2006 Press Release

August 12th, 2006

Teammates Pete Brittain and Tony Hanbury Win Chemung’s ROC and SST Modified Races  by Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) Conditions were perfect Saturday night for what turned out to be a near perfect night of racing at Chemung Speedrome. The night included a 75-lap Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour race, a 75-lap SST Modified Tour race, plus the track’s other regular divisions. Winners included Pete Brittain (ROC Modified), Tony Hanbury (SST Modified), Lee Sharpsteen (SST Super Stock), Daren Scherer (Legend), Gene Purvis (4 Cylinder), Brad Mosher (Street Stock) and Matt Kurzejewski (Speedrome Junior).

This Saturday the Speedrome holds twin 15’s for the SST Super Stocks as all 6 regular divisions will be in action. Fans can also meet and greet the drivers at another Pit Party during intermission. Regular pricing is in effect, at $12 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6 to 14. Kids 5 and under are always admitted free. Race time is 6:30 PM.

The visiting Sunoco Race of Champions Modified Tour hit the track and it was Pete Brittain, Rusty Smith Tony Hanbury who picked up 5 points each for their heat wins. Rick Kluth had the best draw, however, and he started the 75-lap race from the pole. Kluth held the lead for the first 8 laps before losing that spot to Brittain. His lap 9 pass turned out to his race-winning move but he did have to negotiate a lot of lap traffic as well as the 4 restarts that followed caution periods. The first of those cautions came when Earl Paules turned Bobby Holmes around in turn 4. He was sent to the rear but didn’t stay there long. For the bulk of this race the battle was for 2nd, involving Hanbury and Eric Beers. John Markovic ran 4th with Tony Hirschman in 5th but, by lap 50, it was Dave Wollaber and Central point leader Lee Sherwood who disposed of Markovic and were running 5th and 6th. One driver, more so than anyone else, was putting on a driving clinic. Earl Paules shot into turn 3 lap after lap, diving underneath his competitors and taking away their positions. The final caution came out with 9 laps remaining. Brittain was perfect on the restart but Hanbury tried to set up a move as they came off turn 2. Pistol Pete wasn’t to be denied this one and he soared across the stripe and into victory lane. Beers got around Hanbury for 2nd, with Hirschman and Sherwood rounding out the top 5. ROC award winners included Wollaber (Gater Racing News Bonus), Paules (Hoosier Racing Tire Hard Charger), and Kluth (Hoosier Racing Tire Hard Luck).

Twenty-two SST Modifieds were on hand for their 75-lap Tour race. Pete Brittain, Brian Bowen, and Rick Zacharias got things underway by winning the 3 heats. Luck of the draw then put Zacharias on the pole and TJ Potrzebowski on the outside of the front row. When the green flag flew Zacharias did likewise and he led the way. With just one lap on the board Brittain spun in turn 1 and put the field under caution. Potrzebowski had another shot but the result was the same as Zacharias prevailed and began to pull away. That left Potrzebowski to battle it out with Rich Petrucco for 2nd, and Brian Bowen did likewise with Charlie Sharpsteen for 4th. George Kent, who was charging through the field after starting last, slowed to a stop in turn 1 and caution came out again with 20 laps in. Zacharias picked up where he left off but as the laps clicked off it was Hanbury who was on the move. He was up to 3rd by lap 25 and in 2nd by lap 45. On the 49th lap Wayne Lent slowed with a flat tire and the field was bunched together again for the restart. Zacharias had his hands full holding off Hanbury, who appeared ready to set up a pass on virtually every lap. He succeeded on lap 69 and he led until Curtis Cowles spun with 1 lap remaining. Officials opted for a safer green/white/checkered finish that gave Zacharias one last opportunity. Hanbury would have no part of it and he held on for the win over Zacharias, Potrzebowski, Bowen and Petrucco. Hanbury remains undefeated in extra distance SST Modified races at the Speedrome this year

A week ago the Sharpsteen family celebrated Charlie’s first-ever asphalt win (in the SST Modified division). Saturday night they had reason to continue, as his brother Lee tossed that monkey off his back and swept the action in the SST Super Stocks. Fellow heat winner Bob Ziegler and Sharpsteen had front row starting spots for the 25-lap race but it was Sharpsteen who led the field off turn 2 and across the stripe. The first caution came out when Chad McDonald dove underneath Sharpsteen for the lead. The pair bobbled, everyone else checked up, and it was Paul Johnson and Bill Chandler, Jr. who ended up spinning. When racing resumed Sharpsteen maintained the lead while RJ Zacharias worked his way up to 2nd with Tom Cundy in tow. Three other cautions, for Rick Hand’s flat tire, and single car spins by Chuck Lohmeyer and Chris Daugherty, slowed the field but not the leaders. Sharpsteen was impressive over the final laps, holding off Cundy for the win. He got it, and ended a dry spell that has plagued the hometown racer all season. His burnout and celebration in victory lane pretty much summed up his feelings. Cundy, Zacharias, Rick Brown and Johnson all finished in the top 5.

