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Chemung
Speedrome 2010 Press Releases
July 4th,
2010
Bobby Osgood Takes Flyin’ Bryan Osgood Memorial at
Chemung
- by Carol Houssock
(Chemung, NY) When Flyin’ Bryan Osgood passed away in December of 2009, his family and friends knew that a race in his memory at Chemung Speedrome would be a fitting tribute. Little did they know at the time that Bryan’s grandson, third generation driver Bobby Osgood, would dominate the race and take one for the team. Osgood’s win capped off a great night at WilliamsAutoGroup.com presents Chemung Speedrome. Other winners included Jeff Goodwin (Street Stocks), Daren Scherer (INEX Legends), Archie Haner (4 Cylinders) and Kurtis Benjamin (FWD 4 Cylinders). This Friday the American TQ Midgets join the regulars, who again are competing for double points.
Bobby Osgood won his heat race but wanted nothing more than to take home the big trophy that went to the feature winner. Fifty laps later he had to decide where it would be displayed. He spent more than half the race getting around the leader and the final 17 laps pulling away from him. But lap traffic almost spoiled his night.
Heat winner Jimmy Zacharias and Osgood lined up in row 1 for the start of the race and their wheels touched in turn 1. Osgood drifted up the track and found himself in 5th rather than 2nd early on. The first caution came out on the 3rd lap when Ronnie Smith slowed off turn 4. Jody Buckley and John Markovic pitted but Smith’s night was over. Markovic, who left his good racing luck at home, brought out the next caution with a broken lower control arm.
JR Kent, lined up 2nd, took the lead from Zacharias on the restart and held it for a dozen laps. Zacharias looked high then low but waited for his opportunity and reclaimed the top spot on lap 15.
Osgood, meanwhile, was working the traffic to perfection. While he advanced, Kent slipped back and fell outside the top 5. As the laps wore on Osgood had taken over 2nd and started to reel in the leader. Heat winner Rusty Smith was also in a good battle with Charlie Sharpsteen for 3rd, and John Wilber was running solidly in 5th.
On the 34th lap Osgood saw an opening underneath the #71 and he made a clean pass for the lead. Once in front, he demonstrated that he had the fastest car and he began to pull away from Zacharias.
Things got interesting when the lead duo caught the tail end of the pack. Osgood took the white flag but cars were running side-by-side just ahead of him. He had to slow in turns 3 and 4 and he literally threaded the needle between them. Zacharias almost got around him in turn 4, but the #09 got the win he wanted so badly. Zacharias finished 2nd, followed by TJ Potrzebowski, who made a late race charge, Rusty Smith and Wilber.
“The car was perfect tonight,” Osgood said as his many fans and family surrounded the car. “I have to thank my family. This is indescribable.” When asked about the lap traffic, he sensed what could have unfolded. “I got nervous with those lap cars. Jimmy was right on me.”
Nearly $6,000 in lap sponsorship money went to various drivers. The Maynard Bodine Mechanic of the Race Award, presented by Pat Bodine, was shared by Mike House and Jeff Page from Osgood’s crew. Dolores Osgood presented the Flyin’ Bryan Osgood Memorial Race Award to Bobby. The family prepared and handed out free souvenir programs reminiscent of the old Chemung Speedrome that included feature stories on the late Bryan Osgood and his famed #09.
The seemingly unpredictable Street Stocks put on a great show that was nearly caution-free. The only yellow came out just after the start when Brandon Ameigh dumped oil on the track. Following clean up the race began and ran for 25 laps without incident. Jeff Goodwin ruled the night, sweeping the action in his heat and the feature. The battle toward the front was for 2nd, between Chris Daugherty and Terry Potrzebowski. Further back Terry Ostrander had his hands full holding off point leader Mike Nichols for 4th. Nichols tried the topside first then dove inside on the 8th lap and claimed the position. Daugherty, on the other hand, held off Potrzebowski for all 25 laps. While their battle ensued, Goodwin’s lead increased. He cruised across the finish line and picked up his 3rd win this season. Daugherty held on for 2nd, with Potrzebowski, Nichols and Brittany Jack all in the top 5. Nichols won the other heat race. “We changed the distributor tonight and it was flawless,” Goodwin said from the Horseheads Pick-A-Part victory lane.
