March 28th,
2010
Chemung
Speedrome Planning Huge Season Opener
by Carol Houssock
(Chemung,
NY) Grandstand admission slashed for big
Modified show? That’s the new way at
Chemung Speedrome, the NASCAR-sanctioned
3/8-mile asphalt track in Chemung, NY.
When the
roar of engines returns to the Speedrome it
will represent the culmination of months of
hard work under the leadership of the track’s
new promoter, Jody Buckley.
“To say
our first race will be big is almost an
understatement,” stated Buckley. “We’re
putting a lot on the line April 30th to show
the race teams and fans that Chemung is a
premier racing facility and the place to be.”
That includes kicking things off with “Pack
the Track” $4 grandstand admission (free
for kinds under age 5) and a special
Modified event that’s attracting a whole
lot of interest.
It will be a
night to remember Bob Hanbury, who passed
away at age 50 in November of 2009. “April
30th would have been his birthday,”
Buckley continued. “And while Bob won’t
be there with us, his memory sure will be in
the Bob Hanbury Memorial for the Sunoco
Modifieds.” Bob was a former Mechanic of
the Year at the Speedrome. He led the crew
for his son, Tony, whose two consecutive
track championships at Chemung also earned
him NASCAR’s Short Track title in New York
State.
The 42-lap
race, honoring Tony’s car number, will be
a mix of emotion and motion. “Tony
organized a lap sponsorship program that’ll
add between 4 and $6,000 to our purse.”
Most of the ‘$50 minimum’ laps sold will
go to a random driver in the race, with
positions drawn for each lap. The remainder
of the money is posted for the leader, such
as the halfway bonus and a good chunk is
donor-designated to the race winner. “The
turnout should be great based on the
confirmations I have from so many teams,”
Buckley said. “This is shaping up to be
one of the best Modified fields ever at the
track.”
The Street
Stocks, INEX Legends and 4 Cylinders will
all be back this year and join the Modifieds
as the four regular Speedrome divisions.
Special races for all of them are planned
throughout the season, as are appearances by
the ROC Modified Tour and the ATQMRA.
Tires for
the 2010 season are now available at Buckley’s
Automotive in Horseheads (NY) Monday through
Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM or call
607-738-1125 for a special appointment.
The
Speedrome has scheduled a pair of
tech/test/tune dates at 1 PM on Saturday,
April 17th and Sunday, April 25th. The
practice sessions offer free grandstand
admission and a glimpse at all the cleaning
and painting Buckley has completed in recent
weeks.
“I’m
excited about everything we’ve done so
far, and we’ll have Chris Zacharias and
Carol Houssock back as our announcing team
for most of our events,” he stated.
Anyone
wanting more information should call Buckley
at 607-738-1125 or check the track’s
website, www.chemungspeedrome.net. Chemung
Speedrome and the NASCAR Whelen All American
Series – Short Track Racing At Its Best!
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