2007 Press Release

November 18th, 2007
CHEMUNG SPEEDROME HONORS TOP DRIVERS, ANTICIPATES EXCITING 2008 - By Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) Race teams and fans of Chemung Speedrome gathered Saturday night at the Elks Club in Horseheads, NY to honor top competitors from the 2007 racing season. The ’07 season was in stark contrast to the prior year, thanks to the kindness shown by Mother Nature. The track ran 18 weeks of racing as part of the Nascar Whelen All-American Series, with most divisions having run 19 or more races. Following a cocktail hour and buffet dinner, drivers in attendance claimed some handsome hardware. Attendees then enjoyed music for dancing. Track announcer Carol Houssock emceed the event.

The track’s headline division, the SST Modifieds, ran 19 point races consisting of 737 feature laps. Track champion Tony Hanbury dominated the action, leading the division in wins (10) and laps led (222). He took the point lead from ’06 champ TJ Potrzebowski and held off his challenges through the final, title-determining week. Potrzebowski ran the full season at both Chemung (2nd) and Spencer (champion) and claimed the overall SST Modified title for the 2nd year in a row. With perfect attendance at both tracks, and finishing highest in points at both, track owner John White presented Potrzebowski with a check for $5,000. Also, for an unprecedented 2nd year in a row, Potrzebowski won the track’s coveted Sportsmanship Award.

Hanbury was a factor everywhere he raced in what was a dream season for the Owego, NY hot shoe. With Chemung’s season over and the title under his belt, the family-owned team headed to Oswego for the SST Modified Race of Champions. Hanbury dominated that race as well and, for the 2nd year in a row as well, the Chemung track champion claimed the SST race at the Big O.

Hanbury’s performance this year also earned him Nascar’s first place award for New York State, the laurels for which he received earlier in the month in Las Vegas, NV. In addition to $8,000 in prize money he received a new fire suit, helmet and other gifts as Nascar top driver in NY. “This whole deal has been awesome, doing so well as a family operation. I can’t thank everyone enough,” Hanbury told the crowd. He also put his competitors on notice, saying, “I’ll be back at Chemung full-time next year.” Hanbury’s father, Bob, was named Mechanic of the Year.

John Wilber, 3rd in points and last year’s top rookie, had the fans on their feet virtually every weekend in his quest for a career-first win. The talented driver, whose 14 top-5 finishes included nine 2nd place runs, picked up the track’s Hard Charger Award. Paul Johnson, a former Super Stock competitor, finished 8th in points and earned top rookie honors. Josh Philpott returned to action at the Speedrome and caught the attention of many in his fine runs this year. For that he was awarded the Most Improved Driver hardware. Former track champion Charlie Sharpsteen, who demolished his modified in a wicked turn 1 wreck, was able to run the remainder of the season in the Larry Jaynes machine. Sharpsteen walked away with the Headache Award.

Chris Daugherty has now proven his decision to switch from a successful dirt track operation to an asphalt Super Stock was the right one. He took over the points mid-season and held on for his first-ever title on asphalt. Daugherty picked up 7 feature wins and led 105 feature laps. Former track champion Mike Nichols, who led the points early and tried to reclaim the top spot, was 2nd in points and given the track’s Determination Award for nearly pulling it off. Nichols won a division-leading 8 feature races as well as the most laps (162). He also went on to win his division’s event at the Race of Champions.

Jeff Goodwin, 3rd in Super Stock points and a 4-time feature winner, was named Most Improved Driver. Brittany Jack, who also moved from dirt to asphalt and was the only female in the division, won Rookie of the Year honors, while Brad Mosher garnered the most votes for the division’s Headache Award.

Jody Buckley, running his first-ever full season, proved what a good car, a good team, and some great advice can do. He led the 4 Cylinder division in wins (6) and laps led (85) and finished outside the top 10 just twice in 20 races. Buckley’s 2008 plans aren’t yet finalized. “I think the 4 Cylinder class is a place to learn and then move up, so we’re looking at our options right now,” he stated. He credited his supportive crew for the championship effort. A Jay Potrzebowski, who led the points early, fought back but came up short, finished 2nd in points and had 3 feature wins. Top rookie honors went to AJ Lane, who won a feature and ended up 4th overall in points. Joe Lane won Most Improved Driver honors, while the Headache Award went to Archie Haner, whose car and strong season changed dramatically following a turn 4 wreck.

