2007 Press Release

July 28th, 2007
TJ Potrzebowski Gets It Together For Chemung SST
Modified Win - by Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) If you believed every weather forecast you hear no one would have been at Chemung Speedrome Saturday night. Despite afternoon showers all around the track, the sun shone in the valley and a good crowd watched some great racing. TJ Potrzebowski got his 4th win in the SST Modified division, keeping alive a very tight race to the title with Tony Hanbury. Other regular division winners included Mike Nichols (Super Stock), Jody Buckley (a pair of 4 Cylinder wins), Brian Terrell (INEX Legends), Zack Curren (Speedrome Juniors), and Matt Evans (Bandoleros). Dirt racer Rich Sharpsteen can now add an asphalt track trophy to his collection as he dominated the special Dirt Pure/Street Stock special event. The action continues this Saturday night at 6:30 PM.

In SST Modified action, heat race wins went to Matt Kurzejewski (career-first), Rick Zacharias and Potrzebowski. Wayne Lent and rookie Jimmy Zacharias brought the 23-car field to the green and Zacharias led off turn 2. Just a lap into the race Mike Nickles spun and brought out the caution. Zacharias took off and soon his challenger was Matt Kurzejewski, who found the opening he needed to take over the lead on lap 11. Once in front Kurzejewski began to pull away, building a nice lead over Potrzebowski, Rick Zacharias and Tony Hanbury, who were gunning for positions 2 through 4. A trail of white smoke, seen all too often this year behind the #94 of Wayne Lent, signified yet another motor problem and the loss of Kurzejewski’s big lead. When racing resumed he also lost the lead to Potrzebowski as well as several more positions. R. Zacharias, Hanbury, JR Kent and John Wilber were also running together and closing in on the leader. Kurzejewski spun on lap 27 and set up another restart and another opportunity for Zacharias. Over the final 14 laps the leaders set a blistering pace and came upon lap traffic. With Hanbury and Wilber right behind Zacharias, and lap cars to negotiate, Zacharias went low and had to slow while Hanbury chose the high side. Hanbury took over 2nd, dropping Zacharias to 3rd in dramatic fashion. Potrzebowski, sporting Jubilee Market sponsorship, held on for win #4 this year, over Hanbury, Zacharias, Wilber and Kent. “We made some gains in where we’ve been the past couple weeks. We needed to get our act together,” Potrzebowski said from victory lane. He was referring to the drought since his last win on June 23rd.

The Super Stocks were super exciting in qualifying, races won by Chad McDonald and Jeff Goodwin. Handicapping put Mike Nichols on the pole and Goodwin 2nd for the start of their 25-lap feature. Nichols took the early lead and immediately put some distance between himself and Goodwin. Lee Sharpsteen, whose car was off, brought out the first caution when he spun in turn 2. Over the next 2 laps McDonald mounted a charge and took over 2nd from Jay Mudra. Sharpsteen spun again in turn 4, and Brad Mosher brought out the 3rd and final caution flag with his spin 2 laps later. For that restart Goodwin and Henry Brown were lined up behind Nichols and McDonald. Once again Nichols floored it and led the way as McDonald and Goodwin were waging a hot battle for 2nd, swapping the position repeatedly. McDonald finally got inside Goodwin and held the 2nd spot. Goodwin found himself stuck in the outside lane losing position after position. When it was over Nichols had his 5th win of the year, this one over McDonald, Brown, Cundy and point leader Chris Daugherty.

The 4 Cylinders ran a pair of 15-lap features with the same outcome – Jody Buckley in victory lane. Archie Haner and heat winner A Jay Potrzebowski, in the front row for the first race, stayed side-by-side but Haner led by inches. A lap later it was Potrzebowski on top of the leader board, however his stay would be brief. While working lap 4 he and heat winner Phil Haner got together in turn 2 and put the field under caution. Archie reclaimed the lead and held it for the next 2 laps. Buckley, meanwhile, passed AJ Lane then Haner and became the new leader on lap 5. Over the next 10 laps Buckley checked out, leaving behind a great battle for 2nd among Lane, Potrzebowski and Brandon Ameigh. Buckley got the win and Ameigh nipped Potrzebowski at the line for 2nd. Gene Purvis and Bob Curren rounded out the top 5.

The top 8 finishers were inverted for race #2, putting Doug Colton and Gene Purvis in row 1 when Archie Haner was a no-show. Purvis led the opening lap but lap 2 belonged to Brandon Ameigh. His was a short stay on top. Caution came out on the next lap for Jeremy Spencer’s spin and slide coming off turn 2. That put Jody Buckley beside Ameigh for the restart and Buckley grabbed the lead. On the final restart Ameigh made an early inside pass that gave him a one spot penalty, but the action forced 2nd place runner Bob Curren high in turn 2 and he lost 3 positions. Over the final 5 laps Buckley was alone in his quest but the runner-up spot was still in question. A Jay Potrzebowski bided his time and took over 2nd, and he held off Ameigh, AJ Lane and Curren.

Kyle Pierce and Matt Priscott won the 2 INEX Legends heats and Pierce had the pole for their 20-lap race. He used it to his advantage and took the lead. Behind him title contenders Justin Petcosky and Patrick Albor were advancing. With 6 laps run, Matt Priscott’s car broke in turn 4 and hit the foam. Medical personnel checked him out while Huckles Towing hooked up his car. Pierce held off Petcosky on the restart and remained out front. Petcosky and Albor got together going for 2nd and collected Tom Mitteer II. That brought Brian Terrell up to 2nd, with Matt Kurzejewski 3rd when racing resumed. Pierce, seemingly on the way to his first win, bobbled and got out of the low groove. Terrell was there, took over on lucky lap 13, and built up a big lead. Stuck in the outside lane, Pierce quickly lost 2 more positions. When this one was over Terrell, the 2006 track champion, had his first win of the season. Kurzejewski was 2nd, followed by Daren Scherer, Pierce and Chris Bohlman.

