"Tony Hanbury Makes it Two in a Row" Recap by Matt Lewis
Tony Hanbury makes it two in a row with back-to-back feature Modified wins at Chemung Speedrome. Other feature winners included AJ Potrzebowski in the Hobby Stocks, and Gene Purvis in the 4 Cylinders.
The weather was perfect for racing on Friday night at Chemung Speedrome, as Nick Morich started on the pole to bring the field of 13 Modifieds to green, in the 30-lap feature. Zack Curren took the early lead on the first lap as Morich fell back to 2nd with TJ Potrzebowski in 3rd. The battle then began for the lead as Curren and Morich ran side by side with intense pressure being applied from behind by Potrzebowski. This as Tony Hanbury moved up quietly into 4th. The caution flag flew on lap 4 with Morich briefly taking the lead back on the restart as Hanbury moved up in 3rd and then 2nd. The caution flew again on lap 8 with Morich leading the field back to green, as Hanbury continued in 2nd with Potrzebowski in 3rd and Curren falling back to 4th. The battle was then on between Morich and Hanbury with Hanbury taking the lead. The red flag flew on lap 10, as Charlie Sharpsteen spun on the home stretch in a shower of sparks, as he came to rest facing the opposite direction against the inside wall at the beginning of turn 1. On the restart it was Hanbury leading with Morich in 2nd, Curren in 3rd and Potrzebowski rounding out the front 4 positions. Morich began to fade and pitted on lap 15 moving Curren back up to 2nd as Jessie Kent passed Potrzebowski for 3rd. Lap traffic became in issue for the leaders on lap 20, slowing the field as Hanbury used it to his advantage to cement his lead. And that's where he stayed to take the win.
The 4 Cylinder 20 lap feature was brought to green by Ryan Purvis, with Mike Jenkins, Greg Moldt, and Gene Purvis rounding out your top 4. The family scuffle began as Gene Purvis pulled up beside Ryan Purvis with side by side running in the battle for the lead. 6th starting Ryan Hurlburt powered his way up into 2nd. The caution flew on lap 13 with Purvis and Hurlburt running side by side on the restart, as they made their way around the track. Fans were on the edge of their seats as the battle continued for many laps with Gene Purvis finally taking the lead, and holding on for the win.
The 20 lap Hobby Stock feature was caution plagued early on as several cautions flew on the first lap. It was last weekís feature winner 14-year-old Devin Gullo taking the early lead, with AJ Potrzebowski in 2nd and Brian DeMark in 3rd. The caution flew again on lap 2 with Gullo taking the lead on the restart. A second caution then flew as Gullo got loose on the inside of turn 2 coming to rest on the grass in the infield. On the restart, it was AJ Potrzebowski taking the lead with DeMark in 2nd and Greg Moldt in 3rd. The battle for the lead then heated up as Potrzebowski and DeMark ran side by side lap after lap. Lap traffic became an issue on lap 14, with Potrzebowski using it to his advantage to widen out the lead. And that's where he stayed to take the win.
Fans and race teams should note that there will not be any racing at the Speedrome on Friday, July 4th. Ray and Ellen Hodge wish everyone a nice three-day holiday weekend. Next up a big show on Friday, July 11th, highlighted by the second annual Jim Potrzebowski Memorial for the Hobby Stocks.
Photo by Clayton Vargeson: 2 in a row for Tony Hanbury in the Buckleyís Automotive Modifieds
