Zach Knowlden Impressive in Nail-Biting-Exciting Sunoco Modified Chemung Win
(Chemung, NY) Fans left Chemung Speedrome Friday night after just watching a superb Sunoco Modified feature. The final dozen laps of the Buckley’s Automotive B-Mod Challenge race were textbook driver respect, with Zach Knowlden holding off hard-charging Tony Hanbury and TJ Potrzebowski. Other winners on Buckley’s Automotive night included Tim Gullo (Insinger Performance Super Stocks), John Byrd (4 Cylinders), Chuck Nichols (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), Anthony Riforgiato (INEX Legends), and Derrick Vogler (INEX Bandoleros).Sunoco Modified heat winners TJ Potrzebowski and Tony Hanbury became part of the terrific fight for the win in their 40-lap feature. Zach Knowlden was the third part of that fight, and he emerged after an intense battle as the winner in a nail-biting final dozen laps. Knowlden and Gary Noe started from the front row and Knowlden led the way over Hanbury and Potrzebowski, while Noe and Charlie Sharpsteen battled for fourth. Bryan Sherwood was on the move and by lap 10 he was up to fifth. At the halfway point in this caution-free event, it was shaping up as a three-car battle. Both Hanbury and Potrzebowski were looking low, then high, for a way around the feisty #4 but he repeatedly held them off. With six laps to go Hanbury got to the inside of Knowlden coming off turn four and it appeared the Potrzebowski would pass him as well. Knowlden, then on the outside lane, powered his way around Hanbury and the lead was back in his hands. Over the final two laps, Knowlden fought hard and did some great defensive driving that earned him the fan-pleasing win over Hanbury, Potrzebowski, Sherwood, and Zack Curren. “I thought I lost it right there at the end, but the car responded well, and I was able to get the lead back,” he said from the Midstate Basement Authorities Victory Lane. “This win pretty much ties for my all-time favorite win,” and his large family and fan following boisterously agreed. Knowlden now leads the separate point standings for this 4-race special series. Series race #2 is scheduled for June 11th.
Driver respect also came into play in the 25-lap Insinger Performance Super Stock feature. The father and son Zacharias team of RJ and Garrett won the two heats early in the evening. Tim Gullo and Nick Robinson had front row seats for the feature. Robinson used the outside lane to his advantage and took the early lead over G. Zacharias. For the second time in three weeks, white smoke blew out of Garrett’s car and he was done early. Gullo prevailed on the restart but Robinson led at the halfway point, with RJ Zacharias third and Lee Sharpsteen fourth. The third of four cautions came when Cameron Nichols spun coming off turn two. That brought the field together again and the lead went back to Gullo by lap 15. He and Robinson demonstrated lap after lap the respect they have for each other running side by side and never touching. Robinson got caught up in a tangle involving Frank Chapman and Sharpsteen, who was sent to the rear for causing the spin. Gullo then had Zacharias alongside for the final restart and he made quick work of leading the way and leaving Zacharias to do battle with Nichols over the final few laps. Tim Gullo parked it in victory lane for his first win of the year and third different winner in the class. Zacharias was second, followed by Nichols, Robinson, and Sharpsteen.John Byrd turned a likely third-place finish into a win in the 20-lap 4 Cylinder feature. Joey Bevacqua and Monica Robinson won the two heats, but Byrd and Dustin Pruyne started from row one. Byrd led early while Russ Bulger, Jr. and Greg Moldt swapped second. Moldt prevailed in that battle and took the lead on lap six. The only caution came a lap later when Robinson’s car slowed and stopped, ending her night. Moldt prevailed on the restart as Bulger got around Byrd for second. Moldt appeared to be headed for his second consecutive win. As they negotiated turn four on the last lap Bulger got into him and Moldt spun. Bulger crossed the finish line, hearing Race Director Tom Bellinger say he was DQ’d for rough riding. Moldt gave him a return bump but then on the cool-down lap he turned Bulger around on the backstretch. He, too, was disqualified for the same reason. Byrd inherited the unlikely win from third.
