeleer, always a contender when he rolls into town, worked his way up to second and trailed Scherer. While working the seventh lap DeBrakeleer dove to the inside and passed Scherer for the lead. For the remainder of the race the field spread out, likely waiting for the caution that never came. DeBrakeleer picked up the win over Scherer, Lohmeyer, and heat winners Alexandria Smith and Alex Bowen.
Bandolero racer Lars McElravy came, and conquered. He and Teddy Bowen won their respective heat races and started the 10-lap feature in the third row. Garrett Zacharias led early but McElravy had the lead by the halfway point. He had to hold off the others on two restarts but he was on his game for both of them. The race ended with a green/white/checker and McElravy parked his red #5 in victory lane for the second consecutive week. Bowen finished second, followed by Damon Frutchey, Zacharias and Joey Bernatavitz.
Racing continues this Friday, June 26th and includes the Sunoco Modifieds (40 Laps), Super Stocks (50 Laps), 4 Cylinders (20) and INEX Legends (20), with double points in all divisions. The Bandolero division has the night off. Pits open at 4, grandstand opens and practice begins 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 adult or senior ticket stub from June 19th is good for $2 off their admission this week. For additional information call the track office at 607-529-9998, ‘like’ us on Facebook, or check the track’s website www.chemungspeedrome.net.
Of note:
Ret. Master Sergeant Richard Wilbur, Sr. received a special plaque as Veteran of the Race for his 30 years of military service. Wilbur spent 6 years in the Navy, which included a 2-year stint in Vietnam. A 22-year member of the NY Air National Guard, Richard also served in Desert Storm. Originally from Athens and a former racer at the Speedrome, he now lives in Ithaca.
Dominick Wood, who had just finished his Bandolero race, exited his car hot and dehydrated. Treated initially by track EMT’s, he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
TJ Zacharias, Terry Potrzebowski and Randy Mathews won ‘Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner’ gift certificates for a dozen wings at Buffalo Wild Wings in Horseheads, NY.
Fans text IRTOOLSCHE to 313131 earn a chance to win prizes from Ingersoll Rand, the official tools of NASCAR. The Speedrome is also eligible for prizes when fans text the Chemung code.
Due to an agreement with INEX, the Bandolero division will not be running on June 26th.
Chemung Speedrome and the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series: Asphalt Racing At Its Finest!
Sunoco Modifieds (75 Laps) TJ ZACHARIAS, Jimmy Zacharias, Andy Jankowiak, John Wilber, Gene Sharpsteen, Connor Sellars, Randy Brokaw, Chris Clemens, Nick Morich, Bob Wilson, Jr., Sam Warren, Cody Jackson, CJ Lacativa, Alan Bookmiller, Larry Jaynes, Cam Ayers, Dave Jackson, Zack Curren, Tommy Rought, Corey Mosher, Don Mosher, Ken Benjamin (DNS)
Heats: TJ Zacharias, Sharpsteen, Jankowiak
Super Stocks (25 Laps) TERRY POTRZEBOWSKI, Charlie Sharpsteen, Nick Robinson, Lee Sharpsteen, Rich Talada, Randy Davenport, Mike Nichols (DQ, finished 1st)
Heat: C Sharpsteen
4 Cylinders (20 Laps) RANDY MATHEWS, Stan Mathews, Greg Moldt (1st FWD), Justin Hall, Monica Green, Jordan Mathews, Eric Ellsworth, Dave Cooke, Alisha Mathews, Trevor Williams, Zack Jaynes, Jeff Andrus, Billy Groover
Heats: R Mathews, S Mathews
INEX Legends (20 Laps) BRANDON DEBRAKELEER, Daren Scherer, Chuck Lohmeyer, Alexandria Smith, Alex Bowen, Anthony Riforgiato, Pat Judson, Beth Scherer, Andrew Bickford, Kurt Knapp, Charlie Lohmeyer, Cliff Rought, Jimmer Ulrich, Jimmy Zacharias
Heats: Bowen, D Scherer
Bandoleros (10 Laps) LARS MCELRAVY, Teddy Bowen, Damon Frutchey, Garrett Zacharias, Joey Bernatavitz, Timmy Bowen, Joey Bevacqua, Bryce Bailey, Dominick Wood, Jade McElravy, Seth Zacharias
Heats: L McElravy, Teddy Bowen
Carol Houssock