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Chemung
Speedrome 2010 Press Releases
July 23rd,
2010
Kent in Chemung Mods; Caught on Tape - Video Confirms Jeff Goodwin’s Street Stock
Win
- by Carol Houssock
(Chemung, NY) The camera doesn’t lie. In this case it was a video camera that caught the 05 of Jeff Goodwin just edging out the 45 of Chris Daugherty in the action-packed Street Stock feature. JR Kent held off Bobby Osgood for his 3rd win in the headline NASCAR Sunoco Modifieds. Mike Alcaro really had to work for his 9th win in the INEX Legends division after a super battle with Justin Petcosky. Archie Haner (RWD) and Clayton Weaver (FWD) scored the 4 Cylinder feature wins on Fan Appreciation Night at WilliamsAutoGroup.com presents Chemung Speedrome.
When he arrived at the track JR Kent trailed Jimmy Zacharias by 20 points in the chase for the NASCAR Sunoco Modified title. Kent did all he could – won his heat race and the 40-lap feature – and when he left he had that lead down to just 10 points. Starting from outside pole, Kent powered around Zack Curren and led the way. A 3-way battle for 2nd enabled Kent to build up a sizeable lead over Al Chapman, Zacharias and heat winner Bobby Osgood. Once Zacharias claimed the spot he began to chop away at Kent’s lead while Osgood, who had taken over 3rd, followed suit. Chapman then lost another position when a hard-charging Rusty Smith chased him down in his charge toward the leaders. The only caution came with 27 laps complete, ending momentarily a great battle for the lead. Zacharias lined up beside Kent for the restart, with Osgood and Smith behind them. Osgood was the big winner, using the inside line to get the better of Zacharias. Kent’s car was up to the task and he maintained the lead over the remaining dozen laps and cruised to his 3rd win this year. Osgood, Zacharias, Smith and Dan Kurzejewski posted top-5 finishes. “Starting up front sure helps,” Kent said in victory lane. “But you’re only as good as your car is, and it’s been really good lately.” The under-funded driver then put out a pitch for any help to get them through the final 5 weeks of racing.
The 25-lap Street Stock feature will be remembered for a lot of things – the rough riding that brought out the black flag, and the near dead-heat finish that was ultimately decided when officials viewed the videotape shot by D&J Foots. It started out harmless enough, with Terry Ostrander leading the way from the pole. Jeff Goodwin, who started 6th, was charging hard and found an opening underneath Ostrander and he took command on the 5th lap. Mike Nichols came along with him and they were running 1st and 2nd, leaving Ostrander and Ken Evans in a battle for 3rd. Nichols took over the top spot on the 12th lap while Goodwin and Evans were holding off Chris Daugherty. Evans lost a tire in turn 4 with 15 laps complete, and Goodwin pitted so the crew could work on his right rear. The restart had Nichols and Daugherty in row 1, Ostrander and Terry Potrzebowski in row 2. With 5 laps to go it appeared that Nichols was on the way to his 8th win, but Ostrander spun and bunched up the field for a restart. When racing resumed Potrzebowski and Nichols, who had on-track problems just a week prior, engaged in a paint-swapping, hard-charging duel. As they approached turn 3, more contact occurred and Potrzebowski found himself facing the field. Officials gave Nichols the black flag for rough riding, and that action also gave Daugherty the lead with 3 laps remaining. But it was far from over. Joe Lane had contact with Joe Bennett and brought out the 4th and final caution a lap later, setting up a green/white/checkered finish. Again, it was far from over. Daugherty and Goodwin lined up side by side for the restart and Daugherty prevailed. Goodwin, however, seemed to have the better car in the corners. As the pair came off turn 4 on the last lap it was a classic drag race to the start/finish line. Initially it appeared Daugherty won, but it was so close that officials opted to view the videotape. What the camera caught was a win, by possibly 2 inches, by Jeff Goodwin. Daugherty had to settle for 2nd, with Potrzebowski, Dylan Terry and Lane all in the top 5. Brittany Jack won the other heat race, a career-first. As of this writing the results were unofficial.
