Chemung Speedrome 2008 Press Release 

June 8th, 2008
Tony ‘Lightning’ Hanbury Strikes Again in Chemung Nascar Weekly Mods - by Carol Houssock

(Chemung, NY) When you’re hot, you’re hot. Everyone was hot at Chemung Speedrome Saturday night in 90-degree heat, but no one was hotter than Tony Hanbury. The Owego, NY driver scored his 2nd Nascar Weekly Modified win in a row and 2nd of the weekend, having also won the night before at Chemung’s sister track (Spencer Speedway). Other winners on Craftsman Night included Chris Daugherty (his 2nd in the Super Stocks), Brian Terrell (INEX Legends), Gene Purvis (#3 in the 4 Cylinders), Jody Buckley (#3 in the North East Mod Lites), Jesse Kent (Speedrome Juniors) and Ryan Polenz (Bandoleros). All six divisions will go at it again this Saturday night starting at 6:30 PM. 

Handicapping put heat winners Dan Kurzejewski and Tim Gullo on the front row for the start of the 40-lap Modified feature. Kurzejewski led the way and the first 15 laps clicked off without a caution. Hanbury, who had started 12th, had been working the traffic with a car seemingly glued to the outside lane and passing cars at will. He was up to 4th for the lap 16 restart, and up to 2nd when Matt Kurzejewski brought out the 2nd caution while working lap 19. Hanbury launched his stout #42 around Kurzejewski on the restart and the rest, as they say, was history. 

Just past the halfway point Larry Jaynes and Chad McDonald spun in turn 4, putting the field under the final caution period. The single-file restart was another work of perfection for Hanbury, who quickly put some distance between himself and Kurzejewski. Heat winner John Wilber and Gullo had a lively battle going for 3rd, while JR Kent weaved through the traffic and was up to 5th with 10 laps remaining. Over the final few laps the field thinned out, Gullo reclaimed 3rd and Wilbur lost 4th to Kent. 

“It was very hot out there tonight, probably one of the hottest nights I have ever had in a race car,” Hanbury told the crowd. Kurzejewski (2nd) and Gullo (3rd) posted their best finishes so far this year. Kent and Wilber rounded out the top 5. 

Super Stock rivals Chris Daugherty and Jeff Goodwin won their respective heats but Goodwin failed to start the 20-lap feature due to problems in the rear end of his car. Daugherty, the point leader going for back-to-back championships, snagged the race lead on the opening lap with some nice moves from his 5th place starting spot. The race, run caution-free, was all about 2nd place while Daugherty cruised to a comfortable win. Scott Reagan and Brad Mosher had a great battle going for 2nd, and Reagan ultimately won it. Mosher, Bill Chandler, Jr., and Brittany Jack rounded out the top 5.

INEX Legends action was super for one former champion and disastrous for another. Brian Terrell, the 2006 champion, swept the action by winning his heat and the 20-lap feature. Defending champion, Justin Petcosky, was the first retiree and watched as his brother-in-law held off a determined Matt Priscott in a fan-pleasing race. The action was just as exciting for 4th, with Tom Mitteer II and invader Mike Alcaro swapping positions several times. When it was over Petcosky was the first to greet Terrell in victory lane. Terrell spoke highly of his competition. “When I won the competition level wasn’t as high as it is now. These guys race you clean and hard, and it makes us better drivers,” he said from victory lane. Priscott was 2nd, followed by Alcaro, Mitteer and Matt Maring. Alcaro and Maring won the other heat races. 

The 4 Cylinder race had the fans on their feet, as Bob Curren hoping to be the first to beat defending champ Gene Purvis. The first intense moment came on lap 6 when AJ Lane lost a wheel and slammed into the turn 4 foam, hurting the car but not him. Curren had the lead, lost it for one lap to Phil Haner, and then reclaimed the top spot. Following a lap 10 restart Purvis found an inside opening and passed Curren for the lead. Curren stayed right with him and the pair produced a photo finish at the stripe. Purvis won by inches, remaining undefeated this year. Curren had to settle for 2nd, with Haner, Marcus Wood and Richie Vanderpool among the top 5. Purvis and Jim Chimileski won the two heat races.

Jody Buckley remains undefeated in the North East Mod Lite division. Joe Lane made an outside pass on pole-sitter Paul Brinckman and led the way for the first 4 laps. Brinckman’s spin brought out the only caution, after which Buckley made his race-winning pass and cruised to the finish line in the 20-lap feature. 

Jesse Kent capitalized on his 2nd starting spot in the 12-lap Speedrome Juniors feature. Throughout the race Kent, last year’s champ, held off Zack Curren, last year’s runner-up and the only driver who had won in 2008. They made it exciting on the last lap. Curren dived low in turn 3, they touched, and Kent drove low off turn 4. Kent held on for the win.

A year ago New Jersey’s Ryan Polenz won back-to-back Bandolero features in June, and he’s now on target to repeat. Defending champ Matt Evans led the first 6 laps but Polenz waited for a lane to open. He snuck around, took the lead on lap 7, and held it for his first win this year. Evans was 2nd, followed by Andrew Bickford.

Racing resumes this Saturday night at 6:30 PM. Pits open at 3:15, with grandstand gates and practice at 5. Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for kids 5-14, and always free for kids under age 5. The following week, June 21st is the first of two Pack The Track Nights, with adult admission slashed to just $6 and a pit party on tap during intermission. 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) TONY HANBURY, Dan Kurzejewski, Tim Gullo, JR Kent, John Wilber, Charlie Sharpsteen, Bobby Osgood, Lee Sharpsteen, Patti Pruitt, Justin Petcosky, Chuck Lohmeyer, Matt Kurzejewski, Josh Philpott, Paul Johnson, Zach Truesdail, Larry Jaynes, Paul Bernard, Chad McDonald, Jake Snell

Super Stocks (25 Laps) CHRIS DAUGHERTY, Scott Reagan, Brad Mosher, Bill Chandler, Jr., Brittany Jack, Dylan Terry, Tom Decker (DNS: Jeff Goodwin)

INEX Legends (20 Laps) BRIAN TERRELL, Matt Priscott, Mike Alcaro, Tom Mitteer II, Matt Maring, Art Priscott, Andrew Stotler, Drew Weiser, Cliff Rought, Van Michael, Eric Bostwick, Ben Moore, Brandon Michael, John Shepherd, Katrina Lotti, Dave Flagg, Justin Petcosky (DQ: Matt Kurzejewski)

4 Cylinders (15 Laps) GENE PURVIS, Bob Curren, Phil Haner, Marcus Wood, Richie Vanderpool, Jim Chimileski, Rick Hoyt, Archie Haner, Kurt Knapp, Ron Little, AJ Lane, Ryan Purvis

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

Speedrome Juniors (12 Laps) JESSE KENT, Zack Curren, Mike Ferris, Dusty Snell

Bandoleros (10 Laps) RYAN POLENZ, Matt Evans, Andrew Bickford, AJ Hamilton, Brent Michael, Matt Hallick, Anthony Beurbe