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By Carol Houssock
Photo by Clayton Vargeson
Oh, what a night: a husband and wife win their features, a father and daughter finish one-two, and a pair of winners celebrated in victory lane for the first time. Winners on Marion Decker Agency Night included Jimmy Zacharias (Sunoco Modifieds), Brian DeMark (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Zack Jaynes (4 Cylinders), Kalysta DeMark (Bandoleros) and Tara Gullo (Powder Puff). Tim Gullo celebrated his win in the Insinger Performance Super Stocks, but the full results are unofficial.
“This new car is running better than anything I had 10 years ago,” Jimmy Zacharias said after his second Sunoco Modified feature win in a row and third overall. He and Charlie Sharpsteen won the two heats and the field lined up for their 35-lap feature. Sharpsteen started outside pole but powered around Pat Judson for the lead. Zacharias went three-wide and moved from fourth to second on that opening lap. On lap five the lead was Jimmy’s and he began to pull away from Zack Curren, who had passed Sharpsteen for second. The first of just two cautions came out with 16 laps complete for a spin by Rob Shultz. Zacharias and Curren made up row one for the restart. Zacharias prevailed and his lead increased on each lap. That big lead went away when Sharpsteen hit the foam blocks in turn four. That set up a green/white/checkered finish. With Curren alongside Zacharias, and Lee Sharpsteen and Bryce Bailey right behind them, the win was within reach for any of them. Zacharias put the hammer down and sailed across the finish line for the win. “This Billy the Kid engine is amazing. I’ve never had anything like this before,” he said before thanking his crew and sponsors.
The 25-lap Insinger Performance Super Stock feature had several cautions and some ongoing issues among the racers, but none of it distracted eventual winner Tim Gullo. Seth Zacharias led the first few laps, but the first caution came out when Garrett Zacharias turned Nick Robinson shortly after he got the lead. Both restarted at the rear, just as they had done for the same reason in their heat race. Frank Chapman, Jr. got the top spot on the restart. He held it for three laps, enough time for Gullo to catch and pass him. By lap 13 Gullo led Robinson, Chapman, G. Zacharias and Evan Rygielski. Gullo was able to build a nice lead while the others ran nose-to-tail. On lap 17 Robinson turned G. Zacharias and, once again, both restarted at the rear. Two laps later the fourth caution came out when G. Zacharias turned Frank Chapman III, who let him know under caution that it was unappreciated. Both restarted at the rear. As the final five laps wound down, Gullo and Rygielski treated fans to spectacular racing action while G. Zacharias slowed on the track and then went down pit road. Gullo went on for the win, followed by Rygielski and Joey Bevacqua, with a very solid run. “I’m here getting the car ready for the ROC show on the 6th but want to dedicate this one to Dave Machuga,” Gullo said. The final rundown is unofficial as of press time.
Kalysta DeMark, Josh Parker and Brian DeMark won the trio of heat races for the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks. Handicapping set the lineup for their 20-lap feature, but no one could have scripted the outcome in this one. Kalysta led the opening lap, as her father followed right behind him in second. The first of three cautions came out for a George Nichols, Jr. spin. Daughter and father sat side-by-side on the front row for the lap six restart. Brian took the lead from his daughter, but caution flew again a lap later. Over the remaining 14 laps, Brian had two car lengths on Kalysta, with Tom Shaffer running third. The gap between first and second was shrinking but the race was nearing its conclusion. “I knew she was there. It was a great, clean race,” Brian said following his career-first win over Kalysta. “That was great, to be honest,” she said after a big hug but shortly before pouring a bottle of cold water over her father’s head.
In 4 Cylinder action, point leader Nick Robinson won the heat and took the early lead in their 20-lap feature. On the fifth lap his teammate, Zack Jaynes, was up to second and looking to take over the race lead. He did so on lap six and never looked back. “He wasn’t having that one,” Jaynes said from victory lane, where he celebrated his career-first feature win. Robinson had to settle for second in this one. “The plan is to be on rails, and tonight we were right on plan.” Jaynes sits second in points.
