Chemung Speedrome 2008 Press Release 

June 30th, 2008
Hanbury Gets Third Nascar Weekly Modified Win In 3 Tries At Chemung - By Carol Houssock 

(Chemung, NY) The forecast was “iffy” but that’s a whole lot better than what it was the past 2 weeks, allowing racing to return to Chemung Speedrome. Despite a few harmless sprinkles, the program fell 7 laps short of completion when heavier rain and lightning moved into the valley. Winners on the special Sunday program included Tony Hanbury (Nascar Weekly Modifieds), Rick Brown (Super Stocks), Daren Scherer (INEX Legends), Bob Curren (4 Cylinders), Jody Buckley (North East Mod Lites), Zack Curren (Speedrome Juniors), and Andrew Bickford (Bandoleros). Racing return to Saturday night this week, with the regulars in action at 6:30 PM.

Nothing rained on Tony Hanbury’s parade, when his many fans and family ignored the rain and celebrated his 3rd win in 4 races this year, this one a sweep. He had just dominated the last 40 laps of a scheduled 75-lapper, cut short at lap 68. 

Rookie Zach Truesdail powered his way around Paul Johnson and led the first 17 laps. On a lap 18 restart Matt Kurzejewski capitalized on his outside pole position and took the lead, which he held for the next 10 laps. Hanbury, meanwhile, was working the traffic and advancing toward the front. Enroute to the front he had some slight contact with both JR Kent and Kurzejewski, but he got the lead on lap 28. 

Over the next 40 laps Hanbury had to sweat out 5 restarts following caution periods. During those runs it was heat winner John Wilber who appeared to be the only one in Hanbury’s league. Wilber’s last opportunity fell to Mother Nature, when rain moved in with 7 laps remaining. Officials had no choice but to call the race. That gave Hanbury yet another feature win and Wilber yet another 2nd place finish. A year ago Wilber finished 2nd on 11 occasions. Kurzejewski crossed the line in 3rd, followed by Justin Petcosky and Josh Philpott. Charlie Sharpsteen won the other heat race.

In the Super Stock division, defending track champion Chris Daugherty and Jeff Goodwin won the 2 heats but Goodwin’s car failed to start the feature. Brad Mosher got around pole sitter Dylan Terry and led the first 6 laps. Daugherty made a nice move to take over the lead on lap 7 but he had Rick Brown on his back bumper. Brown, also a former track champion, took the lead just short of the halfway point. From then on the fans enjoyed a 4-way battle for the top spots that included visitors Jay Mudra and Bobby Lippa, Jr. Mudra got around Daugherty for 2nd but that’s as far as he’d go in this one. Brown took the win, over Mudra, Daugherty, Lippa and Bill Chandler, Jr. 

The 20-lap INEX Legends feature went under yellow as soon as it got underway with a multiple-car pileup in turn 3. It proved costly for former track champion Brian Terrell, whose car was towed off the track with major damage. Point leader Matt Priscott, driving his father’s car when his engine went in practice, led early on. Jason Urso and Daren Scherer, who make occasional but memorable appearances at Chemung, made this a super 3-man battle. Urso and Scherer teamed up and moved the leader to 3rd but all three stayed together. Scherer led the entire second half of the race while Priscott was able to take 2nd from Urso. This was Scherer’s 2nd win in as many tries this year. Polenz, Terrell and Matt Kurzejewski won the 3 heat races.

Bob Curren’s mission on Sunday was to become the first 4 Cylinder racer to beat former track champion Gene Purvis. Jim Chimileski led the first 10 laps before giving up that top spot to Curren. Purvis came right along behind him and took the lead from Curren with 2 to go. Curren, whose car seems to run better on the outside, found himself on the inside on the final lap. Coming off turn 4 he made the car stick and beat Purvis to the line by a few feet. “He’s tough but we did what we had to do here tonight,” Curren told the crowd. AJ Lane was a solid 3rd, followed by Richie Vanderpool and Jody Buckley. Purvis and Phil Haner won the 2 heat races. 

Jody Buckley remains undefeated in North East Mod Lite action. In victory lane he said he spent the winter watching old videos of Tony Hanbury racing through turns 3 and 4, something that’s improved his driving. 

The 12-lap Speedrome Junior feature was a great one involving the top 2 in points. Zack Curren and Jesse Kent swapped the lead 4 times in the race slowed by 3 caution periods. Point leader Curren nipped him at the finish line to post his 3rd win in 4 races. Kent settled for 2nd in this one. 

Ten-year-old Andrew Bickford led from start to finish in the 10-lap feature. His lead was a big one by the halfway point, and he held on for his first victory of the season over Ryan Polenz and AJ Hamilton.

Fans should note the schedule change for this Saturday night. The USAC Ford Focus Midget cars will not be in competition so the track will hold twin-30’s for the Nascar Weekly Modified division. Adult grandstand admission is reduced from $18 to $12, and $5 for kids 6-14. Admission is always free for kids 5 and under. Racing gets underway 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 (68 Laps) TONY HANBURY, John Wilber, Matt Kurzejewski, Justin Petcosky, Josh Philpott, Chuck Lohmeyer, Daren Scherer, Zach Truesdail, JR Kent, Mike Nickles, Jake Snell, Paul Johnson, Tim Gullo, Larry Jaynes, Chad McDonald, Lee Sharpsteen, Charlie Sharpsteen, Bobby Osgood, Paul Bernard (DNS: Dan Kurzejewski)

INEX Legends (20 Laps) DAREN SCHERER, Matt Priscott, Jason Urso, Mike Alcaro, Justin Petcosky, Ben Moore, Tom Mitteer II, Beth Urso, Kevin Wilkins, Matt Price, David Polenz, Van Michael, George Cushman, Dave Flagg, Cliff Rought, Brandon Michael, Katrina Lotti, Andrew Stotler, Brian Terrell, Matt Kurzejewski (DNS: Art Priscott) 

Street Stocks (25 Laps) RICK BROWN, Jay Mudra, Chris Daugherty, Bobby Lippa, Jr., Bill Chandler, Jr., Scott Reagan, Tim Garlock, Brad Mosher, Dylan Terry, Tom Decker, Jeff Goodwin (DNS: Chris Surmick, Dave Wilson)

4 Cylinders (15 Laps) BOB CURREN, Gene Purvis, AJ Lane, Richie Vanderpool, Jody Buckley, Archie Haner, Kurt Knapp, Marcus Wood, Jim Chimileski, Jimmy Zacharias, Phil Haner, Ron Little, Joe Snell

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

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

Bandoleros (10 Laps) ANDREW BICKFORD, Ryan Polenz, AJ Hamilton, Matt Evans, Lexi Wilson