Kyle Pierce and David Polenz made up the front row for the 20-lap Legends feature but heat winner Matt Priscott, who started 3rd, made a neat inside move that put him atop the leader board for the first 4 laps. The other heat winner, Daren Scherer, was also on the move. After starting 7th, he was up to 2nd and grabbed the race lead on the 5th lap. Jason Urso, who started 10th, also remembered how to get around at Chemung and he was running 2nd to Scherer by the 10th lap. With 11 laps in the book the first caution came out for Matt Kurzejewski’s single car spin in turn 2. Scherer pulled away following the restart, leaving behind a battle for 2nd between Urso and Zack Truesdail. Point leader Brian Terrell spun off turn 2 and put the field under its 2nd caution period. Over the remaining laps Urso dogged Scherer but the latter prevailed and posted his 2nd win of the year. Urso was 2nd, followed by Truesdail, Patrick Albor and Rob Brierton.

Point leader Jim Chimileski and Jake Snell brought the 4 Cylinder field to the green for their 12-lap feature and Snell led them off turn 2 and down the back straightaway. Bob Curren took the early lead but he soon had defending track champion and heat winner Gene Purvis following in his tire tracks in search of an opening. Tom Gush was also on the move and both got around Curren just short of the halfway point. Purvis waited for the right moment, made his race-winning pass, and held off Gush for the win, his 4th this year. Gush received a DQ when he failed to show up for post-race inspection. That gave 2nd to Jody Buckley, with Snell, Curren and Bernie Duggan all in the top 5.

Longtime racer Fred Quail returned to the Speedrome for a run in the Street Stocks. Opening lap contact between him and Brad Mosher shuffled the field and put Jake Snell on the pole. Snell led the first 4 laps but Mosher was able to get around him on the 5th lap. The 2 stayed together for most of the race but this one belonged to Mosher, his 3rd win this year. Point leader Snell was 2nd, Quail 3rd.

In Speedrome Junior action, it appeared that point leader Jimmy Zacharias would get another win. Zack Curren, who started 2nd, did a power move around pole-sitter Dusty Snell and led the field off turn 2 but Zacharias very quickly found the top spot. Kurzejewski passed both Curren and Snell and was running 2nd when Zacharias slowed and came to a stop in turn 1. He was out and the lead went to Kurzejewski, who held on for the win. Curren was 2nd, followed by Nick Robinson, Snell and Zacharias.

Track practice is available from 12 – 3 PM this Saturday but drivers must call either the track office at 607-734-7091 or Bob Stapleton at 607-857-4843 to make a reservation. The cost is just $40.00 per car. Those participating must purchase their pit passes upon arrival, but they are good for the rest of the day. Those interested must be in the pits by 11:45 AM and no further traffic in or out of the pits will be allowed.

Pits open at 4 PM this Saturday, practice and main grandstands at 5 PM, and the green flag drops at 6:30 PM. For more information log on to the track’s website www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung Speedrome - short track racing at its best!

Results

ROC Modifieds (75 Laps) PETE BRITTAIN, Eric Beers, Tony Hanbury, Matt Hirschman, Lee Sherwood, Earl Paules, Phil Slater, John Markovic, Bobby Holmes, TJ Potrzebowski, Dave Wollaber, Kory Rabenold, Rick Kluth, Daren Scherer, Chuck Frisbee, Rodney Gruber, Bill Chandler, Rusty Smith, Kevin Lewis, Matt Clemens, Terry Zacharias

Heat Winners:
LAP LEADERS Rick Kluth 1-8 Pete Brittain 9-75

SST (75 Laps) TONY HANBURY, Rick Zacharias, RJ Potrzebowski, Brian Bowen, Rich Petrucco, Charlie Sharpsteen, Bobby Osgood, John Wilber, Al Chapman, Wayne Lent, Josh Smith, Curtis Cowels, Dick Kluth, Mike Nickles, Larry Jaynes, Shane Courtright, Daren Scherer, Gene Sharpsteen, Dan Mathews, George Kent, Richard Thomas, Pete Brittain

Heat Winners:
LAP LEADERS Rick Zacharias 1-68 Tony Hanbury 69-75

SST Super Stocks (25 Laps) GENE SHARPSTEEN, Tom Cundy, RJ Zacharias, Rick Brown, Paul Johnson, Chuck Lohmeyer, Bill Chandler, Jr., Jeff Goodwin, Henry Brown, Chris Daugherty, Rick Hand, Chad McDonald, Bob Ziegler, Derrick Tarbox, Dave Harbst

Legends (20 Laps) DAREN SCHERER, Jason Urso, Zach Truesdail, Patrick Albor, Rob Brierton, Matt Priscott, Paul Dodorico, Art Priscott, Justin Petcosky, Jimmy Zacharias, Matt Kurzejewski, Brian Terrell, Ben Moore, Tom Mitteer II, Kyle Pierce, Beth Urso, Cody Frantz, Brad Salatino, David Polenz

Street Stocks (10 Laps) BRAD MOSHER, Jake Snell, Fred Quail

4 Cylinders (12 Laps) GENE PURVIS, Jody Buckley, Jake Snell, Bob Curren, Bernie Duggan, Jim Chimileski, A Jay Potrzebowski (DNS Sue Lane; DQ Tom Gush)

Speedrome Juniors (12 Laps) MATT KURZEJEWSKI, Zack Curren, Nick Robinson, Dusty Snell, Jimmy Zacharias (DNS: Jesse Kent)