The 10-lap Bandolero feature also went caution-free. Michael Bast the opening lap, but he soon had heat winners Chase Sinsabaugh and Kalysta DeMark reeling in his early lead. Just past the halfway point DeMark had passed both Sinsabaugh and Bast. The lead was hers, and she preserved it over the final four laps. The Outlaw, DeMark, won. Bast, Sinsabaugh (Bandit winner), Joey Allowatt and Devin Gullo finished behind her. The win padded her point lead.
Seven ladies started the 5-lap Powder Puff, but it quickly became a three-way battle in Hobby Stock cars. Tara Gullo, who started fifth on the grid, made some neat moves after the green flag flew. She, Michelle Peters and Grace Dewert pulled away and, while battling for the lead, Peters spun off turn four and slapped the front stretch wall. Gullo went on to claim the win over Dewert and Makenzie Decker.
This Friday night Signworks presents a regular five-division program plus Hobby Stock/4 Cylinder Mechanics race. Pit gates open at 4 PM, grandstand gate at 5, practice at 6 and racing at 7. Admission is $14 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under.
For information, log on to the track’s website: chemung-speedrome.com, ‘like’ us on Facebook: Chemung Speedrome – Racing at the Drome, or call Ray Hodge, Promoter, at 607-483-3468.
Of note:
With $665 unclaimed two weeks ago, the 50/50 winner’s share swelled to $1,610. Kevin, from Athens, PA, couldn’t believe he had won. When asked what he would do with it, he said he would use some of it to return next Friday night.
Following her Hobby Stock heat race win, Kalysta DeMark hit her pit box when returning to her infield pit area. “The brakes were gone and then I had a panic attack,” she said. The ambulance responded, provided fluids, cleared her, and said she was able to finish the night in both cars.
The track crew had a major foam block clean-up when Dave Machuga lost his brakes and was unable to steer away from the blocks in turn one. He was ok, but he displaced every block from the point of impact to just past turn two. He stepped aside for the feature and put Tim Gullo in his Hobby Stock. They later had a similar, but smaller, clean-up in turn four.
Marion Decker Agency Night results:
Sunoco Modifieds (35 laps): JIMMY ZACHARIAS, Zack Curren, Lee Sharpsteen, Bryce Bailey, Kevin Timmerman, Pat Judson, Rob Shultz, Seth Zacharias, Gunnar Zeiner, Charlie Sharpsteen, Damon Frutchey, Danielle Sharpsteen
Heats: C. Sharpsteen, J. Zacharias
Insinger Performance Super Stocks (25 Laps – UNOFFICIAL): TIM GULLO, Evan Rygielski, Joey Bevacqua, Frank Chapman, Jr., Nick Robinson, Jason Duke, Jr., Chad Lane, Jason Duke, Sr., Mark Taylor, Bradley Mister, Frank Chapman III, Garrett Zacharias, DJ Shaw, Seth Zacharias, Dennis Beardslee
Heats: G. Zacharias, Gullo, Rygielski
Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): BRIAN DEMARK, Kalysta DeMark, Tom Shaffer, Tim Gullo, Josh Parker, Dave Decker, Doug Dekay, Luke Nickles, Johnathan Gunderman, Tyler Harbst, Cullen Sharpsteen, Mike Lattimer, Ethan Roberts, Chuck Nichols, Gary Taylor, George Nichols, Jr., Randy Mathews (DNS)
Heats: K. DeMark, Parker, B. DeMark
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): ZACK JAYNES, Nick Robinson, DJ Shaw, Dustin Pruyne, Ricky Lane, Jason Peck, Sidnie Decker
Heat: Robinson
Bandoleros (10 Laps): KALYSTA DEMARK (Outlaw), Michael Bast, Chase Sinsabaugh (Bandit), Joey Allowatt, Devin Gullo, Dallas Harbst
Heats: DeMark, Sinsabaugh
Powder Puff (5 Laps): TARA GULLO, Grace Dewert, Makenzie Decker, Timmerie Fletcher, LC Parker, Kayla Horn, Andrea Garrett, Michelle Peters
