Tony Hanbury Ends 3-Year Drought, Dominates Sunoco Modifieds at Chemung; Sparks Fly in Supers by Carol Houssock
(June 5th 2021 Chemung, NY)
When
three of your five divisions run caution-free features it makes for a
quick night and that was the case at Chemung Speedrome on Friday. When a
driver finds victory lane after a drought it makes for a burnout on the
front stretch all the more meaningful. Such was the case for Tony
Hanbury, who swept the action in the headline Sunoco Modified division.
Other winners included Lee Sharpsteen (Insinger Super Stocks), Monica
Robinson (4 Cylinders), Josh Parker (Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks),
and Derrick Vogler (INEX Bandoleros). Racing continues this Friday
night, and Veterans with an ID will be admitted free as Chemung salutes
all of our Veterans.
Service
Machine & Tool had posted an additional $400 to the winner of the
40-lap Sunoco Modified feature, bringing the winner's share to $1,200.
Tony Hanbury and Bryan Sherwood were strong in their heats and picked up
wins that put them in the front row for the start. Zack Curren, who had
started fourth, made some great moves and ran second on the opening
lap. TJ Potrzebowski advanced from fifth to third by the fifth lap and
the trio pulled away from Sherwood and Zach Knowlden. Hanbury, with a
clear track in front of him and a powerful motor underneath his #42,
began to put distance between himself and that battle behind him for
second. Curren held the spot for several laps but just past the halfway
point Potrzebowski took over second. On lap 32 Knowlden got to the
inside of Curren and he was up to third. With five laps to go Hanbury
was solidly in front but the gap between him and Potrzebowski had
lessened. Hanbury scored the win, his first at Chemung in nearly three
years. Despite a national Hoosier tire shortage, he lit his up and did a
burnout before pulling in to the Midstate Basement Authorities victory
lane following a dominating performance in a caution-free race. He
thanked Service Machine & Tool for the extra money, his crew and
sponsors. "I was running hard, but I didn't feel anybody near me," he
said. Then he made a special dedication. "Thanks to Gary and Rianna Noe,
but I'm dedicating it to their new daughter, Dalila." Good runs by
Potrzebowski and Knowlden were negated when both of their cars failed
post-race tech. That moved Curren to second, followed by Sherwood and
Charlie Sharpsteen.
Caution
flags. Called-off restarts. Rough riding. Black flags. That pretty much
sums up what took place in the Insinger Performance Street Stock 25-lap
feature. Lee Sharpsteen survived all that, and more, to record his
second win of the year. Handicapping put Frank Chapman and Garrett
Zacharias in row one for the start and Zacharias led the way. Sharpsteen
wasted little time working his way up to second and restarted alongside
Zacharias after cautions with less than ten laps recorded. Sharpsteen
waited and took over the lead on lap 14. It was then that a series of
events took place, including sloppy restarts. With Sharpsteen in
command, Zacharias was inches behind, or less at times. That's when
Chapman and RJ Zacharias swapped paint several times and it culminated
as they came off turn four and worked their way down the front stretch.
With sparks flying and both cars spinning in turn one, track officials
gave both the black flag, and they were done for the night. Up front the
drama continued between Sharpsteen and Zacharias. A rough driving,
two-position penalty, assessed against Zacharias, relegated him to
fourth on the final restart. Sharpsteen held off Nick Robinson for the
win, with Tim Gullo, G. Zacharias and Cameron Nichols all in the top
five at the finish. "We did our homework and kept digging. Racing at
this place is fun," Sharpsteen stated. It was a sweep for him as he,
Gullo and G. Zacharias won heats.
Monica
Robinson, who has said that she's having more fun this year than ever
before, needed a broom Friday night after her sweep in the 4 Cylinder
division. From her outside pole starting position, she led the way from
the get-go and never looked back. She pulled away and left behind a
tight battle for second between her teammates Greg Moldt and Zack
Jaynes. With this one staying caution-free and with Robison's lead
increasing as the laps clicked off, there was little anyone could do to
change the outcome on this night. Robinson sailed across the finish line
and scored her second win of the season. Jaynes did pass Moldt for
second, followed by Joey Bevacqua and Mike Harris.
