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By Carol Houssock
Photos by Clayton Vargeson
(Chemung, NY) Chemung Speedrome’s 2023 season opener had a seven-day delay, but perfect conditions and a good crowd made it worthwhile. Top Tier Sealcoating sponsored the program, with opening day winners TJ Potrzebowski (Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds), Jason Duke, Sr. (Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks), Tom Shaffer (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Joey Bevacqua (4 Cylinders), and Joey Allowatt (Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros). Racing resumes this Saturday with a 75-lap ROC Modified event headlining the program.
TJ Potrzebowski has to like opening day at Chemung Speedrome. The veteran driver repeated what he did a year ago and parked in victory lane after their 35-lap feature. He started the day by winning his heat race in the Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds. Defending track champ Lee Sharpsteen won the other heat. Gunnar Zeiner had his strongest run ever and then worst luck at Chemung, leading from the get-go over John Wilber and Sharpsteen. In the process he built up a sizeable lead, but that lead vanished when Frank Chapman, Jr and Nick Morich got together with 22 laps complete. Zeiner prevailed on the restart with Potrzebowski right on his heels. TJ took the lead on lap 24. The second caution came when Zeiner got pinched and spun but his troubles weren’t over yet. He was involved in the next caution as well. With Potrzebowski in the number one spot, he held off Sharpteen on the restarts and took his first checkered flag of the year. Mid-race TJ got tapped from behind and did a spectacular bit of driving to keep from spinning. “That must have scared everybody behind me,” he said from victory lane. Sharpsteen finished 2nd, ahead of his brother Charlie Sharpsteen, Jesse Kent, and Wilber
Jason Duke, Sr. returned to victory lane after a two-year absence in the Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks. His was a real charge, as he started the 25-lap feature 13th. Garrett Zacharias moved up to the pole when newcomer Billy Boat opted to start scratch, however Jason Duke, Jr. got the better of him and led. A lap three restart was costly for him, as he dropped to fifth and Zacharias took the lead. Two unique cautions came out during this one, the first when Charlie Sharpsteen’s window net came unhooked, and the second when his door panel came off. For the lap 14 restart it was Zacharias and defending track champion Nick Robinson making up row one. Robinson took the lead in turn one, but officials spotted more debris on the track and the yellow came out. The second attempt had the same outcome, with Robinson getting around on the outside and taking the lead. As the field entered turn one Zacharias tapped Robinson and turned him. Things got ugly after that. What would have been both restarting at the rear turned into both being disqualified for actions under caution by them or people with their teams. With the top two parked, the lead went to third place man Duke, Sr. He led while second place switched from Mike Nichols to Sharpsteen in his battered car. The race ended with both the caution and checkered flags waving. Nichols turned Sharpsteen, costing both of them top-five finishes. Instead, the top five behind Duke, Sr. were Cameron Nichols, Tim Gullo, Duke, Jr., and Chad Lane. Heat wins went to Frank Chapman III, Duke, Jr., and Gullo.
The Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock division is still growing in both car count and competition. Seven cautions took place in the 20-lap feature, with most of them for single car spins or flat tires. Joe Heintzelman led early after a beautiful three-wide move in turn one. Tom Shaffer was running second, and Heintzelman maintained the lead over several restarts. But on lap 12, Shaffer found what he needed to take over the top spot and he never surrendered it. At the finish it was Shaffer, Heintzelman, Josh Parker, Anthony Gullo and Glenn Lippolis. It was a sweep for Shaffer who, along with Parker, won their heats.
Joey Bevacqua returned to victory lane after battling early on with Mike Ferris in their 20-lap feature. Ferris led the first half of the race but, on lap 11 Bevacqua took over. Ferris reclaimed the lead a lap later and held it until his car broke with four laps remaining. Bevacqua and Matt Jenkins made up the front row for the restart, but Jenkins got bumped by newcomer James Dunkleman and fell to third. Bevacqua went on to win in a sweep of the day, over Dunkleman, Jenkins, Jimmy Biggs and James Dunkleman, Jr.
The Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros ran just a 10-lap feature due to a light car count. During practice, Annabelle Decker hit the wall head-on in turn two, so her day was done. The lone Outlaw, Joey Allowatt, and lone Bandit, Devin Gullo, ran the 10 laps and both celebrated divisional wins for their age group.
This Saturday Sam’s Bar & Grill presents a full 5-division program. Pits open at 11 AM and both entrances will be open for competitors. The Grandstand opens at noon, practice gets underway at 1 PM, and racing begins at 2 PM. Admission is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $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:
Kids enjoyed rides in the race cars during intermission.
A local resident won over $450 in the 50/50.
Nick Morich returned to racing action after serving four years in the Marines.
Joey Bevacqua will soon head to UNOH, where he’ll start school as a winner. The family sold the Super Stock but kept both 4 Cylinder cars for when he’s in town this summer.
TJ Potrzebowski, Tom Shaffer, and Joey Bevacqua swept the action in their respective divisions, winning both their heat and feature.
Top Tier Sealcoating Results:
Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds (35 Laps): TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, Lee Sharpsteen, Charlie Sharpsteen, Jesse Kent, John Wilber, Gunnar Zeiner, Nick Morich, Frank Chapman, Jr., Danielle Sharpsteen, Tyler Harbst
Heats: L. Sharpsteen, Potrzebowski
Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks (25 Laps): JASON DUKE, SR., Cameron Nichols, Tim Gullo, Jason Duke, Jr., Chad Lane, Mark Taylor, Kalysta DeMark, Charlie Sharpsteen, Mike Nichols, Frank Chapman III, Derrick Tarbox, Bradley Mister, Billy Both, Donnie Russell, Terry Potrzebowski, Garrett Zacharias (DQ), Nick Robinson (DQ)
Heats: Chapman, G. Zacharias, Jason Duke, Jr., Gullo
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): JOEY BEVACQUA, James Dunkleman, Matt Jenkins, Jimmy Biggs, James Dunkleman, Jr., Mike Ferris, Nick Bevacqua
Heat: J. Bevacqua
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): TOM SHAFFER, Joe Heintzelman, Josh Parker, Anthony Gullo, Glenn Lippolis, Mike Lattimer, Luke Nickels, Johnathan Gunderman, Sidnie Decker, George Nichols, Jr., Ethan Roberts, Brandon Ameigh, Mike Nickels, Ray Dann, Cullen Sharpsteen
Heats: Parker, Shaffer
Serendipity Ice Cream Bandoleros (10 Laps): JOEY ALLOWATT, Devin Gullo, Annabelle Decker (DNS)
