Kevin Youngs Hold Off TJ Potrzebowski for Second Chemung Mod Win By Carol Houssock

Chemung Speedrome slashed the admission price as an appreciation for the fans. They also increased by one the number of features they would see on Friday night. Fans first saw the 19-lap conclusion of the Jim Potrzebowski Memorial for the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock, then a full four-division program of heats and features. Josh Parker won the memorial event, while the others in victory lane included Kevin Youngs (Buckley's Automotive Modifieds), Ajay Potrzebowski (Hobby Stocks), Greg Moldt (Gene's Automotive 4 Cylinders) and Easton Houghtaling (Bandoleros).

Kevin Youngs and TJ Potrzebowski won the heats in the Buckley's Automotive Modified division and lined up fourth and fifth for the 30-lap feature. Zack Curren led early, but the first of three cautions also came early when contract from Jesse Kent sent Lee Sharpsteen into the turn four wall. Two laps later Charlie Sharpsteen spun and set up a lap five restart. From outside the front row, Youngs overtook Curren in what was his race-winning pass. While he held the race lead, Potrzebowski and Tony Hanbury battled for third. The final caution came out when Nick Morich's car broke just past the halfway point. Over the remaining 14 laps, Youngs appeared unbeatable while Potrzebowski had moved to second after close racing with both Hanbury and Curren. Once in second, TJ chopped away at Kevinís lead, but he ran out of time. Youngs parked it, after earning his second win of the season over Potrzebowski, Curren, Hanbury and DJ Shaw. "The car was real fast tonight, but I didn't want to see that caution come out. TJ has been extremely helpful to me with my program, I thank him and so many others for this," he said. By virtue of the win, Kevin Youngs has earned a guaranteed starting position in the Sportsman Modified race held during Classic Weekend at Oswego Speedway. Youngs cut the lead by four and now trails Potrzebowski by six points in the title chase. They'll have just two more point races to settle that battle, as Kevin looks to deny TJ two titles in a row.

Nineteen laps remained in the 2nd annual Jim Potrzebowski Memorial for the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks, a rain-shortened race that started two weeks prior. Dave Decker and Cullen Sharpsteen brought the field to the green to begin although it took a couple tries to get going. When it did, Sharpsteen led Dave Decker Brian DeMark, and Josh Parker. DeMark took the lead on lap 11 and began to pull away from Parker, who had moved into second. When Ethan Roberts spun with 17 laps complete, it brought Parker to the outside of the front row. DeMark was still leading with two to go but Parker, driving a car prepared by Jim Potrzebowski's brother Terry, wanted this win more and he got it. "When Terry called and asked me to drive this car in the race last year I was honored. Winning it this year for him and that whole family has me speechless," he managed to say in victory lane as the Potrzebowski family gathered to congratulate him. DeMark finished second, followed by Anthony Gullo, Sharpsteen and Decker. Gullo, the defending race winner, picked up the Hard Charger Award while his brother, Devin, received the Hard Luck Award.

The top three from the first race (Parker, DeMark and A. Gullo) won the heats for the regularly scheduled Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock 20-lap feature. From a spin to a win sums up the night for Ajay Potrzebowski, who brought out the caution on the opening lap. DeMark also pitted and both restarted at the rear. It took two more attempts to get this one going but once it did it was Anthony Gullo leading the way after passing Mark Taylor and Tom Shafer. Kamden Wheeler brought out a pair of cautions, the first after spinning off turn four and the second for tagging the inside wall in turn one. The race went red while medical personnel checked her out to make sure she was ok. The restart resulted in the fifth, and final, caution for a two-car tangle. With the second half of the race to run, Gullo had a pair of 72 cars in pursuit. Ajay Potrzebowski, Sr. and Parker were right there after Potrzebowski had charged through the field to be in a position to win. In the closing laps he passed Gullo and took the checkered flag for the popular win. "This has been a great night for our family, and I wanted this one for my father. He built these cars and lost his brother, Jim. Josh won the first race and now this one by me. The win is for my father" he said while the family gathered once again in victory lane. Gullo, Parker, Sharpsteen and DeMark finished in the top five. With a lead of 31 points and a pair of races remaining, DeMark may be on his way to his first-ever Chemung championship.

