Luck Was a Lady for Tony Hanbury, Gets Win #4 in Chemung's Sunoco Modifieds by Carol Houssock
(July 11th 2021 Chemung, NY) Track management tossed a coin, it landed on heads to go for it,
and the program went on with just a minor interruption for a light
shower midway through the evening. Firehouse Subs was on board to
sponsor the evening and they brought with them their food truck as well
as three pace vehicles. Winners on this special night included Tony
Hanbury (Sunoco Modifieds), Tim Gullo (Chemung Speedrome SS Challenge),
Garrett Zacharias (Insinger Performance Super Stocks), Greg Moldt (4
Cylinders), Josh Parker (Marion Decker Hobby Stocks), and Derrick Vogler
(INEX Bandoleros). All five divisions will be in action this weekend on
Fan Appreciation Night, sponsored by Just in Time Roofing &
Gutters.
Friday
night the familiar phrase "˜sometimes it's better to be lucky than good'
played out in the Sunoco Modified 40-lap feature. The event was the
third in the four-race Buckley's Automotive B Mod Challenge Series. Tony
Hanbury piloted the Noe #1, which got off to a slow start and didn't
appear to be factor for the win. His talent behind the wheel, along with
some good racing luck, enabled him to park the car in victory lane for
his fourth win of the season.
Teddy
Bowen led the initial laps of the feature, followed closely by TJ
Potrzebowski. Once he got around and took the lead, Potrzebowski left
Bowen to battle it out with Jesse Kent and then Zack Curren for second.
Hanbury slowed to a stop 16 laps in. During the caution period his crew
performed service and he restarted at the rear. Potrzebowski prevailed
over Curren on the restart, with Bowen and Bryan Sherwood behind them.
Over
the next ten laps the caution flew on several occasions, most notably
when heat winners Curren and Potrzebowski got together, gave up first
and second, and handed the race lead back to Bowen. He held onto the
lead for another dozen laps. When newcomer Cameron Ruggiero spun in turn
four it gave Hanbury the opportunity he needed to take the lead on lap
33, and he took advantage of that chance. Hanbury held on over the final
seven laps for the win, his fourth this season, over Bowen, Gunnar
Zeiner, Potrzebowski and Ruggiero. "The motor went in my car, and I hope
to have it back before the end of the season," Hanbury stated. "I have
to thank Gary for letting me use this car and I'm glad I was in a
position to get this win. I also want to thank Jody Buckley for doing
this series and putting up the extra money for us."
The
track addressed some unfinished business. Two weeks ago, the 42-lap Ed
Bidlack Memorial event was halted 10 laps short of the scheduled
distance due to a serious wreck involving Frank Chapman and the track's
curfew. Prior to that it appeared that this one find either Tim Gullo or
Nick Robinson celebrating a victory. Cars running at lap 32 were
allowed to finish the race first thing on Friday night. This one turned
into an amazing battle between a veteran racer and an up-and-coming
young gun. Cameron Nichols, the young gun, led with Tim Gullo, the
veteran, virtually locked to his rear bumper. A late caution set up a
four-lap run to the checkered flag. Gullo took over but his high exits
off turn four set up his last-lap maneuver. Gullo stayed low but Nichols
went higher than he had the previous laps. Had he run the same line the
outcome may have been different. Gullo went on for the win over
Nichols, Lee Sharpsteen, Robinson and Evan Rygielski. "This feels pretty
good. People have been racing hard and running that way my whole life,"
Gullo said from victory lane. This race was the second in the four-race
Chemung Speedrome SS Challenge Series.
Garrett
Zacharias, Cameron Nichols and Nick Robinson won the three heats for
the regularly scheduled 25-lap Insinger Super Stock feature. While
Nichols led the way off turn two on the opening lap, it was Nick
Robinson who led lap one. Frank Chapman, running fifth at the time,
experienced his second consecutive week of terrible luck. As he came off
turn four his motor let go and his night was over. Robinson, meanwhile,
remained atop the leader board until the lead started to swap between
him and Nichols. Robinson led lap 15, Nichols led lap 16, and Robinson
led lap 17. While working lap 18, both top cars spun and handed the lead
over to 3rd place runner Garrett Zacharias. He held off Lee
Sharpsteen on a trio of restarts over the final laps. Zacharias sailed
to his fifth win in nine Chemung starts. This time it was Lee
Sharpsteen, Tim Gullo, DJ Shaw and Robinson who made up the top five.