In 8 prior INEX Legends wins this year Mike Alcaro almost made it look easy. That all changed Friday night, as Justin Petcosky gave him a hard fight and nearly denied him his 9th win. Earlier the pair had won their respective heat races. Richie Vanderpool may have started 4th lap in the 25-lap feature but he had the lead when the field got to turn 3 on the opening lap. Petcosky, who started behind Vanderpool, was going for 2nd when he slipped in turn 3 and lost several spots. By lap 9 Alcaro had caught Vanderpool, leaving behind a 3-way battle for 3rd. AJ Griffin’s spin put the field under its only caution and Petcosky, who restarted 3rd, had the lead on the 12th lap. Alcaro got the better of Vanderpool and reeled in Petcosky. On the 17th lap Alcaro snuck to the inside of Petcosky in turn 3, held the spot, and beat him to the line. Petcosky wasn’t done. He stayed with Alcaro and had the fans watching one of the most exciting Legends races ever. As the white flag waved, Petcosky reclaimed the lead but then it was Alcaro’s turn in the final corners. The pair drag raced to the stripe, with Alcaro inching ahead and taking the win. Petcosky finished 2nd, ahead of Vanderpool, Art Priscott and Cody Frantz.
It was sweep time for Archie Haner, winner of the 4 Cylinder heat and the 20-lap feature. Gene Purvis went from 3rd to 1st in turn 2 on the opening lap and he led early. Haner got underneath Purvis and they battled for the lead, which went to Haner on the 7th lap. Milton Price, running 3rd, was closing in on Purvis. As the pair entered turn 2 Purvis slowed when his car broke. Price dove to the inside but spun coming off the turn. That brought out the only caution in the 20-lap event. Over the final 6 laps Frank Morich, who moved up to 2nd, had a shot at the lead but stayed a car length back. Haner’s 4th win came over Morich, Ryan Purvis, and Price.
Clayton Weaver started from the pole, led all 15 laps, and picked up his first win in the 4 Cylinder FWD division. Zack Keeney stayed with him throughout and had several opportunities in turns 1 and 2 but Weaver held him off.
Race teams and fans are reminded that this weekend’s program will be on Friday rather than Saturday, as on the original schedule. It’s a full 4-division program of Modifieds, Street Stocks, INEX Legends and 4 Cylinders plus a pair of winner-take-all Dash for Cash races for the Modifieds and Street Stocks. Pits open at 4, with practice and grandstand gates open at 5:30. Race time is 7:15 PM. Admission is just $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and kids ages 5-16, and always free for kids under age 5. Fans are reminded to bring their grandstand ticket stubs from July 23rd for a 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 (40 Laps) JR KENT, Bobby Osgood, Jimmy Zacharias, Rusty Smith, Dan Kurzejewski, Al Chapman, Ronnie Smith, Jody Buckley, Lee Sharpsteen, Zack Curren, Corey Mosher, Matt Clemens, Mike Alcaro, TJ Zacharias, Terry Zacharias
Street Stocks (25 Laps - unofficial) JEFF GOODWIN, Chris Daugherty, Terry Potrzebowski, Dylan Terry, Joe Lane, Terry Ostrander, Joe Bennett, Mike Nichols, Ken Evans, Brittany Jack, Jim Potrzebowski
INEX Legends (25 Laps) MIKE ALCARO, Justin Petcosky, Richie Vanderpool, Art Priscott, Cody Frantz, Matt Priscott, Andrew Stotler, Van Michael, Kevin Wilkins, Jimmy Zacharias, Brandon Michael, AJ Griffin, John Bacon, Corey Mosher, Joe DeGracia (DNS)
4 Cylinders (20 Laps) ARCHIE HANER, Frank Morich, Ryan Purvis, Milton Price, Gene Purvis, Phil Haner
FWD (15 Laps) CLAYTON WEAVER, Zack Keeney, Kurtis Benjamin
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