Chuck Nichols swept the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock action by winning both his heat and their 10—lap feature. This one boiled down to two races within the race. Nichols was challenged by Josh Parker, while JP Harbst had a battle going with Dave Decker. When it was over it was the #9 of Nichols that parked in victory lane.
In the INEX Legends division, it was a good night gone bad for James Anderson and Chuck Lohmeyer. Anderson won the heat, started their 20-lap feature from the pole, and led the first eight laps. Lohmeyer got to the inside, passed, and led lap nine. Two laps later his car broke, he suddenly slowed, and Anderson had nowhere to go but into him. Both were done and the lead then went to eventual winner Anthony Riforgiato. Chelsea Sellars finished second.
Isaiah Anderson and Derrick Vogler won the two INEX Bandolero heats and made up row one for the start of their 10-lap feature. They ended up being the class of the field in the race. Following their only caution, Vogler led lap three, Anderson lap four, and then Vogler reclaimed the top spot that he would not lose over the final five laps. Kalysta DeMark appeared to have a solid third-place finish but she was disqualified for the team’s removal of her restrictor plate, discovered in post-race tech. Anderson, a Bandit, was the overall winner with Vogler, the Outlaw, finishing second.
This Friday night the Marion Decker Agency presents a full night of racing including race number one in the Valley Collision & Auto Body SS Challenge. This is a four-race series-within-a-series for the Insinger Performance Super Stock division. In addition to their 25-lap feature, fans can watch the Sunoco Modifieds (40 laps), 4 Cylinders (20 laps), INEX Bandoleros (10 laps), and the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 laps). Pit gates open at 4 PM, grandstand gate at 3, practice 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.
Fans and racers are reminded that Chemung will race on Sunday, May 30th instead of the originally scheduled date of May 28th. That one will be a 2 PM start.
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:
Gary Ham, former head flagger and INEX Legends champion, put up $50 for the Sunoco Modified driver running fifth on lap 20. The money went home with Bryan Sherwood.
The 50/50 winner had previously answered a trivia question correctly and left with a #17 Jilson Racing t-shirt in additional to nearly $400.
Buckley’s Automotive Night Results:
Sunoco Modifieds (Buckley’s B-Mod Challenge Race #1, 40 Laps): ZACH KNOWLDEN, Tony Hanbury, TJ Potrzebowski, Bryan Sherwood, Zack Curren, Gary Noe, Teddy Bowen, Charlie Sharpsteen, Damon Frutchey, Bill Chandler, Jr., Pat Judson, John Wilber (DSN)
Heats: Potrzebowski, Hanbury
Insinger Performance Super Stocks (25 Laps): TIM GULLO, RJ Zacharias, Cameron Nichols, Nick Robinson, Lee Sharpsteen, Jim House, Frank Chapman, Cody Frantz, DJ Shaw, Jason Duke, Jr., Mark Taylor, Garrett Zacharias, Dennis Beardslee
Heats: G. Zacharias, RJ Zacharias
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): JOHN BYRD, Zack Jaynes, Joey Bevacqua, Randy Mathews, Russ Bulger, Sr., Dustin Pruyne, Bob Palmer, Megan Schoelles, Monica Robinson, Matt Jenkins, Greg Moldt (DQ), Russ Bulger, Jr., (DQ)
Heats: Bevacqua, Robinson
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (10 Laps): CHUCK NICHOLS, Josh Parker, JP Harbst, Dave Decker
Heat: Nichols
INEX Legends (20 Laps): ANTHONY RIFORGIATO, Chelsea Sellars, Chuck Lohmeyer, James Anderson
Heat: Anderson
INEX Bandoleros (10 Laps): DERRICK VOGLER (Outlaw), Isaiah Anderson (Bandit), Chase Sinsabaugh, Michael Bast, Cullen Sharpsteen, Devin Gullo, Kalysta DeMark (DQ)
Heats: Anderson, Vogler
Sources: Carol Houssock/Chemung Speedrome PR
Emily Knowlden Photography