Emerling Holds Off Hirschman for Chemung RoC Win; Garrett Zacharias Parks It in Super Stock Action
(Chemung, NY) Someone needs to load up Ray Hodge, Chemung Promoter, and Joe Skotnicki, RoC Director, and take them to a casino. On a day when racetracks all over NY were cancelling, they decided to gamble and go for it. They came out on the winning end as the event ran with just one minor snag. A brief shower paused the action for about 30 minutes, but it was otherwise a cold and sunny afternoon. Patrick Emerling took the 75-lap RoC event after a nail-biting, final few laps. Other winners on Northeast ATV night were Garrett Zacharias (Insinger Super Stocks), Greg Moldt, and Josh Parker (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks). Chase Sinsabaugh, Bandit, and Kalysta DeMark, Outlaw, took wins in the INEX Bandolero division.
The Race of Champions Modified Tour rolled into Chemung for their first event in New York State in over 600 days. Following their three heats and redraw the field was set. Patrick Emerling, defending Tour champ and fresh off his Whelen Modified Tour win, drew the pole with Tony Hanbury drawing second. Emerling led the field off turn two, with Daryl Lewis, Jr., early mover Tommy Catalano, and Hanbury in pursuit. Emerling had to survive restarts following four cautions and he did so seemingly easily. Austin Beers and Matt Hirschman were also consistently moving up through the field and the trio ran together for many laps. As lap 50 was scored, Emerling was still leading Beers. By lap 59 Hirschman took over second and the race was on. By lap 68 Emerling and Hirschman approached heavy lap traffic. Hirschman got to the inside of Emerling but a lap car forced him to back off and he lost some momentum. At that point Hirschman had run out of time. Emerling sailed across the finish line ahead of Hirschman, Beers, Zane Zeiner and Catalano. “We fought all week to get the car done. It ran good all race long. I ran hard, it’s never easy, and I knew they were saving their tires for the late charge,” Emerling said.
Garrett Zacharias left Chemung a week ago after a tough night, made even tougher when the motor in his Super Stock blew. The team had him back and ready to race, and he was virtually flawless Saturday afternoon. Lined up alongside his father, RJ, for the start of the 25-lap feature, the outcome was good for the son but not for the dad. RJ got into Tim Gullo in turn three, bringing out the first of three cautions. Once the racers settled in, they were all in pursuit of a pair of former Bandolero champions in Zacharias and Evan Rygielski. Gary Noe held down third until Nick Robinson took that spot temporarily. The final caution came with four laps to go. Once again, Zacharias was flawless and kept Rygielski behind him. That’s how they would finish this one, with Gullo, Robinson and RJ Zacharias finishing in the top five. “The car was awesome, rotated good and we had a good setup in it,” Zacharias said before offering his trademark salute to all the fans.
The 4 Cylinder feature winner was guaranteed to represent Nick Robinson’s racing stable since he maintains all six of the cars in the 20-lap event. Joey Bevacqua and Greg Moldt made up row one for the start and Moldt wasted no time taking the lead and pulling away. The best battle was the one between Bevacqua and Monica Robinson. It took her several laps to get around Bevacqua, but she eventually did. When a brake rotor malfunctioned, she nearly lost control in turn four, but she held on to the car while Bevacqua reclaimed second. The only caution came out with seven laps to go. Moldt held off Bevacqua and, again, built up a nice lead that took him to the feature win.
Josh Parker is now two-for-two in the Marion Decker Hobby Stock division. Dave Decker started from the pole and led the way off turn two with Parker close behind. While working lap four Parker got around Decker and the lead was his. Once in front he began to pull away and took the checkered flag in the 10-lap feature over Decker and Tyler Harbst.
It took two tries to get the 10-lap INEX Bandolero race underway. Derrick Vogler led Kalysta DeMark with Isaiah Anderson running third over the first half of the race. DeMark took the lead and the pair ran together as the laps clicked off. As they negotiated turn four on the final lap, Vogler dove low but tapped the DeMark #5 and both spun. That brought Chase Sinsabaugh to the top spot for the restart. He held on for the green/white/checkered end and scored his second consecutive overall win as a Bandit. DeMark, running her first race of the year, was second and best of the Outlaws.
This week Chemung switches to Friday night racing with a big show sponsored by Buckley’s Automotive. This will be the first of four races in the B Mod Challenge Series, also sponsored by Buckley’s Automotive. This series will crown its own champion and drivers are competing for a higher payout to the winner in each of the four events.
Friday’s program also includes the Insinger Super Stocks (25 laps), 4 Cylinders (20 laps), Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 laps), INEX Legends (25 laps) and INEX Bandoleros (10 laps). Pit gates open at 5 PM, grandstand at 6 and racing at 7. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under.
For information, log on to the track’s website: chemung-speedrome.com, ‘like’ us on Facebook: Chemung Speedrome – Racing at the Drome, or call Ray Hodge, Promoter, at 607-483-3468.
Of Note:
The 50/50 winner is a week away from her college graduation and she majored in auto technology.
Ken Canestrari brought his legendary #17 Modified to the track, not to race it but to be there in support of the other racers competing in the RoC event.
Chase Sinsabaugh experienced what it’s like to be someone’s hero. Chase Nichols, 4-year-old son of Mike and Katrina, not only met his favorite driver but he went home with some special hardware. Sinsabaugh gave his biggest fan the trophy he had just won in the Bandolero feature.
Northeast ATV Night Results:
ROC Modifieds (75 Laps) PATRICK EMERLING, Matt Hirschman, Austin Beers, Zane Zeiner, Tommy Catalano, Daryl Lewis, Jr., Brian DeFebo, Timmy Catalano, TJ Potrzebowski, Tyler Catalano, Daren Scherer, Danny Knoll, Jr., Scott Wylie, Sean Verwys, Jody Buckley, Kirk Totten, Tony Hanbury, Jim Gavek, Bryan Sherwood, TJ Zacharias
Insinger Performance Super Stocks (25 Laps): GARRETT ZACHARIAS, Evan Rygielski, Tim Gullo, Nick Robinson, RJ Zacharias, Cameron Nichols, Bill Frisbie, Jr., Jim Yamelski, Lee Sharpsteen, Frank Chapman, Frank Petrosky, Jason Duke, Jr., Gary Noe, Gil Sharpsteen (DNS)
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Joey Bevacqua, Monica Robinson, Randy Mathews, Dustin Pruyne, Nick Bevacqua
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (10 Laps): JOSH PARKER, Dave Decker, Tyler Harbst
INEX Bandoleros (10 Laps): CHASE SINSABAUGH (Bandit), Kalysta DeMark (Outlaw), Derrick Vogler, Isaiah Anderson, Devin Gullo, Cullen Sharpsteen
Sources: Carol Houssock/Chemung Speedrome PR