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by Carol Houssock
(Chemung, NY) Chemung Speedrome’s promoter, Ray Hodge, remains a gamblin’ man, opting to ignore morning showers. He ran the show two hours later on Saturday afternoon, rather than go with a rare Sunday rain date. While he won the rain battle, the temperature dropped rapidly, wind moved in, and fans shivered in their seats. All that aside, for the fourth year in a row TJ Potrzebowski was victorious in the Buckley’s Automotive Modified division. Other opening day winners, three of whom swept the action, included Nick Robinson (Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks), Brian DeMark (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Gene Purvis (Gene’s Automotive 4 Cylinders), and Ethan Houghtaling (JRC Cleaning Bandoleros).
Evan Rygielski and Kevin Youngs got things going in the Buckley’s Automotive Modified division by claiming their respective heats. When the field rolled out for their 35-lap feature, everyone sensed a great race was about to take place. TJ Potrzebowski, the track’s 2024 champion, and former champion Zack Curren wasted no time in running side-by-side for several laps. While the lead went back and forth between them, Potrzebowski got the lead and never surrendered. The win represented the fourth year in a row that he’s gone to victory lane in the season opener. “” That was good, clean racing. That’s how it should be done, right there. Zack raced me clean, and it was a good race,” Potrzebowski said after the win. Curren had to settle for second in this one, followed by Youngs, Rygielski and Nick Morich.
Former track champion Nick Robinson produced a sweep in the Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks. While light on car count, the action was as good as ever. Robinson took the lead early. The first caution came when the throttle on Chad Lane’s car stuck, and he hit the turn two foam blocks. When racing resumed Robinson and Jim House engaged in some great side-by-side action. Likewise, between heat winner Garrett Zacharias and the ’24 champ Tim Gullo. House faded back, and Zacharias made a nice move on Gullo to take over second place. By then Robinson’s lead was too big to make a serious challenge in the 25-lap race. Robinson took the win over Zacharias, Gullo, Jim House and Joe Lane. “We didn’t have a lot of cars, but the cars we did have were stout,” Robinson shared. “You have to get to the front, set your own pace, and go.”
The track’s Hobby Stock division, sponsored by Marion Decker Insurance Agency, continues to impress in terms of car counts and competition, as a home for newcomers and veterans who had run in other classes. The opener drew 21 cars for the 20-lap feature, with heats won by Brian DeMark, Anthony Gullo and Doug DeKay. Four cautions slowed the field, with the final coming with just three laps remaining. Over those laps Brian DeMark demonstrated great back stretch speed and held on for the win. Devin Gullo, Brian’s teammate, finished second with former champion Josh Parker third, Cullen Sharpsteen fourth, and Mark Taylor, Jr. fifth. For DeMark he, too, pulled off a division sweep.
Gene Purvis also swept the action in the Gene’s Automotive 4 Cylinder division in a car owned by Nick Robinson. Purvis and defending champion Greg Moldt battled most of their 20-lap feature and had to deal with some lap traffic along the way. Purvis took the lead on lap 6 and never looked back. “These are some big shoes to fill. I ran this car a few times last year, but Nick has me in it weekly this year,” Purvis said. He also spoke highly of the new Race Director, Tom Vitale. “The guy on the one-way did a great job of letting people know the leaders were coming.” Moldt finished second, ahead of Matt Jenkins, heat winner Cameron Nichols, and Ryan Purvis,
A nice field of Bandoleros ran their 10-lap feature with a few bumps along the way, bumps that brought out the caution and important restarts. Dallas Harbst was leading late, but on the last restart was issued a one-position penalty for jumping the start. He crossed the finish line first; however, the penalty handed the win over to Easton Houghtaling who had won last year’s season finale. Officials scored Harbst second, followed by Brynlee Sharpsteen and heat winners Allison Smit and defending champion Leevi Sharpsteen
At Chemung Speedrome, presented by Jim Bronson and Ferrario Auto Team of Sayre, PA, April showers bring May racing, which will continue Saturday, May 3rd at 2:00 PM. Pits open at noon, grandstand gate and practice at 1, with racing commencing at 2. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65+, $5 for kids ages 5 – 12, and free for kids under age 5.
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.
Results:
Buckley’s Automotive Modifieds (35 Laps): TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, Zack Curren, Kevin Youngs, Evan Rygielski, Nick Morich, Jody Buckley, Alan Bookmiller, Charlie Sharpsteen, DJ Shaw, Jesse Kent, Dakota Anderson, Lee Sharpsteen (DNS), Tommy Rought (DNS)
Heats: Rygielski, Youngs
Blauvelt Funeral Home Super Stocks (25 Laps): NICK ROBINSON. Garrett Zacharias, Tim Gullo, Jim House, Joe Lane, Aaron Cornell, Chad Lane, Jason Duke
Heats: Zacharias, Robinson
Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): BRIAN DEMARK, Devin Gullo, Josh Parker, Cullen Sharpsteen, Mark Taylor, Mike Bailey, Doug DeKay, Ryan Osgood, Dave Yehl, Kamden Wheeler, Paul Bailey, John Widrig, Mike Kintner, George Nichols, Jr., Anthony Gullo, Ethan Roberts, Ajay Potrzebowski, Michael Bast, Josh Ames, Chuck Nichols, Bruce Kintner
Heats: DeMark, A Gullo, DeKay
Gene’s Automotive 4 Cylinders (20 Laps): GENE PURVIS, Greg Moldt, Matt Jenkins, Cameron Nichols, Ryan Purvis, Augustine Warden, Brandon Miashe, David Stedge, Adriana Purvis, Troy Hodge, Kyle Mortimer
Heats: Nichols, Purvis
JRC Cleaning Bandoleros (10 Laps): EASTON HOUGHTALING, Dallas Harbst, Brynlee Sharpsteen, Allison Smith, Leevi Sharpsteen, Levi Houghtaling, Torey Miller
Heats: L. Sharpsteen, Smith
Photo by Clayton Vargeson