Matt Priscott, Mike Alcaro and Justin Petcosky got things going in the INEX Legends division by winning their heat races. Handicapping placed Corey Mosher on the pole and AJ Griffin alongside for the start of their 25-lap feature. Mosher led the field off turn 2 but Art Priscott dove inside the #34 and took the lead. The first of 5 cautions came out when Matt Evans and Alcaro got together in turn 4. Priscott held off Griffin on the restart but Richie Vanderpool then got the better of Griffin. Cody Frantz, meanwhile, was on the move and he went from 3rd to 1st, while being chased by Daren Scherer. On a lap 13 restart Scherer took the lead from Frantz while Petcosky, Kevin Nowak and Vanderpool went 3-wide for 3rd. Art Priscott’s top-5 run was interrupted when Andrew Stotler turned him around and brought out the caution flag. Over the final 3 laps Petcosky, up to 2nd, stayed with Scherer but could not get around him. Scherer took the checkered flag, posting his 2nd win in 4 events this year. Petcosky finished 2nd, ahead of Frantz, Zach Truesdail and M. Priscott.
The Haners, Phil and Archie, led all 20 laps of the 4 Cylinder feature. Early on it was pole-sitter and heat race winner Phil who led the way. The only caution came when Tony Gullo got into Frank Morich and turned him around. Both restarted at the rear, but the Haner’s were up front. Archie, who had consistently moved toward the front, got the better of Phil on the lap 9 restart. Once in front he would not be denied his division-tying 3rd feature win. Point leader Gene Purvis rallied to finish 2nd, followed by P. Haner, Paul Burns, Jr. and Milton Price. Kurtis Benjamin won in the FWD division.
This Friday night’s Mid-season Championship events offer double points for the four regular divisions. Fans will also have their only opportunity this season to watch the fast and furious American TQ Midgets in action. Pits open at 4 PM, with practice and grandstand gates opening at 5:30 PM. The first heat hits the track at 7:30 PM.
Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for seniors and kids ages 5-16, and always free for kids under age 5. Fans are reminded to bring their ticket stubs from July 2nd for a $2 discount.
Anyone wanting more information can call track manager, Jody Buckley, at 607-738-1125 or check the track’s website, www.chemungspeedrome.net. WilliamsAutoGroup.com presents Chemung Speedrome, part of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series – Short Track Racing At Its Best!
Results:
NASCAR Sunoco Modifieds Flyin’ Bryan Osgood Memorial (50 Laps) BOBBY OSGOOD, Jimmy Zacharias, TJ Potrzebowski, Rusty Smith, John Wilber, Dan Kurzejewski, Al Chapman, Charlie Sharpsteen, JR Kent, Jody Buckley, Zack Curren, Daren Scherer, Corey Mosher, Matt Clemens, John Markovic, Ronnie Smith, Jesse “James” Johns
Street Stocks (25 Laps) JEFF GOODWIN, Chris Daugherty, Terry Potrzebowski, Mike Nichols, Brittany Jack, Terry Ostrander, Jesse Kent, Ken Evans, Joe Bennett, Brandon Ameigh, Bill Frisbie, Jr. (DNS)
INEX Legends (25 Laps) DAREN SCHERER, Justin Petcosky, Cody Frantz, Zach Truesdail, Matt Priscott, Richie Vanderpool, Kevin Wilkins, Stephen Hershey, Kevin Nowak, Brandon Michael, AJ Griffin, Art Priscott, Matt Evans, Andrew Stotler, Gregory Rittenhouse, Andrew Bickford, John Bacon, Cory Mosher, Beth Scherer, Mike Alcaro, Van Michael (DNS)
4 Cylinders (20 Laps) ARCHIE HANER, Gene Purvis, Phil Haner, Paul Burns, Jr., Milton Price, Tony Gullo, Frank Morich, Jeremy Potrzebowski, Kurtis Benjamin (FWD Winner)
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