September 7, 2019 Shawn Nye
Impressive in Chemung Sportsman Debut, Nichols Pockets Big
Cash in Super Stocks by
Carol Houssock
Two great nights opened the month of September at Chemung
Speedrome. Winners on Friday night included Mike Nichols
(Super Stocks), Kyle Youngs (INEX Legends), Josh Duke
(Bandolero Outlaw) and Derrick Vogler (Bandolero Bandit).
Saturday evening winners were Shawn Nye (RoC Sportsman),
Mike Nichols (New York Super Stocks) and Nick Robinson (RoC
4 Cylinders). This rare two-day program was possible when
several area businesses rallied to boost the payouts and to
offer special bonuses on both nights.
On Friday night the Super Stocks ran a 42-lap race in memory of the late
Ed Bidlack. The former Late Model racer at Shangri-la/Tioga
passed away earlier in the summer. Gary Noe led early on,
before losing the top spot to Mike Nichols on lap 17
restart. Four laps later Nichols collected the halfway bonus
of $100 sponsored by Footes Tire and Auto Service. Over the
second half of the race Nick Robinson and Garrett Zacharias
got up to second and third but the gap between them and
Nichols proved too much to overcome. Nichols picked up the
win, which an anonymous donor had increased to $1,000. Mike
was also in the best position to capitalize on a $600 bonus
if he could win Saturday as well. Robinson, Zacharias, Jesse
Hurley and Tim Gullo all posted top five finishes.
The 25-lap INEX Legends national qualifier got underway with Jody Buckley
on the point. Kyle Youngs ran right behind him with Gary Ham
in third. The race had a lengthy caution when Raven Schrantz
spilled oil in the turn three area. While the track crew
cleaned up that mess an even greater mess occurred. Charlie
Lohmeyer’s #5L went up in smoke in turn one while under
caution but he stayed on the track and put oil down from
there all the way to turn four. The race resumed, however it
was slowed two more times for two-car spins. The first
involved the #4 of Kyle Youngs, who restarted at the rear
and quickly took over the race lead. Youngs held on and
scored the win over Gary Ham, Jody Buckley, Sean Verwys and
Anthony Gullo.
Josh Duke was Josh does in the INEX Bandolero division and that’s win.
The track’s record-holder for season wins, now at 11, made
it look easy in the 10-lap national qualifier. Derrick
Vogler finished second, followed to the line by Chase
Sinsabaugh, Jeffrey Noe and Nolan Baker. Four cars pulled in
to victory lane – Duke and Vogler for the Outlaw and Bandit
wins, Sinsabaugh and Noe for capturing the Bandit and Outlaw
national qualifiers.
Saturday brought the New York Super Stocks and two of the Race of
Champions asphalt divisions, Sportsman and 4 Cylinders,
together for a full evening of racing.
When you pull in to a track for the first time you wish for the best.
Lancaster, NY’s Shawn Nye got his wish when he won his heat
race, drew the pole for the 75-lap feature, and then led
every lap for the big win. In the early going he faced a
tough challenge from Charlie Sharpsteen, who lost second to
Tyler Rypkema. Nye saw a nice lead almost evaporate when he
caught some lap cars at the lap 30 mark. The race itself was
slowed for seven cautions. Each time, Rypkema tried to
outrun Nye but was unable to do so. The final caution came
with five laps to go. Nye prevailed yet again and took the
checkered flag over Tony Hanbury, who nipped Rypkema for
second coming off turn four on the final lap. Joe Evans and
Sharpsteen rounded out the top five.
The New York Super Stocks made their third, and final, appearance at
Chemung this year. Luck of the draw put Mike Nichols on the
outside of row one for the start of the 50-lap feature. It
took him just a dozen laps to take over the lead. From that
point on he had to survive several restarts following
cautions. Early on it was Andy Cryan lined up beside him,
while later in the event Zack Willis passed him and it was
he who moved into second and alongside Nichols. This one
boiled down to a green/white/checkered finish with Nick
Robinson and Frank Chapman lined up behind Nichols and
Willis. Nichols powered around the track those final two
laps, knowing a $600 bonus was his if he could win both
Friday and Saturday.
