Some people left Chemung Speedrome Saturday night wishing it had rained a little more and forced a cancellation. The start was delayed an hour for a shower and subsequent track drying. Those who are glad the show went on included feature winners TJ Potrzebowski (Sunoco Modifieds), RJ Zacharias (Super Stocks), Monica Green (4 Cylinders), Kevin Youngs (INEX Legends), and Garrett Zacharias (Bowen Racecars Bandoleros).

TJ Potrzebowski backed up his opening night win with another dominating performance in the headline Sunoco Modified division. Charlie Sharpsteen and Jimmy Zacharias won the two heat races and the invert placed both in row five for the start of the 40-lap feature. Paul Johnson and Connor Sellars shared the front row. Sellars led the way for the first five laps.

The first caution came out when Gary Noe got into Zacharias and turned him sideways coming off turn four. As he corrected his car he tagged Tony Hanbury and all three collected in turn one. Both Noe and Hanbury were parked for actions they took after the crash. TJ Zacharias and Chris Clemens were also parked for racing down the front stretch long after the red flag had been out. Zacharias was able to continue with some minor repairs by his crew.

Potrzebowski got around Sellars on the restart but caution came out again two laps later. On the restart, Lee Sharpsteen got into Sellars and both restarted at the rear. That brought Zack Knowlden up to second but he, too, had nothing for Potrzebowski. Lee Sharpsteen slowed with 28 laps complete, forcing another restart. This one was also poor. Jesse Kent, Gene Sharpsteen and Nick Morich piled up in turn one and only Morich continued after quick repairs by his crew.

Over the final dozen laps it was classic Potrzebowski, who scored his second win of the season over Sellars, Knowlden, Zacharias and Paul Johnson. “Connor Sellars is a good driver and racing side by side with him is never a problem,” Potrzebowski said. “I have so many to thank for making this car what it is this year.”

RJ Zacharias got a huge monkey off his back on Saturday night. And the toughest battle he had was exiting his car in victory lane with a sore back. Zacharias started sixth in the 25-lap Super Stock feature. Pole-sitter Jordan Mathews led the first three laps until Zacharias got around him for the lead. While working the ninth lap Jason Duke spun in turn three, setting up a restart with Zacharias, Chad Lane, Jim Lamoreaux and Tim Gullo in the first two rows. RJ prevailed and built up a lead over Lamoreaux, who also had a nice advantage over Terry Potrzebowski, John Lane and Nick Robinson. With just four laps to go Mathews spun again on the back stretch. The field bunched up, with Lamoreaux sharing row one with Zacharias, and Potrzebowski and Robinson in row two. On the restart Lamoreaux got into Potrzebowski, who kept moving. Chad Lane, John Lane, Mathews, Bob Ripley and Joel Gleason all got a piece of the action and restarted at the rear. Up front it was Zacharias and Potrzebowski on the front row. Potrzebowski led lap 22 but Zacharias reclaimed the top spot and went on to score the win. Robinson made a late charge to finish second, followed by Frank Chapman, Potrzebowski and Gullo. Robinson and Chapman won the heat races. “The car was fast and I have so many people to thank for that. They work hard on this car, spending their time and money on it,” Zacharias stated.

She had so much fun last week that Monica Green decided a repeat performance was in order in the 4 Cylinder division. Sarah Gooch and Tyler Harbst won their heat races and a 10-car invert placed Jason Peck on the pole alongside Greg Moldt. Moldt led the first lap, Kevin May the second, when officials threw the yellow for metal in turn one. May prevailed on the restart, leading Moldt and Monica Green. At the halfway point the second caution came out when Harbst spun into the turn two foam blocks. The restart was May, Green, Zack Bennett and Moldt in the first two rows. Green used her outside momentum to take over the lead and she pulled away. Three laps later Ben Perry slowed in turn four and for this restart Green chose the outside lane. She again pulled away from May and Triston Kline. As she was taking the double checkered flags Kline dove to the inside of May in turn four. Just after crossing the start finish line May took the blame for a wreck that sent Kline into the pit road wall. He was ok but the car sustained heavy damage. Kline is Green’s teammate, and her first move was a run to make sure he was ok. “Nick (Robinson, car owner, won’t let any of us in the cars without all the safety equipment. That’s his priority and I’m glad Triston is ok,” she said. May, who was the top finisher among the RWD contingent, took full blame for the wreck. “I’m really sorry, it was my fault with the 7,” he said. Final rundown was Green, Kline, May, Moldt and Gooch.