In the INEX Legends division, Justin Petcosky capped off a year in which he ‘did the double’, again. Earlier in his career he won track titles at both Chemung and Tioga Motorsports Park. Having claimed this year’s title at Spencer, the team’s attention was solely on Chemung, where Patrick Albor was threatening his title hopes. Petcosky held on and, for the 2nd time in his career, has two track championships in the same year. He led the division in wins (7) and laps led (131). Albor, who picked up 4 wins and had 9 other top-5 finishes, ended the year 2nd in points and was name Most Improved Driver. George Cushman (6th) was named top rookie.

Third generation driver Jesse Kent, whose father (JR) and grandfather (George “The Duke”) have had such tremendous success at Chemung Speedrome, joins them as a track champion. In the Speedrome Junior division Kent picked up 7 feature wins and led the most laps (83), but he had to wait until the final night to claim the title. In addition to the championship trophy, Kent also was named top rookie in the class. Zack Curren, the Most Improved Driver, gave it his best and also picked up 7 feature wins and finished a solid 2nd in points.

Matt Evans is the track’s inaugural Bandolero champion. He picked up 5 feature wins and got the title over 4-time feature winner Andrew Bickford. Eric Bostwick, who finished 3rd, tied Evans with 5 wins but led the most feature laps (61).

Houssock thanked Randall Stone and Bob Miller for their media efforts with the Elmira Star-Gazette and Half-Fast Video Productions, as well as the track’s many employees and sponsors.

Brittany Kent handed out the hardware, and Hoosier Tire East provided jackets for track champions. Stephanie Carroll was on hand representing Nascar and she thanked the race teams for supporting racing at the local level. She encouraged them to continue their support and congratulated everyone, especially the youngsters, for their success in 2007.

Chris Zacharias thanked everyone for their support last season and gave a sneak peak at this year’s plans. The biggest change is the debut of the SST Lites, an affordable open-wheel crate motor division that will run at both Chemung and Spencer. He also announced that Chemung will host the Nascar Whelen Modified Tour on October 5, 2008. The last tour event was held during the 2001 season. More details on the schedule and rules for all divisions are forthcoming.

For the latest news consult the track’s website: http://www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung Speedrome, Short Track Racing At Its Best!

SST Modifieds: TONY HANBURY, TJ Potrzebowski, John Wilber, JR Kent, Rick Zacharias, Charlie Sharpsteen, Dan Kurzejewski, Paul Johnson, Josh Philpott, Curtis Cowles.
Rookie: Paul Johnson
Most Improved: Josh Philpott
Headache Award: Charlie Sharpsteen

Super Stocks: CHRIS DAUGHERTY, Mike Nichols, Jeff Goodwin, Lee Sharpsteen, Tom Cundy, Brittany Jack, Brad Mosher, Chad McDonald, Henry Brown, Chuck Lohmeyer.
Rookie: Brittany Jack
Most Improved: Jeff Goodwin
Headache Award: Brad Mosher

4 Cylinders: JODY BUCKLEY, A Jay Potrzebowski, Bob Curren, AJ Lane, Gene Purvis, Phil Haner, Joe Lane, Archie Haner, Jim Chimileski, Joe Snell (tie), Brandon Ameigh (tie).
Rookie: AJ Lane
Most Improved: Joe Lane
Headache Award: Archie Haner

Legends: JUSTIN PETCOSKY, Patrick Albor, Matt Kurzejewski, Matt Priscott, Art Priscott, George Cushman, Chris Bohlman, Brian Terrell, Tom Mitteer II, Daren Scherer.
Rookie: George Cushman
Most Improved: Patrick Albor

Speedrome Juniors: JESSE KENT, Zach Curren, Fred Peters, TJ Zacharias (tie), James Lorows (tie), Dusty Snell, Randy Mathews, Mike Ferris, Matt Hallick, Troy McDonald.
Rookie: Jesse Kent
Most Improved: Zack Curren

Mechanic of the Year – Bob Hanbury
Determination – Mike Nichols
Hard Charger – John Wilber
Sportsmanship – TJ Potrzebowski
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