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by Carol Houssock
(Chemung, NY) Fan Appreciation night at Chemung Speedrome Presented by Jim Bronson and Ferrario Auto Team of Sayre included a 5-division race card and an extended intermission. Cars lined up four-deep for fans to see the cars and stars lined up 4-deep on the front stretch. With a great crowd of amazing fans on hand, they saw defending track champion, Lee Sharpsteen, take the win in the headline Buckley’s Automotive Modified division. Other winners on Sam’s Bar & Grill night included Mike Nichols (Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks), Anthony Gullo (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Greg Moldt (Gene’s Automotive 4 Cylinders), and Kamden Wheeler (JRC Cleaning Bandoleros).
The ability to put one rough week behind you and focus on the next challenge is key to racing success. Such was the case in the Buckley’s Automotive Modified division and defending track champ Lee Sharpsteen. The car that let him down on opening night was perfect and earned him a sweep of the action. He and last week’s winner, TJ Potrzebowski, won the heats in a 35-lap feature with Zach Knowlden and JP Harbst starting from the front row. Knowlden, who last raced at Chemung in 2021, took off and led the way ahead of Jesse Kent. In the first 10 laps they restarted beside each other after a trio of cautions. Each time Knowlden held off Kent, but Sharpsteen was lurking and closing in on the leader. A lap prior to halfway, Knowlden gave Sharpsteen the room he needed in turn one to overtake him. Potrzebowski was also on the move and cleared both Kent and Knowlden. Now second, he started to reel in Sharpsteen, but he ran out of time. Lee got the win in this one over Potrzebowski, Knowlden, Kent, and Nick Morich. “The car ran super tonight and to win in front of your sponsor on their race night is hard to do. I can’t thank everyone enough,” he said after the win. He also credited Knowlden for racing him clean.
Caution-free sums up the 25-lap Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stock feature, although a few drivers were hoping for one. Tim Gullo and Nick Robinson won their heats and lined up beside each other in row three. Row one consisted of Frank Chapman, Jr. and his son, Frank III. The elder Chapman led the first couple laps before Frank III got around him. Right behind them was opening night winner, Mike Nichols, who passed the pair and led at lap eight. Gullo and Robinson were also moving toward the front, and they were running second and third by lap 10. At the halfway point about six car lengths separated Nichols from Gullo, and Gullo from Robinson. The gap widened a bit, and Nichols picked up his second win in as many weeks. Gullo, Robinson, Chapman, Jr., and Jason Duke, Sr. all finished in the top five. When asked about making a habit of parking in victory lane, Nichols said “I love these kind of habits, and will try to make it work each week.” He then said he was off a bit tonight.
The Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks ran three heats, won by Brandon Ameigh, Mike Nickels and Kalysta DeMark. An invert number of 12 put Devin Gullo on the pole and Dave Decker outside the front row. While Decker led the opening lap, Anthony Gullo took over on the second lap. The brothers Gullo started beside each other three times in the first seven laps when cautions came out for spins. By lap 10, Gene Purvis had made his way to second, ahead of Gil Sharpsteen and Decker. Three more cautions came out in the second half of the race and Sharpsteen took second from Purvis. He tried everything and, even though he stayed with Gullo, couldn’t get around him. Gullo, who won eight features last year, went on to win his first of 2024. Sharpsteen had to settle for second, ahead of Purvis, Mike Nickels and Dave Yehl. “This was great, with lots of cautions you really have to race. It’s never easy but everyone raced me clean,” he told the crowd.
In the Gene’s Automotive 4 Cylinder division it was sweep night for Greg Moldt. He and Kyle Mortimer won the two heats, but Moldt took the caution-free 15-lap feature. He wasted no time pulling away from the field, leaving behind a battle between Matt Jenkins and Mortimer. While Jenkins faded, Moldt started to lap slower cars. When it was over, Moldt, who led all competitors with eight feature wins last year, got his first of ’24. Mortimer was second, followed to the line by teammates Jason Peck and Ricky Lane. Newcomer Augie Worden rounded out the top five. “The car handles really well, which is good since I’m down 60 HP from the others,” Moldt said from victory lane.
Imagine winning your career-first feature and not being there, in victory lane, to celebrate. Such was the case for 12-year-old Kamden Wheeler, who won the 10-lap JRC Cleaning Bandolero race. She took the lead on the second lap, but caution came out when Dallas Harbst and Max Morich drove each other into the foam blocks on lap seven. The drivers were ok. but Morich was done. The race restarted and Kamden appeared to have a safe advantage over Sharpsteen. Coming off turn three on the last lap he hit the rear of her car, which rolled and came to rest near his in turn four. The race was declared over at lap nine, and Kamden got the win. She went by ambulance to the hospital as a precaution and was released after being checked out. Division sponsor, JRC Cleaning, is owned by Kamden’s father.
There won’t be any racing this weekend but action resumes on Friday, June 7th with a regular five-division regular program of Modifieds, Super Stocks, Hobby Stocks, 4 Cylinders and 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:
The entire program was live on Racing America, a subscription service. Chemung’s action was one of 12 events covered live by the service over the weekend.
Chuck Aumick from Pine City won $520 in the 50/50 drawing. Chuck’s Pine City Tool is a longtime sponsor of several cars competing at the track.
Staff and special guests of Sam’s Bar & Grill partied all evening in a suite.
Chemung Speedrome ’24 apparel (hoodies, t-shirts and hats, along with bumper stickers) are available exclusively at the 07 Collectibles trailer on site.
Sam’s Bar & Grill Night Results:
Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds (35 Laps): LEE SHARPSTEEN, TJ Potrzebowski, Zach Knowlden, Jesse Kent, Nick Morich, Chase Sinsabaugh, Justin Teresak, Charlie Sharpsteen, Tyler Harbst, JP Harbst
Heats: L. Sharpsteen, Potrzebowski
Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks (25 Laps): MIKE NICHOLS, Tim Gullo, Nick Robinson, Frank Chapman III, Jason Duke, Sr., Frank Chapman, Jr., Chad Lane, Joe Lane, Bradley Mister, Charlie Sharpsteen, Abe Romanik
Heats: Gullo, Robinson
Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): ANTHONY GULLO, Gil Sharpsteen, Gene Purvis, Mike Nickels, Dave Yehl, Cullen Sharpsteen, Devin Gullo, Doug DeKay, Dave Decker, Chuck Nichols, Brandon Ameigh, Kalysta DeMark, Ben Perry, Luke Nickels, Mike Bailey, George Nichols, Jr., Ethan Roberts, Mike Kintner, Mark Taylor, Randy Mathews
Heats: Ameigh, M. Nickels, DeMark
Gene’s Automotive 4 Cylinders (15 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Kyle Mortimer, Jason Peck, Ricky Lane, Augustine Worden, Ryan Purvis, Matt Jenkins
Heats: Mortimer, Moldt
JRC Cleaning Bandoleros (10 Laps): KAMDEN WHEELER, Leevi Sharpsteen, Dallas Harbst, Max Morich
Heat: Sharpsteen
Photos by Clayton Vargeson:
