TJ Potrzebowski Flawless in Chemung Sunoco Modifieds, Garrett Zacharias Takes SS Super Payday
(Chemung, NY) Race fans at Chemung witnessed some great racing on a hot night, sponsored by the Marion Decker Insurance Agency. TJ Potrzebowski returned to victory in the headline Sunoco Modified division, while Garrett Zacharias pocketed a $1,000 top prize by winning race #1 of the four-race Valley Collision & Auto Body SS Challenge for the Insinger Performance Super Stocks. Other winners included Monica Robinson (4 Cylinders), Chuck Nichols (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks), and Derrick Vogler (INEX Bandoleros). This week Chemung moves to a 2 PM Sunday racing program.
The Sunoco Modifieds put on another outstanding show in their 40-lap feature. Zack Curren led early with Bryan Sherwood and TJ Potrzebowski behind on the opening lap. Potrzebowski made a great move to take second, and by lap 10 had overtaken Curren for the lead. Tony Hanbury was also on the move and got around Curren for second. Their battle would continue over the next 10 laps, giving Potrzebowski the opportunity to build on his lead. By lap 20 Hanbury had some distance between himself and Curren and he started to chop away at Potrzebowski’s big lead. It appeared he would run out of laps to close up the gap, but when Damon Frutchey spun on the back stretch it set up a restart with just three laps remaining. It was a textbook restart, and the top three ran together over those three laps. The running order did not change, however, and Potrzebowski held on for the win over Hanbury, Curren, Sherwood and Zach Knowlden. It was sweep time for TJ, who had earlier won his heat along with Hanbury. When told he made it look easy he replied “it wasn’t easy. Those last couple laps Tony was on it,” he said from the Midstate Basement Authorities victory lane.
The Super Stock division ran their first in a four-race series sponsored by Valley Collision & Auto Body SS Challenge. These races provide a $1,000 first place prize and a separate points tally for a series champion. The division ran three heats, won by Frank Chapman, Cody Frantz and RJ Zacharias. Number 10 was drawn for the number of cars inverted for the 25-lap race. “That invert put us on the pole,” Garrett Zacharias stated after winning the big race and becoming the first repeat winner in the division this year. Zacharias led early over Tim Gullo and Cameron Nichols. By lap 12 he had caught the back of the pack, and a lap later the first of two cautions came out. With Gullo alongside, Zacharias led, leaving Gullo and Nichols in a tussle for second. While their battle went on, Zacharias pulled away. The field got bunched together again with two laps to go. This time Nichols started beside the leader but he could get no further. Zacharias got the win over Nichols, Gullo, Chapman and Nick Robinson. Zacharias, who left a week ago with another major engine problem, thanked everyone for their help in getting it back to top-running speed. “I also want to thank everyone for a clean race,” he said before thanking the fans.
Teammates Joey Bevacqua and Monica Robinson won the two 4 Cylinder heats. Robinson, who said she’s “having more fun this year than ever”, was in search of a sweep of her own. Their caution-free 20-lap feature gave her that opportunity and she completely dominated the race. Early on Bevacqua, Greg Moldt and Zack Jaynes ran together while Robinson built her lead. Jaynes kept after it and had second at the halfway point. He tried to whittle away her full staightaway lead but he ran out of time. Robinson grabbed her first win of the year over Jaynes, Moldt, Bevacqua and Dustin Pruyne. Robinson especially thanked some new sponsors who came on board as well as her teammates for their help every week.
In the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock division, it was nearly a carbon copy of their action from a week ago. Chuck Nichols swept the action by winning both the heat and the 10-lap feature. In the early-going two-time winner, Josh Parker stayed right with Nichols, but he faded back over the final five laps. At the stripe, Nichols had his second consecutive win, over Parker, Dave Decker, and Tyler Harbst.
Derrick Vogler is demonstrating more comfort and control each week in his INEX Bandolero, sweeping the action. The opening lap saw contact between Michael Bast and Chase Sinsabaugh and both cars were done for the night. When racing resumed it ran caution-free for its 10—laps distance. Vogler led the way and was never challenged for the top spot. Isaiah Anderson and Kalysta DeMark offered up the only battle, and DeMark was able to take over second at the race neared completion. Vogler, an Outlaw, won, followed by DeMark and Anderson (Bandit winner).
This weekend only Chemung switches to Sunday afternoon racing for a show sponsored by Just In Time Roofing & Seamless Gutters. The track’s Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks will remember the late Lace Decker, with a cool $500 going to the winner. Fans can watch the Sunoco Modifieds (40 laps), Super Stocks (25 laps), 4 Cylinders (20 laps), INEX Bandoleros (10 laps), and the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 laps). Pit gates open at 11 PM, grandstand gate at 12, practice at 1, and racing at 2. 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:
A fan from Apalachin, NY won $500 in the 50/50 drawing.
Track promoter, Ray Hodge, interviewed all of the Bandolero competitors by their cars prior to their feature.
All three Sharpsteen brothers competed in the 25-lap Super Stock race.
Marion Decker Insurance Agency Night Results:
Sunoco Modifieds (40 Laps): TJ POTRZEBOWSKI, Tony Hanbury, Zack Curren, Bryan Sherwood, Zach Knowlden, Teddy Bowen, Charlie Sharpsteen, Damon Frutchey, Bill Chandler, Jr., Pat Judson
Heats: Hanbury, Potrzebowski
Insinger Performance Super Stocks (Valley Collision & Auto Body SS Challenge Race #1, 25 Laps): GARRETT ZACHARIAS, Cameron Nichols, Tim Gullo, Frank Chapman, Nick Robinson, RJ Zacharias, Charlie Sharpsteen, Steve Shultz, Gil Sharpsteen, Jr., Mark Taylor, Derrick Tarbox, DJ Shaw, Lee Sharpsteen, Cody Frantz, (DNS: Chad Lane, Dennis Beardsley, Jason Duke, Jr., Aaron Cornell)
Heats: Chapman, Frantz, RJ Zacharias
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): MONICA ROBINSON, Zack Jaynes, Greg Moldt, Joey Bevacqua, Dustin Pruyne, Jason Peck, Ricky Lane, Matt Jenkins
Heats: Bevacqua, Robinson
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (10 Laps): CHUCK NICHOLS, Josh Parker, Dave Decker, Tyler Harbst
Heat: Nichols
INEX Bandoleros (10 Laps): DERRICK VOGLER (Outlaw), Kalysta DeMark, Isaiah Anderson (Bandit), Cullen Sharpsteen, Michael Bast, Chase Sinsabaugh, Devin Gullo (DNS)
Heats: Sinsabaugh, Vogler
PHOTOS by Emily Knowlden Photography:
1) TJ Potrzebowski holds off a hard charging Tony Hanbury
2) Tj Potrzebowski celebrates a hard-fought win
3) Garrett Zacharias picked up the Super Stock Challenge win and the $1,000 first place payout
Sources: Carol Houssock/Chemung Speedrome PR