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PRESS RELEASE SHANGI-LA II SPEEDWAY, TIOGA CENTER, NY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Makarewicz, Promoter: 570-956-6347 email: Evergreenraceway@gmail.com
Dino Oberto, Public Relations: 570-401-8168 email: dlmo@ptd.net
WEBSITE: https://www.shang2speedway.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/998028902197312
COMING EVENTS:
June 20 1:00 – 6:00 pm Open practice for any car with a roll cage
June 21 @ 2:00 pm Sportsman Modifieds, Super Stocks, 4-Cylinder Stocks, Hobby Stocks
June 22 @ 2:00 pm Rain date for June 22
After 10 years, Shangri-La II Speedway back in business…Nick Morich leads list of winners with stirring win in Sportsman Modifieds
By DINO OBERTO
(Tioga Center, NY 5-17-25) The much-awaited reopening of Shangri-La II Speedway in Tioga Center, NY, took place on Saturday afternoon and even though car counts may have been less than hoped for, nonetheless those that did come out to race gave the enthusiastic crowd a very competitive show across all four classes.
And, for Nick Morich of Horseheads, it will be a day he will long remember as he collected his career first victory behind the wheel of Sportsman Modified and he did so with run that saw he lead right from the get-go and go on to stay the course for all 30 laps.
Morich is no stranger to racing at Shangri-La II, having run here when the track last ran 10 years ago.
“The track doesn’t feel any different than it did and for sitting dormant for so long I felt it was in great shape,” said Morich, who also won his heat.
“The car was a little tight after the first round of practice and we broke the right front shock but after we got that fixed the tightness went away and never did I think we could come here today and be able to do what we just did, and the it felt great all day long and we’ll definitely be back for the next one.”
While Morich was on cruise control and building what became an insurmountable lead, there was very close action unfolding behind him. Jody Buckley and Lee Sharpsteen had a great battle for second spot. Then over the second half of the feature John Wilbur and Zack Curren moved past Sharpsteen and stayed glued behind Buckley.
At the checkers Morich was far and away the class of the field, taking the win by whopping half-track distance over the rest. Buckley fought hard to maintain second with Wilbur, Curren and Sharpsteen completing the top five.
As was expected the Super Stock field was made up of drivers primarily from the Southern Tier New York area, however, an invader from Freeland, Pennsylvania came in spoiled any of their hopes.
Mike Pollack, the winningest driver with the class over the past three seasons and a three-time and defending track champion at Evergreen Raceway, showed everyone that those numbers aren’t just about how well he runs at his home track, but his talents are just as good on the road.
Pollack started fourth and within the first four laps had moved past Frank Chapman III and then zeroed in on leader Garrett Zacharias.
Keeping the pressure on, Pollack was able to pull alongside Zacharias by lap seven and after some thrilling side-by-side dueling, he took control of the lead with nine circuits complete and once in front there was no looking back as built enough of a lead to keep well ahead of the pack and went on to collect the rousing victory.
Meanwhile things remained hot and heavy for second spot. Champman had unseated Zacharias for second on lap 10 but after a restart for a brief rain shower with eight laps to go, Zacharias vaulted back up to the runner-up position, except it was short lived as Champman regained the spot with five tours to go.
The pair would finish in those spots while another Keystone State star, Jake Christman, moved into the mix and took fourth place with Jason Duke fifth. Second through fifth were all under a blanket as they crossed the finish line.
The 4-Cylinder Stock main was barnburner between Gene Purvis and Danny Cascioli. From the outset the two went toe-toe with Purvis leading and Cascioli right alongside him.
On the second go-around Cascioli clipped the wall after coming out of turn two. He spun and had to pit for a new right rear tire.
When the race resumed Purvis was showing the way ahead of his teammate Kyle Mortimer. But, putting on a driving clinic was Cascioli who was slicing and dicing his way past cars in his pursuit to get back to front.
By lap 15 he had hustled into the runner-up spot and began to apply all kinds of pressure on Purvis. But try as he may, the driver from nearby Chemung was not to be denied and held on for an oh-so-close verdict.
Rounding out the speed-bill where the Hobby Stocks and although only three cars signed in, they still gave fans a good show with veteran racer Glen Lippolis of Owego picking up the victory over Doug DeKay.
Sportsman Modified feature finish (30 laps): 1. Nick Morich, 2. Jody Buckley, 3. John Wilbur, 4. Zack Curren, 5. Lee Sharpsteen, 6. Tony Pettinelli, 7. Tyler Herbst, 8. DJ Shaw, 9. Charles Sharpsteen
Super Stock feature finish (25 laps): 1. Mike Pollack, 2. Frank Chapman III, 3. Garrett Zacharias, 4. Jake Christman, 5. Jason Duke, 6. Bill Frisbie, 7. Robert Fink, 8. Gary Noe, 9. Lee Sharpsteen, 10. Chris Vogler, 11. Abe Romanik, 12. Aaron Cornell, 13. Frank Chapman Jr.
4-Cylinder Stock feature finish (20 laps): 1. Gene Purvis, 2. Danny Cascioli, 3. Kyle Mortimer, 4. Ed Herman, 5. Maggie Wambold, 6. Caitlyn Makarewicz, 7. Augustine Worden, 8. Brandon Measheaw, 9. Jake Whitney, 10. Jason Peck, DNS: BJ Wambold
Hobby Stock feature finish (10 laps): 1. Glen Lippolis, 2. Doug DeKay, 3. John Wildrig