It appeared James Lorows was headed to victory lane in the Speedrome Junior division, but Zack Curren was there. Pole-sitter TJ Zacharias drifted high on the first lap and Lorows took over. Two laps into the race Zacharias spun, setting up a restart with Zack Curren alongside Lorows. Both maintained their positions, and Jesse Kent was able to pass Fred Peters for 3rd. Zacharias slowed with a flat tire on lap 8, brining out the 2nd caution. Again Lorows led the way but lady luck dealt him a cruel hand. Lorows spun by himself in turn 4 on the last lap, giving the lead and the win to Zack Curren. It was his 3rd of the year, 2nd in a row. Peters was 2nd, followed by Kent, Mike Ferris and Lorows.

Eric Bostwick and Joey Shaw, Jr. made up the front row for the 10-lap Bandolero feature and Bostwick took command. Point leader Matt Evans stayed with him and set up a pass on the 8th lap as they came upon lap traffic. The lead pair got Shaw but Andrew Bickford and Shaw got hooked together and drove each other into the wall at the start/finish line. Both were ok, but it set up a green/white/checker finish. Evans got the win, his 3rd overall and 2nd in a row, over Bostwick, Ryan Polenz, Matt Hallick and Bickford.

Race fans enjoyed a special Dirt Pure/Street Stock special on the asphalt, an event organized by Terry and A Jay Potrzebowski. Jason Benjamin and Larry Fenton, Jr. brought the 14-car field to the green and Fenton led the first lap. Rich Sharpsteen, who started 6th, took over on lap 2 and never looked back. The race was slowed 3 times for cautions and Terry Potrzebowski proved to be the only serious challenger as the lead pair pulled away and put on a super show. In winning, Sharpsteen joined many other family members who, over the year, have celebrated asphalt wins at the Speedrome. “I’m a dirt fan but it was really neat to do this. Thanks to Terry and A Jay for doing this,” he said from victory lane after his popular win. He also picked up $560 in bonus lap sponsorship money. Terry Potrzebowski finished 2nd, followed by A Jay Potrzebowski, Matt Jilson and Chuck Nichols.

This Saturday it’s a regular 6-division show. Grandstand gates open at 5 PM. Practice starts at 5 and the first race hits the track at 6:30 PM. For the latest news and results log on to www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung Speedrome and the Nascar Whelen All American Series – Short Track Racing At Its Best!

Results:

NASCAR SST Modifieds (40 Laps) TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, Tony Hanbury, Rick Zacharias, John Wilber, JR Kent, Jimmy Zacharias, Josh Philpott, Charlie Sharpsteen, Dan Kurzejewski, Paul Johnson, Chuck Lohmeyer, Matt Kurzejewski, Curtis Cowles, Daren Scherer, Bobby Osgood, Mike Nickles, Dave Silvernail, Larry Jaynes, Jake Snell, Wayne Lent, Dan Mathews, Chris Comstock, Terry Potrzebowski

Super Stocks (25 Laps) MIKE NICHOLS, Chad McDonald, Henry Brown, Tom Cundy, Chris Daugherty, Jay Mudra, Scott Reagon, Jeff Goodwin, Lee Sharpsteen, Brad Mosher

INEX Legends (20 Laps) BRIAN TERRELL, Matt Kurzejewski, Daren Scherer, Kyle Pierce, Chris Bohlman, Art Priscott, Justin Petcosky, Tom Mitteer II, George Cushman, Greg Richards, Beth Urso, Patrick Albor, Matt Priscott (DNS: Matt Price, David Cushman)

4 Cylinders (#1, 15 Laps) JODY BUCKLEY, AJ Lane, Brandon Ameigh, A Jay Potrzebowski, Gene Purvis, Bob Curren, Archie Haner, Doug Colton, Joe Lane, Phil Haner, Brittany Zacharias, Kevin Kelsey, Jeremy Spencer, Jimmy Zacharias, Carl Milks

4 Cylinders (#2, 15 Laps) JODY BUCKLEY, A Jay Potrzebowski, Brandon Ameigh, AJ Lane, Bob Curren, Gene Purvis, Doug Colton, Phil Haner, Joe Lane, Jeremy Spencer, Kevin Kelsey, Jimmy Zacharias, Carl Milks (DNS: Archie Haner, Brittany Zacharias)

Speedrome Juniors (12 Laps) ZACK CURREN, Fred Peters, Jesse Kent, Mike Ferris, James Lorows, TJ Zacharias, Dusty Snell

Bandoleros (10 Laps) MATT EVANS, Eric Bostwick, Ryan Polenz, Matt Hallick, Andrew Bickford, Jason Duke, Jr., Joey Shaw, Jr. (DQ: Alexis Wilson)

Dirt Pure/Street Stocks (25 Laps) RICH SHARPSTEEN, Terry Potrzebowski, A Jay Potrzebowski, Matt Jilson, Chuck Nichols, Ben Hulslander, Kevin Morrison, Larry Fenton, Jr., Dave Cooke, Frank Chapman, Jr., Bobby Hall, Jason Benjamin, Eric Williams, Bill Morrow