Chemung Speedrome 2008 Press Release 

May 11th, 2008
Daren Scherer 2-for-2 at Chemung Opener, Wins Nascar Weekly Modified and INEX Legend Features" 
by Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) The 2008 season got underway at Chemung Speedrome Saturday night, and Daren Scherer left with a pair of trophies and a ton of bragging rights. Scherer is a bit of a "spoiler" who competes occasionally at Chemung but is always a factor to be reckoned with. On this night he held off JR Kent in his Modified, and defending track champion Justin Petcosky in his Legend car. Other winners on a bone chilling May night included Jeff Goodwin (Super Stocks), Jody Buckley (North East Lites), Gene Purvis (4 Cylinders), Zack Curren (Speedrome Juniors) and Matt Evans (Bandoleros). Those wins did not come without some drama, however.

In Modified action, Tony Hanbury was eager to defend his hard earned 2007 championship that garnered him Nascar's top New York State title as well. But a couple of minor incidents were major enough to send him to the pits twice during the 40-lap race. 

Daren Scherer and Charlie Sharpsteen, who drew front row starting positions, brought the field to the green and Scherer led. Early incidents eliminated Chad McDonald and Larry Jaynes, and forced Hanbury and Dan Kurzejewski to the back following pit stops. On those subsequent restarts JR Kent motored his #26 around Patti Pruitt, Chuck Lohmeyer, Matt Kurzejewski and John Wilber and he was up to 2nd. On lap 10 the caution came out for the 4th time, this one for a minor chain-reaction incident in turn 2 involving Justin Petcosky, Paul Johnson, Kurzejewski, Tom Shiner and Russ Brown. 
Kent found an opening after racing resumed and got around Scherer for the lead. Behind them Pruitt and Wilber fought for 3rd and Hanbury was slowly moving up through traffic. Lohmeyer and Hanbury touched working lap 23 and, once again, Hanbury headed to the pits for service. On the restart Kent and Scherer stayed glued together for the lead while Pruitt and Wilber did the same for positions 3 and 4. Scherer set up his race-winning pass entering turn 3 on lap 27 and had the lead back as they crossed the stripe. The final caution came out with 12 laps remaining, leaving too little time for Hanbury to catch the leaders and for Kent to reclaim the lead. Scherer got the grand slam home run in his Binghamton Mets-sponsored Modified, ahead of Kent, Pruitt, Wilber and Osgood. Dan Kurzejewski, Wilber and Hanbury won their respective qualifying races.


The 24-car field of INEX Legends was a mix of veterans and newcomers but it boiled down to a battle of seasoned veterans in their 25-lap feature. Art Priscott drew the pole with Tom Mitteer II alongside for the start. Priscott led early until a 3-wide pass by Matt Kurzejewski put him in the lead - but not for long. Defending track champion Justin Petcosky had the lead when the race went under caution for an incident involving John Shepherd and Brandon Michael. When racing resumed Scherer was all over Petcosky and made a nice inside pass on the front stretch to take over the top spot on lap 7. The race was slowed by 7 caution periods but the battle between Scherer and Petcosky wasn’t the only great one on the track. Newcomer Mike Alcaro, Kurzejewski and heat winner Matt Priscott fought an impressive battle for 3rd over the final dozen laps. When it was over Scherer, who had also won his heat, had an opening night sweep over Petcosky, Alcaro, Kurzejweski and Priscott. Brian Terrell won the 3rd heat race.


Jeff Goodwin swept the Super Stock action, winning both his heat race and their 20-lap feature. Early on it was Henry Brown who stayed right with Goodwin, while defending champion Chris Daugherty and Scott Reagon went at it for 3rd. Daugherty, whose car briefly caught fire then had an oil leak in his heat race, made the necessary repairs and came on strong over the final half of the race. He caught and passed Brown, but never got close enough to Goodwin to be a serious threat. Goodwin cruised to the win over Daughtery, Brown, Reagan and Dylan Terry. 