“If I make any mistakes he’ll capitalize on them,” Kevin Youngs said from victory lane following his fourth INEX Legends win. He was referring to Pat Judson, the only other driver to win a race this year and who ran second to Youngs for the lion’s share of the race. Max Evans led the first two laps before caution came out when Jamie Mullen spun and collected Alex Bowen, who retired with damage. When the race resumed the 20x of Evans was passed by the 20 of Gary Ham, who led the next three laps. Kevin Youngs, who had started 10th, was charging through the field and passed Ham on lap seven. Pat Judson also passed Ham and started to close the gap between himself and Youngs. Behind them Teddy Bowen and Chuck Lohmeyer were also on the move and battling for fourth. The race stayed green so time was not on Judson’s side on this night. Youngs got the win, this time over Judson, Chuck Lohmeyer, Ham and Teddy Bowen. “I wasn’t the fastest car but we made some adjustments and tried a new setup tonight,” Youngs stated. “We ran consistent times, which I’d almost rather do than be the fastest.” Whatever the logic, it’s working.

The 10-lap Bowen Racecars feature went caution-free for the second week in a row. The invert placed Jeffrey Noe and Griffin Montfort-Balfour on the front row. Dominick Wood got the better of both and he led the first two laps. Seth Zacharias made a nice inside move on Wood and he took over on lap three. Garrett Zacharias followed him and he was up to second while Wood fell to third. Garrett Zacharias wasted no time passing his cousin, Seth, and he then went on to do what Garrett does and that’s win races. Once in front he pulled away and sailed across the finish line for the win. Seth was the highest among the Bandits with his second-place finish. Brian Rygielski was third, followed by Josh Duke and Evan Rygielski. E. Rygielski and G. Zacharias won the two heat races.

This Saturday night (July 1st) the NYPA Midgets join the track’s regular divisions, all beginning at 6 PM. Pits open at 4 PM, grandstand gates open and practice gets underway at 5. Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors 65+, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under.

There will be no racing next week (July 8th), but on July 15th it’s ‘Tribute to Ed McGuire’ night. In his honor the Sunoco Modifieds will run a 51-lap feature paying $1,500 to win. Ed will be the honored guest on a night when the Speedrome recognizes his many accomplishments as a successful driver and as a winning car owner over the years.

Of note:
· TJ Potrzebowski, RJ Zacharias and Monica Green won free wings from Buffalo Wild Wings in Horseheads, NY in their ‘Winner Winner Chicken Dinner’ bonus program.
· Laura Anderson, age 10, sang the national anthem.
· Father and son, RJ Zacharias and Garrett Zacharias, won their respective features.
· Hope Miller joins the Chemung family as the track photographer. Her shots can be found at takinthecheckeredphoto.smugmug.com or ‘like’ her on Facebook at Takin’ the Checkered Photography by Hope Miller. Her booth will be open this week.

For more information, log on to www.chemungspeedrome.net or “like” us on Facebook. Chemung Speedrome and NASCAR, Asphalt Racing at its Finest!

Results:

Sunoco Modifieds (40 Laps): TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, Connor Sellars, Zack Knowlden, Jimmy Zacharias, Paul Johnson, Nick Morich, Jesse Kent, Gene Sharpsteen, Lee Sharpsteen, Charlie Sharpsteen, TJ Zacharias, Chris Clemens, Gary Noe, (DQ: Tony Hanbury)
Heats: C. Sharpsteen, J. Zacharias

Super Stocks (25 Laps): RJ ZACHARIAS, Nick Robinson, Frank Chapman, Terry Potrzebowski, Tim Gullo, Jason Duke, Jim Lamoreaux, Jordan Mathews, Bob Ripley, JP Harbst, John Lane, Chad Lane, Joel Gleason, Mike Nichols
Heats: Robinson, Chapman

4 Cylinders (20 Laps): MONICA GREEN, Triston Kline, Kevin May (RWD), Greg Moldt, Sarah Gooch, Zack Bennett, Jacob Gustafson, Ben Perry, Ricky Lane, Tyler Harbst, Jason Peck, Paul Platt, Allen Stephenson
Heats: Gooch, Harbst

INEX Legends (20 Laps): KEVIN YOUNGS, Pat Judson, Chuck Lohmeyer, Gary Ham, Teddy Bowen, Daniel Carter, Max Evans, Dylan Hoffman, Matt Evans, Timothy Bowen, Layton Warner, Charlie Lohmeyer, Patti Pruitt, Jamie Mullen, Rich Powell, Chris Belawske, Alex Bowen
Heats: Youngs, Judson

Bowen Racecars Bandoleros (10 Laps): GARRETT ZACHARIAS, Seth Zacharias (Bandit), Brian Rygielski, Josh Duke, Evan Rygielski, Dominick Wood, Griffin Montfort-Balfour, Jeffrey Noe
Heats: B. Rygielski, G. Zacharias

Carol Houssock