Nick Robinson did double duty on Saturday, running both the Super Stock
and 4 Cylinder features. He had the lead early on while Greg
Moldt charged toward the front from his ninth starting
position. Moldt took over the lead briefly when Robinson
attempted to shift on a restart and fell back four spots,
which he reclaimed in two laps. At the halfway point
Robinson got around Moldt and led the way once again. Moldt
was stuck like glue but could not find an opening or muster
a run on the top side. That’s how it ended, with Robinson in
victory lane, Moldt second, Bob Bogner third, Kenny Hejna
fourth and Jason Anasiewicz fifth.
A regular five-division show, to replace a July rainout, is scheduled for
Friday night. Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors,
$5 for kids 5 to 12 and free for kids under 5. Gates open at
5 with racing at 7. For information, log on to the track’s
website: chemungspeedrome.net, ‘like’ us on Facebook:
Chemung Speedrome – Racing at the Drome, or call Ray Hodge,
Promoter, at 607-483-3468.
Of Note:
The track held a moment of silence to remember Don Toal, who passed away
earlier in the day. Both the NYSS and RoC honored him with a
missing pole position car during their parade laps. Toal, an
RoC Hall of Famer and 50-year employee at Spencer Speedway,
was a friend to everyone in racing.
Jason Duke, who arrives at the track with a pair of Bandoleros for his
son Josh, loaned his spare motor to the Sinsabaugh’s so that
Chase could run the race. He went on to win the national
qualifying spot for the Bandits.
Ed Bidlack's step-daughter, Danielle, was on hand for the
trophy presentation Friday night. She also gave race winner
Mike Nichols a framed photo of Ed in Victory Lane at
Shangri-la Speedway.
A race fan from Elmira, NY won the season’s largest 50/50 pot on Saturday
night.
Gary Ham led the Legends feature at the halfway point to earn a $100
bonus from Chemung Softwater and owner John Bacon.
Track management thanks Valley Collision and Auto, Ferrario Auto Team,
Buckley’s Automotive, Buckley’s Discount Tire and Brakes,
Goodwin Automotive, Wilber Auto Sales, AMP Contracting,
Bobby Osgood Auto Sales, Premier Landscaping, Serendipity
Ice Cream, and Ed’s Heads Portable Toilets for stepping up
and making the two-day show possible.
Results(Friday) :
Super Stocks (42 Laps): MIKE NICHOLS, Nick Robinson, Garrett
Zacharias, Jesse Hurley, Tim Gullo, Frank Chapman, Jim
House, Joel Gleason, Derrick Tarbox, JP Harbst, Lee
Sharpsteen, Ron Underwood, Gary Noe, Brian DeMark, Gil
Sharpsteen, Ajay Potrzebowski, James Stanley, Don Archibald,
Nate Peckham
Heats: Nichols, Noe, Hurley
INEX Legends (25 Laps): KYLE YOUNGS, Gary
Ham, Jody Buckley, Sean Verwys, Anthony Gullo, James
Anderson, Charlie Lohmeyer, Raven Schrantz
Heats: Ham, Youngs
Race of Champions Asphalt Modifieds (75 Laps): SHAWN NYE, Tony
Hanbury, Tyler Rypkema, Joe Evans, Charlie Sharpsteen, Rusty
Smith, Gary Noe, Zack Knowlden, Connor Sellars, John Wilber,
Cassie Logsdon, Dave Bellis, David Koslowski, Zack Curren,
Eddie Hawkins, Daryl Lewis, Jr., Pat Judson, Tim Gullo, Andy
Lewis
Heats: Nye, Smith, Sharpsteen
New York Super Stocks (50 Laps – top 10):
MIKE NICHOLS, Zach Willis, Nick Robinson, Frank Chapman,
Amber VanOrden, Jacob Gustafson, Tim Gullo, Jesse Hurley,
Andy Cryan, Cole Hicks
Race of Champions 4 Cylinders (25 Laps):
NICK ROBINSON, Greg Moldt, Bob Bogner, Kenny Hejna, Jason
Anasiewicz, Jacob Gustafson, Nick Bevacqua, Dan Dressel,
Josh Schosek, DJ Shaw, Bob Palmer, Alex Brown, Joey Bevacqua,
Mark Taylor, Adam Killingbeck, John Byrd, M.R. Taylor, Mike
Nichols, Tyler Harbst, Stan Mathews
Heats: Gustafson, Hejna, Moldt
On Friday night the Super Stocks ran a 42-lap race in memory of the late
Ed Bidlack. The former Late Model racer at Shangri-la/Tioga
passed away earlier in the summer. Gary Noe led early on,
before losing the top spot to Mike Nichols on lap 17
restart. Four laps later Nichols collected the halfway bonus
of $100 sponsored by Footes Tire and Auto Service. Over the
second half of the race Nick Robinson and Garrett Zacharias
got up to second and third but the gap between them and
Nichols proved too much to overcome. Nichols picked up the
win, which an anonymous donor had increased to $1,000. Mike
was also in the best position to capitalize on a $600 bonus
if he could win Saturday as well. Robinson, Zacharias, Jesse
Hurley and Tim Gullo all posted top five finishes.