Phil Haner and Bob Curren, who won their heats, got things going from the front row for the 15-lap 4 Cylinder feature. Entering turn 2, row 2 got a little too racey and 6 cars piled up, with Curren out before it ever really started. Haner led the first lap when racing resumed but former track champion Gene Purvis found the opening he needed and took over on lap 2. The race was slowed for 3 cautions but only Haner could stay with Purvis for the distance. Richie Vanderpool and Marcus Wood had a good battle going for 3rd, and it soon became a 3-way race when AJ Lane caught the pair. Purvis got the win with Haner, Lane, Vanderpool and Wood among the top 5.

Jody Buckley's decision to move up from the 4 Cylinder division to the new North East Mod Lites proved to be a good one, as he claimed their 20-lap feature. The only caution came when Joe Lane tapped Buckley but then spun, bringing Paul Brinchman up to 2nd. Over the final 6 laps Lane appeared to have the stronger car but Buckley had the lead and held it.


The Speedrome Juniors ran a caution-free 12-lap feature. Zack Curren powered his way to the lead on the opening lap and turned in a dominating performance. Defending champ Jesse Kent got up to 2nd by the 3rd lap but could get no closer. Curren took the checkered flag, with Kent, Fred Peters, Dusty Snell and Mike Ferris all posting top-5 finishes.


Lexi Wilson got a great jump at the start of the 10-lap Bandolero race, led every lap, celebrated in victory lane, then learned her car was disqualified in post-race inspection. The win, and the trophy, belong to defending champ Matt Evans. Ironically, the same thing occurred on Wilson's only trip to Chemung last year. Ryan Polenz, Andrew Bickford, A J Hamilton and Brent Michael rounded out the top 5.


This Saturday night Whelen sponsors the night when the American TQ Midget Series joins the regulars. Grandstand admission for the full 8-division program is $14 for adults, $5 for kids 6-14, and always free for kids 5 and under. Pits open at 4 PM, grandstand and practice at 5 PM, and the first race hits the track at 6:30 PM. For the latest news log on to 
www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung Speedrome and the Nascar Whelen All American Series – Short Track Racing At Its Best! 
Results:
NASCAR Weekly Modifieds (40 Laps) DAREN SCHERER, JR Kent, Patti Pruitt, John Wilber, Bobby Osgood, Josh Philpott, Tony Hanbury, Matt Kurzejewski, Lee Sharpsteen, Paul Johnson, Chuck Lohmeyer, Russ Brown, Charlie Sharpsteen, Zach Truesdail, Jake Snell, Paul Bernard, Tim Gullo, Justin Petcosky, Dan Kurzejewski, Tom Shiner, Chad McDonald, Larry Jaynes


Super Stocks (20 Laps) JEFF GOODWIN, Chris Daugherty, Henry Brown, Scott Reagan, Dylan Terry (DNS Matt Jilson)


North East Lites (20 Laps) JODY BUCKLEY, Joe Lane, Paul Brinckman


4 Cylinders (15 Laps) GENE PURVIS, Phil Haner, AJ Lane, Richie Vanderpool, Marcus Wood, Tom Knapp, Archie Haner, Ryan Purvis, A Jay Potrzebowski, Bob Curren, Jim Chimileski (DNS Ron Little)


INEX Legends (20 Laps) DAREN SCHERER, Justin Petcosky, Mike Alcaro, Matt Kurzejewski, Matt Priscott, Tom Mitteer II, Art Priscott, Beth Urso, Andrew Stotler, Matt Price, Kevin Wilkens, Dave Flagg, Van Michael, Brandon Michael, John Lotti, Ben Moore, Brian Terrell, Eric Bostwick, Dan Kurzejewski, John Shephard (DNS: Cody Gregg, Drew Weiser, and Cliff Rought)


Speedrome Juniors (12 Laps) ZACK CURREN, Jesse Kent, Fred Peters, Dusty Snell, Mike Ferris (DNS Jeff Wagner)


Bandoleros (10 Laps) MATT EVANS, Ryan Polenz, Andrew Bickford, A J Hamilton, Brent Michael (DQ Lexi Wilson)