Tony Hanbury Nabs Race #2 in Buckley's Automotive B Mod Challenge at Chemung by Carol Houssock
(June 13th 2021 Chemung, NY)
The
Sunoco Modifieds competed in the second of four 40-lap races in the
Buckley's Automotive B Mod Challenge. Drivers earn points for the
series, not the regular track points, and after the fourth race they
will crown a champion. Coming into the night Zach Knowlden, winner of
race one, and Tony Hanbury were tied for the point lead. Knowlden and TJ
Potrzebowski won the two heats and a drawing among qualifiers put Teddy
Bowen on the pole and Hanbury alongside on the front row. A nice inside
move by Potrzebowski gave him the lead. When Bryan Sherwood and Pat
Judson got together on the turn one access road, the field went under
the only caution period. Hanbury got the lead, with Knowlden,
Potrzebowski and Bowen making up a four-car breakaway. By lap 10 Hanbury
was clearly in command, leaving Knowlden and TJ in a battle for second.
As the laps clicked off, Knowlden widen the gap between himself and
Potrzebowski but Hanbury had no one around him and he padded his lead.
He got the win, his second in a row but first in this series, over
Knowlden, Potrzebowski, Bowen and Sherwood. €œI got lucky on the start
with the 4 and 72. I knew the 4 (Knowlden) was there but I didn't know
how close he was,€ Hanbury said from the Midstate Basement Authorities
Victory Lane.
The
25-lap Insinger Performance Super Stock feature boiled down to a great
battle between a young driver and a longtime veteran campaigner. Garrett
Zacharias outpowered Tim Gullo and held on for his third win this year.
Cameron Nichols led the way off turn two on the opening lap but
Zacharias got around him and led lap one, the first of 25 he would lead
on this night. Nichols stayed with him until the latter was passed by
Gullo. The first of three cautions came out when Frank Petroski and Lee
Sharpsteen got together, and both restarted at the rear. A lap later
Nick Robinson spun in turn one, while two laps later some of the same
players in the first two cautions got together and the third cautions
flag came out. Twenty-one laps remained, and over those laps Zacharias
kept Gullo behind him. The gap between them widened but then shrunk as
the laps wound down. €œI had a lot of fun especially running side by side
with Cameron. That's the way it should be, and I'm moving on,€ he said
in reference to some rough driving the week prior. Gullo, Nichols,
Sharpsteen and Robinson all finished in the top five.
The
track's 4 Cylinder division ran another caution-free 20-lap feature,
won this time by Greg Moldt. €œI have the right transmission in there now
and I have to thank everyone who helped me this week,€ he said from
victory lane. Moldt led all 20 laps while being pursued by his teammate
Zack Jaynes. The best battle in this one was for third, between
teammates Dustin Pruyne and Joey Bevacqua. At the halfway point Bevacqua
found his way around Pruyne and was up to third. The field started to
lap cars over the final five laps but nothing fazed Moldt, who picked up
his second win this year and a sweep at that. Jaynes finished second,
with Bevacqua, heat winner Monica Robinson and Pruyne in the top five.
Tyler
Harbst capitalized on a pivotal moment in the Marion Decker Hobby Stock
class. Josh Parker, a three-time feature winner and heat winner Friday
night, led early but was pursued by two-time winner Chuck Nichols. When
Nichols turned him just short of the halfway point in the 20-lap
feature, the front row for the restart consisted of Harbst and Dave
Decker. Harbst led while Nichols worked his way back up to second until a
huge puff of smoke poured from the Nichols machine and his night was
over. Harbst then had to hold off Parker and he did to score a
career-first win. €œThat was a tough one. I thought I was going around a
couple times but I saved it,€ he said. Parker was second, followed by
Genevieve Yamelski and Decker.
Devin
Gullo made tremendous improvement in handling his INEX Bandolero and he
proved it by winning their 10-lap feature in the Bandit age group.
While Derrick Vogler solidified his lead in the points with his fifth
win this season, Gullo pretty much stole the show by leading early on
and showing strength. Just two cautions slowed the action. The last
restart came with six to go. The overall win went to Vogler (Outlaw),
followed by Gullo, Justin Teresak, and heat winners Chase Sinsabaugh and
Michael Sinagra.
This
Friday night Chemung welcomes the New York Super Stock Series for their
first of two appearances at the track this year. The NYSS will run a
50-lap feature and are joined by the Insinger Sunoco Modifieds (40
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:
The
Valley Color Guard led the opening ceremonies, which also included the
introduction of several former service men and women in victory lane.
Veterans were admitted free on their special night.
The 50/50 winner left with $621 in winnings.
Skyworks Equipment Rental Night Results:
Sunoco Modifieds (Buckley's
Automotive B-Mod Challenge, Race #2, 40 Laps): TONY HANBURY, Zach
Knowlden, TJ Potrzebowski, Teddy Bowen, Bryan Sherwood, Keith Youngs,
Gunnar Zeiner, Bill Chandler, Jr., Charlie Sharpsteen, Pat Judson, Zack
Curren (DNS)
Heats: Potrzebowski Knowlden
Insinger Performance Super Stocks
(25 Laps): GARRETT ZACHARIAS, Tim Gullo, Cameron Nichols, Lee
Sharpsteen, Nick Robinson, Frank Petroski, Jim Yamelski, DJ Shaw, Aaron
Cornell, Jason Duke, Sr., Jason Duke, Jr.
Heats: Zacharias, Robinson
4 Cylinders
(20 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Zack Jaynes, Joey Bevacqua, Monica Robinson,
Dustin Pruyne, Jason Peck, Ricky Lane, Matt Jenkins, Mike Ferris
Heats: Moldt, Robinson
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): TYLER HARBST, Josh Parker, Genevieve Yamelski, Dave Decker, Chuck Nichols, Luke Nickles
Heat: Parker
INEX Bandoleros
(10 Laps): DERRICK VOGLER, Devin Gullo, Justin Teresak, Chase
Sinsabaugh, Michael Sinagra, Cullen Sharpsteen, Michael Bast, Kalysta
DeMark
Heats: Sinsabaugh, Teresak
Photos by Emily Knowlden:
1) Tony Hanbury wins race #2 in the Buckley's Automotive B Mod Challenge
2) Tony Hanbury racing hard with Zach Knowlden
3) Tyler Harbst picks up a career-first win in the Hobby Stock division