The 25-lap INEX Legends national qualifier got underway with Jody Buckley
on the point. Kyle Youngs ran right behind him with Gary Ham
in third. The race had a lengthy caution when Raven Schrantz
spilled oil in the turn three area. While the track crew
cleaned up that mess an even greater mess occurred. Charlie
Lohmeyer’s #5L went up in smoke in turn one while under
caution but he stayed on the track and put oil down from
there all the way to turn four. The race resumed, however it
was slowed two more times for two-car spins. The first
involved the #4 of Kyle Youngs, who restarted at the rear
and quickly took over the race lead. Youngs held on and
scored the win over Gary Ham, Jody Buckley, Sean Verwys and
Anthony Gullo.
Josh Duke was Josh does in the INEX Bandolero division and that’s win.
The track’s record-holder for season wins, now at 11, made
it look easy in the 10-lap national qualifier. Derrick
Vogler finished second, followed to the line by Chase
Sinsabaugh, Jeffrey Noe and Nolan Baker. Four cars pulled in
to victory lane – Duke and Vogler for the Outlaw and Bandit
wins, Sinsabaugh and Noe for capturing the Bandit and Outlaw
national qualifiers.
When you pull in to a track for the first time you wish for the best.
Lancaster, NY’s Shawn Nye got his wish when he won his heat
race, drew the pole for the 75-lap feature, and then led
every lap for the big win. In the early going he faced a
tough challenge from Charlie Sharpsteen, who lost second to
Tyler Rypkema. Nye saw a nice lead almost evaporate when he
caught some lap cars at the lap 30 mark. The race itself was
slowed for seven cautions. Each time, Rypkema tried to
outrun Nye but was unable to do so. The final caution came
with five laps to go. Nye prevailed yet again and took the
checkered flag over Tony Hanbury, who nipped Rypkema for
second coming off turn four on the final lap. Joe Evans and
Sharpsteen rounded out the top five.
The New York Super Stocks made their third, and final, appearance at
Chemung this year. Luck of the draw put Mike Nichols on the
outside of row one for the start of the 50-lap feature. It
took him just a dozen laps to take over the lead. From that
point on he had to survive several restarts following
cautions. Early on it was Andy Cryan lined up beside him,
while later in the event Zack Willis passed him and it was
he who moved into second and alongside Nichols. This one
boiled down to a green/white/checkered finish with Nick
Robinson and Frank Chapman lined up behind Nichols and
Willis. Nichols powered around the track those final two
laps, knowing a $600 bonus was his if he could win both
Friday and Saturday.
Nick Robinson did double duty on Saturday, running both the Super Stock
and 4 Cylinder features. He had the lead early on while Greg
Moldt charged toward the front from his ninth starting
position. Moldt took over the lead briefly when Robinson
attempted to shift on a restart and fell back four spots,
which he reclaimed in two laps. At the halfway point
Robinson got around Moldt and led the way once again. Moldt
was stuck like glue but could not find an opening or muster
a run on the top side. That’s how it ended, with Robinson in
victory lane, Moldt second, Bob Bogner third, Kenny Hejna
fourth and Jason Anasiewicz fifth.
