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By Carol Houssock
Clayton Vargeson photo
(Chemung, NY) Racing at Chemung Speedrome switched back to its popular Friday night program. Employees of Skyworks Equipment Rental enjoyed a fun night as the program sponsor, with time in a suite and involvement in victory lane celebrations. Winners on week three included Lee Sharpsteen (Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds), Nick Robinson (Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks), Anthony Gullo (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Greg Moldt (4 Cylinders), and Joey Allowatt (Bandoleros).
The brothers Sharpsteen, Lee and Charlie, treated the fans to some great racing in the 35-lap Buckley’s Automotive Modified division. Earlier in the evening, point leader TJ Potrzebowski won the heat, which ended up being the only good thing for the veteran driver. As the field entered turn one, Potrzebowski tagged the inside retaining wall and bounced up and into Frank Chapman, Jr. Frank was able to continue while TJ was not. Charlie Sharpsteen held the top spot over Lee while Gunnar Zeiner and Jesse Kent contested third and fourth. Lee got around his brother and became the race leader just past the halfway point. The third, and final, caution was a double elimination, when Tyler Harbst slowed, and Charlie’s car broke. Both pulled in the pits and were finished for the night. Lee, the defending track champion, held on to his lead and picked up his first win of the ’23 season. “This is possible only because of our dedicated team and the companies that support us,” he stated. Zeiner finished second, ahead of Kent, Chapman, and C. Sharpsteen.
Tim Gullo, Charlie Sharpsteen and Garrett Zacharias got things going in the Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks as winners of their respective heats. Frank Chapman III and defending track champion Nick Robinson made up row one for the start of their 25-lap feature. Robinson led the way off turn two, but the only caution came out when Sharpsteen slowed with a flat tire. Robinson maintained the lead, while Zacharias and Gullo worked the traffic and got up to positions two and three. Those positions swapped on lap 19, when Zacharias took over second and left Gullo in a battle with Cameron Nichols for third. Robinson sailed across the finish line first, but that first represented his second win this year. Zacharias closed the gap a bit and ended up second, ahead of Nichols, Gullo and Chapman.
The Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks almost went caution-free, but it turned into a green/white/checkered finish. Randy Mathews led the first five laps, before losing the top spot to point leader Anthony Gullo. This one was a two-car breakaway, leaving Mike Nickels some distance back in third. The only caution came when Tom Shaffer spun and dropped a lot of fluid on the track. Gullo held on those final two laps for his second win, this time over Mathews, Luke Nickels, Mike Nickels, and Josh Parker. “This car is ready to rock and I’m excited to be running so well,” he said following his win.
Six cautions slowed the 20-lap 4 Cylinder feature. Three different drivers led, but some drama played out for eventual winner Greg Moldt, and others. At lap 10 he slowed a bit coming off turn two but maintained the lead. Three laps later he brought out the caution with a flat, and he also needed gas. That gave the lead to point leader Joey Bevacqua. He fought hard but Moldt was on a charge over the final five laps and he got by to reclaim P1. With two laps remaining, Robert Decker’s car had a mechanical failure and collected Jimmy Biggs. Their subsequent actions in turn three resulted in a DQ for both. Over the final two laps it was classic Bevacqua/Moldt, won this night by the latter. Bevacqua, Matt Jenkins, Jason Peck and Ricky Lane made up the top five. Heats went to Mike Ferris and Moldt.
Just two Serendipity Ice Cream Bandolero competitors, representing the Outlaw and Bandit age groups, were on hand for their 10-lap feature. Joey Allowatt, Outlaw, maintained a two-car advantage throughout the race over Bandit, Devin Gullo. Each spoke highly of the other during their victory lane interviews.
570 BBQ is sponsoring the races this Friday night. The program includes all five regular divisions (Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds, Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks, Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinders and Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros) plus the first of two Powder Puff races. Pits open at 4, grandstand at 5, practice starts at 6 and the first green flag flies at 7. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, $5 for kids ages 5 to 12, and free for kids ages 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:
Buck Sharpsteen won $300 in the 50/50.
Skyworks Equipment Rental brought one of their big rigs, all decked out with special lights and flags, which helped pace the field. Fans enjoyed hearing the air horn as it came down the front stretch.
Skyworks Equipment Rental Results:
Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds (35 Laps): LEE SHARPSTEEN, Gunnar Zeiner, Jesse Kent, Frank Chapman, Jr., Charlie Sharpsteen, Tyler Harbst, TJ Potrzebowski
Heat: Potrzebowski
Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks (25 Laps): NICK ROBINSON, Garrett Zacharias, Cameron Nichols, Tim Gullo, Frank Chapman III, Jason Duke, Sr., Jake Christman, Billy Both, Chad Lane, Jason Duke, Jr., Terry Potrzebowski, Mark Taylor, Kalysta DeMark, Bradley Mister, Donnie Russell, Charlie Sharpsteen, Mike Nichols (DNS)
Heats: Gullo, Sharpsteen, Zacharias
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Joey Bevacqua, Matt Jenkins, Jason Peck, Ricky Lane, Mike Ferris, Kyle Mortimer, Dustin Pruyne, Robert Decker (DQ), James Biggs (DQ)
Heats: Ferris, Moldt
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): ANTHONY GULLO, Randy Mathews, Luke Nickels, Mike Nickels, Josh Parker, Brandon Ameigh, Bruce Kinner, Glen Lippolis, Cullen Sharpsteen, George Nichols, Jr., Mike Lattimer, Ethan Roberts, Tom Shaffer
Heats: L. Nickels, Gullo
Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros (10 Laps): JOEY ALLOWATT, Devin Gullo
