Chemung Speedrome 2008 Press Release 

March 20th, 2008
Chemung Champs Looking To Repeat, Sort Of 
by Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) When the 2007 racing season at Chemung concluded, Tony Hanbury and Jody Buckley had their first-ever track championships in the SST Modified and 4 Cylinder divisions, respectively. Hanbury’s stout performance at Chemung, part of the Nascar Whelen All-American Series, also earned him Nascar’s coveted NY State championship. 

Both are coming back to the fast 3/8-mile asphalt oval, Hanbury to defend his Nascar Weekly Modified SST title, and Buckley to become the first-ever Modified Lite champion in the track’s newest division.
“At the beginning of 2007 I was out to prove to everyone that we could do this ourselves,” Hanbury recalled. “If I won one race or all of them, it was all about showing that we could do it.” He did it, and picked up 10 wins in the 19 features run last year. Hanbury now has his sights set on a repeat performance, bringing a couple new sponsors on board, and entering the season with the same determination he had last year.

While Hanbury has spent most of his life racing, it was new to 30-year old Buckley just two seasons ago. “A 4 Cylinder is a good way to learn if you can drive a race car,” he explained. He picked up 6 wins and posted 17 top-5’s in his 4 Cylinder championship run. “That was great for us, but my goal this year is to win the Lite championship. I’ve put the bar high, but I think you have to.” The track’s newest class offers him that opportunity. “This is a less expensive way to move into an open wheel class.”

The track’s April 19th and 20th car show at the Arnot Mall in Big Flats will give fans a sneak peak at the 2008 season. “I’ve already been to 2 car shows but I’ve never been in center court. My car will be there, and so will I,” Hanbury stated. 

Two champions with two different approaches to the ’08 season, but they share a common championship goal. Race fans can watch them, and their challengers, in open practice beginning at 1 PM on Saturday, April 26th. 

Hanbury will surely be there. “People ask my advice and I really have no clue other than to say ‘seat time’. You need to run a ton of laps to figure it out,” he said. “I ran the Legend car at Chemung mainly to run laps on the track.”

The 2008 season opener gets the green at 6:30 PM on Saturday, May 3rd. For all the news and to see the 2008 schedule log on to the track’s website, www.chemungspeedrome.net. 

Chemung Speedrome – Short Track Racing At Its Best!