The Purvis name has been prominent in the Gene's Automotive 4 Cylinder division this season, primarily due to the dominance of Gene Purvis. That changed Friday night, even though he and Greg Moldt started the night with heat wins. The 20-lap feature looked like it was going in the direction of Ryan Purvis, but Greg Moldt was running second and closed the gap. The gap totally went away when Augustine Worden stopped on the front stretch to bring out the only caution. Moldt, the í24 champion, powered around the outside on the restart and led the final 10 laps. Ryan Purvis did a commendable job of keeping his brother behind him at the finish. Just 16 points separate Purvis and Moldt with two races remaining.

In Bandolero action, Easton Houghtaling's third win of the season brings him that much closer to his goal of winning the track championship. Dallas Harbst, second in points and a Bandit, has that same goal of being the best of the younger age group. In their 8-lap feature it was Harbst who led the opening lap until Houghtaling made his race-winning pass on the second lap. Tori Miller got around Harbst for third, while Leevi Sharpsteen ran and finished in fourth. Kyle Mortimer and Brandon Measheaw completed the top five.

Chemung is off this week (August 1st) but returns to action in a big way, with the running of the annual ROC show on Saturday, August 9th. That will include the 75-lap Rod Spalding Classic for the Modifieds, plus the ROC Late Models. The track will also run a non-points race for the Hobby Stocks to complete the racing card that night. Details on times and pricing will be posted when available.

For general information, log on to the track's website: chemung-speedrome.com, "like" the track on Facebook (Facebook: Chemung Speedrome - Racing at the Drome), or call Ray Hodge, Promoter, at 607-483-3468.

Of note:

With unclaimed proceeds from three weeks ago and a boost from Promoter Ray Hodge, the 50/50 winner's share started at $500. That amount exploded to $1,413, won by Dave from Vestal, NY.

Fans won prizes, donated by sponsors and race teams as part of the Jim Potrzebowski Memorial race.

Special thanks to Mike Kintner and his Kintner's Contracting for being the presenting sponsor of the Potrzebowski Memorial, as well as being the nightly track sponsor.

Results:

Buckley's Automotive Modifieds 30 Laps): KEVIN YOUNGS, TJ Potrzebowski, Zack Curren, Tony Hanbury, DJ Shaw, Jody Buckley, Charlie Sharpsteen, Nick Morich, Tommy Rought, Jesse Kent, Tyler Harbst, Lucas Bartlett, Dakota Anderson, Lee Sharpsteen
Heats: Youngs, Potrzebowski

Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks Jim Potrzebowski Memorial (Final 19 Laps): JOSH PARKER, Brian DeMark, Anthony Gullo, Cullen Sharpsteen, Dave Decker, Mike Nickels, Dennis Beardslee, Ajay Potrzebowski, Jr., Tom Shafer, MR Taylor, Mark Taylor, Ben Perry, Mike Bailey, Mike Kintner, Ethan Roberts, Paul Bailey, Devin Gullo, George Nichols, Jr., Josh Ames, Michael Bast, Kamden Wheeler
Heats (run on July 11th): Mike Nickels, Dennis Beardslee, Anthony Gullo
Double Ought Performance Horses Hard Charger: Anthony Gullo
Petro Design Hard Luck: Devin Gullo

Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): AJAY POTRZEBOWSKI, SR., Anthony Gullo, Josh Parker, Cullen Sharpsteen, Brian DeMark, Mark Taylor, Devin Gullo, Dave Decker, Mike Bailey, Mike Nickels, Ethan Roberts, Ben Perry, Paul Bailey, Tom Shafer, Ryan Osgood, Mike Kintner, Kamden Wheeler, Dennis Beardslee, Michael Bast, (DNS George Nichols, Jr., Josh Ames, MR Taylor)
Heats: DeMark, A. Gullo, Parker

Gene's Automotive 4 Cylinders 205 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Ryan Purvis, Gene Purvis, Kyle Mortimer, Brandon Measheaw, Matt Jenkins, Adriana Purvis, Troy Hodge, Augustine Worden
Heats: Moldt, G. Purvis

Bandoleros (8 Laps): EASTON HOUGHTALING, Tori Miller, Dallas Harbst (Bandit Winner), Leevi Sharpsteen