September 3rd, 2005
Bowen Pads Point Lead With 7th Chemung SST-Modified Win
by Carol Houssock

(Chemung) It was a night of winners at Chemung Speedrome, with Williams Oil on hand as title sponsor.  Brian Bowen got his 7^th in SST-Modified action, Mike Nichols got #6 in the Street Stocks, it was #5 for Jimmy Kostarelos in the Legends, #5 for Duane Manzer in Factory Stocks, a season first for Scott Millard in the 4-Cylinder division, and a career-first for Justin Millard in the Bandits.  The American Red Cross Disaster Fund was also a big winner, with $1,100 raised in the helmet drive.  The 50/50 winner donated back her entire $448, to be split between the Red Cross and Salvation Army for disaster relief.  Two kids won free bicycles during intermission, donated by Sharpsteen Motorsports and Phil Slater Racing, and all the kids enjoyed kiddie rides in the racecars.  This Saturday all 6 track titles will be decided in the season points finales.

The 40-lap SST-Modified feature had everyone’s attention right from the start.  With several cars not on hand due to blown motors or other problems, the handicapping system put Brian Bowen and Tony Hanbury in row one for the start.  Hanbury was the first into turn one but as they reached turn two slight contact with Bowen turned him into the wall.  Hanbury just missed the last foam block and he sustained a broken tie rod.  Bowen was sent to the rear. 

While Hanbury’s crew went to work on the car, the race resumed with Chuck Frisbee and Gene Sharpsteen in the front row.  Frisbee led the way and put some distance between himself and the Sharpsteen’s, with Charlie battling Gene for 2^nd.  Hanbury, who returned to the race 3 laps down, slowed in turn 1 and brought out the 2^nd caution.  Frisbee held off C. Sharpsteen on the restart but George Kent and Bowen were coming on strong and Bowen took over the lead on lap 14. 

Zacharias had a scary moment just past the halfway point when he exited the track backwards on the turn 1 exit road after contact with Gene Sharpsteen.  Bowen had Kent lined up behind him on the final 4 restarts, the last 2 of which came out for debris on the track.  On each restart he was able to pull away from Kent, who was protecting his spot from Frisbee.  When it was over Bowen had his 7^th win in 14 point races this year.  Kent finished 2^nd, followed by Frisbee, Charlie Sharpsteen and Richard Thomas.  Bowen and Frisbee won the 2 heat races.

Chad McDonald and Paul Johnson lined up ahead of Mike Nichols and Dave Harbst for the 25-lap Street Stock feature.  McDonald led the field off turn 2 and was the race leader of laps 1 and 2.  Nichols got around Johnson and on lap 3 snared the lead from McDonald.  He and RJ Zacharias, who had started 5^th, were running together at the front of the field, leaving McDonald to hold off Johnson and heat winner Henry Brown.  The only caution came out with 8 laps completed.  Derrick Tarbox and Lee Sharpsteen had been dueling for position and Sharpsteen got turned around in the 3^rd turn.  While under caution he drove Tarbox into the outside wall and was parked for the night.  When the race resumed so too did the great battle for the lead between Nichols and Zacharias, who had earlier won his heat.  Johnson was a distant 3^rd at the halfway point but began to reel in the leaders.  Nichols protected his line and went on to score his 6^th win this year.  Nichols also padded the point lead he reclaimed last weekend.  When asked about going for his 3^rd track championship in 5 years, he said, “we’re here to win races, have fun, and put a show on for the fans.”  Mission accomplished.

Paul Gush and Scott Millard claimed the heats in the 4-Cylinder division.  Handicapping put Gary Batroney and Natasha Robinson on the front row for the start of their 20-lap feature.  The opening lap was troublesome for Rusty Miller, who spun off turn 2 and brought out the caution.  On the restart Robinson got around Batroney and took the early lead.  Millard made a nice inside move in turn 2 and took over 2^nd.  He then went to work on Robinson and passed her on the 2^nd lap.  That turned out to be his race-winning move.  By lap 5 Millard had a nice lead and point leader Gene Purvis was running 2^nd.  Batroney spun in turn 2 and brought out the 3^rd caution period.  Millard maintained his race lead while Purvis faced a heavy challenge from Paul Gush.  When this one was over Millard had his first win of the year.  Purvis finished 2^nd, ahead of Gush, Robinson and Jimmy Snell.