"Went
the wrong way on an adjustment but my Uncle Gene helped out and got it
back where it needed to be," Josh Parker said following his third win in
the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stock division. Their 20-lap feature
also ran caution-free and boiled down to a two-man race between Parker
and Chuck Nichols. Both had won two features coming in to this one and
each was hoping for racing's "˜hat trick'. "I have to thank Dave Decker,
who loaned me some parts," Parker added about the sportsmanship among
racers in this growing division. Newcomer Genevieve Yamelski finished
third, followed by Tyler Harbst and Decker.
Derrick
Vogler continued his winning ways in the INEX Bandolero division with a
sweep of the action. He and fellow Outlaw Kalysta DeMark won their
heats, and she provided his closest competition in their 10-lap feature.
The race was slowed just once for a caution four laps in. Over the
remaining six laps Vogler pulled away to a comfortable advantage and
held on for his fourth win. "I kept it smooth, clean and green," he told
the crowd. Chase Sinsabaugh, who finished third behind DeMark, was the
top-finisher in the Bandit age group.
This
Friday night Chemung thanks Veterans who provide an ID with free
admission for their selfless service. Drivers in the Sunoco Modified
division will run race #2 in the Buckley's Automotive B Mod Challenge, a
special 4-race series that offers more prize money for the 40-lap race,
and the series will crown its own champion in August. Zach Knowlden won
the first race but enters race #2 in a tie with Tony Hanbury. Joining
them Friday night are the Insinger Performance Super Stocks (25 laps), 4
Cylinders (20 laps), the Marion Decker Agency Hobby Stocks (20 laps)
and the INEX Bandoleros (10 laps). Pit gates open at 4 PM, grandstand
gate at 5, 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.
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 Hanbury family member won the $500 50/50/ winner's share, doubling the family's winning ways.
Matt Lewis from WEBO and Choice 102 was on hand and provided several live updates throughout the evening.
Service Machine & Tool Night Results:
Sunoco
Modifieds (40 Laps): TONY HANBURY, Zack Curren, Bryan Sherwood,
Charlie Sharpsteen, Teddy Bowen, Bill Chandler, Jr., Gary Noe, TJ
Potrzebowski (DQ, 2nd), Zack Knowlden (DQ, 3rd)
Heats: Hanbury, Sherwood
Insinger
Performance Super Stocks (25 Laps): LEE SHARPSTEEN, Nick Robinson, Tim
Gullo, Garrett Zacharias, Cameron Nichols, Jim House, DJ Shaw, Robert
Fink, Jason Duke, Sr., Derrick Tarbox, Frank Petroski, Jason Duke, Jr.,
Aaron Cornell, Gil Sharpsteen, Nate Peckham, Chad Lane, Gary Noe, Frank
Chapman (DQ), RJ Zacharias (DQ)
Heats: L. Sharpsteen, Gullo, G. Zacharias
4
Cylinders (20 Laps): MONICA ROBINSON, Zack Jaynes, Greg Moldt, Joey
Bevacqua, Mike Ferris, Dustin Pruyne, Jason Peck, Matt Jenkins, Ricky
Lane, Nick Bevacqua (DNS)
Heats: Moldt, Robinson
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): JOSH PARKER, Chuck Nichols, Genevieve Yamelski, Tyler Harbst, Dave Decker, Jim Hollister
Heat: Nichols
INEX
Bandoleros (10 Laps): DERRICK VOGLER (Outlaw), Kalysta DeMark, Chase
Sinsabaugh, Cullen Sharpsteen, Michael Bast, Joey Attowatt, Devin Gullo
Heats: Vogler, DeMark
Pictures from Emily Knowlden Photography: Tony
Hanbury parked it in victory lane after a nearly 3 year drought; Lee
Sharpsteen (8) holding off a challenge from Garrett Zacharias (71z)