Greg
Moldt is on a tear. The 4 Cylinder ace picked up his fifth win this
season, and fourth in a row, in another caution-free 20-lap feature.
Earlier in the evening Moldt had won the division's heat race. Moldt
took the lead from the get-go with a tap to Monica Robinson. She also
put a lot of distance between herself and a battle for third. Tom
Shaffer had the spot. Zack Jaynes wanted it and took over third on lap
13. Moldt was on cruise control and was the first to cross the finish
line. Robinson finished second, ahead of Jaynes, Shaffer and Joey
Bevacqua.
The
first half of the Marion Decker Hobby Stock feature belonged to Dave
Decker. The second half belonged to eventual winner Josh Parker. Once in
front he checked out. Decker, meanwhile, went high in turn four and it
cost him two positions. Heat winner Tyler Harbst and Randy Mathews went
on by. In the closing laps, Harbst took second from Mathews, but he ran
out of time to advance any further than second. That was win #6 for
Parker and third in a row.
Derrick Vogler earned his 7th
win Friday night. The Outlaw driver was joined in victory lane by
Michael Bast, who claimed his second win as the top Bandit. Chase
Sinsabaugh led the opening lap before Vogler took over and never looked
back. Kalysta DeMark ran second for most of the 10-lap race until a
caution with two to go changed things drastically for her. Bast got
around and finished second overall, with Sinsabaugh, Cullen Sharpsteen
and Joey Allowatt rounding out the top five. Vogler and Bast won their
heats.
This
Friday is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Just in Time Roofing
& Gutters. During intermission, the race cars will be on the front
stretch awaiting fans from the grandstand for their annual meet and
greet. The racing card includes the Sunoco Modifieds, Insinger
Performance Super Stocks, 4 Cylinders, Marion Decker Hobby Stocks and
the INEX Bandoleros. 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:
In
addition to boosting the purse in the Buckley's Automotive B Mod
Challenge, Jody Buckley put up $200 for the team that traveled the
furthest. That bonus went to Gunnar Zeiner, from Bath, PA.
The
50/50 was unclaimed Friday night. The track posted the winning number
on its Facebook page, and it was almost immediately claimed by a woman
from Montrose, PA. She provided a photo of her half of the ticket and
will pick up her $350 in winnings this Friday.
Firehouse Subs Results:
Sunoco Modifieds (Buckley's
Automotive B Mod Challenge, Race #3, 40 Laps): TONY HANBURY, Teddy
Bowen, Gunnar Zeiner, TJ Potrzebowski, Cameron Ruggiero, Bill Chandler,
Jr., Zack Curren, Jesse Kent, Brian Sherwood, Charlie Sharpsteen (DQ –
ride height violation)
Heats: Curren, Potrzebowski
Insinger Performance Super Stocks (Chemung
Speedrome SS Challenge, Race #2, 42-Lap Ed Bidlack Memorial): TIM
GULLO, Cameron Nichols, Lee Sharpsteen, Nick Robinson, Evan Rygielski,
Frank Chapman, JP Harbst, Jason Duke, Jr., Derrick Tarbox, DJ Shaw,
Aaron Cornell, Mark Taylor, Russ Bulger, Sr., Mike Nichols, Gary Noe,
Garrett Zacharias, Jason Duke, Sr., Brian DeMark, Cody Frantz (DNS)
Insinger Performance Super Stocks (25
Laps): GARRETT ZACHARIAS, Lee Sharpsteen, Tim Gullo, DJ Shaw, Nick
Robinson, Evan Rygielski, Jason Duke, Jr., Aaron Cornell, JP Harbst,
Cameron Nichols, Mark Taylor, Nick Bevacqua, Bill Frisbie, Jr., Dennis
Beardslee, Derrick Tarbox, Cody Frantz, Jason Duke, Sr., Frank Chapman
Heats: Zacharias, Nichols, Robinson
4 Cylinders (20 Laps): GREG MOLDT, Monica Robinson, Zack Jaynes, Tom Shaffer, Joey Bevacqua, Jason Peck, Ricky Lane, Dustin Pruyne (DNS)
Heat: Moldt
Marion Decker Hobby Stocks (20 Laps): JOSH PARKER, Randy Mathews, Tyler Harbst, Dave Decker, Luke Nickels, Mike Bailey (DNS)
Heats: Harbst
INEX Bandoleros (10 Laps): DERRICK VOGLER, Michael Bast, Chase Sinsabaugh, Cullen Sharpsteen, Joey Allowatt, Kalysta DeMark, Reese Faulisi
Heats: Bast, Vogler