Tom Mitteer and Jimmy Kostarelos brought the Legends field to the green for the start of their 20-lap feature.  Kostarelos, the rookie driver who had picked up a pair of wins in both June and July, darted out in front and led the opening lap.  Matt Priscott stayed right with him and held off repeated challenges from both Art Priscott and Rich Petrucco.  Tom Mitteer and Zach Truesdail got together and put the field under caution.  Kostarelos was up to the challenge put forth on the restart and he maintained the race lead.  When this one was over Kostarelos had win #5 for the year and reversed the bad luck he sustained during the month of August.  Matt Priscott, Art Priscott, Petrucco and Rob Brierton rounded out the top 5.  Petrucco and Art Priscott won their qualifying races.

It was a sweep for Duane Manzer in Factory Stock action.  The heat winner had the pole for their 15-lap feature and he led the way from the get-go.  Newcomer Bob Reiley spun on the 2^nd lap and put the race under caution.  Manzer prevailed on the restart, chased by Jake Snell.  At the halfway point the pair had pulled away from Jim Potrzebowski.  Reiley spun in the same place with 2 laps remaining, setting up a green/white/checkered finish.  Manzer picked up win #5 this year and reclaimed the point lead from Snell with one race remaining.  Snell was 2^nd, Potrzebowski 3^rd.

Ashley Sharpsteen and Justin Millard lined up in the front row for the 12-lap Bandit feature.  Millard powered his way around and led the field through turns 1 and 2 and down the backstretch.  Behind him Nick Robinson and Matt Kurzejewski worked the traffic and got up to 2^nd and 3^rd.  Point leader Jimmy Zacharias dropped out with 9 laps in with motor problems.  When this one was over Millard had his first-ever win.  Kurzejewski was 2^nd, followed by Robinson, Ashley Sharpsteen and Megan Sharpsteen.

This Saturday it’s Championship Night, as none of the 6 titles has been claimed and it all boils down to the final race for each.  The SST-Modifieds will end their year in a big way with a 75-lap feature.  Pit gates open at 4 PM, grandstand gates and practice at 5 PM, with racing getting underway at 6:30 PM.

For all the latest news check out the track’s website at www.chemungspeedrome.net.  Chemung Speedrome – short track racing at its best!   

Results:

SST-Modifieds (40 Laps)  BRIAN BOWEN, George Kent, Chuck Frisbee, Charlie Sharpsteen, Richard Thomas, Tony Jilson, Josh Smith, Gene Sharpsteen, Chris Clark, Greg Frutchey, Tony Hanbury, Eugene Beers, RJ Zacharias

Street Stocks (25 Laps) MIKE NICHOLS, RJ Zacharias, Paul Johnson, Henry Brown, Bob Ziegler, Bill Chandler, Jr., John Stonier, Dave Harbst, Bob Kishbaugh, Derrick Tarbox, Jess Snell, Chad McDonald, Lee Sharpsteen (DNS: Chris May)

4-Cylinders (20 Laps) SCOTT MILLARD, Gene Purvis, Paul Gush, Natasha Robinson, Jimmy Snell, Bernie Duggan, Justin Longacre, Rusty Miller, Gary Batroney, Rich Sharpsteen (DNS: Cody Marshall)

Legends (15 Laps) JIMMY KOSTARELOS, Matt Priscott, Art Priscott, Rich Petrucco, Rob Brierton, Tom Mitteer, Zach Truesdail, Justin Petcosky, Bill Shick (DNS: Jake Work)

Factory Stocks (15 Laps) DUANE MANZER, Jake Snell, Jim Potrzebowski, Bob Reiley 

Bandits (10 Laps) JUSTIN MILLARD, Matt Kurzejewski, Nick Robinson, Ashley Sharpsteen, Megan Sharpsteen, Jimmy Zacharias, Dusty Snell

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