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By Carol Houssock
Clayton Vargeson photo
(Chemung, NY) Chemung Speedrome was packed with race cars and fans on Saturday afternoon, a day that was picture perfect for racing. Five feature winners agree, and the winners on Sam’s Bar & Grill day included Austin Beers (ROC Modifieds), Nick Robinson (Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks and ROC FOAR Score Dash), Anthony Gullo (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), and Dallas Harbst (Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros). This Friday night Skyworks Equipment Rental presents a regular 5-division program, beginning at 7 PM.
The visiting ROC Modified Tour attracted 25 race teams for the 75-lap feature. Austin Beers, driving the family-owned #9, went to victory lane in an old car that his father, Eric, had run and won in on countless occasions. Beers drew well and started the race on the inside of the second row. Early on he battled with Jack Ely for the top spot before his contenders switched to Daren Scherer and Zane Zeiner. Zeiner, s involved in an early caution, methodically worked his way from the back to the front. Over the final laps, the PA drivers (Beers and Zeiner) put on a great show for the fans. When it was over, Beers got the win with Zeiner, Scherer, Trevor Catalano and Jimmy Zacharias all in the top five. “This one was special to me, being in my father’s car,” Beers told the crowd. It also marked Beers’ first win on the ROC Modified Tour. Earlier in the day Zeiner, Andy Jankowiak and Jimmy Zacharias won the three heat races.
Eight cautions in the Hobby Stock feature apparently wasn’t enough, as there were 12 in the 25-lap Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stock marathon. Frank Chapman, Jr., and Terry Potrzebowski brought the field to the green, with the advantage going to Chapman. Lee Sharpsteen was his main challenger, with Nick Robinson and Garrett Zacharias running behind them. A lap 12 restart was a game-changer for several drivers. As the field came off turn four Chapman found himself in the middle of a three-wide deal. When he caught the rear of Evan Rygielski both came to a halt on the front stretch. Robinson then became the leader and, as cautions continued, he had to survive four restarts. For some, he held off Tim Gullo and for others it was Sharpsteen. The final caution resulted in a green/white/checkered finish, with defending track champion, Nick Robinson, taking the win. “This is a much better outcome than a week ago,” he said before thanking his many sponsors. Sharpsteen, Cameron Nichols, Zacharias and Jason Duke, Sr. made up the final five. Earlier, Gullo, Zacharias, and Rygielski won their respective heats.
Anthony Gullo started the 20-lap Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock feature from sixth position. By lap two he was up to third and the field slowed for its first of eight caution periods. While the number of caution periods was high, most were for single-car spins. Two-time, and defending, track champion Josh Parker had led the first five laps before Gullo got around him. From then on it was a great battle, between Gullo and Parker, and then between Gullo and Randy Mathews. The final caution came with four laps remaining. Over those laps Ray Dann and last week’s winner, Tom Shaffer, moved up into the top five. It was a sweep for Gullo who, along with Mathews and Mike Nickels, won their heats.
Defending ROC FOAR Score champion, Nick Robinson, brought out his stout 4 Cylinder car for the 20-lap feature. It ended up being a sweep, as he won their heat race and then dominated the field in the feature. Joey Bevacqua, who had won the prior week in the track’s regular 4 Cylinder division, finished second, followed by Trisha Connolly, Jim Biggs, and James Dunkleman III. It was Robinson’s second win of the day, having earlier won the Super Stock feature.
Dallas Harbst enjoyed the thrill of parking in victory lane at the Speedrome and he did so as the sole survivor of a strange event. Scheduled for 10 laps, three of the four cars failed to complete a lap and it was Harbst who won the race.
Chemung resumes Friday night racing, beginning this Friday the 19th. Skyworks Equipment Rental night includes a regular 5-division program, including the Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds, Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks, Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinders and Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros. Pits open at 4:30, 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:
A fan visiting the track from Olean, NY won over $750 in the 50/50.
Troy McDonald kept the yellow flag handy. He had to wave it 20 times in the Hobby Stock and Super Stock features.
Sam’s Bar & Grill Results:
ROC Modifieds (75 Laps): AUSTIN BEERS, Zane Zeiner, Daren Scherer, Trevor Catalano, Jimmy Zacharias, Earl Paules, Timmy Catalano, Blake Barney, Andy Jankowiak, Jacob Kerstetter, Zack Curren, George Skora III, Tyler Catalano, TJ Potrzebowski, Jack Ely, Paulie Hartwig III, Brian DeFebo, Austin Kochenash, Roger Coss, James Pritchard, Jr., Daryl Lewis, Jr., Kyle Strohl, Scott Wylie, Danny Knoll, Jr., Tommy Rought
Heats: Zeiner, Jankowiak, Zacharias
Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks (25 Laps): NICK ROBINSON, Lee Sharpsteen, Cameron Nichols, Garrett Zacharias, Jason Duke, Sr., Billy Both, Randy Green, Frank Chapman III, Kalysta DeMark, Bradley Mister, Frank Chapman, Jr., Chad Lane, Evan Rygielski, Terry Potrzebowski, Mike Nichols, Tim Gullo, Jason Duke, Jr., Charlie Sharpsteen, Mark Taylor, Donnie Russell, Derrick Tarbox (DNS)
Heats: Gullo, Rygielski, Zacharias
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): ANTHONY GULLO, Randy Mathews, Luke Nickels, Tom Shaffer, Josh Parker, Ray Dann, Mike Nickels, Johnathan Gunderman, Randy Davenport, Brandon Ameigh, Mike Lattimer, Ethan Roberts, Sidnie Decker, Glen Lippolis, Ben Perry, George Nichols, Jr., Chuck Nichols
Heats: Gullo, Mathews, M. Nickels
FOAR Score ROC Dash (20 Laps): NICK ROBINSON, Joey Bevacqua, Trisha Connolly, Jim Biggs, James Dunkleman III, Jim Dunkleman, Jr., Robert Decker, Eric Black, Eric Szychowski
Heat: Robinson
Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros (10 Laps): DALLAS HARBST, Joey Allowatt, Lily Gullo, Devin Gullo
Photos: 2 features, 1 winner (Nick Robinson). Clayton Vargeson photos.
